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-----------------------> So you want to be a Pyro?
Welcome to the world of professional pyrotechnics!
If you've ever wonderd what it is like to be up close and personal to the professional display shells during a fireworks show, or if you live for the roar of the crowd, continue reading! Whether you are interested in just being part of a fireworks display crew, or actually obtaining a California pyrotechnic operators license, you have come to the right place. So you have an idea of what you are getting your self into, a typical fourth of July will be described.

A Typical 4th of July
The operator's day will usually start long before the sun comes up, for he needs to make the trip down to the plant to pick up his loaded truck. Once he is satisfied that it has been loaded properly and completely, and has filled out the mountain of paperwork, he will make his way down to the firing site where he meets his crew. You will usually arrive at the field at around 9:00am to beat the summer heat. While the temperature is still favorable, everyone will fill the mortar boxes with sand or kleet the racks (depending on your show). These two tasks usually take a good chunk of the morning. The crew will then start loading the hundreds of aerial shells into their respective tubes. During an electrical show, the shells must also be wired into slave modules (slats, rails, etc.) At the same time, the cakes, candles, mines, set pieces, strobes, gerbes, and any other low level device in the show must be mounted, set, and wired. The firing cables must be run, a continuity check preformed, and a briefing of how the show will be fired. After all this is said and done, the crew will usually have a couple of hours to check out the festivities and mingle with the crowd before show time. About 30 minutes before show time, another continuity check is performed, and everyone gets into their respective positions for the show. The show will usually fire at 9:00pm and last about 20 minutes. The finale will fire, the crowd will roar, and you'll already be looking foward to your next show. Afterwords, the field is checked for duds, sand boxes emptied, mortar racks uncleated, and everything else packed up and put away. The crew will usually leave the field by 11:30pm. Professional pyrotechnics is a lot of work, but it is a fun, adrenaline packed experience, that will leave you craving for more.
What is it like to be part of the crew? Will I get rich?
       Crew members are volunteers. Only once you become a licensed pyrotechnic operator do you get paid. However, if the show is large enough, the crew is usually given a small compensation from the operator. Click here for more information on crew pay. Before becoming a crew member, you must fill out an employee possessor form that is sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobaco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) for a thorough background check. If you have been convicted of a felony, or are an illegal alien in the USA, then you will not be able to handle explosives.
       Since pyrotechnic operators work as independent contractors to big display companies, they provide their own crew. This means, in order to get into the world of pyrotechnics, you need to know someone who is an operator, or find an operator who is willing to take the time to train you and let you into their crew. Lucky for you, I am willing to train new people, given there is an opening in my crew (not always the case), you are at least 18, and you are willing to put the time and effort into being trained. The entire time as a crew member, you will be working under direct supervision of the licensed pyrotechnic operator in charge (me).
       If your looking to make a profit, this is not the place for you. Most of my crew members have no intention of ever getting a license, and come out because you always have a great time shooting pyro. If you want to become a licensed operator and start making money, you need to volunteer on different crews for a minimum of two years anyway. I see this as a hobbie that I really enjoy and would do for free in most cases, and getting paid is only a bonus. Only on the really big shows do you actually make a couple of bucks anyways. Never the less, if you want to obtain a pyrotechnic operators license, I will be happy to guide you through the process and try to make it as painless as possible.
What types of fireworks training will I receive?
  • General knowledge of pyrotechnics
  • Different types of pyrotechnic devices (shells, mines, cakes, candles, set pieces, etc...)
  • Pyrotechnic Safety
  • Different types of explosives (low, high, etc...)
  • California State and Federal Explosive laws
  • How to load, fuse, and fire different types of pyrotechnic devices
  • Electrical firing methods and procedures
  • Computerized firing methods and procedures
  • Tools of the trade
  • More thorough scientific background if you so desire
  • If you want to apply for my professional fireworks crew, click here!
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