You
also need to be on board when it comes to
safety. You need to partner with us to discuss
safety issues and devise a safety plan; making
sure it's reviewed before the shoot. We have a
'don't shoot' clause in all of our contracts,
that states, effectively, that if someone
screws up anything safety wise, we don't fire
the show until it is safe.
As
an event planner, you need to make sure that
there is adequate security for the shoot. The
planner is responsible for that security to
keep people out. Elite Pyrotechnics, the
planner, security leader and a venue
representative need to discuss this area
specifically. There needs to be a line of
communication with that security (during the
event), so if a guest breaches that area, they
are escorted out.
Offering display fireworks at your event can
make the difference in the success of your
event.
1.
Plan early.
Some
pyrotechnic displays can be produced in a
matter of weeks, from initial contact to final
cleanup. The design and setup of a smaller
show may take little time.
However,
the permitting process, which may involve
numerous jurisdictions, can be a very lengthy
process. For instance, shows fired from
vessels or barges in navigable water require a
Coast Guard permit that takes four to five
months to secure.
For
small shows that don't involve water, it is
recommended that you secure our services two
to three months in advance.
2.
Determine your budget.
Fireworks
can be custom-designed for just about any kind
of budget. The cost of fireworks is closely
tied to the way a show is fired. Hand-fired
shows, with fireworks launched by hand by
trained technicians, are the least expensive.
Electronically fired shows allow more precise
design control - a good choice if you want
complementary background music. Digitally
controlled shows, painstakingly choreographed
with music (also called Pyromusicals), are the
most expensive.
3.
Select your location.
The
first question to consider is what type of
venue you have available. Space is always the
primary concern. For outdoor displays, the National
Fire Protection Association
requires a clear area around the discharge
site of at least 70 feet in each direction for
each inch in length of the largest product
fired. For instance, to fire 3-inch shells,
you must have a clear area with a radius of
210 feet. Distance twice the size may be
required in some jurisdictions, or near a
medical facility, care facility, jail or other
facility sensitive to explosives.
Our
company representative should visit your
proposed site, and discuss with you the size
of the space and whether there is a good
vantage point for spectators, and a way to
keep the discharge location secure.
Ever
since 9/11 federal regulations are more strict
and insurance more expensive for displays.
It may take some time for all the red-tape so
plan early!
4.
Know your crowd size.
Traditional
aerial fireworks are designed for a large
audience spread over a wide viewing area. It's
critical that we know your audience size and
the portion of your venue needed to hold them
in order to determine the clear space
available for discharge. The event sponsor or
the staff at the venue - not
the fireworks company - must provide
crowd control, so establish early who will
handle this and how.
5.
Consider what colors, sound, and effects you
want.
You
can turn over the design aspect almost
completely to us if you prefer. We want at
least a basic idea of the purpose of your
event and what you want your fireworks display
to achieve. The options are vast. Your venue
ma
y limit your options. If you're near a
hospital or horse stable, some noise
restrictions may apply. Paramount Pyro FX
custom-designs every event.
6.
Choose your music.
Fireworks
are set off beautifully by music. Your choice
of music is just as important as your choice
of fireworks. Choosing an obscure piece of
music that's hard to recognize will detract
from the display. The best solution is to
choose a very well known piece, or a personal
favorite that the majority of your audience
will be familiar with. You can even give the
display a theme or set it to a popular movie
soundtrack. Fireworks and music, when
skillfully choreographed, have always been
seen as a perfect couple. When a soaring note
is complimented by a glittering arching comet,
when staccato beats are illustrated by a line
of erupting mines, when a climactic finale is
plastered across the sky in vivid, pulsating
colored fire, fading only as the final note
drifts away into the night…..That is when
the two arts seem to combine to create a new
emotional dimension. There is a special art to
designing
and firing choreographed fireworks. The
secrets is not just in selecting fireworks
which reflect the pace and intensity of the
music exactly, it’s also in the timing.
Achieved with a sophisticated electrical
firing system which has proved it’s worth on
every occasion.
Themed events provide marketing opportunities.
We have been delighted in putting together
ideas as diverse as "Spirit In The
Sky"; "An Evening of Movies and
Fireworks!"; "Magic and
Sorcery"; "Music From Around the
World"; "Wonderful Years of John
Williams"; "Galaxy of Fire";
"Warriors In Film" and many more.
Our large music
library
coupled with our digital mixing and recording,
give us the opportunity to create unique
evenings of spectacular entertainment for
individual venues. We are always happy to
discuss ways that we can help to make your
event extra memorable.
Some
shows are digitally synchronized with music
that's simulcast on the radio, so listeners at
home or in a car get a complete visual
experience. This requires countless hours of
analysis of the musical score and pyrotechnic
effects. The choreography of that is of
considerable expense.
Background
music that's not synchronized is much less
expensive. Paramount Pyro FX has a vast
collection of more than 10,000 songs in their
library. Visit our partial music selection
list here.
You also may provide your own music,
coordinated with us, or have no musical
accompaniment.
7.
Select a turnkey operation.
8.
Get a detailed project description.
As
your display company we write a business
agreement that specifies the products you'll
get in your show, lists all services we will
provide, exactly what's required from you, and
the costs.
9.
Ask how you can save money.
For
tighter budgets, consider shooting smaller
items and a shorter show. A brief, quality
show can emphasize excitement. It's really not
how long the fireworks lasts, or how many
shells are in your show, but about the quality
of the display and creating excitement and
entertainment.
Depending
on the products and venue, you may be able to
do the fireworks cleanup yourself, rather than
paying us to do it.
Which in turn could lead to more bang for your
buck. You can save us some money for extra
additional labor and time, and we can include
more effects in your show in return.
10.
Have a contingency plan.
Nobody
has any control over the weather.
Experienced
pyrotechnicians can shoot fireworks in bad
weather, but fewer spectators are likely to
watch, and strong winds will prohibit firing
at all. Wind can blow debris beyond the clear
area, creating a fire hazard. In very dry
conditions, fire officials may cancel your
display at the last minute, wind or not.
Discuss these possibilities in advance with
us, decide what you will do if the show can't
go on, and write any agreements into your
contract. Make sure to discuss an alternate
date and time, if such occasion arises.
Avoid
mistakes by adhering to the following
suggestions.
For
Outdoor Displays:
- Start
on time. If the event has been advertised
for a specific time, start it promptly!
- Use
the appeal of fireworks to attract
attendees to an event. The anticipation of
a fireworks display at a festival, fair or
other public event, keeps attendees longer
and has a positive impact on concession
and ticket sales.
- If
you can, customize the display to music.
It has more impact on attendees' emotions.
A musical medley can be created that
climaxes at the finale, leaving attendees
feeling that the display was much longer
due to the number of songs that were used.
- For
a public event, use fireworks at the end.
People have been conditioned that when the
fireworks go off, the event is over.
- Please
don't try to stretch a small budget with
limited effects over a long period of
time! It leads to many dead spots and
pauses and looses its appeal. This is the
most frequently repeated mistake by
organizers. When working with a small
budget, use smaller effects closer to the
audience for impact.
- End
with a bang!
