So I did my final event of my inflatable career tonight. I was one of two companies' hired to supply inflatables to the event and one of many game providers. And I must say it is scary what some other companies will do or not do.
The event was set up with sections...an area for kids 13 and older, an area for 7-12 year olds, an area for 3-6 year olds and an area for under three year olds. I was the last one to arrive and was told to set up my inflatables in the 4-6 year-old area.
The other company (it wouldn't be fair to call them 'competition') was already set up with three bounce houses, a slide and an obstacle course. One of their bouncers was the one with only three walls, another bouncer was one with a car theme on top with duct tape being used to patch holes. I never did see the other bouncer up close...but it looked like a Wal Mart unit made out of nylon. Their slide was 10' tall and had no safety features at all. The obstacle course was the dirtiest unit I had ever seen and it was also down right dangerous.
Well, I get out the 20' Accelerator Slide first, got it inflated, staked it down and tied down the tethers and one of my guys began cleaning (we sweep out and wipe down the unit before and after each event.) I then set up the Boom Blasters and the Pitchburst.
These two games made all the other games in other areas seem cheap and no fun at all, mostly because they were cheap and no fun at all.
I then got my Castle Bounce out and started inflating it. The man who owned the other inflatables walked over and asked if my units were brand new. I said 'no, I’ve had them since July of 2004.' He said there was no way I've had them that long and if that were indeed the case, I must not rent them out very often. I simple said all you need to do (I was wiping down the unit at this time while one of my other guys was sand bagging it) is clean it before and after each use and it will stay looking new for longer. He then asked me if I stake down or sand bag my units all the time. I said, "well of course, I would hate for some to get hurt because I didn't run a safe operation." He (who didn't stake down units or use sand bags) just walked away.
So later in the night, the event is at full force. Several thousand people in attendance, and my two inflatables and my games were covered up. And parents and some of the older kids were wanting to get into the 4-6 year old area because that's where the 'cool' inflatables were.
The minister from the church came over and said that he was glad I ran a more professional operation and would be interested in using only me for their events in the future. I told him I had put the business up for sale but if someone locally bought it, I would get him the contact information (only if they did things right) so he could be in contact with them.
I then had a chance to walk around (it was nice to have enough attendants so I could float during such a big event) and I saw the other company's slide and obstacle course for the 13 plus kids...and kids were doing back flips, and diving down the slide and the obstacle course was covered up like white on rice. I was so glad that things were separated and that I was in a completely different area than all the other attractions. I did take some digital video of the entire set up...just in case.
I'm thankful that no one was hurt last night...on these other companies' units. Or mine for that matter.
I'm also glad that I put safety first. I can't, for the life of me, understand why someone would run so carelessly.
AJ
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