Franko was born in Long Beach, CA. At the age of 16, he learned to juggle and twist balloons. In 1992, he was lured to Phoenix by good friends and cheap rent. A year later, he began his professional career working for a children’s entertainment company, doing magic, puppets, face painting, and balloons. In 1999, Franko started entertaining with Balloonatix and frequenting Rustler’s Rooste. An opportunity arose in 2003, Franko bought the company and changed the name to Balloonatix Entertainment. Now married with two kids, he and his wife, Aislinn, run the family business.