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Balloon School with Joe Montella (DVD)


OVER FOUR HOURS of instruction!
FREE SHIPPING TO THE UNITED STATES. This product qualifies for PENGUIN FLAT-PACK™ (World-wide free shipping)
Price: $49.95

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These aren't your grandpa's balloon poodles. We're talking about FULL-ON works of art that make people want to hire you and pay you to "twist"!

If you love performing--and you're ready to get paid for it--take a lesson from one of the most successful balloon sculpters in the business, Joe Montella!

Grab some 260Qs and your personality, Balloon School is in session!

Who Needs Balloon School?

Hobbyists who love making beautiful art for people? Practically everyone loves balloon sculptures. This is one of the only arts in the world that takes so little time to master and gives so much! If you like making people smile, get Balloon School!

Working Professional Magicians looking to add extra value to their services. Get paid (a helluva lot) more after learning just the basic nine! Imagine doubling your current fees!

Balloon Artists looking for better material. You won't find a more marketable set of sculptures than the set Joe teaches in Balloon School!

Entrepreneurs looking for a way to make a living doing something fun and exciting! This isn't just an instructional DVD set. Joe's tips on getting hired, cold-calling, and maximizing your income make it a powerful business tool that has the power to change your future.

Balloon School is excellent for any performer, teacher, dentist, preacher, salesperson, parent, grandparent, uncle, big brother, big sister (the little ones too), magician, manager, presenter, boyfriend, girlfriend, scientist, doctor, pediatrician, or clown... anyone who was born to perform!

Get ready! School is in session!

You'll Learn:

The Tools:

  • The Balloons - How to select the ones you'll use, properly blow them up, tie them efficiently, and care for them in between gigs.
  • The Pump - How to select one that works for you.
  • The Apron - Design a performance apron to comfortably transport all of your gear!
The Techniques: The Basic Building Blocks of all Balloon Sculpture
  • The Bubble - The starting line. Just latex and air. It doesn't get any simpler than this. But if you don't know how the pros do it, even the bubble can be a challenge.
  • The Match - The secret to making two bubbles the same size.
  • The Lock - The key to locking two bubbles together so they'll hold position.
  • The Loop - A very useful tool because you can make it pretty much any size you want.
  • Pin Hole-ing the balloon - Technique to deflate the balloon mid-sculpture, this gives you tremendous control.
  • The Pinch-twist (The Teddy Bear Ear) - Joe says this is the most valuable of all the fundamental techniques... In fact, Joe's GIANT Penguin is 70% pinch-twists!
  • The Heart Manipulation - Who says diamond's are a girl's best friend? This technique gets a lot of use--especially on Valentine's Day.
  • The Poodle Tail - This technique is fun and easy, and it makes your poodle look like he just won a dog show. Also makes antennae look great!
  • Eyes, Ears, Mouth, Nose, Headlights, Spots, Etc. - How to add the finishing features to your balloon sculptures.
The Basic Nine Balloon Sculptures:
  • Dog - Quick and easy to make, you'll master this popular sculpture in no time!
  • Giraffe - An easy variation on the dog, highly recognizable, and great for kids.
  • Sword - The easiest balloon you'll ever make.
  • Flower - Pretty simple, great looking, and fun to give! Does not require water.
  • Airplane - A little more difficult, but you're ready for this GREAT giveaway!
  • Heart - Love is in the AIR!
  • Butterfly - A beautiful, impressive, and lifelike sculpture. A very popular request!
  • Teddy Bear - Slightly more difficult, but worth the effort. This is a CROWD PLEASER.
  • Cat (Tiger) - Great for kids. No litter box required!
Advanced Balloons: These are Joe's Most Requested Advanced Sculptures
  • Palm Tree - A cool and impressive sculpture on it's own AND a great sculpture to build on. Can sit on a table!
  • Monkey - EVERYBODY LOVES A MONKEY!
  • Monkey on Palm - Great for men, women, kids, EVERYONE!
  • Teddy Bear on Heart - If you're working on Valentines Day you'll make this sculpture hundreds of times!
  • Man (Man with Sword, Baseball Player, Hockey Player, Golfer, Soccer Player, Basketball Player) - One of the most requested and versatile balloons. Great for boys!
  • Mermaid - This is a favorite with the ladies! It's a highly detailed balloon and it comes with Joe's highest recommendation.
  • Baseball Cap - Adults and teens LOVE hats. This will be one of your most requested sculptures!
  • Jester's Hat - This crazy cap gets HUGE laughs. Especially popular at birthday parties!
  • Advanced Butterfly - Women LOVE this one.
  • Ladybug (Turtle) - Women LOVE this one EVEN MORE!
  • Motorcycle (Woman on Motorcycle, Man on Motorcycle, Monkey on Motorcycle) - Here's another fantastic balloon for the guys. It's a MUST-HAVE for you as a working professional.
  • Penguin - Our favorite!
  • Diamond Ring - One of Joe's most frequently requested balloons. Couples ask for this one all the time!
  • Chicken - This is one people will challenge you with all the time. Joe's chicken looks AWESOME, and yours will too.
  • Rose - This one makes a GREAT opener!
  • GIANT Five Balloon Tiger - This one blows people away!
Please note: All advanced sculptures feature an in-depth, over-the-shoulder recap from the Penguin Cam.

