Jules Perkovic

Balloon Business Owner/Hiker/Freelancer

My name is Jules Perkovic and I'm from St. Louis, MO. I have been doing balloons since 2008. I started as a street performer, I dated a street magician back in college -I learned caricatures, balloon twisting, to be a magicians assistant, juggling, and face painting. I traveled all around the country for about 6 years before we ended things. I moved back to my hometown in St Louis, where I started Party Perks, a play off my last name Perkovic, in 2014. I started as a Jane of all trades, offering balloon twisting, face painting, and caricatures, by myself- for a ridiculous low price- all at once- in one hour- for a party. i had no idea what i was doing- obviously. As a street performer for many years I had not been exposed to the balloon community, so while I had been twisting for about a decade, I didnt know really anyone in the balloon world.

I heard of a face paint convention in my hometown, FPBA and i signed up. I went to the mornings classes. We broke for lunch and I stepped in the hallway and met Connie Iden Mondes making a dueling Dragon Archway in the hallway and a 6ft beer mug out of balloons and my life changed forever.

THAT. THAT is what I want to do. I stayed in that hallway with her and helped make that dueling dragon archway and then only attended other balloon classes (Denis Scott and Lindsey Smith(Pookie) or business classes at the rest of the conference.

When I got back home I immediately started to build a team of twisters, face painters, caricature artists, and even had some costume characters, so I could turn my focus onto decor. I consumed podcasts, videos, joined Balloon Artist College. I was hooked.

The next convention I was to attend would be a Balloon Decor convention, FLOAT, 2019. There I competed for funsies in 2 catagories, I remember seeing you during the centerpiece competion, designer of the year! I took my CBA. I took every bonus/master class I could fit in the schedule and I started to build relationships with people like Joette, Flavia, Lamar, and so many more.

It was slow to build the confidence in selling the decor. Heck, it wasnt that long ago that i was selling balloons, face paint, and caricatures by myself for $50 an hour. I didnt know how to advertise, sell, or price for profit- that took time. So at this point the majority of my business was still coming from the entertainment (which i had learned to price accordingly so my artists were well compensated and I made a fair commission off them. At my height I had 5 twisters, 6 face painters, 3 caricature artists, and 2 costumed characters in 2019.

Fast forward to 2020 and the world shut down. I lost all but 1 of my team. Everyone either completely quit their craft or moved to a different state, plus there were no events going on for quite a while. I also went through a pretty nasty divorce at this time. While the world was shut down my life imploded.

I had to pivot. I moved out, and I began my healing journey. I found peace and inspiration in hiking and visited the trails often. I became an avid hiker and began the goal in hiking in all 50 states. I decided I would start to offer myself to my balloon friends that I had met over the years at conventions, in person workshops and online forums. To anyone who wants to get into freelancing, you have to go to these in person events and build relationships with others, that's the real secret.

I spread word that I would happily come work with you in your state, and help you however you needed. It is my job to make you look good. Aaaaand while there, I would take the chance to hike in a new state. I am down to my final 10! I've hiked in 40 states in 4 years!

When I first started freelancing I didnt even charge a set price. I let whoever hired me pay what they believed was fair after covering my travel costs. Then I was talking with Scott and Tommy at Balloon Boss Summit and they advised me to have a rate, so I started with a day rate of $200 +travel costs/place to stay. People put me up in their homes, at hotels, air bnbs. I wanted to be fair on both sides.

Well my day rate option changed when I was working a long contract of many 14+ hr days. I loved the people, the balloon work, I loved the opportunity, but I know I am worth more than $14 an hour so my rate evolved again and now I charge $200 for the first 8hrs ($25 an hr) and 1.5x anytime after that. So basically overtime. And then a travel fee, if I am driving or they buy the plane ticket. I am a contracted employee so I 1099 for everyone.

I personally love driving across country. When I can, I will drive to freelance jobs. My jeep cherokee, her name is Kore, has taken me all over the country. If time doesn't allow the trip then I have to have them book my flights to and from.

I don't have any kids, so my schedule is quite flexible, usually. I love to travel. I bring a really good set of hands to any installation job. I love freelancing. I do it about a quarter of each year. As long as someone reaches out to me and I am available I will happily block them out in the calendar.

I can go on and on, but I am so excited to be talking with you tomorrow. I hope this is enough for a bio! <3