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Your approach to a show

O

OHMIPyro

Member
Joined
May 2019
Messages
17
I'm starting with fountains at each station and building quickly over the first 2 mins. Then slow it down with big 500g cakes. I'm trying to vary the speed and effects throughout. What's your method for a show design?
 
OHMIPyro said:
What's your method for a show design?
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It really, really, really depends … on the budget, the audience, the timeframe, etc.

Though typically for my own family or friends shows, I like to start slower and smaller and build up, having "events" where I keep the sky busy for a couple or few minutes, then take a moment for the crowd to take that in and give some applause, then starting the next event. I always have a finale that is followed by an encore finale, of which that combined budget is usually the same cost as the entire regular portion of the show (just to give an idea).

Best wishes with your shows and future pyro endeavors!
 
DexTee said:
It really, really, really depends … on the budget, the audience, the timeframe, etc.

Though typically for my own family or friends shows, I like to start slower and smaller and build up, having "events" where I keep the sky busy for a couple or few minutes, then take a moment for the crowd to take that in and give some applause, then starting the next event. I always have a finale that is followed by an encore finale, of which that combined budget is usually the same cost as the entire regular portion of the show (just to give an idea).

Best wishes with your shows and future pyro endeavors!
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This will be my first scripted show for the family this year. I've spent around 1k on product which is the largest buy I've done to date.

I've tried to plan it with little events kind of like you're saying but didn't put any pauses in. I was always hearing about the dreaded "dark sky" so I was trying to avoid that as much as possible. I do like the idea though. How long of a pause do you build in? There's a point where it's too long I'm sure... A couple of seconds? 5?
 
OHMIPyro said:
How long of a pause do you build in? There's a point where it's too long I'm sure... A couple of seconds? 5?
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I shoot for close to a 10-second pause, though I likely start the next event around 7 seconds … it takes a couple seconds for the crowd to know there is a stop/pause in the show, then I give a short time for some OOHs and applause. I do take longer before the finale -- and also, for my encore after the finale, I like to start with strobes for close to 20 seconds, then bombard that night sky!
 
I do a Halloween pyromusical for a local school, approx. $1.5K or so of consumer product plus the occasional close prox pieces that I might have left over from any concerts I've worked on that year. I should note that I'm firing electrically which means I'm either inserting e-match directly into the product or I'm using a piece of quickmatch as a bridge between e-match and visco.

Once I've finalized my music, I mark where I need/want a specific action to occur, and on those "beats" I'll place a mine, comet or other one-shot effect. Once I have those established I work around them and fill the "space" with product based on both the type/intensity/duration of the product and how it relates to the mood of the piece of music...for quieter segments I'll use more fountains, strobes and smaller candles, and for the really intense music I'll pick larger cakes, barrages or other product that makes lots of noise (the kids really love whistles). I'll end with a combination of larger cakes and a concussion mortar, maybe tossing in a few mines for a better visual effect based on how the music plays out.

I try to have something in the air at all times but if the mood of the music lends itself to a few seconds of dark sky I'll do it that way, and if I build in a false finale I may leave a few seconds between music so the audience thinks the show is over, then I smack 'em in the face with a big finish. 😆
 
I try to have one totally new idea each year to really make people talk. I love working with mine shells and have lit huge mine walls, 8-stations of crossed candles. this year I am making an effect with an aluminum extension ladder anchored fully extended with cables. Mine shells down the sides and a zipper cake and candles on the top. My wife doesn't get it yet and thinks I'm crazy but she will be hooting the loudest when it goes off. One year I did start with fountains like you are going to try but I had a technical problem and only half of them lit and it was kind of lame. Hope yours goes off like planned.
 
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hvac_superman said:
Ithis year I am making an effect with an aluminum extension ladder anchored fully extended with cables. Mine shells down the sides and a zipper cake and candles on the top.
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PLEASE share video of this lol! That is a great idea.
You just reminded me that I have a 12" step ladder. Hmmmm........
 
A nice opener which could be 1 or 2 good cakes shot in reverse so the finale barrage comes out 1st.

For the body, slow and fast cakes mixed to keep the pace varied with some flights of 2 angled canister shells

A nice clean finale

Get a rough estimate of how much time it will take to shoot everything and then create a soundtrack using popular songs that most people know the words too and edit a soundtrack. people like music with fireworks and it doesn't have to be tightly scripted to be very enjoyable.

Put on the tunes and step fire the show.
 
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