Do you take anything to a balloon convention??

I know how to pack for a facepainting and bodypainting event, class, or convention.

I am flying and wondering if you bring anything to a balloon convention. I imagine balloons will abound or be available as well as a working pump. Do you just dress comfortable and bring yourself?

With all the craziness of the airlines charging per checked bag I am thinking to just pack nothing and go and buying a few things there and soak it all up and learn as much as possible and take a thousand pictures.

Which convention are you going to? I am so loving the balloons, I might just need to attend one this year.

Okay! I went to one of these once.. it was so much fun!

Bring along a small bag of the balloons that you use most, like an apron or small shoulder bag. Also bring your small hand pump(you can bring your bigger pump in your luggage if it'll fit.. but I liked having my little one) and bring your sharpies and paint pens, and scissors, etc.

Bring a camera and lots of vitamins, because I'll be honest.. at face painting conventions everyone usually passes out around 2 or 3 am.. at balloon conventions, that jam room will be full of people, even at 4 and 5am!!! no kidding!

but, it will be a lot of fun, and the jams are usually sponsored by a balloon company so there will lots of free balloons to try out(its great to see all of the colors in person!) and you get to see all of the shapes and see what people make with them. LOTS OF FUN!

Funny! That is so true - I went to a combined balloon and painting convention in Jan 09 (before I picked up my first balloon!) and the TWISTERS are HARD CORE - they did keep going until almost sun up!!!

Ashley - Thanks for the tips! I was considering packing no balloons and just buying there, but am now planning to take a small reserve of starter balloons, small hand pump and pens to get started. No scissors since those would be confiscated most likely. Guess I will pack a larger purse and one carry on. Vitamins ?! I hadn't thought of that but have heard people get serious about their Vit B at some of these all day/night events!

I am really looking forward to one day at Twist & Shout in Chicago!!!

OMG I wish I could to go Twist & Shout this year...but I'm doing Vegas and can't afford the time and money to do two conventions right now...This year = fp, next year is Twist & Shout!

There are balloon classes in Vegas though, so I'll still be bringing stuff with me...

WyndyO wrote:Funny! That is so true - I went to a combined balloon and painting convention in Jan 09 (before I picked up my first balloon!) and the TWISTERS are HARD CORE - they did keep going until almost sun up!!!

Ashley - Thanks for the tips! I was considering packing no balloons and just buying there, but am now planning to take a small reserve of starter balloons, small hand pump and pens to get started. No scissors since those would be confiscated most likely. Guess I will pack a larger purse and one carry on. Vitamins ?! I hadn't thought of that but have heard people get serious about their Vit B at some of these all day/night events!

I am really looking forward to one day at Twist & Shout in Chicago!!!

Just put your scissors in your luggage. Don't you use scissors when you're twisting? if not, then you're one of those super cool people that can rip the end off no problem. I still can't do that and I've been twisting for two years!

Also, yes.. vitamins are a good idea, as are other over the counters.

also, if you're planning on competing, then go ahead and come up with a design idea. I regret not competing when I went to a balloon convention. It wasn't until after I had seen the other beginner entries that I felt that I could have had a shot(I had only been twisting for 6 months when I went to my first balloon conv.)

Have fun! oh, and ignore the drama.. cuz there will be a few people there with too much to drink and they're gonna start so stuff... There's a lot of drama in the balloon world(not that there isn't in the fp world!)