I’m doing a little write up on how the balloon days that we have been running for 21 years came about, but before we post that just to let you know that the new Balloon warehouse (Log Cabin) is all built and up. Started decking it out yesterday with product. If you’d like to see how it went together then there is a thread on Balloon Chat with all the updates as they happen,
Balloon Warehouse.
So the write up on the Balloon Days, it is to be continued over the coming weeks…
I thought I’d write a little about how the “Care & Share” balloon days got started, especially as we are holding the last one in Sutton on the 2nd July. If anyone would like to attend then It’s just £10 to help cover the hall hire charge.
We have been running the days now for over 21 years, I know…
I don’t look old enough ROFL, he he.
I used to attend balloon conventions and events with Mr David Grist, we would always come home saying we must start something in the UK as in America and some parts of Europe they already had twister balloon clubs, jams and meet ups. Typical, we never got around to doing anything and then unfortunately in January 2005 David passed away………..
and this is how the days started.
So, it’s always difficult for me to talk about the days without getting a little emotional as without David’s passing,
I don’t think the days would have come about.
I remember we had a meeting with Colin Myles, Jodie and Dee White, we chatted about a few different names for the days and the way forward with them. I remember Twist was a suggestion but a non starter as only those in the business would know what twist was. I’m sure a few other names were mentioned but it was a long time ago now and the memory is a little hazy.
So, The Balloon Days in the UK were about to hit the road, and we decided to call them “The Care & Share Balloon Days”…
and little did I know at the time, but what an adventure that would be.
The first one was at the Qualatex/Pioneer headquarters in Bishops Stortford and I think around April time 2005,
this was before we started documenting and taking hundred’s if not thousands of pictures at each event, he he.
Now how did we get the word out to let everyone know about the days as back in 2005 Facebook was only just a year old. There was a directory called the Yellow Pages, I went to the local library as they held every Yellow Pages for the UK and I photocopied every entertainer section in every Yellow Pages across the UK, and there were a few and it did take a while. I then set about calling everyone that advertised in the directory, yes every single person and telling them all individually about the days and seeing if they would like to attend or could pass on details to others. Seems crazy now but that is what we did and how we got the days off the ground. I attended Blackpool magic convention in the February of 2005 as a delegate and got permission from Derek Lever who ran the convention at the time to stand there handing out flyers for the balloon days and chatting to people, letting as many as I could know about the balloon days coming up in the UK for twisters.
Now I wish I could remember how the day went in Bishops Stortford, who attended and the format etc, unfortunately I don’t, which is a shame… so was you there, do you remember? If you could refresh my memory it would be appreciated. I will write more about how the days developed another time as I keep getting told by some that I write too much
SO TO BE CONTINUED… Thanks for reading XXxx
I have attached a picture of David Grist and the car he made some 25 years ago now.
PS,
Don’t forget you can attend the balloon day in Sutton, July 2nd or maybe just pass on the details to others, booking details, “Care& Share Balloon Day”
The random picture of the week is of Mr David Grist XXxx
