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LLL052 Robbie Furman: Balloon Missionary @twisticologist

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Mar 14 0
Robbie Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

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Robbie Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Robbie Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Here is the sixth part of a six-part series featuring those special people who make art and entertainment out of folding air into latex balloons. Our conversations centered on making a living doing art, how they started in the biz and their creative processes. Laypeople and twisters alike will enjoy these fantastic conversations.

Robbie tells Lanna about his missionary work, how he loves to help people, and his simple creative process. Robbie and Lanna geek out about balloons, while Robbie explains how he got started twisting. Robbie makes Lanna cry. And he anwers 10 questions.

Robbie Furman

Originally from Parsippany, New Jersey Robbie Furman, CBA has been working with balloons for over 20 years. His original designs and techniques have become the mainstay of many balloon decorators and artists the world over.

As a small boy, Robbie saw his first twisted balloon at a birthday party and told his mother he wanted to make balloons when he grew up. His mother quickly replied…”Yes Dear, I’ll remind you…now go play” Well, his mother forgot to remind him, but years later, while working in a used book store, Robbie found a copy of Balloon Magic, by Marvin Hardy- and as they say, the rest is history.

With this new love and knowledge of balloons, Robbie started volunteering at various non-profit events and, after several years, had a calling to become a full-time volunteer. He dedicated a year and half of his life to missionary work in San Diego and also served in the Domestic Peace Corps. During that time, he used his balloons to put smiles on many peoples’ faces. As a result of these experiences, he had a chance to try new things with his balloons and venture into the Deco-twisting world full-time.

Robbie is currently based in the Northern New Jersey area, where his unique style has allowed him to decorate for thousands of events over the years. His balloons have been seen on ABC’s All My Children, One Life to Live, Live with Regis and Kelly, Ugly Betty and Good Morning America.

Over the past several years, Robbie has been teaching his Deco-Twisting style to thousands of students around the world. Most recently Robbie has traveled to Israel, France, Italy, Colombia, Japan, and England.

Robbie’s passion and desire is to share his balloon knowledge and enthusiasm with those around the world. Recently, Robbie was awarded the Golden Light Award, given in honor of the late Linda Bruce.

The 411: Robbie Furman

LLL051 Suzanne Haring: In the Moment @TheSooziShow

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Mar 7 0
Suzanne lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:09 — 38.2MB) | Embed

Suzanne lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Suzanne lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Here is the fifth part of a six-part series featuring those special people who make art and entertainment out of folding air into latex balloons. Our conversations centered on making a living doing art, how they started in the biz and their creative processes. Laypeople and twisters alike will enjoy these fantastic conversations.

Suzanne and Lanna talk about getting paid for their work, career trajectories, reinventing themselves, and being the funny girls. Daughter of an opera singer, Suzanne explains why she doesn’t sing. Lanna airs some dirty laundry. Suzanne chats about her time as a Clown in Residence at Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. And she answers 10 questions.

Suzanne Haring

Suzanne Haring is The Soozi Show! Sheʼs been bringing her unique brand of entertainment to family & corporate events, movie premieres and festivals all around the world since 1982.

Soozi has entertained at parties for both the NY Yankees and the LA Angels playersʼ families (major rivals in… football is it?), performs in one-of-a-kind balloon body puppets on stilts (and once on a Segway!) at Disney Movie Premieres including Up, Wall-e, Ratatouille, & Pirates of the Caribbean 2, 3 & 4 (accidently blocking Johnny Depp’s entourage with her big-arse balloon ship). She is one of 60 multinational performers invited to entertain at the First 3 International Clown Festivals in Mainland China, has been the Production Manager for the world’s largest balloon art project – Airigami’s Balloon Manor (a 10,000sf haunted mansion built from over 100,000 balloons), entertained hundreds of hospitalized children with the award winning Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit in NY, performed her Statue of Liberty on Stilts for the 2004 Republican National Convention, body painted models at The Playboy Mansion(!) and entertained at family parties for The Sultan of Brunei (and lived to tell about it!), Johnny Depp, Neil Patrick Harris and lots of other nice people.

Suzanne is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the world famous MAGIC CASTLE in Hollywood.

The 411: Suzanne Haring

LLL050 Danny Schlesinger: School for Fools @circoridiculoso

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Feb 28 1
Danny Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:04 — 36.3MB) | Embed

Danny Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Danny Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Here is the fourth part of a six-part series featuring those special people who make art and entertainment out of folding air into latex balloons. Our conversations centered on making a living doing art, how they started in the biz and their creative processes. Laypeople and twisters alike will enjoy these fantastic conversations.

Danny and Lanna talk about performing with balloons, circus skills and giving feedback. Danny admits he’s an idiot. Lanna asks Danny what he thinks of the United States and remarks that he is her first foreigner on the show. Danny talks about working with Avner the Excentric at the Celebration Barn Theater and describes his creative process. And he answers 10 questions.

The 411: Danny Schlesinger

Danny Schlesinger is an award winning performer who works in theatre, circus, cabaret, tv and film. He has worked with (amoung many) The Royal Opera, The Natural Theatre Company, Circus Sensible, Dynamic New Animations and in 2005 made his West End debut in “Burlesque!” at the Arts Theatre, London. He has performed at the London International Mime Festival and at theatres, corporate events and variety shows. Danny’s film and TV credits include Happiness (BBC2), Jack Dee’s Sunday Service (CH4) and Danny was Homer Simpson. Danny was also the lead in “Sniffer” – a Norwegian short film which has won many awards including the best short film at Cannes 2006.

