COVID-19 questions (updated May 2022)
How late can I order balloons?
How flexible are you with your design? We have thousands of balloons and can make almost anything! However, if you are hoping for a specific design, let us know and we’ll see what we can do! We place weekly orders with our balloon distributors but we also always have a variety of balloon foil star colours to ensure customization! We ultimately prefer a week’s notice so we can match the theme PERFECTLY but the best part about Tickled Teals is that we are also balloon TWISTERS so we have the skills to make ANYTHING! We’ve made the skunk from Bambi, Captain America’s shield, Marshall from Paw Patrol, a Nova Scotia Bluenose and many more!
How are the gifts delivered?
Our balloon creations are made, wrapped in a plastic bag then delivered. We use a ‘knock and walk’ approach of ringing the doorbell, leaving it in front of the door then walking away and waving to ensure you either see through the window or open the door and wave back.
Booking
How early should I book for my Event?
It depends on our availability and your flexibility with the date/time. The earlier the better! A minimum of 2 weeks if not earlier is ideal but don’t be afraid of booking at the last minute. If you would like to book an event on a special holiday, please contact us as soon as possible as those days are often sought after.
How do I book Tickled Teals?
Tickled Teals booking operates on a first come first serve basis. Contact through a Facebook message (found here), phone call (705-825-2833), email (services@tickledteals.ca) or through the contact page (found here). If the date is available and confirmed, a deposit of 50% is needed to secure the date. The deposit may be paid by cash, commercial non-personal cheque, e-transfer, or credit card.
Is there a travel fee?
North Bay package pricing includes travel, but smaller towns outside do require an additional travel fee.
Callander & Corbeil $20 Astorville & Powassan $40
Sturgeon Falls & Bonfield $45 Mattawa & Warren $100
Tickled Teals Entertainment travels up to 2 hours outside of North Bay and has serviced areas such as Gravenhurst, Temiskaming Shores and Espanola. Please contact us for the travel fee.
Is a deposit required?
Yes, 50% of the total price of the deposit. The deposit is due 2 weeks before the event or immediately when booking later than that. The remainder is due the day of the event before the service starts.
How do I pay you?
Tickled Teals accepts cash, commercial non-personal cheque, e-transfer, or credit card.
I booked my event with you and sent my deposit. Now what?
A receipt for your deposit can be issued immediately and the remainder receipt will be brought to the event. Tickled Teals will be contacting you in your most preferred way (Facebook message, email, or call) a few days before the event confirmation. There is no need to contact after unless it is an emergency.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Tickled Teals understands that circumstances can change and cancellation will happen. Unfortunately cancelling an event takes away from those who could have booked for that time and Tickled Teals still has to pay contracted entertainers. If you cancelling a booking more than 2 weeks away, no fee is applied and the deposit (if paid) is refunded.
If the booking is cancelled in less than 2 weeks or the week of the event, the deposit will not be refunded. If you would like to reschedule, a minimum of 2 weeks is needed, or a $50 charge is applied.
Decor
Do I have to set up anything? Or take it down?
Nope! We included it in our fees that we come and set up everything for you. We will also come and take it down for you and collect all the balloons for proper disposal.
Birthday Parties
What’s the difference between the 1-hour and 2-hour party package?
To ensure all children get their faces painted and a balloon, a 1-hour package is set for 12 children or less, and a 2-hour package is required for up to 20 children. Please note these numbers include the birthday child and siblings. If you sent out a few extra cards, you can book a 1-hour party as it is very common for 1-2 not to be able to come the day of. If for whatever reason, more kids come than you were planning, we can provide an additional hour of service for an additional charge which we will bill following the party. We do try however to avoid that and we make smaller designs to compensate.
Does it matter where you set up for my event?
If you are having an outdoor party, the balloons are more likely to pop than they would if the party was inside due to the weather, grass or pavement, or simply blowing in the wind. If your event is on a very cold day it is or raining, the balloons will need time to warm up and if not properly warmed up, can pop. Tickled Teals does ask for half a table and two chairs ready if a face painting package is booked.
What can I expect from booking with Tickled Teals at my child’s birthday party?
Tickled Teals Clowns arrive 10-15 minutes before the start time and will be dressed as the Tickled Teals Clowns. It is at this time, during the setup, that the remainder of the deposit is asked to be given. The setup consists of a table (half the dining room table is all that is needed) with 1-2 chairs depending on balloons or face paint package. Please have this ready 🙂
The Clown will paint numbers on the children’s hands for face painting and start with the birthday child. Balloon twisting begins and continues for an average of 45 min to an hour depending on the party atmosphere (an hour if a 2-hour party is booked) before switching to face painting (depending on the package) for the remainder of the time.
We provide the main entertainment and work around the food, cake and presents. It is recommended to have us booked 30 minutes into the party to ensure all the guests have arrived. We also recommend serving food following the face paint (we don’t paint around the mouth) near the end of the booked time and lead into the cake and presents.
Face Paint
How long does the Face Paint stay on & how do I wash it off?
Face paint used by Tickled Teals is water-based, so it will come off with sweat and water. Colours fade the longer you wear the face paint. It can be washed off with water, but soap is recommended for darker colours such as red, green and black. It is recommended to remove the face paint before sleeping as it can stain sheets and will be harder to remove in the morning and may cause a rash (caused by long-duration skin irritation).
What is the Face Paint made of?
Tickled Teals uses FDA face paint specifically designed for the skin such as Wolfe and TAG face paints. Click for the Wolfe and TAG safety sheets.
CRAFT PAINT is never used, as it is toxic, and is not face paint. Craft paint can cause rashes, blisters, and sometimes even scarring. Please please PLEASE don’t use craft paint ever!
WHAT ABOUT ALLERGIES?
Tickled Teals does the very best to accommodate your event and is an insured Clown of Canada (papers provided upon request). Parents and event organizers are asked to talk to their guests about allergies especially latex (balloons) and the colour dye or face paint.
Depending on the guest’s severity, either stickers or additional balloon/face paint is offered to the child or the entire activity is replaced with an alternative such as a magic show or games.
There are no soy or nut products used in the paint.
All sponges and brushes are cleaned before every party, and contagious children with rashes or illness receive a sticker instead of face paint. It is expected that parents have the etiquette to prevent the spreading of illness, and it is an assumption that if the child were contagious in any way, they would not be at the party.
Balloons
I heard that balloons are made of plastic and bad for the environment…
Balloons are actually 100% biodegradable as they are made of 100% latex. They are made of the same latex as condoms (yes we went there) and break down within several years. Yes, it takes a few years to break down but I promise you it will go back to the earth. We do not, however, recommend you let go of a floating balloon, tie a string to it, or litter. Tickled Teals do not promote balloon releases as the balloon could get ingested by an animal before it fully breaks down.
If you would like to learn more, check out this website about the balloons and the environment.
Isn’t there currently a Helium shortage?
There is an international helium shortage however, the balloon industry is not hurting but helping. Pure helium is sold first for medical use then the lower quality helium that can’t be used for medical use is then sold to the balloon industry. This helps offset the cost of medical usage.
There is a rumour that there has been more helium found and will be ready for the market in the coming years. To learn more about the entertainment world and helium, click here.
How long does a Balloon last?
A balloon can last up to 2 weeks at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. The balloon will get smaller by the day until it slowly disintegrates.