-----------------------> 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!
