8 replies to this topic

[bloater]

Does anyone fire for more than one company?
I've not been doing it for long and whilst I feel I owe a debt to the company who gave me a break in the pro world, I want to move up a set and do more displays, the company I currently fire for are good to me and try and give me as many shows as possiable, but being a bit gready I'd like even more.
So whist I'd like to stay as a firer with the company who I currently fire for I'd like to also do work for another company to increase my experience, so does anyone work for more the one company? If so do both comapnies know your working for someone else? and are they alright with this? how does it work out for you? any problems?
At the moment I work on a self employed basis.

[Arthur Brown]

If you are truly self employed you can work for several companies, however they will likely NOT like that. Also you will be expected to reserve yourself for 5th nov for all the companies that you work for, which is hard!

[Karl Mitchell-Shead]

I fire for two, makes for a very hard decision during busy week

[bloater]

Silly week is the only time I think there would be a big problem.
I was thinking of saying to the second company that the company I already fire for has first refusal during silly week, although I've yet to identify a second company yet to approach for definate.

[portfire]

The more experience you gain the more your in demand and around the 5th you'll be getting phone calls, emails wanting you. I can and do work for other companies BUT I'm loyal to one. As Arthur said, you can work for 50 companies BUT they will all want you on the 5th

[scjb]

You are freelance, and entitled to work for whoever you can. All I would say is... make no secret of the fact that you do work for others. Keep the trust with all. This WILL mean you have to keep things to yourself, commercial in confidence etc... but it is perfectly possible.

[portfire]

When your back stage with 'The saturdays' it all makes sense!!!!!

[Arthur Brown]

The fireworks industry has a serious crew need for 5th November and little need for the rest of the year. SO your choice of work providers must depend on your loyalties, and who provides you most or the best work. If you cannot make 5th Nov available to a work provider than they may not make other work available to you.
This is going to be more noticeable this coming year ( 2011 ) as 5th Nov is a saturday so there will be massive need for crews on the saturday and almost none on the other days, there's going to be a surplus of crew on the other days and a shortage of crew on the saturday as most clients will want their display on the saturday itself.

[NickC]

I fire for two - one has priority over the other and they both are aware of that. I don't discuss each others business between the two or where I have necessarily fired though as they both complete my BPA Blue book they both know, but then again they both know of each other - have minimal cross terratories etc. Equally one has more shows local to me that the other so that helps set where and whom I fire for.

I fire my own school show on the 5th booked through one of these two companies, crewed by my own team, so as to avoid the "where will you be on the 5th",