You can book it on its own, but most parents add balloon modelling to a magic show or a full party with one of our entertainers. It works brilliantly at the end, so every child walks out with something in their hand.
What a balloon modeller can make
The classics are dogs, swords, hats, flowers and bracelets, because they're quick and every child recognises them. Most modellers can also do things like monkeys on a tree, parrots on your arm, crowns, dinosaurs and unicorns.
Bigger pieces take longer, so at a party with lots of children the modeller will usually keep to simpler designs and save something special for the birthday child. If your child's party has a theme, mention it. Superheroes, princesses and pirates can all be done in balloon form, more or less.
Colour choice causes more drama than you'd expect. If you'd like to keep the peace, ask the modeller to offer two or three colours per child rather than the whole rainbow.
How long balloon modelling takes
A simple model takes a minute or two. That doesn't sound like much until you've got 25 children in a queue, so it's worth planning. With a big group, balloon modelling can easily take half an hour or more.
Some entertainers make balloons while the children eat, which keeps the queue moving without eating into game time. Others do them at the very end as parents arrive. Both work. What doesn't work is leaving it until the last five minutes of the hall booking.
Which ages it suits
From about three upwards, children love it. Older kids enjoy picking something ambitious and watching it come together, and some modellers will show them how to make a simple one themselves.
With babies and toddlers, take a bit of care. Popped balloon pieces are a choking risk for small children, so keep an eye on the under-threes and gather up any bits after a pop. At a toddler party you might prefer bubbles or soft toys as the take-home treat instead.
With a mixed-age group, the modeller can make something simple for the younger ones and something trickier for the older children, so nobody feels short-changed.
The allergy question to ask
Modelling balloons are almost always latex. That's fine for most children, but latex allergies do exist and can be serious. Before the party, it's worth checking with the parents of the guests, the same way you'd ask about food allergies.
If a child has a latex allergy, tell us when you book and we'll talk it through with the entertainer. It may mean leaving balloons out completely, or swapping them for something else for the whole group so nobody feels left out.
Balloons instead of party bags
Some parents skip party bags completely and let the balloon model be the thing children take home. It saves a trip to the shops and a pile of plastic bits that end up under the sofa. Kids don't seem to mind one bit.
If you go down that route, just let us know so the entertainer makes sure nobody leaves without one. Late arrivals and the child who was in the toilet at the wrong moment are the usual ones to miss out. A quick word at pick-up time sorts it.
Adding balloons to a magic show
Lots of our magicians and children's entertainers can do balloon modelling as part of the booking, and it usually adds a little to the price because of the extra time. The price guide explains how extras like this affect a quote.
One small tip: have a spare bin bag ready. Balloons get popped, and those little scraps of rubber travel further than you'd believe.