Balloon Basics Guide

Balloon Drops + Releases

One way to determine your pricing is based on the number of balloons involved. Take a constant and multiply by the cost of supplies, or supplies plus labor multiplied by the constant. For releases using helium, be sure to include a mark-up on your gas. And if there is a rigging fee for set-up or any union labor involved, factor that into your quote and be sure to add a reasonable mark-up.

BS10 Deluxe Balloon Net Net is now white. Black shown for illustrative purposes only.

Š Š As a guide, a beginner can inflate 75–100 (non-sized) balloons per hour, whereas an experienced artist can inflate 300 balloons per hour. Š Š Always, always, always, carry insurance! And honor and obey the rules of the venue so you are sure to be welcome again.

Balloon drops are not just for New Year’s Eve galas anymore! The days of isolating such an extravagant event to celebrate another year’s end are long gone. Today’s balloon professionals are suggesting drops at wedding receptions, milestone anniversaries, graduations, political rallies, and of course surprise birthday parties. Successful balloon drops and releases are time consuming, labor intensive, and tend to be costly. When quoting these jobs, be certain that you and your team possess the necessary skills and equipment to make the industry proud. Hold a practice run prior to the actual event if necessary. Be sure to visit the venue before promising to deliver a drop or release. BE PREPARED A job cost sheet is critical in preplanning and executing large jobs. When pricing/bidding on a job, consider the following: theme, location, date and time of the event, set-up and tear down time needed, room limitations or challenges, and individual overhead and margin requirements. One way to determine your pricing is based on the number of balloons involved. Take a constant and multiply by the cost of supplies, or supplies plus labor multiplied by the constant. For releases using helium, be sure to include a markup on the helium cost. And if there is a rigging fee for setup or any union labor involved, factor that into your quote and be sure to add a reasonable mark-up.

TIPS OF THE TRADE A common oversight when promising a balloon drop is overlooking the necessary ample ceiling clearance and work space. Most inflation is done on-site as the number of balloons can vary from 150–150,000.

CHECK YOUR STATE + LOCAL LAWS

Be aware of any mandates regarding the legality of balloon releases in your area. And NEVER, NEVER, NEVER release foil balloons.

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Phone 800-241-2094 + Fax 800-880-9759