Lifestyle

Tips On Using Inflatables At Your Event

Published

3 years ago

March 10, 2022

Hosting an event can be daunting as the pressure of pleasing the crowd can be immense. However, more people are starting to use giant inflatables to bring the wow factor. A giant inflatable can be anything you like too. From an enormous inflatable panda to a big bottle of bubbly champagne, there’s a giant inflatable to suit your event. You might have some questions about how best to use them and what safety features you need to consider, so here are some top tips!

Check The Weather

If you’re planning on holding your event outdoors, it’s crucial that you check the weather before you set up your giant inflatable. If there are talks of torrential rain and gale-force winds, you might need to reconsider where you place the inflatable. If possible, it could be moved indoors so that it’s protected by the shelter. If the weather is supposed to be terrible, most of your event-goers will most likely head to the indoor part anyway, so they’ll still get to benefit from your inflatable.

Consider Your Crowd

It’s important to think about what type of crowd you’ll have at your event. If it’s a children’s themed one, you might want to go for more interactive inflatables like bouncy castles or tunnels so that they can get the most out of them. Similarly, if you’re event is a sports competition, you could go for a unique entrance and finish line to help signpost the athletes. If you’re merely promoting a business, you could even get bespoke giant inflatables of your product or business logo. Using the right giant inflatable can really make a difference to the crowd’s impression of your event.

How Much Space?

Giant inflatables are as the name suggests…giant, so you need to make sure that you’ve got plenty of space for them to be installed without restrictions. You don’t want to spend some of your event’s budget on something that you can’t even use on the day.

What’s Your Theme?

As well as your crowd, you want to think about what kind of theme you’re going for. If you’re hosting a music-themed event, why not go for giant instrument inflatables. Or if you’re hosting a promotional event, you could have an inflatable blimp to really show off the business.

Safety First

Installing giant inflatables isn’t something you should attempt on your own. Most companies will send a company representative to safely install and dismantle it for you. There have been tragic accidents that occur when they aren’t fitted correctly, so you want to ensure you eliminate the risk of this ever happening by leaving it up to the professionals. If you’re also hosting an event where children are present, make sure that they’re with a responsible adult at all times when around the inflatables.

Using giant inflatables can be a wonderful way to bring joy to your event, but it’s imperative that they’re installed safely. Some companies will even offer to manage your full event for you, so you have even less to stress about. By utilising these simple tips, you can be sure your event goes off without a hitch and your crowd remember it for years to come.

Lifestyle

The Future of Social Dancing: How Latin Dance is Adapting to a New Generation

Published

7 hours ago

August 21, 2025

Michelle Langton

Latin dance thrives on connection. The music, the partner, and the crowd all feed one another.

Today, that connection is shaped by a younger, digitally fluent generation, and few understand the shift better than Damian Guzman, founder of Bachata Sensual America (BSA). From prize-winning festivals to late-night socials, Guzman and BSA show how the scene is evolving without losing its roots.

Streaming steps, viral beats

A decade ago, beginners to Latin dance hunted for grainy DVD tutorials; now they unlock entire combinations on their phones. TikTok loops, YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels have compressed learning into snack-sized bursts.

Many of the artists signed on with Bachata Sensual America meet dancers where they scroll, posting slow-motion breakdowns and “follow-along” drills that rack up thousands of views. This approach addresses two key Gen Z demands: instant access and a clear path from screen to floor.

By allowing newcomers to practice at home before facing a packed room, the online channel lowers the fear barrier while seeding a desire for in-person connection.

Festivals as entry points, not finish lines

Digital discovery is only the first act. For many people, their real baptism happens at multi-day events where practice hours blur into sunrise socials.

BSA’s flagship Houston Bachata Sensual Festival returned on May 2^nd, 2025, with a follow-up week slated for Bachata Sensual Festival Chicago, September 4^th-9^th, 2025. Both weekends pair technique labs with mental-wellness talks and DJs specializing in bachata, mirroring the playlists in dancers’ earbuds.

That balance of skills and community is why independent reviewers named BSA one of the “Top Latin Dance Festivals in the United States” for 2025. Yet, for Damian, awards matter less than the message: a festival can feel world-class without pricing out college students. He keeps passes tiered, encourages volunteer shifts that offset costs, and prepares bootcamps for absolute beginners, ensuring the dance floor reflects the same diversity he sees online.

Teaching culture, not just choreography

Bachata’s recent boom owes much to its European reinvention. Damian experienced that surge firsthand while earning one of the first U.S. instructor certifications in the Bachata Sensual style. He returned determined to give American dancers the same blend of precision and musicality he had experienced abroad.

BSA classes devote equal time to connection cues, body mechanics, and the genre’s Dominican roots. That trifecta resonates with younger students who want authenticity, not just a viral dip.

“In class I tell people, ‘Technique is how you respect your partner; musicality is how you respect the song,’” Guzman said during a recent podcast. The line distills his mission: elevate standards while keeping the dance welcoming.

Building inclusive, mindful spaces

Generation Z brings new expectations around consent, identity, and mental health. BSA’s code of conduct spells out everything from appropriate touch to gender-neutral role selection. Security staff mediate conflicts quickly, and workshop leaders open sessions with grounding exercises to calm nerves. These actions might sound small, yet they remove friction that once pushed many newcomers away.

Damian argues that such policies go beyond ethics; they future-proof the scene. Normalizing role fluidity in Latin dance widens its talent pool and invites richer musical interpretations. By acknowledging anxiety and overstimulation — common concerns for digital natives — events can retain dancers who might otherwise retreat after their first crowded social.

Latin dance has never stood still, and its next evolution is already spinning under disco lights from Houston to Helsinki. With a phone in every pocket and a festival on every calendar, the gap between discovery and mastery keeps shrinking.

Damian Guzman and Bachata Sensual America illustrate what happens when tradition listens, adapts, and leads with purpose. The result is a scene ready for whatever beat the next generation drops — and a future where social dancing feels more connected, inclusive, and alive than ever.