My+Pyrotechnic+Expert

Although it took me a while, I finally found a pyrotechnist that is not arrested or with the military, and is in St. Paul. This is her entire, unedited response:

Hello,

Here are some quick answers, and some attached documents and other data to review. Hope this helps the project.

Mira's Attachments (Yes, I did edit this part) -Duncan

Also, review PGI.org as a resource for more information, and a yearly convention for families to get involved with pyrotechnics.

See answers in-line to questions below.

Why did you choose to be a pyrotechnist?

I actually started by dating someone who was 'big' in the industry, and found I loved the fireworks, but didn't really like him. Anyway, I found a great passion for it, and a skill in some display design and the project management required to make displays successful. It has been more of a passion and drive than many other things.

Also, thank you for using the correct word. It is not often that we see the word Pyrotechnist used correctly.

Do you make your own fireworks? If so, what types?

No. Manufacture in the US is very challenging and expensive. We import from China and work closely with the factories there for some special products and things to call our own. We do design some fireworks and modify many others as they are manufactured, or occasionally here for special needs.

How many people does it take to put on a show of high quality?

There are many stages to putting on a display. There are the sales people to sell and close the sale. There are the fire professionals (fire men) to review the site plans and approve the display for safety. There are warehouse workers to pull the products from inventory and label and prepare the shells and products for the display. There are commercial truck drivers to deliver them to the site. There are the workers on the field to setup the equipment, load the firework product, wire it to the computerized firing panels and to clean up after ward. There are the security monitors around the display site, and of course the wonderful audience!

Also do not forget the factory workers in China, as well as the shipping companies. In the end there are hundreds of people to make the fireworks display happen and happen successfully. On the field, which I think is more to the point of your questions... it is usually 6 to 15 people doing all the field work.

What are your favorite types of fireworks?

I personally love the GoGetter shells. This is a shell of colored stars that 'swim' in the night sky. The ones with movement and action are my favorites.

Are you a full time pyrotechnist, or do you just do it part time?

I am essentially full time, but I also have another job to make money... Pyro does not always pay very well, especially when you are the owner and keep investing back into the company to help it grow and mature.

My 'day' job is a department manager for a computer software company doing biometric identification systems (fingerprinting). It is good to have multiple talents and income streams when a being a pyrotechnist... Winters can be long and cold without it....

Have you ever gotten any injuries as a result of your job

as a pyrotechnist? If so how?

No injuries from fireworks. I have been doing it for 15 years without a single burn or injury from fireworks. I do have minor cuts from box openers, some leg bumps on equipment, and a toe nail got hurt a couple years ago from equipment dropping on it. It is usually the equipment that gets you... there is a lot of it, and most is heavy. (work out and get strong).

Do you enjoy being a pyrotechnist?

Very much so!

What is the largest show that you have ever put on?

We do some very large choreographed to music displays. They are very complex with lots of product that needs to be placed n certain ways to get the story right. One of these was in Bloomington for the 2003 APA convention. This was a large display for a private function... so no news or other groups were told, but it was fully permitted. In doing the display it was large, loud and lots of fun... but it also generated thousands of called to the 911 operators in the entire southern suburbs and Minneapolis. The date of show was September 10th, 2003... so people were jumpy about 9-11. Anyway, all was well, and the news crews got people up to speed quickly.

Have you ever had a dud firework that somehow set off all

of your other fireworks that you were going to use?

No. There are some good controls for this, and safety is really important. This has happened in the industry, and that is some of the key reasons for change in process and separation. We seek to be very careful, and pride ourselves on it. We are hard on our people to be sure they stay safe, but in the end it is important for all of us, including them to focus on safety.

What is the most fun that you have ever had with fireworks?

See the attached picture of me with a large string of fire crackers in China. Don't try this at home... but it was a hoot!

As a side note: If you are interested in being a pyrotechnist, look us up when you are 18. You must be at least 18 to work with professional product by federal law. Also stay clean of drugs, felonies, drinking, etc. You must have a clear record per federal law. Learn math (display design), English (sales), some music (choreography), wood and metal working (fabrication), project management, computers, etc. It is very much a multi-discipline field.

I hope this information is helpful. Also see our web site for more info at [|www.HollywoodPyrotechnics.com]. You can use our name in your report.

Thanks! Mira

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