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 |  | Per Balloon: $1.50-$10 |  | Per Hour: $75-$150 |  | Package Rates: $25-$300 |
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Balloon Twisting, also called balloon modeling or sculpting, is a professional skill often performed at birthday parties, festivals and special events. While some party clowns and magicians can make balloon animals, balloon twisters focus specifically on the art of balloon sculpting and most charge an hourly rate for their services.
Typical costs: | - Balloon twisters typically charge $75 to $150 per hour for 15 to 100 finished balloons. This breaks down to $1.50 to $10 per balloon sculpture. Life of the Party Characters[1] in South Florida can twist balloons for 10 to 15 kids for $100 per hour, ranging from $7 to $10 per balloon. Meanwhile, Magic Fingers Productions[2] in Central Ohio, offers "speed twisting" of 100 simple balloons, like swords, for $90 per hour, at 90 cents per balloon.
- While an hourly rate is the most common, some balloon twisters offer package rates guaranteeing a specific number of balloon animals, typically ranging from $1 to $5 per sculpture. In the $3 to $5 range, Balloon Twisters Hawaii[3] charges $300 for 100 balloons or $150 for 30 balloons. Balloon Animals by Lou in St. Louis will deliver 25 pre-twisted, popular balloon animals to a party for $25.
Related articles: Magician, Party Clown, Bounce House
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What should be included: | - Within an hour, balloon twisters may be able to finish 15 complex balloon sculptures like fancy hats[4] or up to 100 simple shapes like swords and dogs[5] . The wide range is due to the varying complexity of balloon sculptures offered.
- Balloon twisters should arrive with their own balloons, pumps and other necessary equipment.
- A balloon twister should be comfortable engaging with the public and working under pressure while party guests wait in line for their turn.
Additional costs: | - Travel fees may cost $10 to $75. The Balun Guy[6] includes travel within 50 miles from Elizabethtown, PA, and adds $50 for events 50 to 100 miles away. Though travel to nearby events is most often included, confirm this with the balloon artist before booking.
- If more children attend the birthday party than the balloon twister can handle, typically 15, expect to pay an extra charge few dollars per child. For example, Wild About Balloons[7] in Southern California can twist 10 to 15 complex balloon sculptures an hour, or 75 simple balloons like dogs and swords. The number of party guests depends on the complexity of the balloons. The balloon twister may add on another half-hour session for all the kids to get balloons, so discuss this in advance.
Discounts: | - Many balloon twisters offer 25 to 50 percent off the normal price for time booked after the first hour. For example, Party Pleasers[8] in Michigan charges $100 per hour for the first hour, and $75 for each additional hour of balloon twisting.
- Because Saturday is typically a balloon twister's busiest day, scheduling on other days of the week can save as much as 25 percent off the normal hourly rate. Balloonimations[9] in San Antonio charges $120 per hour on Saturdays and $90 per hour all other days.
Shopping for balloon twisting: | - To find a talented balloon twister, enter your zip code in the Find-A-Pro[10] database from Qualtex. All balloon artists registered here have passed a written and skills-based test to become Certified Balloon Artists[11] .
- Ask a balloon twister for references, their years of experience and their twisting speed (balloons per hour). Magic Fingers Productions[12] , for example, will provide proof of insurance and copies of a federal background check.
- Does the balloon twister usually make small, medium or complex balloon sculptures? Adjust the timeframe according to the number of guests at the party and the complexity of balloons desired.
- Some balloon twisters are constantly learning new shapes and popular animated characters, like Hello Kitty or Buzz Lightyear[13] . Ask to see a balloon twister's portfolio or some photos from a recent party to see if they can make the kind of balloon characters the birthday party guests want.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: AnthonyStone in Redlands, CA. | Posted: September 17th, 2021 01:09PM |
| Number of Balloons Included: | Length of Time Hired: 2 hours |
I charge $150.00 for the first hour. It's 100.00 each additional hour. It really depends on cost of living, the skill level of the artist, and how much tax the balloon artist has to pay. Some of the figures mentioned here are unfathomably low for someone in my area. People of a higher skill level charge 200.00 or more. As far as "how many balloons." It depends on the event. Do you have a small party? Everyone gets a complex balloon. You want to try to service 50 kids on a budget? There's a balloon for that too! The point is making sure at least EVERY guest gets a balloon in their hand. If you want each guest to get multiple balloons, than you might have fewer guests, simpler designs, or pay for more time. I think what you can always count on- is the person is going to really like talking to your guests and making your guests happy. You don't start twisting for people unless you genuinely enjoy spreading joy wherever you go. Don't take advantage of people like that. |
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| Posted by: a user in Rosedale, MD. | Posted: March 11th, 2020 12:03PM |
| Number of Balloons Included: depends on length of time | Length of Time Hired: you name the time |
I'm a balloon artist/twister. I charge by the hour. But I don't make so many finished sculptures per hour; that's wrong! Let me define what a balloon twister does and why you might want to hire one.
