Southern California Pyro 101 & Operator’s Seminar on April 27, 2013
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, April 27, 2013
The annual Pyro Spectaculars Pyro 101 training seminar and operator seminar in Ceritos is on Saturday, April 27th. The seminar details and location information will be sent to you by email with your event confirmation.
Please complete the form at the bottom of the screen to RSVP online.
Please note, there is a $10 fee to attend this seminar.
Pyro 101 Training Seminar
7:30 AM -- Registration & Check In
8:00 AM -- Seminar Starts
Operator Seminar
12:00 PM -- Registration
01:00 PM -- Seminar Starts
If you have any questions or comments, please use the form at the bottom of the page. We look forward to seeing you at the seminar!
Northern California Operator’s Seminar on April 20, 2013
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, April 20, 2013
The annual Pyrotechnic Personnel Training Seminar at the Aerospace Museum of California in Sacramento is on Saturday, April 20th. The event details and map are listed below. Please complete the form at the bottom of the screen to RSVP online.
Please note, there is a $10 fee to attend this seminar.
Location:
3200 Freedom Park Dr.
McClellan, CA 95652
916-643-3192
www.aerospaceca.org
Pyro North Operator Seminar Agenda | |
| Time | Event |
| 8:00AM – 8:30AM | REGISTRATION Adita Latyshevich, Linda McCurley |
| 8:00AM – 8:30AM | WELCOME / OUR INDUSTRY / OUR COMPANY Ian Gilfillan |
| 9:00AM – 9:45AM | HAZ MAT HANDLING / STORAGE Kevin Gilfillan & Mike Knezovich |
| 9:45AM – 10:00AM | BREAK |
| 10:00AM – 10:30AM | INDUSTRY INCIDENT REVIEW Jon Berson |
| 10:30AM – 11:30AM | BREAK-OUT SESSIONS – CHOOSE 2x 1/2 HOUR SESSIONS ELECTRIC MATCH HANDLING – Jon Berson OPERATOR TAX ADVICE –Stephn M. Yoss Jr., CPA UTILIZING CLOSE PROX DEVICES – Matt Gilfillan & Jeff Thomas |
| 11:30AM – 12:30PM | LUNCH AND RAFFLE Theatre |
| 12:30PM – 3:30PM | BREAK-OUT SESSIONS – CHOOSE 2 – 1 1/2 HOUR SESSIONS PYRO DIGITAL FIRING SYSTEM – Jon Berson PIN BOARD FIRING SYSTEM – Marty Walker ULTIMATE SYSTEM – Matt Gilfillan & Eric Taylor PYRO MATE FIRING SYSTEM – Lynden King DOT TRAINING – Kevin Gilfillan & Mike Knezovich |
| 3:30PM – 4:00PM | “BEST TRUCK” AWARDS Zach Wetzel & Mike Knezovich, John Smith |
| 3:45PM - 4:00PM | “YEARS OF SERVICE” AWARDS Jeff Thomas & Ian Gilfillan |
Fireworks coming to Safeco Field in 2013
By Mike Axisa | Blogger
January 23, 2013 8:48 pm ET
From: http://goo.gl/MOaBe
The Mariners have called Safeco Field home for 14 seasons now, but for the first time since the building opened, the club will have postgame fireworks displays in 2013.MLB.com's Greg Johns reports the M's are teaming up with Pyro Spectaculars -- the company that puts together the New Year's Eve display at the Space Needle -- to provide fireworks displays following games on June 28 (Cubs) and Aug. 9 (Brewers). Both games are on a Friday.
"Fireworks have a long tradition in Major League Baseball and we're excited to bring that to Safeco Field,” said Mariners marketing director Kevin Martinez. “Hopefully it becomes a new summer tradition here in Seattle."
