OddThinking

So, you know when your friends get a bit bored of juggling, and someone pulls out a bag of modelling balloons for a practice session? You know what it’s like. We’ve all been there, exchanging designs, sharing tips, comparing war stories, while we inflate and twist those balloons into novel forms.

When the session is drawing to close…
when everyone is clutching some impressive multi-balloon creation they want to learn…
when there is a pile of 20 varieties of balloon dog in the corner…
when the floor is covered with scraps of latex…
when you are practically tripping over the amorphous remains of balloon animals that didn’t quite make it – like a parrot whose head and beak still are still inflated, but its body is missing…

… well, that’s when I like to tell this little story.

I once saw this fantastic balloon-artist perform. Well, actually, he wasn’t a balloon-artist, but really a mime artist.

He took out this pretend balloon.

And he mimed inflating it.

Then he tied it, off, and started folding it.

He was much better at this than me; he clearly was making a dog!

But then, he pulled out a real needle.

And he slowly brought it closer to the pretend dog.

He really had the crowd’s attention. As the needle got closer, they started calling out “No! Don’t do it!”

But he ignored them, and just let the needle get closer and closer.

He brought the needle closer… and closer… and then… suddenly!

I love this prank. Get the suspense right, the timing right, and the hidden balloon exploding loud enough, and you can make people really jump.

I tried it again today, and it worked beautifully. I don’t remember where I got the idea from, over a decade ago, but I’ve certainly milked it since then!