by Mitch Rily
According to psychologists, one of the most calming sensations to the human body is the gentle flow of water. Unless, of course, that water is splashing all over you. Then, it’s just plain fun.
Somewhere deep within the human psyche, there’s a small part of each of us that triggers childlike joy at the sight and feel of being doused by water. Entertainment centers and amusement parks have created a huge industry of building bigger, faster, and wetter attractions to spray and splash the masses. But there are others out there that believe the old saying that it’s not the size of the splash, but how that The entrepreneurs listed below are three examples of those folks who have found a way to turn the simple joy of being drenched by water into a lucrative opportunity to entertain the world, one splash at a time.
Pitchburst – The Upside-Down Dunk Tank
It was back in the summer of 1999, when the East coast was suffering from yet another drought season, when the proverbial apple of inspiration fell on the head of Bill Holsten. He was helping his family put on a charity carnival to raise money for the Make-A- Wish foundation when they found out they could not rent a dunk tank due to the local water restrictions.
Instead of drowning their sorrows, Bill and his family decided to create their own “drought proof dunk tank”, a contraption consisting predominantly of a basketball hoop, a closet rod, some spare lumber, and a whole bunch of water balloons. By the end of the carnival, they had raised a great deal of money, had splashed a lot of heads, and had created a new successful attraction: Pitchburst.
The idea behind Pitchburst is simple and familiar. One person (victim?) sits in the wet seat, waiting for the inevitable, while friends, family, enemies, and sometimes even random strangers attempt to make that wet seat a little wetter by throwing balls at a target. One well aimed throw results in the willing victim getting soaked, and the surrounding crowd goes wild. But unlike the common and recognized site of the victim falling into the water, it’s the water that does the falling. The balloon is released from above, splatting directly onto the lucky victim and drenching them.
Pitchburst is not limited to just the splashing of water. Some daring Pitchburst patrons have been known to fill balloons with confetti, other liquids, or even pudding.
The newest Pitchburst is made of lightweight aluminum and steel, is simple to set up and take down, and can be played by all ages almost anywhere. Pitchburst games have become popular attractions at family entertainment centers, are available for rent for private functions, and have even traveled overseas with US Armed Forces.
The sound of a well-filled Pitchburst balloon dropped on someone’s head makes a distinctive (and trademarked) noise: splursh™. To find out how you can experience a good splursh™, or to learn more about what’s next for Pitchburst, visit www.pitchburst.com.
Big Squirt! – Fun Under Pressure
Have you ever wondered what aerospace engineers and rocket scientists do for fun? Well, one of them turned his knowledge of science and his creative nature into a successful water-squirting toy business. Joel Schafer, a former engineer for Hughes Aircraft Company, is the founder and president of Big Squirt! Inc, the makers of a little toy with big potential
The Big Squirt! product line shot out of Southern California in the late 1980’s, and has found its niche in the water park industry as a great addition to any splash-filled day. Each Big Squirt! is built of a colorful fabric cover with a strong inner tube inside and an easy to use squirt tip. Just open the clamp, place the squirt tip into the hole at the filling station, and fill ‘er up. The basic Big Squirt! expands to nearly two feet in length, but remains easy to carry and fun to use. The squirt tip allows you to control the spray of water, which can fly up to thirty feet.
Amusement parks and entertainment centers need only a sales location (a mobile sales cart is available through the company), a fill station, and a hefty supply of Big Squirts!, because once the squirting starts, everyone will want to join in on the fun. Mount a fill station in an open place in the park, or place a portable filling station near large parties, and any area can be turned into a Big Squirt! territory.
Kids learn quickly how to fill up their Big Squirt! toys, spray their family and friends, and head back for more wet and wild fun. Parents appreciate the simplicity and the low cost of the Big Squirt!, as well as the joy of giving someone a good spray without having to carry a heavy water gun.
Big Squirt! products can also be used at home as easily as at the parks. Just attach the adapter from the end of any Big Squirt! to a faucet or hose and fill up for family fun almost anywhere. A Big Squirt! with your favorite water park’s logo on it becomes a souvenir you’ll continue to enjoy long after you’ve left the lines and the crowds. Or buy a party pack at the park or online and let everyone get in on the action at your next event.
For more information on Big Squirt!, go online to www.bigsquirt.com.
Water Wars – One Good Splash Deserves Another
According to Tommy Woog, “there is something magical about the old-fashioned water balloon”. He and his father, Tom Woog, Sr., are the owners and creators of Water Wars, the game that has water balloons flying all across the world. The Woogs first launched Water Wars in the 1980’s within their own family fun center in Minnesota. As the popularity of water slides was drawing larger crowds and more revenue, the Woogs looked to create an attraction that would help keep their guests cool, entertained, and in the park. From a family owned park in Minnesota to over 500 units in more than 15 countries, Water Wars has made a big splash in the family entertainment world.
As history has often shown, it’s the simple concepts that have the greatest success. Each person or team is equipped with a bucket of water balloons, a home base shelter, and a launcher (a small container braced to the shelter by elastic bands). Just place a water balloon into the launcher, pull back the handle, and let the shower of balloons begin. A well-aimed balloon will land on the opposing team’s shelter, bursting open right above them (a poorly aimed balloon could well find its way near the spectators, giving a few onlookers a taste of the action). The shelter tops have holes in them to let balloons out and water in, making sure that everyone on the field is “sprinkled, splashed, or saturated” by the end of the game.
For traveling fairs and carnivals or private parties, a portable Water Wars is easy to use and great for attracting attention. Family fun centers and smaller parks equip themselves with Single and Double Dyno stationary models, with up to four people playing at a time. And for the major parks, a Mega Water Wars set up allows up to thirty two players at a time, launching water balloons everywhere in a full circle arena.
There are even plans to begin placing Water Wars systems in the queue lines of other larger attractions. This gives waiting riders the opportunity to play or watch while they wait, and gives the parks a captive audience to draw upon and entertain. “We are always looking for new markets,” says Tommy Woog, “ but sometimes new markets are old markets. You just have to find new and creative ways to reach people.” With an attraction that lets parents and kids play side-by-side, interacting and reacting as water balloons come raining down, it is no wonder Water Wars is continuing to grow.
If you are looking to get into a Water Wars battle at an amusement park, water park, family fun center, or campground near you, or if you want to rent a portable unit for your next big event, check out www.waterwars.com.
So, what makes getting splashed (or splurshed™) so much fun? Bill Hursten believes it’s the unpredictability of it all. Spectators love watching people’s “facial expression and body language at the very moment they get splurshed. Even when it’s expected it’s a hilarious surprise.”
And if you’re the one getting wet? The Woog family strongly believes that a good splash has a “universal appeal … to every age”. Everyone can enjoy a good splash, and with attractions like Pitchburst, Big Squirt!, and Water Wars surfacing at parks and fun centers around the world, sooner or later everyone will.
