8 replies to this topic

[zookeeper]

I'm curious to know if an American, with 15+ years of conducting professional displays, could make enough money to pay for the trip over, back, food/lodging, and a few pints at the pub?

...Or should I stay home?

(please be brutally honest.)

[Arthur Brown]

Little or no relevance to your ability to fire shows, ALL depends on your ability to sell the services. Having first understood UK legislation which is different from US legislation.

Also you would need to design using UK approved fireworks because some effects used in the US are not legal here.

[Mortartube]

Which effects are you specifically speaking of that are legal in the US but not here, in a professional display?

[zookeeper]

Little or no relevance to your ability to fire shows,

Fireworks knowledge is universal, pictures of setups in the UK look just like displays in the states.

ALL depends on your ability to sell the services.

Yes, that's the real trick I'm trying to get a feel for the UK display business, in November.

For example, are there enough pyrotechnicians in the UK, to fill the demands of Bonfire Night?

Would UK display companies be open to hiring an American, for a few days?

Has anyone seen any "freelance" American pyros in the UK?

I'm really just looking for a way to get to the UK, work on Bonfire Night and get paid (in pounds) for it. Because the American dollar does NOT go very far in the UK...at all.

Having first understood UK legislation which is different from US legislation.

I have been researching this... some parts are similar, some not, ALL are confusing to some extent

Also you would need to design using UK approved fireworks because some effects used in the US are not legal here.

I don't think I would be so bold, as to design, .... but I'd just to do some of the "heavy lifting".
I've worked in Canada, so I know that there are different "government approved" effects

Edited by zookeeper, 09 November 2007 - 04:10 AM.

[Arthur Brown]

As a freelance firer for a UK show company you are unlikely to make it pay. There are many UK based junior firers and the rate is poor. Kids want to get into pyro so they will work for free - £50 for the night.

As a "American Fireworks Display Company" you could well make money. Some of the BIG buyers of firework shows do deliberately buy "different" there has been a French company doing pyro work on the Thames in London recently, also these buyers (the big councils) tend to rotate suppliers, not stick with one.

You would have to get major UK insurance and a UK representative familiar with UK contracts and law.

Study what makes a US show special, distil the thoughts into words and SELL that in the UK. Then achieve it by subbing in UK skill and practical and legal competence. Even the differences between OHSA and HSAW legislation could sink your plans. Plan round UK available devices as importing fireworks can be fraught.

Even the music you use (if you do) would sink you few tracks cross the pond well, ---Deep Purple, a UK band, are still touring the US but almost unheard of here in Britain.

[zookeeper]

Thank you Arthur for confirming what I already had suspected. We have the same problem in the states, lots of people wanting to get into the display business as operators, working for free, or for a company shirt.

50 pounds per night, even with the US dollar almost worthless, wouldn't cover a pint, much less an airline ticket.

I think the idea of working as a company in the UK would be a nice challenge, however if the UK's maze of laws are anything like the US, I may spend more time pushing a pencil and shuffling papers, than firing a show.
I have enough pitfalls with shipping and transport with domestic shows, I couldn't imagine trying to import to the UK. The actual show would be the least of my concerns

It looks like I'll just have to fund a Bonfire Night holiday from my own pocket, I think I may enjoy watching rather than working anyway

[Arthur Brown]

OK my ideas
1/

Abandon the fireworks interest ( they are nearly all Chinese anyway) do a UK holiday and visit some of the quirkier FIRE traditions - notable bonfires, tar barrel rolling etc these tend to be in the South of England from the North and South Downs to Devon. Do some of the US tourist things too if you bring family.

2/

Sell yourself and your hardware (firing system etc) to a major UK company as a specialist show designer and firer in YOUR tradition and style. -NO UK company has enough kit to fire all the shows they could on 5nov.

3/

Sell yourself as designer producer to a major UK buyer for a headline show, get your holiday costs out of your design fee, Get UK companies to sub the actual fireworks, firing and labour.

4/

The fireworks here are from the same Chinese factories as the fireworks you can buy in the States though the names may be different. Learn about the Maltese firework tradition and go to a show there. They still make their own and fire their traditional shows. Chat with KarlFoxman on here.

Unless you already have World-Wide insurance cover then your US underwriters would charge a lot for UK insurance esp for one night. and a Brit insurer would prob charge an annual premium anyway.

With next 5 nov being a wednesday then there will likely be shows on the sat before and after, and on the 5th. and so you will need to watch carefully the dates of the traditional events.

[zookeeper]

Thank you for the great ideas!

The company I work for has a nice 1350 cue Pyromate firing system, and a few engineers that would head over with me in November. If your November is anything like our July, electric firing systems are always in very short supply.

I'll just have to convince my boss that the company needs to go "international"

I'm going to have to do some research with the insurance issues though, to see if our provider covers international work, and what would be some of the costs, if extra coverage was needed.

Thanks again for the ideas, I'll get my "working holiday" yet!

[Arthur Brown]

I'm sure we have enough nail boards! Yes 5nov is our one big night but not a national holiday so the party could be on the w/e before or after or on the night.

PS on 5nov it's dark by 4pm and usually wet and cold!

Edited by Arthur Brown, 15 November 2007 - 01:45 AM.