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| Volume 19, Number 11 | Week of December 9, 2004 |
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Shawn Hobbs can stretch, morph and create almost any creature from his pocketful of balloons Story by MARTIN JIMENEZ Pinnacle Staff Writer
"This is one of my most valued possessions," said Hobbs, an electrician by day. A quick glance at the shoebox filled with customer survey/response cards explains why the box is his personal treasure. "Not only did you do a great job with the balloons, but with the children as well. Thank you soooooo much! You MADE our party," is written on one card. On another card are the words, "If I could build a children's entertainer from scratch, I would build Shawn Hobbs." This statement is especially appropriate to someone who takes working with children so seriously. "There is a huge need for children's entertainment," said Hobbs, who is likely the only entertainer in the area who specializes in balloon art. "Specifically there is a need for live, honest (and) genuine children's entertainers who love working with children." Hobbs considers himself a Professional Balloon Artist with a capital P. That class, dignity, and etiquette are important to him is evident through his clean appearance. "I work with kids, but with a level of professionalism," said Hobbs, whose uniform includes a button-up, yellow, short-sleeved shirt, children's Bible-themed cartoon ties and an apron with his company name, "A Twist on Balloons," embroidered on the front. "He has a good bedside manner, so to speak," said John Matarangas of Morgan Hill, who last week enjoyed watching his kids, Ryan and Jonathan, receive a balloon giraffe and balloon dog from Hobbs while eating dinner at Scramblz diner in Morgan Hill. Shawn warns there is a difference between a balloon artist such as himself and other entertainers who happen to make balloon animals. The difference is he "can do 200 designs and at lightning speed," compared with all-in-one entertainers, who are usually clowns that may only know a few balloon designs, filling the rest of the time with jokes and magic tricks. Hobbs started down the balloon-twisting road on his twelfth birthday, with a magic kit his mom bought for him at a Hallmark store. "Originally I wanted to be a magician," said Hobbs, who studied magic during high school, as well as other kid-friendly trades. "I can do juggling, face painting, anything that compliments working with kids." "I still, to this day, enjoy watching people twist balloons," said Hobbs, who last month took his 9-year-old sister and 11-year-old brother to a magic show. "I was hooting and hollering more than they were." He employs his 18-year-old sister, Kaili, to help manage his hectic life. She does paperwork and the dishes, buys groceries and refills his aprons with the size-260 balloons (which are two inches wide and 60 inches long) that he uses for his creations. Hobbs has also begun to train his younger brother and sister to perform at parties when he is too busy. But Hobbs considers his real legacy to be the balloon ministry that has led him to teach kids about God through balloons in Mexico, Canada and the Philippines. During trips to these and other places through his church, West Hills Community Church in Morgan Hill, Hobbs has taught locals how to twist balloons; he often leaves supplies behind for the community, including his embroidered aprons. Hobbs owes a lot to his church; his business began through friends and associations in the church, where he teaches Sunday school to third and fourth graders. Recently, a man in Brazil wanted to use Hobbs' balloon designs and curriculum, which Hobbs designed as a senior project at Live Oak High School, to teach 100 kids about God. "The Armor of God" curriculum calls for a balloon helmet, shield, breastplate, belt and shoes that follow the theme of an analogy found in Ephesians 10, a book in the Bible. Though Hobbs passes on his balloon knowledge in person, he learned the art of balloon twisting through a library of 15 books and seven "how-to" videos, plus subscriptions to magazines such as "Balloons & Parties." He boasts that he can "make whatever you want if you just show me a picture." And apparently some young clients really appreciate his creations. In what other job can "you show up at someone's house and they hug you?" he asks enthusiastically. Probably not in Hobbs's other full-time job as an electrician. Currently he is working nine-to-five, Monday through Friday on a job at the new San Jose City Hall. A regular workweek for "A Twist on Balloons" usually demands 8-12-hour days on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as working restaurants one or two evenings making balloons for families while they eat dinner. Hobbs is paid by the restaurants as well as through tips; he passes out business cards to promote his staple: kids' birthday parties. Michael and Allison Sicoli own and operate Round Table Pizza in Hollister where Shawn has been twisting balloons for a year and a half. "He is part of our family," said Michael. "The guy is absolutely phenomenal; he loves bringing smiles to the kids' faces, even when he's had a bad day." "You gotta be the one to smile but you don't want to smile," said Hobbs. "You have to just turn that off even when people treat you lousy." But when Shawn has an exhausting day of regular electricity from his day job and static electricity from twisting balloons, he can still go home, curl up on the couch with his treasure chest and read his favorite comment: "A couple of nights ago, I asked Alex what his favorite part was of his birthday party. He thought for a bit and said, ‘The best was getting three balloon things made for me.'" For more information on "A Twist on Balloons," go to www.twistballoons.com |
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ALL THE NEWS THAT
FITS |
Eighteen month-old Ryan Matarangas of Morgan Hill plays with his balloon giraffe with his mom Sandi during dinner at Scramblz Restaurant December 2. 
Rick Faught gets a "crazy hat" from Shawn Hobbs at his cousin's third birthday party Saturday at Round Table in Hollister.