It’s quite simple if you know what you are doing but one thing I have learnt over 35 years in this industry is to ask questions prior to submitting a quotation. If I had £1.00 for every time some one ask me how much a balloon drop was I would be a very rich person.
You need to consider the following points …..
- When? You need to check your availability for the clients chosen date
- Where? Location. Is it local or will you need to travel
- Venue? Does it have adequate ceiling height. No point in quoting on a 1000 x 11″ balloon drop if the ceiling is only 10ft high. A picture of the area is always a good start as you can look for rigging points. Most of my large scale drops are corporate events or concerts with very high ceilings but I still ask questions prior to quoting.
- How Many Balloons? Quite simply clients sometimes have no persecutive on how many balloons they want to drop but for you to give them a quote you need to know and they will be looking for your professional input on this. See point No 2.
- Before quoting you need to make sure you are confident in all aspects of executing the perfect drop. If you have never done one before just think, is it something you want to get involved in. It’s not that difficult to fill a net with balloons but how are you going to make sure that balloons will drop at the correct time. How are you going to rig it safely. Do you like heights. Do you have the correct equipment
- What size balloons? I’m a great believer that less is more. Would I rather have 1000 x 11″ balloons or 100 x 36″ balloons. I’d go with the 100 x 36″ balloons all day every day
Video below is the opening ceremony of WBC 2018 in San Diego. 100 x 36″ latex balloons.
Do you think 1000 x 11″ balloons would of had the same impact?
Muse. 1000 x 36″ Latex balloons drop
They originally wanted 5000 x 11″ balloons. I gave them my opinion on this and sold them 1000 x 36″ latex balloons. 5000 x 11″ latex would not of had the same impact.
36″ balloons gave them an immersive effect and audience participation.
Rigging and activating your drop from above the audience
You need a head for heights and need to work to a strict time scale. For example the Muse balloon drop was all inflated and rigged in 6 hours. We started at 8am and did not stop until the last drop was in place
When it comes to the drop you sometimes have the best seat in the house
And one last thing, when you sell a balloon drop you are selling an effect. Make sure it works
Safe rigging guys
Laters, Matt