A balloon twister is an entertainer. But a balloon twister doesn't sing or dance, nor do magic. They entertain in a much different way: by making balloon sculptures.
Imagine for a moment you're at a convention. As you enter, you spot a bunch of colorful balloons. They're twisted into shapes of cartoon characters. WOW....Popeye, the Road Runner, and Gooffey...WOW! There's this guy/gal making things. As you walk over to see more, he/she hands you an inflated long skinny balloon to hold. 'Here, hold this balloon for a second.' The balloon artist/twister inflates another, then finishes the sculptures. Why it's a sitting dog with big ears and a big nose.
Many balloon twisters are also funny when they talk to the kids. |
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| Posted by: Balu in Enfield, CT. | Posted: September 8th, 2017 08:09AM |
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| Posted by: Robert Ward in Akron, OH. | Posted: September 7th, 2016 04:09PM |
| Number of Balloons Included: 200-350 | Length of Time Hired: 1 to 2 hors |
| Firm: birthday parties |
I have done a few birthdays within two years and have okay success with them. |
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| Posted by: madison rosenberg in tcoma, WA. | Posted: April 29th, 2015 10:04AM |
| Number of Balloons Included: 5 | Length of Time Hired: |
I don't think it is resonable |
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| Posted by: a user in Baltimore, MD. | Posted: February 28th, 2011 01:02PM |
| Number of Balloons Included: depends on the event | Length of Time Hired: unlimited/depends on the event |
| Firm: barry perhamsky/balloon artist |
I don't do birthdays. The concept of hqaving a balloon artist at an event, is that it's facinating to watch them as they make the figure. That's why I'm good at a children's book store grand-opening for example. I meet the kids, talk to them, and make them a figure.
Anyone who reads this, answer me this: What is the purpose of hiring a balloon artist? I charge $60 an hour, with a minimum of $100 for the first hour. So for six hours that's $400. If I spend $50 for balloons, that's $350 left for me.
The parents can buy the kids balloons. They don't need a balloon artist at a birthday. But at an event...it's amazing to look at the figures I've made, and watch me make others. Then the kid gets to keep it. |
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| Posted by: Barry Perhamsky in Baltimore, MD. | Posted: February 4th, 2011 09:02AM |
| Number of Balloons Included: 3-4 hundred | Length of Time Hired: |
I'm a balloon twister, and I've been doing it on an off since about age 20. I don't practice as much as I should, but I do these 21/2 foot cartoon characters. My favorit is the Road Runner. It uses only six balloons and looks really nice. The standard colors are pale blue, dark or sapphire blue, white and orange, but I have found any color combination looks good. Today I twisted the RR using gray,yellow and orange.
Whenever I do a day of twisting, I like to make the RR for display. It draws attention and shows everyone that indeed I'm talented.
I've only done a few events, and I'm cheep!!! I charge $60 an hour, with $100 for the first hour. So for a six hour event, that's $400.
I figure it this way: I'm not a robot or an assembley line, so I just don't ceank out balloons contiuously for six hours. I figure 1 person (kid or adult) every three minutes. I'll have peak times and slower times, and time when I may be doing no twisting at all. Three minutes seems right. So three into sixty minutes is twenty. So I'll do twenty people per hour. So I don't run out of balloons, I'll figure twenty-five people per hour. If each person gets two balloons (parrot on a swing, etc) That's fifty balloons per hour. But however, I may do a figure that requires more. But fifty per hour seems right for me on the average. That's three-hundred in six hours. But to be safe, I'll bring four-hundred balloons. Now some balloon artists use one bag per hour. What is your comment on that?
Sincerely,
Barry |
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External Resources: | - lifeofthepartycharacters.com/face_painting.html
- www.magicfingersproductions.com/
- www.balloontwistershawaii.com/index_prices.htm
- www.zoonyballoons.com/gallery.html
- www.balloonhq.com/highlights/dog/
- www.thebalunguy.com/private_parties.htm
- www.wildaboutballoons.net/faqs.html
- www.partypleasers.net/price_list.shtml
- www.balloonamations.com/prices/
- www.qualatex.com/balloons/findapro.php#us
- www.qualatex.com/pages/cba_info.php
- www.magicfingersproductions.com/
- www.beckysballoonanimals.com/id1.html
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