People ask if balloon art is my “real job.” Reader: this is very much my real job.

A Saturday in my life looks like this. Buckle in.

8 AM: Coffee + chaos

Saturday morning starts at home, packing my kit. Every color of balloon you can imagine (and a few you can’t), three pumps in case one dies on me (it has happened), an apron, business cards, and a thermos of coffee that is non-negotiable.

If I have a big event, I’ll pre-make a few “starter” balloons — a quick dog, a flower, a sword. Kids LOVE watching me twist things up in real time, but having a few ready when they arrive prevents the inevitable “but what do I do RIGHT NOW” stampede.

10:30 AM: The first party

Today’s first stop is a 5th birthday party in Bellevue. Around 15 kids. Backyard. The parents asked for “low-key but special.”

I always arrive 15 minutes early. Always. Find a corner, set up my table, start working. By the time kids arrive, I’ve already got 4 or 5 simple balloons out — they disappear within minutes.

Then come the requests. And these are real ones I get every weekend:

“Can you make a dog?” — Yes (the classic).
“Can you make a unicorn?” — Yes.
“Can you make a butterfly?” — Yes.
“Can you make a sword?” — The most requested item by 6-year-old boys. Always yes.
“Can you make a flower?” — Yes. Adults love these for whatever reason.

I twist balloon animals, hats, swords, flowers, simple characters — the classics done well. I don’t do giant balloon sculptures or balloon arches (that’s a whole different specialty). What I do is show up, work the room, and put a balloon in every kid’s hand.

The funniest part? Watching adults pretend they’re not interested in balloons. Then slowly edging over to ask if I could maybe make them a flower. (I always do.)

12:30 PM: The drive across town

After packing up, I have a 45-minute drive across the metro to my afternoon gig. This is where the coffee comes in handy.

In the car I usually text the next host to say I’m on my way. Communication is half the job. People love knowing you’re coming.

2 PM: The corporate event

This one’s a company family day in West Omaha. 60+ employees plus families = like 100+ people, probably 30+ kids running around.

For three hours straight, I do not stop moving. I twist probably 80+ balloon animals, swords, flowers, and hats — line stays long, everyone leaves happy. By the end my hands ache (the good kind of ache).

Best moment from corporate events: when a CEO or executive — someone who clearly has NOT touched a balloon in 20 years — comes over with that look of “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to want this.” I always offer first. They always lose it.

6 PM: The Old Market

Saturday nights, you can usually find me at Spaghetti Works or Zio’s Pizzeria in the Old Market doing live entertainment for families eating dinner.

This is honestly my favorite part of every week.

There is something genuinely magical about a kid eating spaghetti, looking up, and seeing a balloon artist appear at their table. The eyes get huge. The giggling starts. The parents whip out their phones. Sometimes the kid is so excited they forget to eat.

That is what keeps me doing this 20 years in. That moment.

Plus the tips from diners help cover gas + treat my own family to dinner. Real talk: it’s a job, but it’s a job I love.

Sunday: Recovery

Sundays are usually quieter. Sometimes one event, often none. I use the time to:

Restock balloons (I go through a LOT — like, more than you’d think)
Answer the dozen texts/emails from people wanting to book
Plan the upcoming week
Spend time with my family

(My family loves balloon animals too. Occupational hazard.)

What keeps me doing this

People ask me if I get tired of balloons. Twenty years in? Honest answer: never.

Because every party is different. Every kid is different. And the magic of watching a kid’s face light up when you hand them a balloon dog never, ever gets old.

I get to be a small part of hundreds of Omaha families’ special moments every year.

That’s a pretty incredible job.

Want to book me?

I serve Omaha + the whole metro (Council Bluffs, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Elkhorn, surrounding areas).

📞 Call or text 402-740-1858 📧 renee@funandgamesbyrenee.com 📘 Follow me on FB — where I post recent work

See you out there!

— Renee