How to construct GIANT SCULPTURES

Joe regularly gets hired to create life-size promotional sculptures. Where do you start when you want to make a life-size 57 Chevy out of balloons? How about a LARGER-THAN-LIFE Penguin? Joe breaks it down step-by-step and helps you get started creating these unique and EXTREMELY MARKETABLE works of art.

Steps to Success: The Business side of Balloon Entertainment
  • How to Make Money as a Balloon Artist - If you're ready to GO PRO, you'll love Joe's advice on restaurant work, the difference between working in corporate owned restaurants V. "mom and pop" shops, birthday parties, what to charge, and a few words on agencies.
  • Once You're Making Money, How to Maximize your Income! Creating a buzz, generating positive word-of-mouth, networking, building rapport with your clients, customer service and sales tips, LIVE FOOTAGE of Joe making cold calls, and Joe's book recommendations.
  • Dealing with Rejection - Joe gels to it naturally, but here's a pep talk and some tips that make sure you don't let rejection get you down.
  • Dealing with Hecklers - It's gonna happen. Here are Joe's guidelines on how to handle the situation. No one-liners here because every situation is different.
Bonus Material:
  • Inserting Objects into your sculptures (Ladybug) - Imagine giving a prospect your phone number this way!
  • Performance Montage - See Joe live in action as he becomes "The Balloon Guy" and works the Las Vegas Strip. See how he interacts with the kids, the parents, and everyone in between!

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Customer Reviews (showing 1 - 10 of 80)
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Not a bad intro, but also missing some key fundamentals Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 30th, 2013
I recently picked balloon twisting back up after a 15-year hiatus, and got this video as part of the 'Choose 5 for $99' deal as a means to re-introduce myself to some fundamentals and re-learn some of the more complex designs. While it was pretty good for that, I didn't really love Joe's presentation style (he seems constipated through the whole thing, and every smile he shows looks forced and awkward), and he glossed over (or completely skipped) some key concepts that I know to be fundamental to the practice, and there were a few 'standard' sculpture designs that he never teaches or mentions. So, although I appreciate the overall contents of the video, I spent about 2/3rds of the time thinking that I could have made a much better video. I certainly wouldn't recommend paying full price for this video, but if you need a basic all-in-one intro to twisting, it's worthwhile as part of the 'Choose 5' deal.
11 of 12 magicians found this helpful.
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Some good info for sure... Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on May 26th, 2011
When I received the Order 5 for 99 bucks recently, I decided to check out Joe's Balloon School. I have considered it in the past, but wasn't sure what I thought. I've been doing Balloon Twisting for 25 years, so do already have a pretty decent repertoire.

But, my attitude & opinion is, if you find ONE item on a DVD worth value to you, then it was worth the purchase, plus I love supporting other Artists.

I read through the reviews, and they were all pretty good, so I decided to 'go for it'. I have mixed feelings about this DVD offer. My fiance watched it with me, and about halfway through, she said, 'This guy is very boring to listen to'. We still watched the whole DVD, and there IS definitely some great info here, for beginners for sure.

If you are already a Pro Twister, I don't honestly think you will get a lot out of this, but for sure a beginner or maybe an amateur will gleam some great advice.

On the more advanced stuff, I did LOVE Joe's Mermaid (very simple but very cute), and his Rose, and Diamond Ring. Everything else I already make, a little differently of course.

I do a LOT of line work, so there were a few 'tips' that Joe didn't show, that I use all the time, to prevent kids from taking apart their creation. I was surprised Joe didn't show this simple technique.

Another tip I'm surprised Joe didn't share was 'mouth inflating vs. pump inflating'. In all my workshops I always explain that with 'mouth inflating', which I do a lot myself, but you are blowing 'hot' air into the balloon, and this 'does' make your balloons more brittle, whereas with a pump, you are inflating with cooler air. From my experience, I have much less popping when I pump inflate, especially in a warmer environment.

Joe's Steps to Success & Business Advice was very good, but of course already known to other Pro's.

