17 replies to this topic

[Chaz]

Just thought I'd announce an upcoming show certainly worth going to if you can. Last years was incredible, the footage/photos I got are available at www.infernolabs.co.uk/championship. (only the video and the images with an 'a' at the start of their names are worth seeing, sorry for the poor sound on the video).

The website with everything you need to know can be found here:
http://www.fireworkchampions.co.uk/

The show is basically a competition between four professional companies, who have to put on a 10-15 minute show to accompany non-live music. Last year was brilliant, and the show only had to be 5 minutes long. After all shows are complete, the audience vote on their favourite.

I live relatively close to the place where it's held, but it's definately worth spending a while to get to. There are a few burger vans on site, but other than that there arent that many facilities, an important thing to remember is to bring your own chairs, if possible.

Prices are ?15 for an adult, ?5 for a child. Adults get a ?1.50 discount for booking in advance.

I look forward to seeing some of you there.

[paul]

Wow! You did a great job taking these amazing pictures!

I like this one best: http://www.infernola...p/ADSCF3658.JPG


Unfortunately this event is a bit too far away from us, so you wont see me there

greets from germany

paul

[Richard H]

Some nice pics, I will be there setting up the display with MLE. Look out for the demo before the main shows which I am pleased to be organising

[Chaz]

Last year there was a short demonstration with a bit of background information, for example the names of basic fireworks, demonstrating shell sizes, that kind of stuff. Are you talking about that? Did you organise that last year?

[Richard H]

Yeah, although we are putting more time into organising it this year. We aim to show how fireworks are choreographed to music, and look out for some unusual demonstrations too

[ProfHawking]

Cool! ill really try hard to be there acutally. i have a mate up there, maybe i could drag him along and have a place to crash.
If it all goes ahead, anyone from round london want a lift if i carshare?

[Chaz]

Well it starts at 9pm, it's quarter to 5 right now, and it's been raining all day, and for some of yesterday as well...

[sasman]

Yes it Chucking it down here so i'm not going to go ..

Although if it looks like it will clear up maybe i will change my mind...

[RegimentalPyro]

Well I'm going.....

The Weather looks to be clearing. Hooray!

[sasman]

Bugger!! you are right hear it nice and sunny!! i may try to get there...its 7 pm here may make it in time..

[Chaz]

Well it has certainly cleared up over here, the clouds are moving quite fast (although it isn't windy) and I can see a few spots of blue sky, even the odd bit of sun. Huzzah!
I look forward to Richard H's demo, and the god awful commentary!

Oh and a word of warning, if possible, either park near the exit or leave before the majority, because last year it had rained quite a bit in the previous days, and it took about an hour to get out of the carpark because of the muddy conditions.

Edited by Chaz, 13 August 2005 - 06:34 PM.

[ProfHawking]

Well i thought it was a great show! well done to everyone envolved!
What happened to MLE's music though? it went a bit squiffy!
carparking was well organised, even if a few cars got stuck, we got in & out very quickly.

well worth the ?15 i recon.

rich, the demo was cool to see, cheers. not as technical as id hope, but still interesting.

One bad thing was the 'really really gay' music between the shows! its raining men eh? but thank god it wasnt actually raining for real. was it hassle setting up in the wet.

anyway, again, i was impressed! i voted for the 3rd display, but didnt hang around for the result. who won it in the end?

[sasman]

Well i got there but in the rush left the videocamera on so it had a flat battery when i arrived

Didnt get there till about 9:10 but luckily there was a delay so i got to see Richards demo ...I like the demo of the different sized shells...Richard did you make any of those that you fired? Next year if possible and i will donate the money for the shells!!..

I would like to see 3,4,5,6,8 and maybe a 10" shell depending on how much a 10" costs ?..

The bloke who narates over the show i think is crap!!! it was the same bloke as last year and you can tell he dont have a clue about fireworks...

The show was superb!!I liked the first & last shows.. The first one which i think was spitfire was in my opinion the the winner?...

Altho i left as soon as the show ended so dont know the winner yet..

I would love to know what size shells were fired anyone have any info on shells sizes that were fired .. Also how much would such a display cost..

I hope some fellow member posts some video clips

All in all we were very pleased with the show ... there were quite a few pauses not sure if they were intentional or faults??..


I will be there next year for sure...

[RegimentalPyro]

I reckon I know what happened to the music on MLE's set.

<Geeky-sound-man-mode>They connected left and right stereo signals together for the one speaker stack. This works for drumbeats which "construct" together, but vocal signals on left and right channels are out of phase. This means that under these circumstances they cancel each other out, leading to that weird phase shifting "Flangeing" sound we got on the vocals......</Geeky-sound-man-mode>

Bottom line - They spent all the budget on the pyro and forgot to pay the soundman - <grin>....

On that line I have an interesting question that my wife has put to me. Wouldn't the fireworks be better without the music? Maybe - Maybe not. Perhaps as a hardened pyro fiend I just see the music as an add-on.

Some killer pyro - I loved the Riverdance set, and thought the demo was great. Laughed like a drain when the commentator tried to say Strontium - "Strontonium" was his best effort!

As for the gay music [Rhinestone cowboy? What? Bloody hellfire!] both my wives <grin - longstory> were dancing all through the breaks to that...

Finally - big thanks to Richard for all the effort and organisation he put into it. Plenty of happy smiley people coming away on the back of his hard labour - It's appreciated buddy!

[Chaz]

They have a combination of magnesium and strontu... I cant even pronounce this... Strontonium...?

Haha, that made me laugh so much!

Richard, by any chance was it you I could see lighting the fireworks during the demo? I was right at the front.

I hung around for the results, Spitfire won (I would have voted for them if I had taken my phone), I think the team that went second got 4th place, the team that went third got 3rd place, the team that went last came 2nd, and Spitfire, who went first, and who won last year, won.

Excellent show, a shame about the dodgy sound on the second performance. What did everyone think of the huge delay, then massive combination of shells mines and comets launched at once during Spitfire's show? I loved it!

I could have got videos, but I decided to focus on photos this year, the majority of them turned out very well. You can find them at:

http://www.infernola...k/champions2005

My favourites:
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6496.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6472.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6500.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6501.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6502.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6526.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6539.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6545.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6566.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6576.JPG
http://www.infernola...05/DSCF6582.JPG

With regards to pyrotechnics without music, I find it sounds unusual when there isnt any music in the background. The constant bangs and cracks just dont sound right when not accompanied by anything.

Edited by Chaz, 14 August 2005 - 01:02 AM.