Pre-Planning

How many helpers will you actually have?

• For inflation execution
• For actual creation of arch or candle

How large a space are you hoping to fill?

• Need space for inflation
• Need space for tie-off at site

Pre-determine realistic size of arch or candle

Pre-Inflation

• Scope your inflation site. Is it void of trees, light poles and street signs? Do you have very heavy tie off points, such as park benches or fence posts?
• Scope your dispersal site for the same.

Confronting Mother Nature

• Will strong winds or gusts be a factor?
• If outside, will it be a hot sunny day? If it is hot, you will want to use "Sta-Float" (see "Required Supplies," below).

Required Supplies

• Balloons—equal number per color (10 foot arch or candle will take 24 balloons, using 14" solid color balloons
• 200 lb. strength fishing line
• Wax or parafin blocks (can also use a bar of soap)
• Handles (including dog clips), scissors, rubber gloves, baby wipes, PVC poles (optional), duct tape
• "Sta-Float": If balloons are going to be out in extremely hot sun, Sta-Float will increase lifespan by 3-5 hours
• For helium estimates, work with your balloon supplier

Grand or Grander

Using the estimate of how long you want your arch or candle:

• You need a minimum of five people for inflation
• You need at least two people for every 20 feet of arch for carrying
• By using 14" balloons, estimate that two balloons = one foot. (Don't ask, you'll see)
• All lengths mentioned are based on 14" balloons

The Drama

Know you options:

• Huge six-color arches (minimum 60 feet long): 10' per color, twenty 14" balloons per color
• Six mini arches: solid color arch per color
• Columns (also called "verticals" or "candles"): can be 5' to 10' tall (these are best in high winds or gusts)

Execution of Inflation

Preparation

• All balloon handlers must remove all jewelry—rings, bracelets, watches. And no smoking!!
• Pre-sort and count balloons by color for each arch or candle
• One inflator per tank
• One person for Sta-Float (wear rubber gloves): put a little squirt in the relaxed balloon and squish and massage it around to coat inside the balloon
• One person (line captain) to prep line, handles, knot and to adjust balloons
• As many knotters as possible; people who cannot tie can be used for inflation, applying Sta-Float and prep
• Line captain should instruct each knotter on the tie; if knotter loses more than four balloons, put him/her on another job

Are We Ready?

• Line captains fixes handle (including dog clip) with a duct-tape knot, extends two arm-lengths of line, and ties one slipknot for starting point. Start at knot to wax line.
• Each knotter takes two inflated balloons, one in each hand (NO JEWELRY, just checking), and approaches line. Don't twist yet!

The Knot

The knot is easy if you do it exactly per these instructions:

• At line, with one balloon in each hand, wrap your arms over and around the line
• One single twist below the line
• Pull twist up to the line
• One single twist above the line and tie a knot
• One extra pull to tighten
• Slide knotted balloons up line to the line captain
• Line captain carefully pushes each pair of balloons into a nesting X
• At the end of the balloons, line captain does another double arm-length extension, and ties last handle. If you're making a candle, just tie a knot. Duct tape knots.
• Tie off arch or candle to safe place and start next arch or candle