The City of Seattle has limited the team's fireworks ability through the years because of concerns over traffic safety on nearby Interstate 5, so the Mariners and Pyro Spectaculars worked with the fire department to develop a safe and acceptable show. The two fireworks nights are part of a special events schedule that includes Ken Griffey Jr.'s induction into the Mariners Hall of Fame on Aug. 10. The full promotion schedule can be found on the team's official site.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook. Also, individually interact with us on Twitter: @MattSnyder27, @daynperry and @mikeaxisa.
2013 New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show — At the Seattle Space Needle
Out with 2012 and in with 2013!
The good people over at http://king5.com put together a fantastic video of the fireworks show on New Year's Eve at the Seattle Space Needle. If you get a moment, definitely check it out.
The playlist for the show included:
Modest Mouse - The World at Large
Queensryche - Silent Lucidity
Elvis Presley - Burning Love
Brandi Carlile - The Story
U2-Bone & Mary J. Blige - One
Dave Matthews - Ants Marching
Beethoven Symphony #9 - Ode to Joy Remix (Gerald Schwarz - Seattle Symphony Orchestra)
Video of the 2012 New Year's Eve Fireworks Show at the Seattle Space Needle
FROM: http://goo.gl/T12RN
This video was filmed and produced by http://king5.com.
Fireworks Pro Gives Region a Blast
By: Ben Worthen
Wall Street Journal
Published on: December 26, 2012
Link: http://goo.gl/Io3bi
Jeff Thomas has been setting off explosives in the Bay Area since 1974. Don't worry: He runs Bay Area operations for Pyro Spectaculars Inc., a major producer of fireworks displays.
Mr. Thomas coordinates fireworks in many communities, including for San Francisco's Independence Day and New Year's Eve celebrations.
In recent years, he also has put together shows for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.
When major-league baseball slugger Barry Bonds hit his record-breaking home run for the Giants in 2007, Mr. Thomas had a fireworks celebration ready to go.
"We sat for a week and a half waiting for him," says Mr. Thomas, 59 years old.
With New Year's Eve approaching, Mr. Thomas discussed his favorite fireworks displays, the best places to watch the shows and the San Francisco area's omnipresent challenge—the fog.
WSJ: How have fireworks changed since you started?
Mr. Thomas: There are brighter reds, brighter blues and stronger golds. There is now orange and pink and aqua and magenta. The patterns in the sky have gotten more creative. I like the big, long duration, gold, glittery type effects. The products themselves have gotten more reliable.
We have a database now that we didn't have 25 years ago with video of each shell, so if you forget what something does you can go back and revisit the video.
Each show is different, each venue is different. Sometimes the New Year's show, I can use 10-inch shells because we're launching the show out in the water, where there's no spectators or buildings. That's pretty rare. That's [the size of] a basketball. Usually [shells are in] the five-inch to six-inch range.
The five-inch goes 500 feet in the air before it explodes, the 10 inch goes 1,000 feet in the air before it explodes.
A 10-inch shell might go to 2,500 feet across the sky, whereas a five-inch might only go 1,000 feet across the sky.
Ring in the New Year with Fireworks by Pyro Spectaculars by Souza
Hey Pyro Fans! Celebrate the New Year with Fireworks! You can watch some amazing fireworks shows at the following locations:
Space Neede in Seattle, Washington
Join us as the Space Needle's tophouse transforms into a giant New Year's Eve Party!
Location: 400 Broad Street Seattle, WA 98102
Date: December 31st, 2012
Time: All-ages dance, 8-11:45 p.m. Monday, Seattle Center Armory. Fireworks show at the Space Needle starts just before midnight.
More Information: http://www.spaceneedle.com/
Polaris Camp RZR is Glamis, California
Location: Glamis Dunes, California
Date: December 31, 2012
More Information: http://goo.gl/qz84d
The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California
Give 2012 a midnight kiss goodbye! Celebrate the launch of 2013 under a fireworks-filled sky on the legendary decks of the Queen Mary. Toast the New Year in style and enjoy an unforgettable evening of great food, drinks and live entertainment.
