Day and night, indoors and out, pyrotechnics have come a long way from the backyard firecracker By Terah Shelton

hen Christine Hollander, a communications manager for Ford of Canada, was presented with the unveiling of the new Flex and the Ford F-150, she knew she wanted to grab the media’s attention.       “My goal was to basically make the 6 o’clock news and let everyone know we are extremely excited to be unveiling these products,” she said. “To do that, we knew we had to do something different than the typical taking the silk off of a car. So this year I opted to utilize pyrotechnics.”       Hollander had previously used pyrotechnics several years ago at the Toronto Auto Show, but this time, she wanted to change it up. The Ford Flex is a new unique crossover vehicle built in Canada, and to make the most of that, Hollander envisioned pyrotechnics that represented the Canadian flag. “When we unveiled it, red and white smoke (which is the color of our flag) came out,” she said. “The lights were dimmed and it was very powerful and dramatic.” Guaranteed Entertainment As Hollander can attest, incorporating pyrotechnics into events can be a great way to make an impact. But what exactly is included under the umbrella of pyrotechnics? According to Tylor Wymer, chief effect artist for special effects firm WOW!Works, pyrotechnics are special variations of what the public calls fireworks.       “The specifications of how they are manufactured are more stringent and the quality control is of a higher standard than most commercial fireworks products,” he explains. “The production and execution technology allows for custom manufacturing in relation to the following qualities: color density, duration of effect, smoke (generally less smoke than fireworks), size and scale (the largest pyro effect can go 250 feet in the air, whereas display fireworks can go as high as 1,200 feet in the air).”       Unlike fireworks, pyrotechnics can be used in the daytime as well as at night. And if used correctly, they can be used indoors, which you can’t do with typical fireworks. This means they can add punctuation to a moment in a show or presentation, says Doug Adams, president and designer of Pyrotek Special Effects, Laser Design Productions and Aqua Visual FX. “For corporate meetings, we normally use it for a big accent in the show, like an unveiling of a car or an award,” he says.       Pyrotechnics are a proven form of entertainment, according to fireworks display and special effects company Pyrotecnico. “People love fireworks from young to old and it cuts across all demographics,” he says. “Just the mention of fireworks as part of the festivities heightens the anticipation and excitement for what’s to come.” For the launch of the Ford Flex, executive produced by JGK Integrated Solutions, Pyrotek Special Effects utilized a cryogenic (“cryo”) effect in which 12 cryo jet heads shot upwards approximately 20 feet with red and white color transitions.   Playing it Safe Pyrotechnics aren’t as unsafe — or as expensive — as you may think, says Tylor Wymer of special effects designer WOW!Works. “If done correctly with professionals, pyrotechnics and many other effects can provide a substantial enhancement to your event,” he says. Here are four safety  considerations you need to know: 1 Always use a licensed and experienced designer or company. 2 Be aware of your physical limitations regardless of whether you are indoors or outdoors, including workers’ locations, performers onstage and proximity of effects to the audience. 3 A communication plan should be in place to ensure all involved are aware of the use of pyrotechnics. This might include performers, executives, catering staff, hotel or event staff. 4 Make sure you are working with the appropriate AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction, i.e. the fire marshal). Determining Pricing Although pyrotechnics can be used indoors and out, Wymer says that the venue (including room size and ceiling height), proximity of the effects to the audience and performers will help you determine if they are correct for your event.       Budget can also be a determining factor, of course. Indoors, $1,000 is a starting point for a small display with a few smoke effects, Adams says, although you could go up to $100,000 depending on how big your show is, how much area it will have to cover and how many performances.       Outdoor fireworks, depending on the venue and duration, normally start in the $10,000 range and up, according to Bob Gobet of Western Display Fireworks. Pyrotek Special Effects used “gerb effects,” sprays of sparks that can vary in duration, height, angle and spark density, to heat things up during this Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert.   The Latest Innovations When most people think of fireworks, they envision the traditional Fourth of July display. But you may be surprised how much pyrotechnics have evolved over the past decade.       “There has been a genre of fireworks that have been developed that allows us to address a multiple of different environments,” explains Feigert. “There are so many different things we can do indoors for people, whether it’s gerb scenes [that] create showers of spark in a very simple manner to a multiple of different effects that become very sophisticated on a stage from trusses.”       Indoors, Pyrotecnico can also incorporate confetti and streamers, he adds. Outdoors, low-level fireworks allow them to move closer to people; close-proximity fireworks that burn or consume themselves so that there is virtually no fallout or ash also means people can move even closer.       There are many new and creative options to consider. “We utilize computer technology to create innovative firings and original productions for our customers,” says Rocco Vitale, general manager for Pyrotecnico. With these systems, the company creates productions precision-timed to synch with music.       Flame — via units that create six different colors as well as units that create 30-foot flames — CO2, confetti and fog can also be incorporated into presentations, he says. 1 Pyrotek Special Effects’ “dragon” units created these plumes of flame for a My Chemical Romance concert. The units can also create columns of flame up to 25 feet tall. 2 Special effects, by Pyrotek, for this Fall Out Boy concert include a chase of gerbs to create the sparkling effect as well as colored flame projectors. 3 Pyrotecnico used gerb effects for this Christina Aguilera concert.   Go Pyro Ready to get integrate pyrotechnics into your next event? Start with these solutions from online resource directory the Event Solutions Black Book. For a complete list, log on to event-solutions.com/blackbook. Pyrotecnico » event-solutions.com/pyrotecnico Pyrotek Special Effects Inc. » event-solutions.com/pyrotek_special_effects_inc WOW!Works » event-solutions.com/wow_works What to Ask Based on her positive experiences, Hollander recommends pyrotechnics, but adds that it helps to know your audience.       “You have to see what your goal is and what the product is. I wouldn’t put pyro at a fashion show,” she says. “I really wanted people to see how proud we were of these new vehicles which are extremely important for our country. I think I achieved that with the pyro.”       Lastly, if you’re interested in incorporating pyrotechnics, Feigert suggests calling three companies and asking for their marketing packages.       “Ask them to meet you at the venue for the particular event and ask their recommendations on what kind of show that they would see in the proposed area,” he says. “Create your perfect-world budget and have these specific companies design a specific proposal, make a decision, and set back and enjoy.”