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Wild Bill monkeys around with eclectic balloon art
Caterpillars, lady bugs, monkeys, swords and mermaids are everywhere. The faint whirring of an air hose and children's laughter drifts through the air. No, it's not in the latest Disney movie or a dream of fantastic proportions. All this magical mayhem means that Bill Schlobohm, also known simply as "Wild Bill" is close at hand.
Wild Bill and his wife, Carol, have started a balloon art business locally, but this is not a new venture by any means. Though perhaps hard to imagine, Wild Bill was once a bull fighter. He would bring little knick-knacks and toys for the kids at the rodeo and mingled with the crowd. "When you are hanging out in the crowd, people get to know you better," commented Wild Bill.
One day, Wild Bill, forgot to bring the little toys that the children always looked forward to getting. "I made a run to the store and bought a couple bags of balloons. On the back of the packages, it showed how to make a puppy dog, flower, and a sword. They were a big hit that evening and I continued to make them for the next two years."
Later, at a company picnic, Wild Bill met a balloon artist and they hit it off. The artist mentored him and taught him how to make many more creative critters and characters, including a Tazmanian devil and mermaid.
"If I can see it, I can make it," said Wild Bill. "He doesn't make anything that you can't tell what it is," added Carol.
The time had come to retire from bull fighting and Wild Bill went to work for a racetrack in Sedalia, Mo. "I decided it was time to move on since the bulls could run faster mad than I could scared," he said.
Wild Bill would dress up as a clown and make balloon creations for long lines of children -- and the lines would never get any shorter. "That was the hardest part about it. How do you stop?" said Carol.
Wild Bill became the racetrack's best babysitter -- anyone who wanted to find their kids could just look for the line of children eagerly awaiting their own personal balloon art.
Even though Wild Bill doesn't frequent the racetrack in Sedalia anymore, he can be found at the Nevada Speedway handing out balloons galore to the children there, free of charge. Both he and Carol have created their balloon art for a vast array of occasions including corporate parties, birthday's, church gatherings, fundraisers, charities, and many more.
Wild Bill mentioned how it's always fun to see the kids getting more and more excited with the built up anticipation of getting their balloon.
"Seeing the kids' reactions once the balloon is finished makes it all worthwhile," he said.
The balloon art business has become a way of life for the Schlobohm's -- even their Christmas tree is made entirely of balloons, decorations and all.
"It stands up really well on its own. Not until a week or so after Christmas does it start to get a little droopy. Then it looks more like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree," quipped Carol.
The Schlobohms recently attended Neosho's Fall Festival and made balloon creations for children attending the event. They can be found at numerous events in the area, whether it be a birthday party or a charity -- just look for the never-ending line of children and Wild Bill is sure to be there, too; somewhere among the piles of swords, flowers and monkeys.
For more information, call Bill Schlobohm at (417) 385-5947, or send an e-mail to bswildbill@live.com.