Location: 1126 Queens Highway Long Beach, CA 90802
Date: December 31, 2012
More Information: http://goo.gl/FpQBz
Universal Studios in Hollywood, California
Location:100 Universal City Plaza Los Angeles, California 90068
Date: December 31, 2012
More Information: http://goo.gl/6nAQy
Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
The Rose Bowl is an American tradition! Tune in to watch the Badgers square off against the Cardinals! The game will feature special effects and confetti from Pyro Spectaculars! Please note this is a ticketed event. You must have tickets to the game to watch the show.
Location: 1001 Rose Bowl Drive Pasadena, CA 91103
Date: January 1, 2013
More Information: http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/
Can't make a show? Don't worry! We will post some spectacular photos and videos to our website and Facebook. Have a wonderful and safe holiday!
Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and successful New Year from your friends at Pyro Spectaculars.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks from the Needle
From: http://goo.gl/7FP32
The Seattle Times
By Madeline McKenzie
Seattle Times staff
Greet 2013 Seattle-style at New Year’s at the Space Needle on Monday. One of the world’s largest structure-launched fireworks displays and a local tradition, the event draws big crowds to Seattle Center and viewing points around town, with a large audience for TV broadcasts.
“It starts getting packed here by 10:30 p.m., so it’s good to arrive by then,” advises Seattle Center Director of Communications Deborah Daoust. “The Monorail and other alternative forms of transportation make it easier to get here, and food vendors in the Armory will be open until midnight so people can stay in out of the cold until the fireworks show.”
The Armory, formerly called Center House, was remodeled this year and renamed for the National Guard Armory it once was. Besides the eateries, there’s an all-ages dance with live music Monday night, and ice skating at Fisher Pavilion is open until 11:30 p.m., so there’s plenty to do while you’re waiting for the new year.
The Space Needle Observation Deck and restaurants close at 6 p.m. Monday for private, sold-out events. Monorail service is suspended after the 11:15 p.m. run from Westlake Center on Monday until the fireworks show is over, then resumes until 1 a.m.
Tuesday, kick off the year boldly at the Polar Bear Plunge at Seattle’s Matthews Beach Park. Costumes are welcome at the festive event and everyone who submerges neck-deep in Lake Washington gets an Official Patch of Courage to commemorate their bravado.
Both events are free. Happy 2013!
New Year’s at the Needle
Time: All-ages dance, 8-11:45 p.m. Monday, Seattle Center Armory. Fireworks show at the Space Needle starts just before midnight.
Cost: Free.
Location: Seattle Center, Seattle.
Madeline McKenzie:mmckenzie@seattletimes.com
The Mission Inn Festival of Lights
At sunset on November 23rd, a mere flip of the switch transformed the Historic Mission Inn Hotel and Spa into the most dazzling holiday spectacle south of the North Pole! The crowd was swept away by more than 3.6 million lights and spectacular fireworks. The lights and fireworks transformed the Mission Inn into pure magic! The holiday season has officially begun!
For more information about the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa or the Festival of Lights, please check out: http://festivaloflightsca.com
Click "Read More" below to see some beautiful photos from the Mission Inn Festival of Lights Spectacular!
Pyro Spectaculars by Souza — Industry Leaders
The Pyro Spectaculars by Souza family is proud of their professional accomplishments, and their significant role in the active citizenry and leadership of the fireworks industry.
The fireworks industry’s presence in the United States and in the world is known as the American Pyrotechnic Association. From its very inception until today the Souza Family and Pyro Spectaculars have played an integral role.
Through the years the organization has called on a Souza to be their President for three separate terms. Even as Jim Souza completed his second Presidential term he continues to serve on the Governance Committee. Other Pyro Spectaculars by Souza family members have continued to play key roles in the organization, including Ian Gilifillan who sits on the Board of Directors and committee members Gary Brown (Code), Nancy Gilfillan (Convention, Women in Professional Pyrotechnics), Aaron Beargeon (Transportation), and Jon Berson (Vice-Chair, Proximate Pyrotechnics). Kevin Gilfillan also serves as a key member of the NGAP (Next Generation of American Pyotechnics).
