Velocity and BP Launch - Enhance your Brand

Last week Virgin Australia and BP teamed up to launch the new Velocity program around the nation. Obviously the partnership will enhance both brands and make the products of both companies more attractive to consumers.

MAD Balloons was chosen to provide the balloon decor for the Sydney events. We were to dress the BP Service Station at Rozelle in red and green, in a bid to transform it to a red carpet airport experience for the customer. It had to be ready by 6.30am and last all day.  Mother nature did her best to completely ruin the event, but our MAD Balloons designs were up to the challenge...!  This weatherproof arch greeted the customer as they entered the shop.

As you can see these outdoor columns are sitting on the saturated driveway. Originally the BP Safety Officer ruled them out due to the high winds. However when we showed him the "wide foot"aeropole base plates we had and the extra weights, he agreed to let us place one column out for 30 minutes and see what happened. As you can see mother nature could not destroy our robust designs and we were given authority to have all 4 out in the thick of it all day.  When we returned at 7pm to tear them down, they were still standing tall.

By creating the colour out on the driveway it brought the customers and once they were inside, they got the red carpet treatment from the Virgin hostesses.  Great job ladies.
We also had the BP logo on the green balloons and the Velocity logo on the red balloons for even greater branding impact inside.

So we were able to create designs that enhanced both the brands, we had the technology to withstand the weather onslaught, and did I mention that we installed it all in 70 minutes. Call us for the MAD Balloons experience and we will create the WOW for your major product launch.

Kia Reveal

Time for a tale of a job of epic proportions.  So get yourself a cuppa and settle back in for a sizable read.  It is okay as there is an awesome video at the end for your viewing pleasure

The Brief

1. Create an original way of revealing the two new KIA cars at the Sydney MotorShow 2012.  The cars are to be completely covered with balloons and the balloons are to simply 'melt away' to reveal the vehicles.  The balloon covering is not to look structured but very 'organic'.
2. The vehicles must be COMPLETELY covered. 
3. The job must be completed by 8am for a 9.30am reveal.  
4. Balloons are to be helium filled as they want minimum rigging.  Also helium balloons will have a more random, organic feel as they simply fly away.

"...And where is the Motorshow being staged??"

"Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre."

At this point I need to alert the client to the fact of the $3,300 fine they would incur if a single balloon got away from us and broke the laser fire alarms inside the building.  SCEC would not allow them to simply release all the balloons in their desired 'organic' manner.

I won't bore you with the details of the many meetings over the next month, the failed initial trial, the successful second trial.  However I will tell you that to overcome the fire alarm issue and to keep the 'organic' feel we decided to attach all the balloons to a net - double sided.

So, this is me going nuts at about midnight doing the real thing in our tiny construction room.  Wait a minute. Back up.  I didn't tell you about our schedule did I?  Read on

Full dress rehearsal the day before and then the reveal next day.  Easy right?  Try this schedule on;

• 11am - arrive at SCEC for dress rehearsal.  6 people on site. Construct and install 1 net.  Trying to accommodate clients requests as we proceed ("can you add a bit more red in that area" etc).
• 5pm. - install net.  Test and checks and leave at 5.30pm.
• Back to workshop to pack van for the real thing.  Dinner.
• 9.45pm - back in the van and drive to SCEC.  Bump in all supplies at 10.30pm.  Two extra people join us making it 8 staff.
• 11pm - everyone is assigned their tasks and we begin.  Nets are hung between poles.  1 person on each side of the net passing the balloon necks through and tying them on.
• 2.45am - first net finished.  Making good time, but the team is starting to feel the pinch after being on deck since 11am yesterday.  Quick drinks break.
• 3am - start second net.
• 7am - second net completed.  1 hour to put them together and get them rigged.  After 20 hours on the job it was getting tough.  Client has arrived and is starting to apply the pressure.
• 8.15am - nets rigged and ready to go for reveal.  

Due to the small work room we were allocated, each net had to be made in 4 pieces.  Once each section is completed we had to send them out of the room and clamp them to the floor.  Once 4 pieces were completed we had to put them together to make one big cover, as Wendy is doing above.  Once done we 'wrapped' the net over the car and tied it down.

Interesting Facts

•  each net had just over 1500 helium filled balloons.
•  two balloons popped while rigging.  Each time it was a race to find which balloon had popped and make sure it's pair did not get away.  
• As we were bumping out there were a number of other car manufacturers coming to have a look at the Kia stand.
• This is the biggest job that I have ever undertaken, so great satisfaction to get it done.

