Thanks for the kind comments…….
Organising something like this is not easy, but will try and sum up the pitfalls as succinctly as I can.
1. Venue - make sure you have a supportive venue - I by chance got to know a landlord of a pub with a field that was miles from and significant population - those that were close were advised well in advance (nowhere near livestock). The bar and food takings for the event was the venues payback.
2. The Team - The teams were made up of people who fire professionally mostly…it was showing the public what could be done if you had half an idea. Call on a lot of mates as well. They enter and pay for all the fireworks (which they were all able to source at trade price - the companies who provided the pyro usually get a mention.
3. Event Insurance - basically over here forget it, the costs was ridiculous you can understand that thought. So the event was a private event by invite only. The public who just happened to turn up at the pub ;-) saw the whole thing for free as did the spectators, word get round.
4. Additional Entertainment - the Cat 3 pyro whilst impressive I think needs bolstering, as I work for or have links with a number of pro companies they over the years kindly agreed to provide some extra entertainment again for free just to make the night special….the last two years have also seen a TV & Film Special Effects Company I have worked with come along and terrify the audience with some nice explosions.
So overall I would say it’s not what you know when organising something like this, its who you know. Its also about whether your willing to take on all that time organising it without making any profit, and you have a thick skin. I think that because it’s a free event no one gets hung up about money and are more than happy to provide entertainment gratis. Of course, the one thing that is more important, perhaps more than anything is peoples enthusiasm for fireworks, invite them and they will come.
The drawbacks/mistakes, there are non if you take this path , except the ribbing afterwards about the winners!!!!!! LOL
Good luck with it all if you do it.
Steve