Danny produces his own solo balloon shows for theatres and events and has won awards for doing this!

The 411: Danny Schlesinger

LLL049 Larry Moss: Experiencing the Art @airigami

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Feb 21 0
Larry lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:15 — 34.7MB) | Embed

Larry lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Larry lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Here is the third part of a six-part series featuring those special people who make art and entertainment out of folding air into latex balloons. Our conversations centered on making a living doing art, how they started in the biz and their creative processes. Laypeople and twisters alike will enjoy these fantastic conversations.

Larry and Lanna chat about art, minor celebrity and being balloon famous. They discuss using community to create large-scale balloon sculptures and the ins and outs of getting a Guinness World record. Lanna quizzes Larry about his adventures in Cannes with Bright Bricks and Aardman Animations. Larry talks about his really bad Harry Anderson impression. And he answers 10 questions.

Larry Moss

Larry Moss began his career in 1985 as a NYC street performer, but has gone on to display his amazing air-filled art in 12 countries on four continents. His achievements have been recognized by The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, CNN Headline, PBS, Smithsonian Magazine, American Profile and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Moss has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, NBC’s “Today” and at the White House, and has held the Guinness World Record for the largest non-round balloon sculpture since 2000. The author of many published ballooning books, Larry also has a degree in applied math and computer science, as well as a master’s in elementary education. Building community through his large-scale art creations is of particular interest to Larry, and was the focus of his 2009 TEDx talk in Rochester, NY.

The 411: Larry Moss

LLL048 Annie Banannie: Breaking the Rules @BalloonStory

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Feb 14 0
Annie Lounged with LannaLee and Got a Couch!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:00 — 59.1MB) | Embed

Annie Lounged with LannaLee and Got a Couch!

Annie Lounged with LannaLee and Got a Couch!

Here is the second part of a six-part series featuring those special people who make art and entertainment out of folding air into latex balloons. Our conversations centered on making a living doing art, how they started in the biz and their creative processes. Laypeople and twisters alike will enjoy these fantastic conversations.

Annie and Lanna talk about collaboration, being creative and getting in touch with their inner brats. They discuss the finer points of improv. Annie confesses she doesn’t want a job and ponders the eternal question “Why do you think that’s funny?” And she answers 10 questions.

About Annie Banannie in her own words

Hi, I’m Annie Banannie …

When you’re a kid, having the courage to write a story and share it with others is a huge thing!

I travel to elementary schools and show students how fun it is to write a story, and then I give them a reason to share it: How about a contest with awesome prizes? After we’re done with the assembly, the teachers use my contest and the classroom materials to make writing assignments feel like a game.

Why am I so passionate about this? I was THAT KID – the kid who couldn’t control my impulses: always getting in trouble, talking in class, etc.

I was BORED. (A little ADD didn’t help things either.) I only wanted to learn what I was interested in, not the class assignments. So, I got to know the principal a little too well.

Then I found music and theater. This was it! Here were the stories I loved, and now I got to tell them – loudly! Life was good, but only outside of school.

Later, I discovered making up stories with kids is even more fun than musical theater. The sillier the story, the more fun we have, and the more we learn together. You see, kids don’t hate to learn. They just want to learn stuff they’re interested in, not what the California State Standards say it’s time for them to learn.

So, our challenge: Can we make the educational standards exciting? You betcha.

I turn California Language Arts Standards into a 60-minute creative extravaganza where students can’t wait to share what they know.

I’m also the founder of StorytellerKids.com, which will be a safe online community where kids can share stories they write and earn prizes while they’re at it!

My experiences as a kid in music and theater, and later as a storyteller, have shown me that if kids get passionate about something, there’s no stopping them. Now let’s bring that passion into the classroom and watch what happens.

The 411: Anne Banannie

LLL047 Tawney Bubbles Is Delightful @TawneyBubbles

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Feb 7 0
Tawney lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:30 — 33.9MB) | Embed

I am excited to present the first part of a six-part series featuring those special people who make art and entertainment out of folding air into latex balloons. Our conversations centered on making a living doing art, how they started in the biz and their creative processes. Laypeople and twisters alike will enjoy these fantastic conversations.

Tawney lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Tawney lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Tawney and Lanna talk about balloon twisting, performance and living the artist’s life. They tease each other about adult stuff and dish on balloon dresses. Tawney explains how she started in the biz. And she answers 10 questions.

Tawney Bubbles

So who is Tawney Bubbles? She’s the luckiest girl in the whole wide world, that’s who. At nearly 18, an eager faced little high school graduate set out for higher education. Turns out, college is really expensive. Reluctantly, she had to get a job. In a move that was part joke, and part rebellion, she became a clown (her mom is very proud).

Four years, well maybe five years, okay five and a half years later, she had her degree. She contemplated a real job, but after careful reflection, eventually said, “$!@#% that!” She’s been playing with balloons ever since.

The 411: Tawney Bubbles

LLL046 Special Report: From Twist & Shout Pajama Jam

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Jan 31 0

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:14 — 22.2MB) | Embed

Hear what it sounds like when a bunch of Balloon Twisters get togethter for a late-night Balloon Jam sesson at Twist & Shout, a convention for balloon entertainers and their ilk. I ask Victor, Sander, Crystal, Soozi, Brian, Nate, Connie and Todd 5 questions. With funtastic results!

Victor

Victor

Sander

Sander

Crystal

Crystal

Soozi & Lanna

Soozi & Lanna

Brian

Brian

Nate

Nate

Connie

Connie

Todd

Todd