Meet Hillel a.k.a. Mr. Balloon Man™

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillel.

Hillel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am Argentinian, Israeli and American. As I say in my comedy magic shows: “in one word, confused” …

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since first grade my schoolmates and teachers enjoyed my sense of humor and I was chosen to participate in any and all theatrical productions in school. Acting in short plays, singing, dancing.

One of our plays was broadcast on a television program. I was then 7 years old. That was exciting! I remember that the host of the show introduced us by giving a synopsis of the themed performance. As I was standing there near our teacher and the other children ‘actors’ waiting to start the performance, I heard some of my first lines in the show recited by the TV host. At 7 years old I made my first “executive decision”: not to be repetitive. As we began the performance I cut those lines from my first monologue and opened the play a few lines ahead. That created a bit of confusion for the next actor who hesitated for a couple of seconds, but encouraged by our teacher he delivered his lines and the show went on. We received a very positive response from the studio audience, the producers and our teacher. The tension, drama, make believe, lights, cameras fascinated me. I was hooked!

My younger brother and I were members of our neighborhood roller skates club. We were chosen and choreographed by the club’s director to perform a clown routine on roller skates. Our dancing and pitfalls on that big arena warmed the hearts of the audience. I remember asking my mother if they clapped, smiling she told me “Oh yes! You hear the claps now? Those are still for you guys!”. At the age of 8, that was my first clowning performance.

At the same time, I began to study acting and learning my chops from Max Berliner, a veteran actor and director who opened my eyes and heart to new possibilities. My first professional acting role was at age 9 with an all adult cast at a neighboring theater. I was intrigued and in awe of those artists lifestyles.

In the early 80’s, after graduating from the Beit Tzvi Art Academy in Israel, I was performing at a festival as the Master of Ceremonies. Variety performers from around the world took the stage. One of them was a French magician who blew my mind with his incredible feats. After my begging for a couple of days, he graciously taught me my first magic effect, which I perform till today. From thin air, I suddenly could grab an invisible/visible handkerchief, coin, bill … I was possessed! I took many other classes/lectures, learned about the mystical world of magic, and a whole new adventure began.

Those experiences were essential to my decision to combine different styles of expression together. I wanted to travel the world and entertain people from different cultures and all ages without any language barriers.

So, I decided to use universal languages, combining the arts of Clowning, Magic, Pantomime and a giant balloon in my Clowntomime™ shows.

My versatile style allowed me to perform in many different venues, on Broadway, Film, Television, Theaters, Casino Reviews, Festivals, Cruise Ships, Nightclubs, Conventions, Sport Arenas, Corporate and Special Events.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Living a dream isn’t a smooth ride. Sometimes it feels like a wild roller coaster ride. The ups and downs are part of life, through those experiences we have to find ourselves and as artists try to create a new perspective.

Living in different countries my first obstacle as a performer was dealing with different languages. I studied and worked hard to learn them, which I did, although my mix of accents always follows me.

Today, as I announce in some of my shows: “I am illiterate in five different languages!”

Per my training in pantomime, my stage magic performances are mostly silent and through music. I love to share my thoughts and dreams with the audience while giving them the opportunity to use their imagination.

I became a clown influenced by one of my teachers who told us that in Shakespeare’s plays the most profound character was the fool, the jester, the clown. He was the only one who could tell the truth.

Only with the truth we may be able to change the world for the better and by overcoming obstacle after obstacle we are doing just that.

Please tell us about Mr. Balloon Man ™.
I’m an actor/performing artist/clown/magician/mime, what I trademarked as ‘Clowntomime ™’.

As an actor, I was recently featured in a couple of movies coming out soon. “Spivak” on Netflix and a Lionsgate production “How to Be a Latin Lover” starring Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Raquel Welch and myself appearing as ‘Charlie Chaplin’ …

I’m a resident magician performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood for many years. I will be performing there again soon.

I had many wonderful experiences throughout my artistic journey. From performing with Julie Andrews and being directed by Blake Edwards on Broadway, to starring at Merv Griffin’s Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, to entertain at the world’s biggest Convention Center in Birmingham, to an all-star NFL Half-Time show at the Wembley Stadium in London, to the Spring Festival in The Sultanate of Oman, to hundreds of TV appearances nationally and internationally.

My magic performances are filled with surprises and impossibilities, silks and coins appear and disappear, canes and tables dance, birds appear from nowhere, cards change size, ropes have a life of their own, minds are read. Fun is had!

Although I perform in many different venues and with different shows, I’m known mostly by my signature act Mr. Balloon Man™. I’m the only magician in the world who performs the classic magic effect “Needle Through Balloon” from inside the balloon …

Word of mouth from my peers, clients and audiences keeps me humble and going.

My business runs mostly through Talent Agents, Casting Directors and Production companies. I also offer world-class entertainment to Corporate and Special events in Los Angeles and surrounding areas through my website, various online platforms and social media.

I’m focused in creating unique shows, some even say unforgettable. Here are some of the accolades I received about my performances:

– “Blowing ’em Away!”. Paige Smoron, Chicago Sun-Times

– “Balloon Man stops the show”. Richard Christiansen – Chief Critic, Chicago Tribune

– “The audience roars”. Philip Weiss, The New York Times

– “Mr. Balloon Man is a Scene-Stealer in Broadway’s `Victor/Victoria'”. FoxTV News

– “The most mesmerizing act I’ve ever seen”. Maury Povich – CBS

– “Congratulations! You do it so well!”. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber

– “Hillel the Balloon Man is ‘sui generis’ “. L.A. Weekly

– “It’s frightening”. Jay Leno – NBC

Hope everyone can experience and enjoy my ‘Funderful Magic’ shows, be it on TV, in a theater, a nightclub, an office celebration or in the comfort of their own home.

Got balloons will travel …

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I started very early in my life and one thing led to the next, fluidly and with the support of my family and peers. I loved to make people happy.

I studied acting and performance art in three different countries, surrounded myself with talented artists and worked and learned from them as well.

Currently I’m part of the ‘Artists for Artists’ Foundation – a group of veteran actors, writers, directors, poets, musicians who meet every week to expand our creative horizons.

If I would have to start over, I believe I would choose the same path, although would focus more intently on reading and learning more about the history and masters of the arts, those who came before me, thus gaining a strong basis of knowledge and tools to help me fight the demons appearing from nowhere to haunt us and our souls, sometimes just before the curtain goes up …

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mrballoonman.com
• Phone: 310-399-0329
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/magicalissimo
• Twitter: @MagiHillel
• Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/mr-balloon-man-santa-monica
• Other: www.linkedin.com/in/hillelsmagic/
  

Image Credit:
Dudley Reed
Incredible Features
Mathew Caine
Mara
Colin C.