Hi NY Twisters-

The good folks at Fantasma have welcomed us back for another balloon jam.  Tuesday, July 27th from 5pm to 9pm.

As always, directions and more are online at http://nytwisters.org

See you there,

-Todd

It feels like Spring is here and we are gearing up for a “green” balloon jam.  I don’t mean green because balloons are a natural (and decaying) product, but “green” for St. Patty’s Day!  Come and join us next Monday at Fantasma Magic for our annual St. Patty’s Day balloon jam.  At the end of the jam we will choose the best St. Patty’s Day themed balloon sculpture.  What will it be . . . . . ?

Also, we will now have a one-balloon-bag “cover charge” at Fantasma balloon jams.  I’m embarrassed to say that only two bags of balloons have been bought by us during the last 4 jams there.  If this was a bar/diner/restaurant we would have been kicked out years ago, but Roger and his team believe in our mission.  They are discounting their balloon bags from $10 to $8 for us, and they sell both assortments and solid bags of 260Qs.  Be sure to pick out a bag when you get there and ring it up at the counter.

WHAT: Open balloon jam for all balloon twisters
WHEN: Monday, March 15, 2010 from 5pm to 9pm
WHERE: Fantasma Magic in Manhattan
COST: There is a 1-balloon bag “cover charge” ($8).
RSVP: You do not have to RSVP, but feel free to let Todd know you’re coming.
NOTE: There is a FAQ for newbies if you are totally new to this balloon twisting thing.

You can still support amazing community balloon art every day without leaving your chair by voting for “Elastic Park” at Pepsi’s competition.  Elastic Park is Larry Moss’s huge balloon dinosaur park that requires a team of balloon artists and lots of community volunteers to create.  If enough people vote every day Pepsi will give him $50,000 in seed money to make this happen.  Please go to www.refresheverything.com/ElasticPark and vote.  Twice.

There is big news for our March NY Twisters update.  The annual balloon twisting convention recently ended and our local twisting community was very well-represented.  In fact, two of our artists came home with trophies!  A huge congratulations goes out to John Reid and Sheree Brown-Rosner for their well-deserved awards.  Here are pictures (courtesy of BalloonHQ’s T&S coverage) of their sculptures:

First Place, medium sculpture

Kangaroo by John Reid

Third Place, small sculpture

Eat the Candy Mangi la Caramella, by Sheree Brown-Rosner

To hear more about the convention just talk to any of us Twist & Shout alumni at the next balloon jam, Monday March 15th at 5pm at Fantasma in Manhattan.  I’ll be sending out an official Jam Email in the next few days, but stick it in your calendar now.

Hold on kids, there is a lot happening in our little twisted world.

Our latest balloon jam kicked off the new year with style. We had new twisters, old twisters, and people from out-of-town.  You can see my pics here.  If you took any please send them over and I’ll add them to the collection.  Our next jam is not set yet because we are all gearing up for the Annual Balloon Twisting Convention, but I want to get together in early March.

You might have noticed a few changes in our online presence — we have a new website (nearly finished), a “mobile-friendly” version of the site for people on iphones, and this email is coming from a new mail manager.  A new logo should show up any day now.  Phew!  The site has boxes that will slowly be filled with important resources for you:  Local balloon events, places to buy balloons, links to free instruction, other balloon jams, and more.  I am counting on you to keep me posted on shows, classes and links to share.

Locally, there are TWO FREE SHOWS this month for you.  The first is a the funky original balloon artist that you might remember from The Balloon Experience, Addi Somekh.  Addi is a master of the “Balloon Bass Guitar” and he plays improvisational jazz up and down the West Coast.  He is playing a free show on Sunday, Feb 14th at midnight at Rockwood Music Hall, 184 Allen St, NYC 10002.  Check out the flyer.

The other FREE SHOW is Mistress B’s Latex Lounge on Wednesday, Feb 24th from 10pm to 11pm.  It’s at Vlada, 331 W 51st Street, btwn 8th/9th Aves.  Mistress B has gotten kudos from The Onion, Variety, and the Village Voice.  The show is an interactive balloon musical variety show, and lots of fun.  Note:  you must be 21 or over to attend.

Globally, there is a online movement to get a huge balloon twisting event funding to build “Elastic Park”, a huge balloon dinosaur park.  Please take a few minutes out of your life and help us get $50,000 in funding to build the most amazing balloon dino park in history.  We are now in 14th place, and the top ten places get funded.  You can vote every day.  I do (my baby girl also votes).   Vote here: http://refresheverything.com/elasticpark.

That’s it for now.  I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with new jam dates, web updates, and more.

Gotta go pack for the balloon convention now,

-Todd

Great news!

The owner of Fantasma confirmed our jam on Monday. I am really sorry about the last-minute-notice, but they’ve been having some “personnel turnover” and the person who reserved the room for us is kinda not there anymore . . . but no worries, we’re confirmed!

Here are the details:

WHAT: Free balloon jam
WHEN: Monday, Feb 1st 5pm-9pm
WHERE: Fantasma Magic at 421 7th Avenue (at 33rd street) in Manhattan www.nytwisters.org/fantasma.htm
WHY: To kick off 2010 with a great informal balloon jamSPECIAL GUEST: Tawney Bubbles from Las Vegas, NV

See you on Monday,

-Todd,
aka Twistin’ Todd

Happy New Year!

2010 is looking to be an exciting year for balloon twisters, with lots of events, new releases, and hopefully lots of fun.

First, a quick reminder of Monday’s balloon jam in Long Island. To reprise Sheree’s invite:

"Jan. 25th 6pm at The Baldwin Coach Diner, Join us for a Balloon Jam! Come
ready to show a creation you make all the time at every job you are on!
Share an idea! Special Raffle during the evening! Hear ALL the Florida Super
Jam Stories first hand! Learn why Dizzy Doc LOVES Wal-Mart. Learn how to
Twist a Mini Mousey Hat!! Ask Edgar about the drive! The Baldwin Coach Diner
Sunrise Highway and Central Ave., Baldwin, NY 11510 516 223-2161 6pm start,
FREE but we like you to buy something while you are there... snack or Dinner
or dessert and coffee??? for more info email Sheree@smilephoto.com"

Also, I am 89% sure that we will have a balloon jam in the city on Monday, February 1st. I just need to finalize it with the good folks at Fantasma, and then make sure that our special guest’s flight home is on Tuesday. I’ll let you know about it asap.

And, most importantly, flights to Chicago for our annual Twister Convention (Twist & Shout) are well under $200! If you haven’t signed up yet, please do. You can still register at balloonconvention.com.

You DEFINITELY want to come to an upcoming twisting event. There are new balloons out, like a great hot pink color called Wild Berry, and some fun polka dot imprints. As always, feel free to email me with jam ideas or help redoing the web site.

See you at the next couple of events,

-Todd

p.s. Sheryl and I just introduced a new twister to the world. Welcome Little Miss Maya!

p.p.s. I have been hearing that many of these NY Twister emails are not getting through so I think I’m going to move this list. You next email from me might look different and come from a “real” email/contact site. If you don’t get one from me in the next week or two double-check with me that you’re still on this list.