8.15am and all is well.  From left to right we have Rebecca, Albert, Ian, Michelle, Dave, Maureen.  Wendy and Robyn had to leave just before the picture.  

My thanks to Rebecca and Michelle from The Party Hive,  Robyn from Bella Balloons and Maureen from Balloon Elegance for their invaluable assistance. 

*Click the above image to view the video!

International Nurses Day

The Nurses at Canterbury Hospital decided to make a splash for International Nurses Day 2013

Start with some great colourful bubble columns as you enter the hospital foyer

And then it wouldn't be the same without a big bright squiggly walkunder arch at the entry to the cafe.

To all the great nurses in our hospitals, we say thank you!! Glad we could help you celebrate the day!!

X Factor and Wharf4Ward

 

As the stars were beginning their rehearsal at 9am, we were packing up and leaving. Mission accomplished.  So let's back track a few hours..... 

 The Sony Foundation were raising money for You Can - the Youth Cancer organisation.  Woolloomooloo Wharf was the place.  Wharf4Ward was the event name

We had been given the challenge of transforming the wharf from drab to dazzling for the event. Colour, colour, colour was the theme.  Something to WOW the rich and famous and encourage them to dig deep.  As you can see from these pictures, we did not disappoint.



We created 3mtr tall topiary towers with a 3' balloon topper with the Sony Foundation logo printed on it.  Then 300 x 16" balloons tied in lots of three along the piers and rails. 

The X Factor contestants were on hand, and any X Factor Fans would have seen our fantastic balloons on the short clip they did of the Wharf4Ward event on the show a week ago.

 

 

 As you can see our 2.30am start did the job.  Woolloomooloo Wharf was looking stunning by 9am.  The guests arrived by midday and a good time was had by all.  Lots of money was raised and it was all because of the balloons!!!!  We had created the X Factor !!!

...OK, the fact that Jessica Mauboy and the Sapphires were performing may have helped a bit too !!!

 

 

A big thankyou to Maureen Egan (Balloon Elegance) and Robyn Colantonio (Bella Balloons) for their assistance on this job. 

50th Anniversary Presents

It was the Revesby Workers Club 50th Anniversary recently. To kick off the 50th Anniversary celebrations they wanted 500 balloons in the dome in their foyer.  These were to stay up for 4 days.

 

Then they requested the fabulous taper topiary towers at all major vantage points through the club.  Imagine walking into the club and having these great designs welcome you. 

 

Next there was the sports bar.  Something that would look great for the week, and still be there when they did the big prize draw.  This was when the starpoints came into their own.  We created the starpoint wall (and altered the bottom layer of starpoints) to fit the space perfectly.

And what was the big prize draw. Of course it was a brand new car - BMW in fact. This was on display at the front of the club and we made sure that everyone who came in knew that it was going to be given away.  "It's our birthday and you get all the presents!!"  That type of feel.

Happy 50th Birthday Revesby Workers.  We hope you liked our presents!

Big 3' Balloons for Big Spaces

3' Balloons are a bit of a favourite of mine.  They can be used to great effect in a number of different ways.  They are the best way of using big colour to fill in a large space, and create big colour impact.  Here are just a few ways we use big balloons at MAD Balloons.

Professionals Awards Night - 3' squiggle tower.

massive table bunch for the Wiggles/VW event.

3' balloons as table centrepieces in a very tall venue

3' balloon as comets with trailing star tails.

Some on the floor and some in the air

Wishing Well - Alice in Wonderland

 I was called to do an Alice In Wonderland theme for a 21st.  They wanted something special to fill an empty corner of the garden - the outdoor spa on order had not arrived yet.... so what to do with THAT spot.

 It was outdoors, so it needed to be robust.  I created this wishing well in short order. It was a huge hit and everyone wanted to have their photo taken with it.  It lasted the night and well into the next week before they called me to come and collect it. 

OK, so some people's idea of Alice in Wonderland is a bit twisted. Red Riding Hood and The Joker made a wish....but they won't tell me what they wished for..... It seems like a good time was had by all!



WBC2012 - registration and competitions

Good news is that we avoided a tornado, although some others in Texas got hit. Just saw a lady interviewed who survived as her house roof was taken away. Scary stuff.

I'd like to introduce you to Mr Q - Qualatex's new mascot.

Here is the finished foyer decor. We got it done first thing as most of the delegates check into the hotel during today....

