OK, they say that the first week of school is dead for restaurants.
But so far this week, Face Painter Phyllis and I (Tony the Balloon Guy) had one of our busiest Mondays at Chili’s, and probably our very busiest Wednesday at Golden Corral. And one of the managers at Golden Corral said Monday and Tuesday were super slow.
Can’t wait to get to Anthony’s Italian Restaurant tonight!
Thanks for coming, everybody!
Have a fun day!
Yesterday at The Shops At Wiregrass, everyone loved the balloons. Even the man who did the puppet show came over and said how good the balloons were. One of the moms told me (Tony the Balloon Guy), “You blow away the guy at Texas Roadhouse.”
I hear these you’re-better-than-so-and-so comparisons all the time, and the competitive part of me, that I try to hide deep inside, always secretly enjoys them.
Except Monday night at Chili’s.
That’s when a lad of about four years old, grinning, and just about bouncing up and down in his seat, exclaimed, “You’re WAY better than the guy at Cici’s!!!”
Uh, I’M the guy at Cici’s!
I had never been so simultaneously complimented and insulted in my life. But we grown-ups all had a good laugh.
To be fair to the youngster, he asked, “You’re the guy who’s card we got?” I said yes, and asked, “Did it have balloons on it?” It didn’t. It was one of my old purple-with-a-smile-face cards.
So maybe I’m just WAY better than I used to be!!!!!!
Have a fun day!
Since I (Tony the Balloon Guy) am from Wisconsin, I’ve been a Packer fan since before I really followed football. But I didn’t really ENJOY being a Packer fan until Brett Favre came along.
I’m still a Packer fan, but seeing Number 4 in Vikings purple is what will make the season fun for me to follow. Maybe that independent spirit that makes me an entrepreneur also makes me root for individuals more than institutions.
Oh, and, uh, go Bucs!
Have a fun day!
Dariela e-mailed because she loves my (Tony the Balloon Guy’s) balloon hats on the website, and wanted me to send her one.
“But I think that’s impossible,” she wrote, “since I live in Honduras and they are made of balloons, right?”
I bet she’d open the box to find a handful of colorful latex spaghetti.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Spaghetti….
Have a fun day!
On Wednesday, August 26th, I (Tony the Balloon Guy) will perform 10-11:30 A.M. at TampaBay Parenting Magazine’s event at the Shops at Wiregrass, which is the new mall in Wesley Chapel, or Lutz, or New Tampa, or whatever that area is near State Road 56, east of Interstate 75.
If all goes well, I should be there every Wednesday morning.
Have a fun day!
Last night at Golden Corral, a little boy asked me (Tony the Balloon Guy) if I’ve ever looked under my house.
“Uh, yes, I have,” I said.
“Did you see anything black and white?” he asked.
“No…”
“Well, if you ever do, that’s my cat.”
Have a fun day!
Face Painter Phyllis and I (Tony the Balloon Guy) have been taking The Next Generation skating at Rainbow Rollerland in Brooksville the last several Tuesdays before school starts again. As we sit and watch them skate, now and then another kid (meaning, not one of ours) will stop right in front of use and stare at us. “Hey, you’re the balloon guy…” “You painted my face!” That kind of thing.
Yesterday, one of those kids, who had recognized me the week before, came up to me and asked for two dollars so he could upgrade to in-line skates. I said I couldn’t help, and it was no big deal, but I talked to Phyllis about it, because it’s amazing how often kids will ask me for money. They want to play a game at a restaurant, they want to upgrade their skates…
Phyllis said that happens to her, too. She said maybe it’s just ’cause we’re familiar, and the kids feel comfortable with us.
That seemed to be confirmed a little while later, when the lad came by carrying his in-line skates. He grinned. “My teacher’s here, and she gave me the money.”
Softie!
By the way, Rainbow Rollerland? Awesome fun for a great price. I love the old-fashioned stuff, and this is a family business that’s just cool. Check them out if you’re in Hernando County. Not shiny new, but such a good time, and you can’t beat the bargain.
Have a fun day!
We have new neighbors!
Bill asked if we (Tony the Balloon Guy and Face Painter Phyllis) wanted to sell a pony, and I explained that we use the ponies as part of our entertainment business. Turned out his son had a birthday coming up, so we did a party for them Sunday.
Phyllis painted faces, and I walked a pony (Gator). No balloons this time.
Walking a pony would be deathly dull if you didn’t interact with the rider. Get them to do a rodeo pose, or wave a hat, or shout “Yee Haw!” Something. Conversation usually works.
That day I asked most of the kids what they like to do for fun. “Go to the park or the beach.” “Ride my dirt bike.” That kind of thing.
A pretty little three-year-old girl said, “I take baths, and I eat food a lot.”
That was funny, but then I realized, those things ARE pretty fun!!!
Have a fun day!
When I (Tony the Balloon Guy) do a magic show – say, for a birthday party, a scout troup, or whatever – sometimes magical things happen when I’m not looking. The kids go crazy trying to get me to see it, but whenever I look, there’s no magic.
That happened Saturday with a magic coloring book. Every time I looked at the pages, the pictures were colored in. Whenever I wasn’t looking, the kids CLAIMED that the colors were gone. They went MAD trying to convince me.
A five-year boy finally stood up, held out his hand, and demanded, “Just give it to me so I can show you.”
The parents roared, and I had to put the book under my arm so I could applaud the little guy.
Sometimes everything just clicks.
Have a fun day!
The Dunkin Donuts in Lutz had their grand reopening Saturday. Games, bounce house, Tony the Balloon Guy… nice celebration!
Those people – staff AND customers – are really nice! If you got a hankerin’ for a donut, or an ice cream, or a coffee, or some hashbrowns, and you’re in the Lutz neighborhood, stop by.
And if your business has a promotion or something else to celebrate, and you need a balloon guy, or a face painter, or a glitter tattoo artist, or a pony ride, or a juggler, or a magic show, or a fortune teller, or even elegant atmospheric piano noodling…
