14 replies to this topic

[Night Owl]

Hello b4 we go any further I dont need to know all the pit falls, cost's ext, just wondering has anyone considered setting up a fireworks display company, I'd love to know as many veiws as poss on this one, if anyone has considered this what's stopping you.

[pyrotechnist]

I wish there was a factory site we could all obtain to build fireworks on but there isn't .

One thing that stops people is the cost of it all, insurance, cost of the products etc we can never compete with the imports.

Edited by pyrotechnist, 06 July 2006 - 09:33 PM.

[Karl]

I wish there was a factory site we could all obtain to build fireworks on but there isn't .

One thing that stops people is the cost of it all, insurance, cost of the products etc we can never compete with the imports.

Shellshooterman is on about making a DISPLAY company not a MANUFACTORER.

[BigG]

Hello b4 we go any further I dont need to know all the pit falls, cost's ext, just wondering has anyone considered setting up a fireworks display company, I'd love to know as many veiws as poss on this one, if anyone has considered this what's stopping you.

If really depend what you want to do. There are plenty of small operators shooting cat 3 displays for small events, where insurance (where required) can be bought on ?per-display? basis. However, the profits are nothing but pocket money. To set a large operation, you need storage, insurance, publicity, workforce etc. The set up will run into the tens of thousands. And then, there is another point to consider ? profits in this industry are really very thin. You will need to do good business to keep afloat, and it will take quite a few years before you cover all initial costs and starting to have money you can call my own.

I myself never considered it. It?s a lovely hobby, and I suspect that if I would do it around the clock, it will lose lots of it?s charm. Beside, I have a very good day time job, and I suspect if will take many years and an excellent business success to make the same salary.

[Arthur Brown]

Yes I have put a lot of thought into starting a display company. I've been on training courses, and I've been out with an established show company to get experience. I've found adequate insurance at a sensible price.

However, doing it for work does take the sheer delight away, it's now a work requirement rather than a pleasure thing.

Having met several pro firers the successful ones are those who do the shows often and still have a passion for the art. The ones that allow themselves to be blinded by the light lose the connection with their audience and then lose the business.

Also remember that insurers dont like the phrase "home made"

Geting the work is difficult without the experience.

[pyrotechnist]

Shellshooterman is on about making a DISPLAY company not a MANUFACTORER.

I see that now last night i had a quick look through.

[adamw]

Remember, although it may not seem it, there are a lot of small display companies... it is getting quite a tight market.

[Arthur Brown]

As was said at Kimbolton, there are many firework companies, and every year new ones start and old ones cease trading.. The company and all it's personnel have to show great dedication to the art, and a continuing willingness to jump through regulatory hoops. As well as that they have to keep on getting the work in day after day year after year.

[burningbush]

Yes I work for a display comp in us, You wont get rich shooting fireworks unless your rich before!
Shells all come from china and cost keeps going up due to petrol. plus theres a bunch of new obsticles almost everyother year or so to keep up w/. There are alot of things about to change but I'm not saying what as its still in process but it may open the door for new people to get in pyro related business and some may be forced out!
Regardless Ive owned a few different businesses and fireworks is a tough one to make good $ at,realestate will make more$ ,so invest that then buy or start a $ loseing firework company,you'll be much happier.
Plus most people suck at business anyways why not choose a venture w/ better profit margins, that wayit should be atleast 10 years before most people have to go bankrupt. just being honest!
PC.

PS If your one of the special people who know's everything and like to deal w/ people,goverment,paperwork,
back breaking setup and teardown and 14 hr days w/ 3 hrs sleep in car get up do it again. then this is for you!! Welcome to the gypsy life as we call it!!

stayin green

Pc.

[Mumbles]

If you guys want to see the kind of money you make let me share. I helped setup, shoot and tear down a show. I made $40. That is $4 an hour, less than minimum wage. To tell you the truth, it was too much fun to actually be a job. To be fair, we did have a lot of downtime between the setup and shooting. The show wasn't that big, so there wasn't a huge amount of backbreaking labor to be done either. Though digging mortar holes is quite a pain in the ass.

