Bloom Bounce

Ever hear of a pro bouncer? I know I haven't. And if you're like me then you've probably never heard of it in your life, unless you're attempting to get into a club or bar at eleven at night, standing in almost zero degree weather along with the its-not-that-cold-out girls in their outfits that would make their grandfathers turn in their graves. Well for starters a pro bouncer does not work at a club, well not the ones Ill be discussing. A pro bouncer watches children, but not like that.. In fact to be a pro bouncer, one undergoes a series of tests including an FBI background check. The pro bouncers that I will discuss work at your very own bloom bounce. But lets not get too far ahead of ourselves, you might be thinking; whats a pro bouncer? He still hasn't told me. What is a bloom bounce? What happens there? Why do they watch children there? And are there inappropriately dressed women there as well?

           One thing at a time, in regards to women wearing clothing equivalent to loin cloths. No, bloom bounce is located far out of reach of a good time on a Saturday night. Located in the New Columbia Mall in Buckhorn, Pa. Or the New Columbia Ghost Town if you've ever paid it a visit. Easily accessible for many parents in the Columbia county along with adding much needed business for the mall itself. Or a high school or college student looking for work which is the vast majority of people employed there. As for what bloom bounce actually is, to put simply its a glorified bounce house or a complex of bounce houses, one can imagine the tremendous fun that is. Unfortunately its for children twelve years of age or younger. Costing 4.99 for children 3 and under, for over 3 years old its 7.99 and if you're an adult lucky for you, its free however you cant bounce so unlucky you. The complex of bounce houses includes a whopping 6 bounce houses and a safer less exciting course for children under 2 but I'm positive that a 16 foot inflated beach inspired, bouncy, rubbery thing is all the excitement a 2 year-old needs. Along with this, the complex includes two party rooms for birthday parties, a lounge with cozy S shaped chairs, a TV for parents and a sit-in car machine. Bloom bounce is a place to take your children to well, bounce. The Bounce houses consist of the double slide, which as the name states has two slides and a small tunnel like obstacle course. The baby bounce, as explained earlier is a safer course for younger children with nothing they can really tumble down and break off of. It resembles a beach with palm trees and a serpent snaking out of the blue, water looking rubber of the inflated course. The Castle, this bounce house resembles a castle and is what I would go straight for if my mother came to Bloomsburg and took me to bloom bounce. It is your average bounce house, blue and green, pretty normal except it looks like a castle! The new double is almost exactly like the double slide with the customary tunnel leading to the two slides and in addition to that, its new.  The slide combo is a small series of slides and tunnels. The corner combo, is another average bounce house with a spacious chamber to bounce and go crazy in. And the obstacle course, a long obstacle course that takes up the majority of space along the far end of the complex. For the aspiring parkour children. Bloom Bounce is generally a large fun house for young children, but this is only the tip of the iceberg of what goes on there.

            So lets talk about, why watch children? Because safety is priority at bloom bounce. The well Trained pro bouncers undergo drug testing to be hired, as well as an FBI background check to make sure the bouncers aren't convicted of anything that would raise a red flag of a potentially dangerous person, basically babysitting a large amount of children. The pro bouncers undergo on the job training which as Haley Bennette, a pro bouncer states was the easiest part of getting the job. She only spent two hours training in all. She and her fellow pro bouncer Tate Patora and the other pro bouncers do every job in the facility including; running the register, check people in, monitor the bounce houses, run parties, clean, close and open the business. So lets take a look into a day of work for a pro bouncer. If the bouncer is opening then they will go in a half hour before the gates are open to customers at ten am on week days and weekends, save Sunday where as they open at noon. So upon arrival the bouncer will get everything fired up by starting to inflate all the bounce houses which are deflated at days end everyday. Then they will make sure everything is in good order from the night before. Once the gates open and costumers begin to come to bounce the pro bouncers will walk through a series of steps to check the children and parents in then proceed to run the register or are assigned to a certain bounce house on the map where names are written next to the assigned house. A pro bouncer who is watching a bounce house assures that the children bouncing are safe and not locked in an imperial battle for dominance of the bounce house. If assigned to a party room for a birthday party then the bouncer will set the room up for the children and parents, making sure there is enough room, food, snacks, drinks and fun. Sometimes the pro bouncer will be not be assigned to a specific bounce house and will proceed  to "float", walk around the entire complex, inspecting and observing, making sure everything is good. Throughout the day the pro bouncers will switch houses on the hour, all the while helping children. When the day comes to an end at seven pm on weekdays, nine pm on weekends and Sunday at five pm. Once closed with the gates down the bouncers will deflate all of the houses and vacuum all of the carpeted floor and clean up any debris left behind by the children. After everything is ready for the next day the pro bouncers call it a day and hit the bricks.

