Balloons – inside or outside
May 23rd, 2011When doing balloons, I generally prefer to work inside. Sure, working inside provides protection from the weather, but it also helps the balloons.
For the most part, surfaces are smoother indoors. Outside, balloons can pop when they come in contact with leaves and grass; concrete and bricks; and a variety of other rough surfaces. Also, on a sunny day, a dark colored surface (especially metal or pavement) can get very hot. These conditions all present popping hazards for balloons.
In addition to issues related to rough surfaces, changes in temperatures can also cause the balloons to pop. The air inside a balloon will expand or contract when exposed to changes in temperature which could lead to popping. After one winter event, I was wearing a balloon hat when I left a gig and walked about 100 yards outside in the cold. When I got inside again, my balloon was about 10-20% smaller. Going from a cool indoor space to a hot outdoor space can have the opposite effect where the balloon will expand 10% and risk popping. I have also noticed that if I make sample balloons in the morning, they will start to spontaneously pop a few hours later when the temperature has risen 10-15 degrees.
When I do balloons, I try to take into account the surrounding conditions. On a hot day, I will try to make the balloons a little softer. I will also try to make smaller balloons like hats or bracelets that are less likely to pop or come into contact with rough surfaces.
I know that I cannot guarantee that a balloon will NOT pop, but if I do my part, I can increase the chance that the balloon will last until the kids make it home.