We recently had the chance to connect with Gia Evangelese and have shared our conversation below.
Gia, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
My clients want to hear my story. They ask genuine questions and stick around for the answers. My favorite story that I will never forget was when we were at one of the festivals we go to yearly. I actually had the previous interview I did with you guys sitting out at my booth (thanks for having me back!). I had brought a face painter, two characters, and a balloon artist with me that day. A mom and her two young daughters walked up, and the mom started reading the article. I couldn’t believe that someone was actually interested in my story enough to read it. She grabbed it, knelt down to her daughters to show them, and said, “Look, girls, this lady owns her own business. She’s like your Career Barbie.” I literally had to turn around to try to stop the gigantic grin on my face. I was ridiculously flattered. I just didn’t see myself that way until that moment. They got some balloons and face paint from us and went on their way. They had no idea they made my whole life. I forever think of myself as Career Barbie now. Specifically, Balloon Twister Barbie.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Many of you knew me from previous interviews as Gianna Prestol. But with growth comes change. Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Gia Evangelese. I own Gia’s Balloon Buddies, based out of Cincinnati, Ohio but servicing the tri state area and beyond! I opened in April of 2022 as the sole artist of the company. After just a few months of being opened the demand grew so quickly, I needed to start hiring. 1 person turned into 4 and 4 turned into 12. 12 turned into 16 and now we are at over 20 staff members on our team. Gia’s was born out of a need for accessibility, inclusion, equity, and diversity. Our motto, “Whimsy and Fun for Everyone” means just that. Everyone is welcome to party with us!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My first theatrical production in the first grade. I could have swore I was famous. I was the 3rd little pig in The Fairytale Courtroom. It was a play about how all the fairytale characters in various stories sued the big bad wolf and took him to court. It was quirky and fun. All our characters had a spin from their traditional storybook personalities and mine was a bee-boppin’, scat-singin’, sequin-wearin’ super star. I sang my way to my mark where the wolf tries to bribe me with money on the stand, and I hastily threw the money back at him without even looking. The audience laughed and I think I literally felt the power coursing through my tiny veins. I couldn’t believe that little ole me made them laugh. I sang my way off the stage and the entire auditorium erupted in applause. I think that was the first time I realized I had a knack for performing and realized I could evoke emotion in people through that. And wow. That was powerful.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I’ve been in therapy since I was a kid. I’ve deconstructed so many parts of myself and healed so many wounds. One of those is being a parentified child. I grew up the eldest daughter of a narcissistic mother and an abusive step-father with a completely absent father. When almost every adult in your life either gives up on you or treats you like a therapist or third parent for your younger siblings, you become a parentified child. Adults used to tell me I was so mature for my age and that I had such an old soul. I thought it was a compliment, but looking back, it was a call for help. I was always in fight-or-flight mode and always ready to step into “mom” mode. I got along better with adults than kids my age. I was the “mom” friend. Those wounds traveled with me into adulthood. C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder) set in at a young age and grew with me. I was consistently trying to take care of everyone around me, putting my own needs aside and letting people run all over me, and getting into situations with abusive partners who, again, ran all over me. These were the same ideals I learned to expect in life from childhood. Therapy however, taught me otherwise. I’ve begun healing this wound by never stopping therapy, no matter how much “better” I feel. Second, I’ve begun reparenting myself. When I feel defeated, walked over, or like calling myself a name, I imagine what I needed to hear at 5, 10, even 16 years old. If I wouldn’t say it to child me, I wouldn’t say it to adult me. I also do “kid-like” things. Your inner child never goes away, so why do fun things have to stop just because you get older? I like to color, watch cartoons, play iPad games, and buy stuffed animals. Not to mention, my full-time job is owning an entertainment company. I play with balloon animals all day! I’ve made it my mission to continue healing myself through play, even through my work.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Human rights come before EVERYTHING – including business. Period. Without human rights, there are no thriving businesses. It’s all connected, and I don’t think a lot of people realize that.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people know that I was kind and my company was about more than entertainment. I hope people will read about me as the founder and know there was a lot of work and passion put into the business from a place of love and a deep need for inclusion. I hope we continue to grow and, ultimately, change the way the entertainment industry runs. I want my company to be one of the game changers who revolutionizes the way the children’s entertainment world works and inspires other companies to do the same. To be the kind of company people talk about and book 50 years after I’m gone and still see my vision and mission. That’s all I could ever ask for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.giasballoonbuddies.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giasballoonbuddies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiasBalloonBuds
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gia-s-balloon-buddies-cincinnati
Image Credits
Princess photos taken by: Double Dor Photos