       
         So how does one attend Bloom Bounce? Well its not as simple as just walking in, there's a lot more to the place than that. One can imagine the rules and safety protocols in place in a business that requires background checks upon employment. You start by getting in your car, on your bike or camel then arrive at Bloom Bounce after parking and entering the mall. Walk to bloom bounce, avoid awkward eye contact with venders, once this is initiated you're pulled in. Once at bloom bounce with you're child(s) a waiver is required which you sign on kindles that are used specifically for signing in purposes at the counter, the contact information of both parent and child are required to sign in and access the complex. After you have successfully signed in you pay for your children who then receive a stamp that will match the one you will be stamped with. Then you're free to go as long as you've remembered socks for all of your children, this is expressed in kind, soft text at the very bottom of bloom bounce's website,  http://www.bloombounce.com/. And if you forget socks then they've got your back, behind the counter where you check in along with a wall of snacks ranging from sugary candy worms to flavored popcorn from a local shop, are socks for the occasion. If you are in the need for the ultimate party for a young child then the party rooms the place for friends and family. Spacious with a long table running through the center of each party room, the pro bouncers work to keep the kids supplied with pizza or even subway hoagies. After all of the bouncing is said and done the stamps of parent and child are checked to assure they match, the protocols set in place work and well, there's never been a single child who's accidentally, or purposely left with the wrong group of kids or parents nor any sort of issue of missing children, lawsuits or any other fun things besides tantrums, unfortunately those are at times unavoidable.
         Bloom bounce doesn't only offer opportunity for children who've had a long day at work and just need to bounce. It is a great place to work for students in high school and college. According to pro bouncer Tate Patora, its a relaxed job because for him and his co workers, getting to work with little kids is fun and easy. He admits that it does have its stressful times for example when a kid doesn't listen or follow the rules set in place. Tate was recommended to this job by friends that worked at bloom bounce prior to him that got good hours and made good money. The pro bouncers start at making seven seventy five an hour and get paid every two weeks. In addition to that the bouncer receives a bonus of twenty five cents every hour that they work and that's not a bad deal. Working at bloom bounce Tate reports can be hard for adults because its more of a part-time job and younger kids can more easily relate and get along with the children. In addition to this it can be a tiresome job because while working the bouncers are constantly on their feet all day, never sitting and watching children. Its a great place to work in all but like any job must be taken seriously, employees must switch shifts with another if they need off of work. With poor behavior a point system is in place, one can acquire three points before they are reprehended for their behavior. Only two people have ever quit because of the stress of working and no one has been fired there before. For Tate the only negative feelings he has for his work is the point system, while pro bouncer Haley says that the job can get a little boring and would prefer not to stand all day. "it just can get a little boring you know, standing all day." Pro Bouncer Haley admits.
           In all bloom bounce is a safe, clean and also fun environment for both child and parent. The atmosphere is very friendly which is accommodated with warm smiles, vibrantly colored bounce houses and honestly carpet. The fact that the entire complex is carpeted adds a comfortable, playful effect to the place. Both parent and child seem to enjoy the fun happening there as it is suitable to meet the needs of both. The pro bouncers at bloom bounce not only meet the needs of every size of customer but also can be seen guarding the entrance as the bouncers of a club or bar do, for both don't attempt to enter intoxicated but go and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere and let your children run free to bounce and make friends, just don't forget your socks!