My fiance and I agreed Joe is NOT a teacher, but is very good on the street and entertaining.

Joe's DVD would definitely be very good for a person just starting out, no question. So I can recommend it to a Beginner, but don't really think an Amateur or Pro would get a lot out of it. Is it worth the price; well in my opinion, maybe just a lil overpriced. 29.95 would have been much more reasonable. I believe a Beginner would really enjoy it. Joe's DVD has certainly inspired me to begin working on my 'first' DVD.
7 of 8 magicians found this helpful.
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Very basic Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on July 19th, 2015
The DVD is good in that it teaches the basic twists, and some very basic balloon animals. There are some suggestions on how to find work, as well.
But even the most cursory search on the internet will give you equally good instruction on the basics, and significantly better animals to do. I was seriously hoping that Balloon School would have more than just the basics.

I'd skip this. If you're anything but a beginner, you'll be disappointed. If you are a beginner, find the basics for free on you tube.
5 of 7 magicians found this helpful.
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EXCELLENT WORK JOE! Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 17th, 2011
Ok, FIVE WHOPPING STARS!
Joe Montella took the time and patience making a tutorial should have. His explanations for everything were incredibly accurate and he took exactly the right steps for teaching.
I've been working with Balloons since the early 90's as an "EXTRA" in my Magic Performances. I started with (and still use) Captain Visuals Balloon Book. When I saw Joe's Preview Video I thought I'd be wasting money buying this DVD, but as soon as I started watching my Download Version I was completely satisfied.
Looking at Balloons from his mind's eye (sculpting) has shown me a different light and will make balloonary something more in my performances.
GET THIS DVD! You will not be disappointed (oh yeah, buy a bunch of balloons too, sold here, 260Q's and 160Q's, LOTS) and you will learn a LOT from this guy.
Hats off to you Joe and all the best wishes for you out there!
3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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Hats off to Joe Montella! Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on August 24th, 2010
I got this DVD a loong time ago, maybe like, a year and a half, I watched it sometimes and I didn't own any balloons, but since there was this 5 for 99-deal I added this, because you never know when you need this.

A couple of weeks ago I finally decided to start off with balloon sculpturing, so I bought myself some 260's and the balloon-pump Joe recommended in the DVD, and yesterday I recieved the balloons in the mail from Penguin, and I thought at first it was going to be very difficult, but no, it wasn't all that difficult.
Maybe you have a little bit of trouble in the beginning, but once you learn all the basics, you can do almost anything.

Joe is a great teacher and he doesn't leave anything out! He's maybe a little too quick on how to do all the sculptures, but he said that before he started, so it's OK. great thing DVD players have a pause-button. ;)

Thank you Joe for this absolutely outstanding DVD!

oh, and one last thing for everyone else: ADD TO CART!
3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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Well built explanations Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 10th, 2020
The lesson is well built, starting from the basics and moving up. The making of the balloon figures are well explained. I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn how to work with balloons (kids love it).
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Not Just Hot Air! Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on November 28th, 2019
I had the pleasure of meeting Joe Montella, and he is very articulate and a very knowledgeable person. I think Joe was a little mechanical in the video but he is nothing like that. Joe is very eloquent and insightful and has many stories to tell, to keep your interest. I bought Balloon School before I met Joe and asked him to Autograph the copy that I bought which, he didn’t hesitate to do so. I am a novice with balloon design but have learned a lot from Joe’s video. Joe’s a great guy and this is a fantastic DVD!
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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The perfect start for ballooning. Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on July 1st, 2013
Bought this without ever having made balloon animals before (apart from making a dog once when I was a kid), and really never even putting much thought into doing so. Now a few weeks after getting this, I've already done a birthday party with plenty more on the way, and have been asked to make them at a big fund raiser in a couple weeks. The skills you learn on this dvd will so quickly have you making way more impressive balloon animals than you probably knew existed.

By the time you go through the techniques section, it is fairly limitless what you can make with some imagination. There are plenty of designs taught here (and are taught very well), but even if what you want to make isn't detailed here, it isn't hard to figure out how to make what you want using the loops and twists that you learn.

If balloon twisting sounds at all like something you'd be interested in doing, pick this dvd up.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Balloon School Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on December 12th, 2011
The DVD is a relief. I am more visually inclined when it comes to learning certain things. I do love books, but the DVD sped me through the basics right up to the more advanced balloon twisting.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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If you're a newbie? Get this Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on February 16th, 2021
I'm not sure if I got this here or somewhere else, but this DVD is an excellent introduction to balloon art. Maybe there are better. Maybe this isn't the best? But it's good. It WILL teach you from the ground up how to be a basic balloonist. 'Nuff said.
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
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