This Is Guernsey

By Tom Edwards

Balloonists Gareth Le Page, left, and Mark Scott have started a company doing balloon tricks. (0565060)

DONALD DUCK, Road Runner, Popeye and The Flash are some of the colourful characters being brought to life by two enterprising balloonists.

After entertaining children for the past eight years with their overblown talents, Gareth Le Page and Mark Scott now have their sights set on the corporate market.

‘A financial services company booked us to do their Christmas dinner and it went really well,’ said Mr Le Page. ‘Adults try to say it’s just for kids, but deep down they absolutely love it. It’s time they start admitting to it and join in the fun.’

The pair have already worked at a number of prestigious events including the Home & Lifestyle Show and are booked in for Guernsey Live.

While some of the creations take a matter of seconds, many of the more complicated ones can take hours, such as a 120-balloon racing car.

However, the most popular one that people ask for is still the old favourite, the pink poodle.

‘I started off as a magician at children’s parties, but Gareth has taken the balloon concept much further,’ said Mr Scott.

‘I doubt there’s anyone much better than him on the island or even the UK. The look on people’s faces when they realise what can be done with balloons is magical.

‘Adults and children alike are spellbound by what we are doing. Some grown-ups seem a bit embarrassed to be asking for a balloon, but there’s no need – nobody is too old for a balloon.’

The pair realised that there was a gap in the market when they started getting enquiries for events such as black-tie dinners and adult birthday parties.

Other colourful characters the pair bring to life are Mr Incredible and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. SpongeBob SquarePants is currently a work in progress.

Both Mr Scott and Mr Le Page wear aprons that can be loaded with hundreds of balloons, a pump, marker pens and anything else that they might use.

Mr Le Page said it was a challenge to keep up with modern trends.

‘We don’t just settle for the same old boring things. I’ll see something and think, “I’ll have a go at making that” and it can take a while.’

Although the corporate market might be on the agenda, Mr Scott said it was still the younger audience that was the most demanding.

‘Adults try to catch you out by saying “go on then, make me a giraffe” and you surprise them by doing it in a couple of minutes, but kids have much more vivid imaginations.’

Call Mr Le Page on 727313 or 07781 100966 for more information.