An aspiring pyrotechnic
#1
Posted 10 March 2011 - 09:18 PM
I thought this would be a great place to turn to for advise.
So:
What would be the best way to get into this career?
Are their any specific qualifications needed for the job?
I am currently 17, are there any age restrictions for shadowing pyrotechnicians or working with them?
I need general info on what it is like and how to best get into the career.
(Btw, mods/admins, I apologize if this is in the wrong place. I'm new to forums haha)
#2
Posted 10 March 2011 - 09:29 PM
What exactly do you want to do in relation to pyrotechnics?
Do you want to work on proffessional fireworks displays?
Do you want to work on stage pyro?
Do you want to work special effects for film / reenactments?
Do you want to work in HE for civil engineering / demolition / oil prospecting projects
Do you want to work with HE for military projects?
Do you want to work in manufacturing?
It all depends on where you want to aim yourself, so give us a bit more of a clue.
D
#3
Posted 10 March 2011 - 09:51 PM
Thanks for the help btw
Edited by Pyro85, 10 March 2011 - 09:52 PM.
#4
Posted 10 March 2011 - 10:12 PM
Keep mannequins and watermelons away from fireworks..they always get hurt..
#5
Posted 10 March 2011 - 10:30 PM
#6
Posted 11 March 2011 - 07:34 AM
In the UK you will need to be 18 to have control or possession of any explosive article or substance.
While you are 17 you should perhaps look close to home for some relevant employment. Remember that pyro based SFX are NOT the only SFX and you will need skill with other forms of SFX, strings and wires, animatronics, puppetry, CGI, and other forms not yet invented.
Added;
Pyro later will need that you are free of convictions now, so keep yourself very clean now.
Edited by Arthur Brown, 11 March 2011 - 07:37 AM.
Keep mannequins and watermelons away from fireworks..they always get hurt..
#7
Posted 11 March 2011 - 03:39 PM
I found a backstage college where I can take courses on some of these things, so should i do more than one, just to get as much experience as possible?
#8
Posted 11 March 2011 - 05:51 PM
This course is about 50% CGI some puppetry and mechanics and I think they did two weeks pyro in three years! This is probably a reasonable viewpoint on the industry.
For this your first port of call is your school's careers advisor. However a degree is only one starting point, getting some real work done is possibly a better start.
Keep mannequins and watermelons away from fireworks..they always get hurt..
#9
Posted 11 March 2011 - 06:22 PM
Arthur has pretty much said it all, To give yourself the best chance of a foot-in in the SFX industries, your best bet to start off is to offer your services for free in amature productions at your local theatre,....this is what my nephew did many years ago - he started off at the Queens Theatre (hornchurch) and then ended up at the Kenneth More Theatre (Ilford) doing the lighting & sound controls + SFX stuff, he eventually became one of the paid production assistants putting on shows for professional touring companies.
The bottom line is, Don`t limit yourself just to SFX, eventually if you put the effort in over a prolonged period, you will get the rewards.
Edited by crystal palace fireworks, 11 March 2011 - 09:59 PM.
#10
Posted 11 March 2011 - 06:49 PM
http://www.kftv.com/product-5740.html
Is a list of some of the companies that do pyro sfx inc some all over the world, read it!
Keep mannequins and watermelons away from fireworks..they always get hurt..
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