This Independence Day, most of us either set off fireworks or went to a professional show. And, you might have said to your self “this would be a fun a job”. However being a pyrotechnician is vastly more complicated than putting a match to a fuse and running.
It involves choreography, computer, and programming, and a lot of other stuff. If you want to start a career as a pyrotechnician, you will at least need a high school diploma or GED before any employer will trust you to handle the fireworks. Plan on studying physics and chemistry, so you understand explosive materials. How the fireworks work. You will also need to take some kind of art and music class to prepare you for the designing part of the job. Most have degrees in Theatrical lighting or something like that. I only real way to learn is by doing. Mandatory licensing for pyrotechnicians varies state to state.
Most employers want you to be 18, but an operator may let you volunteer if under 18, you just have to be willing to put time and effort into being trained. Most of an operators crew are volunteers, you usually only are paid once you become a licensed pyrotechnician. If volunteering for a large show, the crew could get a little compensation from the operator. It is a real team effort. However, as an operator, you must hire, transport (usually), house, feed, and pay a crew. Also, having to arranging for trucks to transport equipment, power, sand, lumber, and heavy equipment.
Putting on a big firework show, like the ones you see on TV, it takes a lot of paper work and phone calls. You will need to get any necessary permission from government agencies. Starting with an employee possessor form that is sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and explosives (ATF) for a thorough background check. Possibly, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), and the Coast Guard (if it is going to be on the coast).
One show can have as many as 8,000 fireworks (shells); each one of those shells has its own ignition device or “electric match”. They all have to be programmed with a computer to go off timed to music or not, But I like it better with music. This is where the choreographer/designer comes in. You should be artistic if you want to pursue a career in this field.
Most pyrotechnician’s do not make their own fireworks, they are supplied the shells by firework manufacturers from all over the world. Making them your self is VER DANGEROUS and with the volume needed, it would be time consuming.
It can be a very stressful line of work, knowing that one mistake could leave someone dead, even you. So if you do not handle stress well this is not the profession for you, Nor should you expect to get rich doing this. The job outlook is competitive.