[burningbush]

If you guys want to see the kind of money you make let me share. I helped setup, shoot and tear down a show. I made $40. That is $4 an hour, less than minimum wage. To tell you the truth, it was too much fun to actually be a job. To be fair, we did have a lot of downtime between the setup and shooting. The show wasn't that big, so there wasn't a huge amount of backbreaking labor to be done either. Though digging mortar holes is quite a pain in the ass.

All shows I work on require ass busting work not fun! If its electrically fired you get to watch it go off ,if your hand firing your too busy keeping time or watching for misfires in your guns to have fun. My fun is when you hear the crowd roar when you put on a great show. Its fun to work w/ talented people and learn alot and you can allways learn ALOT.

PS I havent dug a mortor hole in years lol "we use racks"
Have you hand set off shell racks of 4", 5" or 6" shells yet? where you toggle and are 10' max from guns firinging, I'd be curious to see if you think thats fun?
Pc

[Mumbles]

Alas due to insurance and age reasons I can not set off shells. Well, I did one of the "wind test" shells, but that is completely off the record. I had time to light and turn my back to it before going off, so it was max 2-3' away. I shot some of the class B cakes and such during the show. It was sort of a volley between cakes and shells. A cake or other proximate piece would be set off, followed by a run of shells, back and forth. I actually got time to sit at watch the shells a bit, and the whole finale. My lighting time was mostly spent dodging flaming debris.

To be fair it was a show like I have never seen. Slow one or two at a time shells(until the finale), various ground pieces. It was pretty small, but still one of the better small town shows I've seen. There were less than 200 shells fired not including the finale.

[Spyrotechnics]

Yes its hard work and yes it costs tens of thousands to setup...but I LOVE my job now and the job satisfaction I get from working within the fireworks industry far outweighs the tight profit margins and the worry of being self employed.

We are midway through our third year and I'm happy to say that we are are a growing and developing company although its hard. Any cash we make is being ploughed back into the company to purchase more equipment, firing systems, mortar racks etc etc as well as towards larger storage facilities.

Do I make any money from displays.... not yet. As I said everything goes back into the company because as you get busier and people book you to do larger/multiple displays on the same night you need the logistics to be able to cope

One thing I will say is that there are FAR easier ways to make a living but I'm glad I went for it and with a following wind I might just make a living from it

Stu

[Night Owl]

Yeah I srongly believe to be a good pyro takes a special type of person, ive bin covered in mud up to my knees, slept in the back of the van with the spent fireworks and smelly racks, worked in the rain for 2 days in a row, it is one of the hardest jobs to do I believe and I wouldnt miss for the world, and yes the pay can be crap but jus to hear those cheers at the end of the show really makes it for me, the buzz I get from lighting all those shells is undescribable, the buzz is even better now than when I started in pyro.

My Web site
http://pulsar46.tripod.com

Edited by shell shooter man, 25 July 2006 - 01:52 AM.

[burningbush]

Yeah I srongly believe to be a good pyro takes a special type of person, ive bin covered in mud up to my knees, slept in the back of the van with the spent fireworks and smelly racks, worked in the rain for 2 days in a row, it is one of the hardest jobs to do I believe and I wouldnt miss for the world, and yes the pay can be crap but jus to hear those cheers at the end of the show really makes it for me, the buzz I get from lighting all those shells is undescribable, the buzz is even better now than when I started in pyro.

Yes I think if you love pyro,love to light shells,And have great work ethic,Plus dont mind people that dont understand why you do your job ,being the ones involved w/ permits,litigation etc.. Yes you should at minimum involve your self deeply into pyro business,we will all apreciate it. We need dedicated ,honest ,hardworking people to invest in our industry! Anyone who realizes whats involved and still wants to get in should! I love the work too!, I wouldnt do it if I didnt! not for the pay ,endless knowledge and skill obtainable,Or personal risks . I think more people might start comps if the learning curve was less,and business sucsess was insured. Pc.