Monday 21st November 2022 – Client called for a balloon drop on Wednesday 23rd November. Not a problem I said. I get a quote over to him but express the urgency of confirmation and I really need an answer buy close of trade the same day. He states he has to get approval from the artists agency in New York. Ok, 5hrs time delay so this will be testing
Tuesday 22nd November – Check email and call client. Still no answer. Once again I express the urgency and I really need an answer by 12 noon as stock and kit need to be picked.
3.15pm – Phone call from Agent in New York. It’s on. The venue is confirmed. The ball starts to roll.
Stock and kit loaded. ULEZ paid. Crew booked. Parking paid for
11.30pm. Client emails. Can you do a RAMS please and send your insurance details over. Done within the hour.
Wesnesday 23rd November – Early morning start (5am) Pick up Frankie from Would You Balloon It who will be assisting me. The drive to London is about 3 hours. I only live 90 miles north of London but traffic is alway heavy and once in London it’s slow going.
9.30am– Arrive at venue but load-in is not until 1pm. A bit of sweet taking and we’re allowed in at 12 noon.
12.30pm – We’re set to go and start inflating. 2 nets, 25 x 36″ balloons per net. Within half an hour the first net in completed.
12.35pm – Phone call from client to say the show has been cancelled due to the artist having been taken ill. Tour manager arrives on site and confirms this. We have a chat and he tells me the gig is now on Monday 28th November at a different venue. I did not see this as a problem, these things happen. All cost will be meet for this show and can I do the said date. No problem. We pack up and as the new venue is just up the road we take a walk up Camden High Street to check it out. The venue is not open so we head to a pub for lunch (The Camden Eye) and google some images of The Electric Ballroom. It’s to low for a drop so I propose just doing stage decor. I tell the tour manager I will do a visual later that evening. Everyone is happy.
Thursday 24th November. Submit visual to Tour Manager and Agent.
Saturday 26th November– All confirmed. Call Frankie of Would You Balloon it and yes, she can help
Now as I stated earlier I could not view the venue as it was closed and we only had images from Google
Monday 28th November – Another early morning drive to London. Pick Frankie up at 7am and off we go. Arrive at 10.30am. Access is 12 noon so we park up and offload the kit and walk to the venue. On arrival it’s obvious the stage is a lot smaller than anticipated. I don’t see this as a problem and speak to the Tour Manager. He’s OK with it and tells me to just do what I can. We’re still going to do 3 Aeropoles but not laid out as the visual. Artist arrives and sets up. We have access to the stage at 5pm after sound check. I actually think the over all look was far better than the visual. Tour Manager, Agent and Artist were delighted.
And we even had time for a quick selfie shot after the concert.
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Thank you Frankie (Francesca, Frank). Your a delight to work with. So professional