... and also the paint pots are ready to be placed in the classrooms. Phew all done.


While some of us were finishing the decor, many of the Aussie team were again working feverishly, this time helping Amanda Girdlestone with her large sculpture competition. What a happy bunch.

I took this picture of a relatively empty room. Tomorrow I will try and take a pictures from a similar spot, and see if you can notice a change.

At the same time Azusa Ieizumi and her very talented team were starting on the Signature Sculpture. This is the main entry piece that you walk through as you enter the large space that holds classes/competition area/jam room and function space. They will transform this empty space....

...into this amazing entry.The Japanese are renowned for their intricate style and remarkable detail in their sculptures, and this design took that to a new level. These next few pictures emphasize that. Remember that this sculpture is 100% balloons.



That is it for now. The convention is about to get into full swing. Delegates are just about all here. The hotel has been transformed. All instructors are ready to roll. Let's go!

World Balloon Convention 2012

Welcome to my WBC2012 blog. Get your self a cuppa and kick back.

I am sitting on the tenth floor of the Shearton Hotel Dallas, and so far my toes are still dry. Rather bleak outside and the cable TV news stations are all having a great time with Tornado reports and doing live crosses to poor junior reporters stuck around Dallas getting absolutely drenched. Hair in face, barely able to keep their eyes open. Great viewing!

Anyway, we left Sydney airport on Sunday 18th. Here is my harem and I getting ready to board the plane for our 15 hour flight...


We arrived at the Balloon Convention and there were no balloons up anywhere. Quite a strange feeling really, but that was our job. The Aussie team had volunteered to decorate the foyer, main areas of the convention and the surrounds.
By the end of Monday we had to have the foyer completed.
We started the day with Tina having a birthday. A special hat and balloon for the lady turning 21...again!


7am and we are in our room, getting organised for the day. Not much sleep enjoyed by most of us. As you can see we got some special T-shirts made up for the team. Believe me you cannot miss us.


Mala, Amanda, Beth and Di had designed our theme. It was all about colour and coming together of individual colours to create a greater variety colours. Great metaphor ladies!They illustrated this via paint pots.
Here is Mala (...looks like Crystal doing all the work Mala...) and some of the many big paint pots being constructed with colour splashing out of them


My job was to frame the foyer piece. By far the largest frame I had ever had to design and build, and a definite challenge.


While I was constructing and attaching, the rest of the team were beavering away getting everything organised. We have the colour wheel going, paint pots in various sizes, the white balloon garlands stack are for the foyer wall. It is ALL happening.


By 1.30pm we were ready to rig. A major operation to get the 5 metre tall structure along the 2.5 high corridor and over the rail of the balcony in one piece. Yes it was 5 metres tall.


As you can see we completed the brief and the foyer and other areas were done. 95% decor completed before we clocked off at midnight. A mighty effort by the Aussie team. As I write Amanda, Matt and much of the team are about to start the construction of the large sculpture competition piece, so I hope to be able to bring you images of that in my next blog. They are pitting their talents against the best in the world. We wish them best of luck. I am excluded from that as I am an instructor, and may have to judge.
Going to do the 5% finishing touches so full and complete pictures in tomorrows post - including the foyer wall and Mr Q.

Sydney Roosters 2012 Season Opener

Our friends at the Sydney Roosters NRL Team wanted to start their first home game with a bang. They asked us to assist in this endeavour.

So, we created an arch to span the new promenade area (still under construction)at Allianz (SFS) Stadium. Here is Hannah and Wendy holding the arch....smile ladies!

The punters could all see the arch from some distance as they approached the stadium, and they all got to walk under it.
Go Roosters!!

They also wanted to have a sea of red, white and blue on the field to pay tribute to the late Arthur 'Artie' Beetson. Bring in 300 kids from the local footy teams and give them a 16" balloon each, and let them loose on the ground.

300x16" balloons distributed in double quick time was a bit of a logistical challenge, but the balloons definitely did the trick. A sea of red, white and blue.

It is noteworthy that the Roosters paid extra to do the right thing, and have a balloon weight individually tied to each of the 300 balloons, so the NSW State Gov't (illogical)law of not releasing balloons could be adhered to.

The Roosters had hoped the release the balloons at the end of the memorial to farewell Big Artie. Would have been a powerful and lovely gesture, and I have been to funerals (in other states) where this has taken place. However, in the great state of NSW the government has a ban on this practice - no other state has this ban, mind you....just NSW.....!!