Simple Introduction

[balloonanimals]

Ahoy to one and all. (Sup)

I am manipulator of inflated bags of elastic. ( I make balloon animals)

My profession is entertainment, and I want merge two worlds into one character and performance.

What would a steampunk balloon twister look like? what would he wear, and how would he talk.

Help is always appreciated.

-Mike
balloon-animals.com

[SteampunkBuilder]

I do so enjoy the mental exercise of steampunk-ifying different occupations! Please tell us, is this artisan a circus performer, shop keeper, tinkerer, inventor, or what? It would certainly make a difference!

[Mr. Boltneck]

Depending on exactly how you want to define your stage presence, on the gentleman-to-ruffian axis, the two obvious models in my mind are stage magician (think Maskelyne, Blackstone, Thurston, Houdin, etc.) and carnival/sideshow showman. For the one, formal dress, top hat, and elegant patter and gestures. For the other, sleazy gaudiness, loud hyperbolic speech, and an undertone of menace. I suppose if you sort of overlap the two, you get Joel Gray in Cabaret...

[balloonanimals]

Hmm...

I would be middle class, not a nobleman.
I suppose I would be a inventor, not so much a scientist, more of a tinkerer.
I'd definitely be a dreamer, a quarky person who figures out how to fashion things from balloons to fill unusual needs.
I've been thinking along the lines of a balloon smith. 

I really like the contrast of steampunk's hard and durable to the balloon's soft and delicate.

I figured I would modify a balloon pump with gears and metal plating, plus lots of finer details.

The general idea for my show I have is solving a problem by use of "balloon smith-ing".

For example, if it were to rain, I'd make a balloon umbrella.

The general concept is un-inflated balloons take up little space, and can be inflated at one's convenience. They can me manipulated into any shape to fill any purpose. I'm basically trying to make a steampunk character that thinks balloons are this great discovery, sort of a cross between legos and duct tape.

[Kuma]

I believe a fine mustache would be in order

[Reuben Rebellis]

Excellent idea, sir.  The very thought is quite amusing.
Just be sure to not simply hotglue some gears to stuff.  A showman must be aesthetically awesome.

I can just imagine balloon derbys being passed out to little kids and whatnot.

[Arvis]

 Perhaps an air manifold with multiple nipples for inflating several balloons at once. (heh, sounds burlesque) It would look nifty with pressure gauges and air hoses. And possibly even useful. It could be mounted on a stand sort of like a hat rack. Or you could carry a pressure tank on your back like a ruck sack. I can forsee several possibilities for this sort of character.

 Arvis

[balloonanimals]

I'm thinking the show will be a display of commerce information ( it's a infomercial)

Where I show the various uses for balloon smithing.

Each demonstration will have a critical flaw, and thus the gag. It will be a series of extremely inconvenient conveniences.

So far I have making a balloon sword for a duel (which will pop if it comes into contact with and actual sword), writing a note in balloons (with the use of several dozen helpers to helpers each letter) instead of using a quill and ink, and having a very large semi transportable balloon inflator ( contasts thae convience of carrying the balloons, with the incontinence  of dragging this huge pump around)

[Arvis]

Each demonstration will have a critical flaw, and thus the gag. It will be a series of extremely inconvenient conveniences.

 You gonna fill some o'them balloons with hydrogen then?

Arvis