5 Things Your Pyrotechnician Wants You to Know for Your Event

 

YAY!!!! You booked the best Pyrotechnics company to do a firework display for your event. Now what? Here are 5 things Pyrotechnicians, like me want you to know. 

🎆We take security and safety very seriously! We don't know your guests, and unless they have attended our safety briefing, they are NOT allowed beyond the barrier. It doesn't matter if your uncle is a retired firefighter, or your cousin is active military. We will shut down the show immediately! This is for the safety of every single soul at the event. Typically, there are layouts, wires, live igniters ready to go and when they get misplaced, messed up or set off prematurely, it can become severely dangerous or even deadly. The security perimeter is also in place for the fallout zone. This is the area where debris falls when the fireworks are lit. 

🎆There will be A LOT of debris for clean up! A lot of pyrotechnic companies will clean up after themselves, however if you are at a venue with a time limit this can create a time crunch for your pyrotechnics team. (Example, you rent the park pavilion and you need to be out by 11pm but clean-up will take till 12:30.) You need to communicate time restrictions with your Pyrotechnician, they may need additional staff to assist with clean up after the display.  

🎆If you insist on using sparklers for your event (wedding, kids' birthday etc.) please remember that they burn at 2000°. That is WAY hotter than the 140° water that could give you 3rd degree burns. When you are using sparklers for a wedding as an arch to walk under, you get hot sparks falling on you, your dress, rented tuxedo etc. There are other ways you can get the same effect in pictures now, with AI, or you could opt in for a confetti cannon arch, or glitter cannon arch. For a kids' birthday these are also fun examples for things you can do for pictures along with bubbles. I know this must sound strange coming from a Pyrotechnician, however I would opt for a firework fountain wall that you can take pictures in front of, at a safe distance. Again, we're ALL about safety!

🎆It takes weeks, if not months to plan an orchestrated display. (Our 4th of July display is a full year of planning.) When a client decides to change the show in any way or cancel, it can cause quite the headache. The show is a work of art. There are different types and styles of fireworks that detonate well together, and timing is EVERYTHING! If a client has agreed to do an aerial show, and 3 months down the line, changes their mind to half aerial, half fountain, odds are that the show has already been purchased and the layout design has already been drafted. I'm not saying you can't change your mind. I'm saying be open and honest with your Pyrotechnician about what you're looking for, a lot of times, they will know what you really want, before you do. 

🎆Firework permits SUCK to obtain! If you have a Pyrotechnician who will handle this for you, count yourself lucky! Some townships are super easy to obtain one, and some it's like jumping through hoops. You literally have to measure in feet certain areas. No joke! There are spots on the permit for shooting clearance areas, insurance information, etc. YUCK!!!!! Some permits also cost money. That's a cost you wouldn't have to deal with, because your Pyrotechnician is doing it for you. Depending on the type of display (consumer vs professional) and venue there would also be things like contacting your local sheriff/police department, fire department, grounds keeper/maintenance person and anyone else involved in the event to coordinate a safe display. This should always be completed before your display date, by your Pyrotechnics team. 

We look forward to lighting up your next event! 

James and Shana