Product Spotlight: Inflatable Tube Dancers

Some people are born to be dancers. Gene Kelly. Fred Astaire. Ginger Rogers, Tony Manero. Twyla Tharp. 

Others of us have two left feet. My wife’s opinion to the contrary, I fall into that category.

Then there are those you see all the time, dancing like mad, even though they have no feet.

You know them. You’ve seen them outside auto dealerships, supermarkets, furniture stores and more. Even without music, they’re dancing like I do when no one’s watching. 

You might know them as inflatable tube guys. They’re also known as Air Dancers (a  trademarked brand), fly guys, or even “wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube men,” (Thanks for that one, “Family Guy.”)

They’ve become a promotional staple in the last few years. What’s the deal with these guys? Where did they come from? What makes them popular? How do they work? You might be surprised to find out the answers.

Atlanta, 1996: A Star Dancer is Born

Tube dancers are the brainchild of Trinidadian artist Peter Minshall. Growing up in Trinidad, Minshall was exposed to the colorful celebration known as Carnival from an early age. The pre-Lenten festival dates back to the 1780s in Trinidad. 

Like similar events such as Mardi Gras, Carnival features native music – in this case, calypso – parades, and colorful costumes. Minshall began designing costumes for friends and family while still in school. After art school in London, he branched out into other art forms such as sculpture as his talents and experience grew.

In 1996, Minshall teamed up with Israeli artist and engineer Doron Gazit to create Tall Boys, tube dancers with two legs and articulated motion that gave them lifelike movement, for the Atlanta Olympics closing ceremony.

After the Olympics, Gazit patented the design and founded a company to manufacture the tube dancers. A novelty of the time, they soon found a market niche as a promotional product. Their height and motion instantly draws attention to their location.

How Do They Work?

Today’s tube dancers are simpler than the Olympic Tall Boys. They have only a single base rather than two legs. While this reduces the lifelike appeal of their movements, it also simplifies their operation.

A tube dancer is simply a series of fabric sections attached to a fan, open at the opposite (top) end. Air flows from the fan at the bottom up and out through the top.

But how does the motion happen? You might reasonably think the air would simply flow up and out, creating just a straight column.

The movement comes from a concept known as the Bernoulli principle. In its simplest form, Bernoulli’s principle states that as air velocity (speed) increases, its pressure decreases. 

When the dancer’s fan is switched on, the tube is flat. The air velocity is relatively slow at first, which means the pressure is high. As the tube fully inflates and straightens out, air escapes the top. That increases the air speed, which lowers the pressure. 

The reduced pressure causes the tube to partially collapse, which blocks part of the airflow to the top. That lowers the velocity, thereby increasing the pressure once again and the entire cycle repeats, over and over. That’s what creates the random movement.

What Makes Tube Dancers Stand Out

No matter where they are, tube dancers are hard to miss and an excellent value as a promotional tool. A combination of height, motion, and unpredictability makes them stand out. Here’s how:

• Constant Motion: It’s human nature to notice motion. The unpredictable, erratic movements of tube dancers instinctively draws the eye.
• Height: At 10 to 20 feet tall, tube dancers’ sheer size ensures visibility. Even in heavily populated areas with heavy traffic, they stand out.
• The Fun Factor: Tube dancers typically feature a goofy face to match the silly movements. People associate them with fun, novelty and a positive message. That can make those who see them more receptive to the marketing message they convey. 
• Affordability and Low Maintenance: Tube dancers are a one-time expense and are durable enough to be used for multiple different promotional events, with minimal maintenance. 

Where You’ll Find Tube Dancers

Tube dancers are easy to find. You might associate them with auto dealerships, but they appear at many other events and venues as well. Here are some examples:

Retail Stores: Grand openings, clearance sales, and seasonal promotions are common reasons to use tube dancers in retail promotions.
Events and Festivals: These are a natural site for tube dancers! They draw attention, add a festive spirit and help direct attendees to key areas.
Real Estate: Tube dancers are a great way to catch the eyes of passing drivers for open houses and apartment leasing offices. 
Sports Venues: Go Team! From Little League to college, dancers can rally the crowd and inspire team spirit.

Variations and Customization

One of the best things about tube dancers is their customizability. You can personalize them in several ways to match your brand and message:

• Colors and Logos: Add your organization’s colors, slogans and logos to heighten your brand recognition. 
• Unique Shapes: While the classic tube design is the most popular, you can also choose tube dancers in other shapes such as mascots, animals, or themed characters.
• Message Banners: If you want to showcase specific promotions, models with detachable banners are available. 
• LED Lights: LED-lit tube dancers are visible even in low-light conditions, perfect for night promotions.

One Alternative You Might Not Expect

Scarecrow Dancers: No joke, farmers and ranchers have discovered that tube dancers are a highly effective way to scare predators away from their herds!

Keep On Dancing

From humble beginnings at the Olympics nearly 30 years ago, tube dancers have become a ubiquitous fun, popular marketing tool. Children and adults alike enjoy their wacky appeal. They’re a fun, cost-effective marketing tool, perfect for increasing visibility in high traffic locations.

It’s true they’re not everybody’s cup of tea. But for sheer presence, tube dancers are hard to beat as a way to gain attention. They have a valued place in the pantheon of marketing tools.

.If you’d like to find out more about what tube dancers can do for your organization, call us at (800) 423-0449, or email us, and let our sales staff show you what a fun, effective item they can be!