10 November 2020

GemarDayLive Go.Dan

GemarDay, live in your livingroom!

The 3rd and 4th of November had long been planned as a GemarDay, one of the many occasions where we get together with balloon enthusiasts to share knowledge, skills and inspiration. These events are always full of fun and laughter, but they don’t lend themselves to social distancing or lockdown. As 2020 progressed, many GemarDays had to be cancelled but we had the opportunity to do something new with GemarDay Go.Dan and we were thrilled to be able to hold the very first GemarDay live on Zoom!

In the days before the event, boxes made their way from Casalvieri to the homes of 100 participants. It was a little like Christmas arriving early as the boxes were opened to reveal balloons, pumps and everything else they would need. Anticipation was certainly running high and we were excited to see how the event would turn out.

Instead of packing their bags and flying to Poland, Roberta and Vincenzo joined the participants online. All five of the sessions became hands on, opportunities to get real experience as the participants created many different designs. From distinctive foam board sculptures to magical Crystal Rainbow balloons, and from the heat of the jungle to the cool of the sea, there was much to be discovered. Everyone had a wonderful time and learnt a lot, participants were even able to earn certificates by sending in photos of their finished projects.

While it will never be exactly the same as an in person GemarDay, the live version has proved very popular. It’s not just about covid, online events are also a wonderful opportunity for those who don’t have a local GemarDay, or who struggle to travel, to attend from home. This means we can reach an even wider audience.

Of course, it was a big undertaking, from all the technical aspects to packing and posting the balloon kits. Not to mention translation by Magda, who made sure all our Polish friends understood what Vincenzo and Roberta were saying! There were a great many people involved, behind the scenes as well as on camera, and we would like to congratulate them all on a wonderfully successful event and especially the Go.Dan team for making all this possible.

Hopefully the first of many more as we continue to lift the moment, right where you are.