Re: Practice

[Alison]

I got a neat new way to practice
coming up.

I took a job at a day-camp
as a Specialty Instructor.
I wouldn't have to have a full teaching position,
and I'd be paid a much better hourly rate than I used to get for teaching.
What it is
is that the camp offers 'Electives'.  And the kids get to choose what they want.  
I'm booked for four 45-minute sessions.  To teach balloon twisting.

Not bad.  Because this means I'll have to come up with at least 4 easy balloon-designs,
practice them, and then get a really strong review as I go out to teach them.  Showing
kids over and over - this way, watch out for that, that way....

[Alison]

So there I was - middle of the night and actually practicing. 
Got to remember this balloon stuff.

I remembered having wonderful success with making a Big Balloon Hat for the Guest of Honor when I went to a personal party as a guest
straight from an outdoor Retail Balloon day several years ago.

I thought I remembered it as simple -
Just bright colors, a basic hat base,
and Big long Balloons all over the place
(then tied into a 'birdcage' on top if desired).

Luckily I practiced.  Because this one doesn't look so good.
ANY SUGGESTIONS?  Anybody do a similar one that you can show us?

Alison G,
facepaintingexpress.blogspot.com

[Alison]

And here's me again. 
It's a fish-hat that I remembered.
I NEED HELP.  Or at least a critique?

It's a basic hat-base.  The back piece and the over-head-piece make the fish tail.
Then I stuck some eyes into the front.  And

Voila?
Well, um, I wish it had fish-lips.
ANYBODY?

[Alison]

and a nicer fish -
following some instructions I have here.

I figure that a Big Fun Colorful Hat on the first day would 'advertise' to others so my 'elective' would be a success - would be chosen by the kids.  Then, I needed some back-up - in case it gets done quickly, and the kids need to be shown something else.  Hence, another hat.  And this would be the Fish-Hat.  I don't think this would happen, though, because I only have 45 minutes.  And this is with Kids.  Who never twisted a balloon and might have trouble following some basic directions.  About holding, twisting, measuring..... stuff like that. 

And then, thinking I needed help to make the Fish-Hat better, I came across the instructions for this Fish.  Nice fish.  I figure the First Session could Flow from Big Funny Hat
to Fish Hat
to Fish
if needed.  But I don't really think it will be needed.  I'll probably be lucky if I just get everybody to walk out with the first Big Colorful Hat. 

I just over-prepare.  I'm like that.  At least when I don't know what I'm doing. 
It not only gives me confidence, but it also ends up turning me into a Professional Balloon Twister (what they think I am already). 





So what do you think?  I think the plain fish is actually the best balloon, but it wouldn't make as much of a 'splash' to 'lure in' more campers - Lol.  Because it's a small thing that's just held.  Along with all the other junk that kids bring home from their 'art classes'.  And, like, why would I be teaching Fish in the first place? 
Balloon Hats or Balloon Dogs (to be the 'topic' for subsequent lessons) are the expected things to start with. 

Alison G
facepaintingexpress.blogspot.com

[Sherry]

I love the fish.     Is that a heart balloon in the body?  I finally practiced some new balloons for the gig I had the day before my trip. 

It was a girly party, so I learned how to do the flower bracelet.  It was a hit!  So, I was glad for that.  I was thinking back over all the balloons I've learned and realized without practice, I forget.  It's not like riding a bike for me on some of the designs.

[Alison]

You know what I'm talking about.  Short Term Memory.
I'm figuring that if I teach stuff that would be useful to me
at the Day Camp job coming up, maybe I'll remember those a bit longer.
Because the ones that we do A Lot can be remembered. 
Like - even though I haven't done Balloons for a while, I would be surprised if I couldn't make a heart-wand, dog, flower, sword.... things like that. 

And yes - that Fish is done with a heart for the Body.  Pretty neat. 
But I forgot to ask for a Materials fee at the Camp.  And I don't know how many kids I'm going to have to Supply for.      Balloons.  Pumps!   Markers.....
On top of that, I'm working hard to hope to attract More kids to my subsequent 'Balloon Specials'.  Trying to give them stuff that will attract.....  Oh, I don't know How Many kids.  And How Many Balloons I'd have to give out for them to be making the same things. 

One of the designs I wanted to do was a whole Bouquet of Heart Balloons, but that's not going to happen.  The amount of Balloons involved including the more expensive Heart BalloonSSSSS.  Oh.

Alison G
facepaintingexpress.blogspot.com

[Alison]

and I used to make the Flower Bracelet too.  It's a real winner even though it's small.
I used to make little matching rings for it too. 

Haven't done them in a while, but I'm thinking it was 2 bubbles pinched together -
Repeat 5 times -
2nd balloon for bubble-center which deflates around to tie onto wrist.
Am I right?

Alison G
facepaintingexpress.blogspot.com

[Sherry]

Yep, that's it!

[Alison]

Nice.  My practice to be ready with stuff for the Camp
is already making me much more facile with the Balloons.
They're coming out much better - it will be to my benefit that I took this 'beneath me' job.

Alison G
facepaintingexpress.blogspot.com

[Alison]

Oh boy - I did my first day at the camp today.
It was about 20 5-year-olds.  I had 45 minutes to get 20 5-year-olds to make their own twisted balloons. 

I was prepared to teach them to make a sword with a fancy handle
And a fancy heart-wand, but all I managed was the sword.
And lucky I had counselors helping them to 'make their own'.
By the end of the session, I had even dropped the fancy handle part - a plain handle did just fine. 

5-year-olds can't even tie a knot (some of the counselors were learning it for their first time too),
so it was impossible to explain about holding the first bubble while twisting the subsequent bubbles.
Giving them stuff (I want I want) made them happy, and they did get to play with the balloon pumps and do a little twisting (there was even One little girl who insisted on making her own - came out small, but she did it!).  It was all about personality - most of the kids were more accustomed to calling out for Help than they were to listening and following directions at this age. 

So all my planning - to make sure I'd have something nice to make it more special than just looking at the package directions from balloons that can be bought from the Party Store - well, that was good practice for Me.  But the job - that was good practice for reminding me how to handle a group of little kids.  How to get their attention.  How to introduce myself and handle their calling out.   

It's good that I took this job.  Reality is not sitting alone and making Wow interesting Creations.  But it's by doing that that we get facile and the easy stuff becomes simple and automatically 'neat'. 

Abs

[Alison]

2nd day at the camp, and I was flying. 
I really figured out How Little these kids could actually do,
and set up the session so they would feel like they were doing more than they were actually doing -
by helping them to do the steps I showed them.
And by taking charge of their attention from the moment they stepped into the room. 

Just a little reminder, and I'm not only back in the saddle (I used to teach a Lot),
but I'm even better than I ever was before.
I'm so glad I took this job that I didn't want to take at first.

Alison G
facepaintingexpress.blogspot.com

[Sherry]

Glad to hear Alison.  It sounds pretty wonderful!  I think these little kids will definitely remember their balloon twisting class for years to come.  It's not the usual.