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The request to do an “off-the-
wall” creation is common. Smith
jokes that he won’t tell you the
most unusual requests; after all,
this is family-friendly entertain-
ment. But two requests come to
mind: George Washington cross-
ing the Delaware and a monkey
on a motorcycle. Of course, he
created both of them and will
quickly add that he will produce
even the hardest balloon creation
as long as he has sufficient time
to get it done.
When asked if he will reveal
his newest creation, he said he
can’t because he is learning and
creating all the time via trade
magazines, books and DVDs. His
creations are part his own imagi-
nation and part making a typical
creation better by adding more
balloons or changing the size of a
balloon.
When asked if he considers
what he does art he will be the
first to tell you that most people
don’t, but he begs to disagree.
“
Balloon creation is part of the
creative process,” said Smith. “It
takes a certain amount of skill to
create something with balloons
and air that people recognize and
react to in a positive way.”
His clients vary as much as his
creations. What started out as
private parties, small events and
company picnics soon ballooned
to Civic Center events, trade
shows, kids’ night at restaurants,
grand openings, festivals, school
carnivals, fundraising events,
birthday parties, baby showers
and weddings. His satisfied cli-
ents include Buffalo Wild Wings,
Double A’s Pizza, Peoria River-
front Market, Hyvee, Peoria Park
District and Bradley University,
just to name a few.
To say Smith is in constant mo-
tion is an understatement. As the
“
chief, cook, and bottle washer”
(
and, he adds, web master and
scheduler) for his part-time ven-
ture, his free time starts at 9 p.m.
and ends at 6 a.m.
By day, Smith has a “real job”
and wears a very different hat.
He is a news photographer for
WEEK-TV and has held the job
for over 22 years. As one of the
longest-standing news videog-
raphers in the Peoria area, he is
a walking encyclopedia of FYI
facts. His list of contacts would
rival the most connected in this
community and Smith says it has
served him well, especially when
working on a news story.
“
I might not remember your
full name, but I will remember
you if you can be a source or
interviewee for a news story,”
said Smith. “At times, knowing
as many people as I do has been
invaluable.”
