Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Browning.
Hi Emily, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
One day people just started calling me the balloon girl. I used to be normal, just like you and now I’m the balloon girl. It started, like many good stories, in my church days. In high school, I was heavily involved in the religious community. I went on mission trips to serve locals and tell people about Jesus. I am no longer a member of a church but I will say digging out roads in Jamaica and repainting fences on Indian Reservations is good for a 16-year-old.
I had a youth pastor, Nolan and a mentor Becca. They were both awesome. If you had drama, sadness, doubts, they listened. Now, helping teenagers doesn’t pay and Nolan had to make money other ways so he started doing magic at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles and started a successful balloon company. When I went to film school, I needed money for pizza and UCB classes so Nolan hired me on and I started working in Rainforest Cafe’s, Spaghetti Factory’s and Ruby’s diners for HOURS! I literally got into balloons because I needed the cash and honestly, I liked doing it because it was such a weird job and I have a thing for feeling special.
One day I was getting off a 6-hour shift at Rainforest Cafe and I had a show produced by comedian Mike Perkins @MikePerkins_, who I LOVE and honestly feel like my Italian family. He has this show called Another Late Show Tonight where he plays the host and has different guests come on and he interviews them on his couch. It brings me so much joy. Anyway, Mike always let me do whatever I wanted on his show so I said, “What if I do balloons while telling jokes, ” and Mike said, “Great. I love it.” He filmed it and then I edited it and put it on TikTok… it got 12m views and the rest is history or not history, I’m still very much in it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There has been a lot of struggles but I think the biggest struggle is my own mindset. I carry the curse of being interested in many things therefore, my journey as an artist has been much like playing a game of pinball in a machine.
For example:
“OH, I BOOKED A CORPORATE EVENT MAKING BALLOONS… OH, I GOT BEST SET AT THE COMEDY STORE… OH, I BOOKED A COMMERCIAL… OH, I LIKE THIS BOY NOW….. OH, I STARTED A SCRIPT CONSULTING COMPANY….. OH, I LOVE MY ACTING CLASS… WAIT, MAYBE I’M GAY… OH, I HAVE A RESIDENCY AT THE ELYSIAN THEATRE… OH, I HAVE 100k FOLLOWERS ON TIKTOK… WAIT, WHERE DID BOY GO?… OH, I NEED TO MAKE MONEY….. WHAT IS RENT….. DO I HAVE VALUES?….. AM I GOOD PERSON?… I SHOULD WRITE A JOKE.” Please, quote me on all of this.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I mean, I am a writer first. When I was a kid, I wrote songs and I still do- secretly. Don’t tell anyone. You’ll know I feel close to you when I have sung you one of my original songs… which is so embarrassing. I feel like I need to apologize to a few people.
I studied screenwriting in college and found that writing dramadies was the sweet spot. I get to show you my real self but also go, “Dude it’s a joke.” When I started writing jokes for stand-up and sketch I fully transitioned but I gotta say, the dramady Emily is back. The darkness can’t hide forever. I read about serial killers for fun, like I’m not gonna be the most fun person to be around all the time.
But out of everything I do, my acting, writing, stand-up comedy, I am mostly known as ‘the balloon girl.’
I’ve been making balloon animals, hats, dresses and characters for eight years but it’s not who I am. Balloons is how I make money. Basically, if you support me in my balloons, hire me at your event, comment on my posts you are supporting a much grander picture of what I want to in this world.
I am most proud of myself for staying in the game. I saddled up a new sketch team, SKIMS MODELS (with Kristin Wallace, Skarlett Red, Erika Sanchez and Lincoln Rzonca) and we will be debuting for four weeks at The Elysian Theatre starting in July.
I also am VERY proud of a short film I wrote and starred in called, Murder She Wanted, directed by Rachel Shimko, who is beyond talented. She’s in Italy right now… I hate her for being so wonderfully adventurous. The film is as spicy as it sounds. It’s weird and sexy with some twists, I love it. Rachel and I’s duo is something special and can’t wait for the film festival circuit. The film will be premiering late April in Los Angeles. April is big month for me. Look out folks.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I love a good phone call pep talk. Here are some of my cheerleaders who I am lucky to have in my corner:
Vocalist and Actor Alison Quin @Alison.quin. nyc
Artist and bodyworker Corrie Nova @corrienova_
Interior Designer @bronteathearn
Radio Host Emo aka Emily Morenz @therockandrollsweetheart
My big Balloon Clients, thank you, thank you:
Thank you to the Elysian Theatre for gifting me with a community of artists, mentorship and the V.I.P. Program to put up our sketch comedy show, SKIMS MODELS. This theatre is doing incredibly important things in LA right now. It’s where comedians like Rory Scovel and John C. Reilly work their shows out. It’s where comedians without HBO specials can feel like a contender. If you don’t think you like going out…. try The Elysian. Trust me. I am making no money from saying this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/emilybrowntown
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilybrowntown/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@emilybrowntown
Image Credits
Sean Kara Photography Andrew Max Levy @justoffthesix
