General
Where are you located?
Parties by Design is located in Charlotte, NC.
Do you travel outside of the Charlotte area?
Yes, we travel throughout the Carolinas and Southeast region.
Do you carry insurance?
We carry all necessary insurance needed for your event. Liability, worker comp, and special insurance for pyrotechnics is underwritten by Lloyds of London.
How long does an event take to set up?
Set up time is entirely based on your event needs. Some set ups can be done in less than 30 minutes, while others require days of preparation.
Am I or my staff required to assist with set up or creating the effects?
Again, this is based on the event. Any and all pyrotechnics require Bill and his team to handle all product and logistics, but we can show you how to activate that balloon drop of streamer cannon with the pull of a string or push of a button.
Who is responsible for clean up after the event?
Parties by Design will pack up any and all equipment used for your event (smoke machines air tubes, streamer cannons, etc). However, all balloons, confetti, and streamers that are purchased specifically for your event are your property. Thus, you will need to organize post-event venue clean up.
PYRO
What qualifications do you have?
Parties by Design holds a Federal Explosive License as well as ATF, State, and local licenses. Bill has over 20 years experience in the field with many high profile clients. Additionally, each participating crew member has gone through extensive training.
Are pyrotechnics safe?
While there is always a small element of risk inherent with explosives, we take the utmost precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable event for you and your guests. All crew members that participate in the setup and activation of pyrotechnics are required to both go through extensive training and earn their pyrotechnics license. Each product is carefully inspected to ensure proper activation and disposal.
CRYO
What do you use to create your smoke effects?
C02 is used for cryo jets. Various fog machines and dry ice are used for low lying fog effects. Parties by Design follows up with each venue to ensure use and any limitations of such devices within the building.
Balloons & Air Tubes
Aren't balloons bad for the environment?
At Parties by Design we only use Qualatex balloons, made from 100% natural latex – not plastic. Our latex balloons are biodegradable and decompose as fast as an oak leaf in your backyard!
What precautions do you take when conducting balloon releases?
See above. We will only use 100% latex for releases. Never mylar! We also alert the FAA regarding potential releases so that aircraft avoid the area at the time.
How long will my balloons stay full?
A typical helium ballon will float for 12 hrs depending on conditions. Balloons filled with air can sometimes stay for many days.
Do you have balloons and/or air tubes in the color(s) I need?
All balloons are custom ordered to fit your event, so we can have whatever color combination you require. We also have a large supply of air tubes/characters. If you need a custom air tube (with your company name or logo, for example) then we can order that for you.
Confetti & Streamers
Aren't confetti and streamers bad for the environment?
We only use biodegradable tissue confetti for outside.