4 replies to this topic

[aquarius]

Hi, I might be stirring up a hornets nest here.
Or maybe not, since I have seen very little about the topic in this forum.

I am a licenced display operater and the owner of my own pyro firm. In July we have two small shows in our order book.

When I sat down to plan the first show, it struck me that I was planning it as I alwas do:
- first I plan the "grand finale"
- then the opening of the show
- the the "semi-finale" comes next
- and last, fill in the blanks with cakes and stuff until the price/time limit has been reached...

Going back in history, shows were planned differently and they where following quite strict rules.
They could eigther be classed by effect in the early years or by colour when coloured comp came in use later on.
Often they would have three volleys before the grand finale. It could be spinners, rockets, shells, lances, set pieces etc.

I'm not going too deep in this (yet), but colour saturation in the eye as well as not creating chaos is a must to have in mind.
I confess I find shorter and fuller shows superior to longer and slower ones. I'm not to fond of salutes, but they have their place in most shows.

We had discussion with here the other night, and one of the participants is not a pyro-junkie.
He handles sales and promotion, and told me that only people that really know pyro is as obsessed with this as I am.
His idea is that the audience are happy with whatever they get, as long as it is big and booms.

I might be overthinking this, but I find it helpful and sometimes downright mandatory to take a step back and rethink things.
Or I might be thinking too much. My wifte does not share that opinion but then again...

So, please feel free to step up and claim you display planning as the perfect one.
Or at least share some ideas with the rest of us.

[bloater]

There's loads of ways to design a show and everyone seems to do it differently.
For instance one of the companies I fire for have standard packages to suit different budgets, so for a budget of x we would put certain products on the van for a budget of y certain products would go on the van, these can then be topped up with whats in stock or if the client wants certain items these can be included. But even by doing this no two shows are the same as people fire items in different orders.

I like to keep colours co-ordinated where possible.
The finale tends to be what people remember as it's normally the biggest effects and the last thing they see, so it's a good place to start.
I start of the show is the second item I like to plan either nice and quiet with gerbs and fountains of BANG with an opening salvo of mines, then I like to do cakes and candles starting with the smaller ones to the larger with smaller shells being fired between them.
then the pre finale I like this to have different colours to the main finale and if it matches or compliments the last cake then all the better.

Looking at the what your client wants depending on budget, space etc I would consider cutting back on the duration and use bigger and noiser effects, as he seems to what big and loud

But if theres a set piece or certain effects to include I may start planning around these first.

Edited by bloater, 15 May 2012 - 04:43 PM.

[barnsley-mark]

Taking a step back and looking from an 'observers' point can be surprising and informative in any situation. As the provider and professional it is too easy to get caught up in technicalities and worry about things the public will never notice or even consider.A dud or miss- fire will be very apparent to you but the viewer will never know about it.It's all about the WOW factor so a good mix of effects with 'big and loud' at random points will always keep the audience guessing and wondering.Bang start - to get attention and a big finish and you just can't go wrong.

[Arthur Brown]

Go to a few public firework shows in your locality and watch the crowd, what do they like most, try to notice what they see.

Look at the show from their perspective, they've paid to be wowed! Things like a line of Xs from crossed candles is simple but effective. Watch for C and W firing cakes as well as up firing ones. Look at still pics of displays, work out how it was done and whether you like the effect.

Yes you know more than most of the crown but don't let that stop you putting on a great show, If you like it that's good.

[aquarius]

Thank boys, good info here. Stepping back every once in a while can be quite a eye-opener for most of us.

Went to a show last night, bringing my rather lousy camera. The purpose was not pictures, but video of visual impact, sound and what the crowd seemed to like. A few suprises there.

For one, a handfull of the effects I like because of the complexity and colours scored nil with the audience.
Rather simple but big cakes with splitting comets and tails ranked high, as well as the bigger shells of course and the occational bang. Mines with effects as always score high.
And the long hanging chrys or willow as last shell fired solitare is a sure crowd pleaser.

Worked on my show today, and it is comming together nicely.
Had to rethink some old ideas, and letting go of my old routine, taking the reaction of crowd last night in account.
Luckily my next customer has a few ideas of what he want at what he dislikes.

I'd like to keep this thread warm with your help.