Light A Fire Under Your Event

How to master a great fireworks display

By John Prue

As parks and recreation professionals, we at some point in our career will be involved in events that include fireworks. Typically, these events are some of the largest-attended ones of the year. In many cases, agencies merely secure a budget for the fireworks, follow procurement processes, and then award the contract to a fireworks vendor to produce the entire show—typically offering limited guidance to the vendor. However, parks and recreation agencies should take full control of the fireworks displays to ensure an impactful and successful event for the community.

Photo: © Can Stock Photo / jefras

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department (MWR) at Naval Station Great Lakes has been producing an annual Fourth of July Celebration that is open to the general public and draws up to 30,000 people over several days. Large fireworks displays choreographed to music, along with other lighting enhancements, are the highlight of this event, which has been recognized 36 times by the International Festival & Events Association (IFEA). Having been the coordinator of this event and specifically the fireworks display, I offer the following suggestions and lessons learned.

Do Your Homework

To master a quality fireworks display and find the right vendor, one needs to understand a little about the science and types of fireworks that are available. Fireworks are made from an oxidizing agent, reducing agent, and coloring agent, along with binders (starchy materials that hold the various agents together) and regulators (that speed up or slow down chemical reactions). These items mixed together create what we know as the basic fireworks. Adding certain chemical compounds will make up specific colors. For instance, calcium chloride and calcium sulfate, when combined, generate an orange color. Additionally, “buyers” should also understand the variety of fireworks shapes that will greatly affect the end product. Some of the popular fireworks shapes after they burst in the air are the Peony, Crossette, Chrysanthemum, and Comet, just to name a few. All have a distinctive look and will be the basis of any proposal you receive from a pyrotechnics company. The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) has great resources that can help you to better understand the technical side of fireworks.

To complete your homework, explore professional pyrotechnics companies that can support your needs. Search for companies that have strong industry credentials, will produce a variety of displays, and have a long list of experienced and qualified staff members. There are too many variables in fireworks displays, so you need companies with a solid resume of experience to ensure the best source.

Photo: MWR - Naval Station Great Lake

Create An RFP

Once you have the basic understanding and a number of qualified sources, compile a solid Request For Proposal (RFP), which will dictate your requirements and expectations. Be descriptive in what you are looking for in terms of date, event, and even the location and other parameters that might impact the size of shells, or how the shells will be fired. Some questions to ponder:

• Is it a traditional aerial show?

• Will it be electronically fired?

• Will it be choreographed to music?

• What is the budget?

Yes, the typical way to bid a fireworks display is to declare the budget upfront. It will drive the length of the show, and that is where agencies sometimes make mistakes. They may not have the budget for a 30-minute display, but they demand it as a part of the RFP. A budget metric we have used is $1,500 per minute. Another key to an RFP is to have clear evaluation factors laid out. Since you declared the budget, you will be evaluating the proposals for the best value. Besides the size and number of shells, company reputation and experience are key factors in getting the best value for the money. Too many agencies rely on the sheer number of shells with little regard to types, sizes, and the source of the products. This can be very deceiving unless you are familiar with the industry and production of fireworks. Bottom line—a good RFP will help you generate a good pyrotechnics partner.

Techniques For Success

Typically, a fireworks show has at least three parts: an opener, a middle segment, and a closing or finale. Fireworks vendors allow you to move shells around to highlight certain portions of a display. An example would be to fold in a “false finale,” which is a portion of the show where you want the audience to believe it is the end, but in fact, you are coming back with something even bigger and better. When using displays choreographed to music, various songs can lend themselves to these “false finales.” When it comes to music, work with the vendor and pick the songs yourself, not just “approve” the song list provided. This is a good way to take ownership of a show and help control tempo, pace, and, ultimately, the audience’s response. Over the years, I have been asked for the best songs to be used for fireworks. That is a difficult question to answer, and although I certainly have my top-10 list, it really comes down to the event, theme, crowd demographics, and other factors.

As previously mentioned, length of the show is always a concern, and you have the ability to stretch the show using certain techniques. In displays choreographed to music, dramatic pauses based on the song can help create anticipation. In past displays with our Fourth of July Celebration, we have regularly played large sections of particular songs without any fireworks going off to create a dramatic effect. More importantly, if used correctly, this technique allows you to use more “shells” at different times for a stronger impact. Another way to lengthen the show is using selected narration throughout. Using enhancements to the fireworks, if a budget allows, is also a great way to stretch the show, along with making it more powerful. Enhancements might include lasers, performance lighting, flame cannons, or other ground displays. Some of these you might be able to obtain through a vendor, but they can also be purchased on the open market as a separate contract.

Narration throughout the show allows you to set the tone or theme, send messages to the audience, and, most importantly, give some kudos out to agency and corporate sponsors that might have helped pay for the event. In fact, in the opener for our Fourth of July Celebration, we were five minutes into the show using dramatic narration with only one song, yet people were riveted with anticipation as we went into the middle segment of the show. Using these methods can easily add extra minutes to any show without using any fireworks.

The goal is for those managing the oversight of a fireworks display to be knowledgeable of the whole process. Do your homework, talk with other professionals in the industry, and even talk with fireworks vendors to get additional insight. With that acquired knowledge and the ability to take control and help design a show, you are on the road to a great event and fireworks display!

John Prue is the Installation Program Director for Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR), Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. He is also a member of the American Academy for Parks & Recreation Administration. Reach him at john.prue@navy.mil.