Jim Souza Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
You have to work hard to keep anything in the fireworks industry a secret from Jim Souza, but the staff and membership of The American Pyrotechnic Association did just that when they agreed that Jim should be chosen to receive the highest award given by that prestigious organization. Recognized for his leadership, innovation, and service to the industry. Jim received the “Milton Dropo Award,” named after a fireworks pioneer, and coveted by pyrotechnic professionals throughout the world.
Having served two terms as President of the APA, Jim joined his father, Bob Souza, in the ranks of the APA’s hall of fame.
Video of the 2012 KGB Skyshow
Did you miss the KGB skyshow? Check out this AWESOME video of the show! Check out the link below. Thank you to Patrick Espinosa of Cypress Productions for putting this together!
The KGB Sky Show™ in San Diego
Another touchstone event for Pyro Spectaculars by Souza!
October 6, 2012 might just as well be the Fourth of July in San Diego this year! That’s when KGB Radio (101.5 FM) will celebrate their 40th Anniversary with the 37th Annual KGB Sky Show.™ The multi-thousand aerial bursts will take to the skies with “the fireworks bar set even higher,” according to Show Producer Ron Dixon. Dixon, who is recognized as “our fireworks guy” by most all of the major San Diego events and venues, has “KGB Sky Show™ in his blood,” and is known in the world of pyrotechnics as a top designer, produce and truly master pyrotechnician.
History of The Show
Probably the most frequent question we’re asked at Pyro Spectaculars is, “What do you do the rest of the year?” The answer, of course, is: we do about 50% of our annual shows. Though the (4th of July) Independence Day Celebrations take months of planning and preparation, our thousands of “non-seasonal” shows keep us busy indeed.
KGB Sky Show™ began in 1976 through the creativity of three individuals, Rick Leibert, Ron Jacobs and Jim Price as an experiment matching the ancient art of fireworks with Rock and Roll music.
Naturally, the biggest Fourth of July season ever was in 1976 when America celebrated the Bicentennial. And it was in that year that Rick Leibert, promotions director at KGB Radio (101.5 FM), and station executives Jim Price and Ron Jacobs, envisioned a new level of pyrotechnic pageantry. Liebert called his friend (now President and CEO of Pyro Spectaculars) Jim Souza, to see if what they had in mind was even possible. Broadcasting a music track to a massive audience as fireworks burst in precise synchronization from multiple geographic locations had never been done before. Sousa and Liebert crafted the first “Sky Show™,” and history was made.
The show was fired from two locations in San Diego: Chollas Park and Fiesta Island, synchronized via an RF Transmitter and they set a new standard for large-scale fireworks productions.
Following Sky Show 1, the City of San Diego Police and Fire Departments called a meeting and told KGB that because of the massive traffic jams created by the event, any future events would need to be held at a location designed to handle incredibly large crowds such as San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, now Qualcomm Stadium.
Through the years, many different elements have been ‘experimented’ with in Sky Shows including live talent, lasers, intelligent stage lighting, props, movie special effects, propane flame effects, famous sports celebrities, the Rocket Man, sky divers, marching bands etc. but the key elements that started the concept are still the key players, namely fireworks and rock and roll.
What began in San Diego, in the words of co-creator Rick Leibert as ‘a continuing experiment of the matching of state-of-the-art fireworks with world class rock and roll’, is now practiced world wide in such places as the Hong Kong Chinese New Year, the Australian Bicentenary, the Olympics, the world’s major theme parks, baseball and football clubs, Las Vegas New Years, Korean Independence Day, Jerusalem 3,000 Anniversary, music tours and music videos, concerts, and thousands of other venues world wide where ever fireworks are synchronized and choreographed to live broadcast music.
Sound of Light Fireworks Competition
Hey Pyro Fans! Click here to check out some amazing photos of from out recent competition at the 2012 Sound of Light Firework Competition in Ottawa, Canada. Enjoy!
For more information about the competition, check out: http://goo.gl/NlyIb
Photo by: Ian Macfarlane - http://imacphoto.com/
