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Post by nomuse on Jan 4, 2006 3:39:30 GMT -4
Wondering if Jay might have a bit of advice on this. I'm working with a children's theater this week, and they've hired a pyrotechnician. That alone is enough to make me a bit uncomfortable, but when I met the pyro guy I had a bad reaction to him.
In fact, every technical person at that theater has had the same reaction. He strikes us as a bullsh*t artist, not a skilled technician -- for instance, every question we asked about safety was answered by him in terms of what the law permitted him to do.
Both I and the house tech were independently so suspicious we checked the man's license. Or attempted to. No contractor number appears on his business card, letterhead, or web site. He does, however, appear in the California Fire Marshall's list as having a current license -- I am unable, however, to determine what level of license he holds.
I've read enough about what are known as special effects devices, and gotten far enough in the rehearsal process, to be relatively sure this can be done safely. I still can't get away from an instinct that says fireworks and kids don't mix, and that something is truly wrong with the attitude of our pyro guy.
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Post by jaydeehess on Jan 5, 2006 12:57:46 GMT -4
Next time he answers a question with, "the law permits..." ask him about what level of harm to a kid his conscience would permit.
What the H play are they putting on?
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lenbrazil
Saturn
Now there's a man with an open mind - you can feel the breeze from here!
Posts: 1,045
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Post by lenbrazil on Jan 5, 2006 13:30:27 GMT -4
Have you taken up your concerns with the folks who run the theater? You could point out to them the moral, legal and financial consequences if anything goes wrong. Hopefully the possibility of going bankrupt, spending years in prison and having the deaths of children on there consciences would make them take safety more seriously. Have them check too see if their insurance would cover any mishaps esp. if it came out that their theater tech (you) and others had reservations.
I don't know if you are in a position to do so but I would ask him for references, about what similar projects he has worked on before, his training and what sort of license he holds. Is any of that info on his site? Worst come to worst you could make an anonymous call to the fire inspector.
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Post by LunarOrbit on Jan 5, 2006 13:40:38 GMT -4
Make sure the fire exits aren't blocked...
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Post by jaydeehess on Jan 5, 2006 18:05:29 GMT -4
Make sure the fire exits aren't blocked... For that matter whatever precautions are dictated by law , such as number of fire extinquishers that must be backstage or nearby, double it! Shows due diligence.
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Post by echnaton on Jan 5, 2006 19:26:00 GMT -4
My question would be whether are not the parents have consented to having the children perform in a theater with pyrotechnics? If you have any relationship with any parents of the cast members, you could nudge them into making further enquiries about the pyro guy. A persistent parent would be harder to ignore than a crew member.
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Post by nomuse on Jan 6, 2006 2:05:38 GMT -4
Well....I could stop him now if I wanted to. The producer has finally picked up our unrest about the guy. But, basically, we are going to allow him to proceed but we'll be keeping an eye out to make sure everything is done safely.
He has, by the way, done a number of theater shows (as well as appeared on at least one episode of Mythbusters ...I'm not going to name him but there was this bit with a wooden cannon....) and not only has he done this musical many times before but he has done shows with kids in the cast. It appears more than likely that he has the experience to do this properly and safely -- plus, as I mentioned, the modern devices are remarkably un-hostile to nearby people or scenery.
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lonewulf
Earth
Humanistic Cyborg
Posts: 244
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Post by lonewulf on Jan 6, 2006 10:01:56 GMT -4
Good luck with the show then.
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Post by nomuse on Jan 10, 2006 1:26:03 GMT -4
Well....
I'm afraid I have to eat some words. The pyro guy might still be a touch glib for my taste, but I like his work and his attitude and he was fun to be around. (I also now know what kind of license he holds and who he aprenticed with...and both are properly impressive). On atttitude -- anyone who brings in their own fire extinguishers before they bring in a single tool has my thumb's up.
I guess the odd attitude I caught from him at the first meeting was entirely him trying to figure out how to deal with our -- ahem -- not very technically-minded director.
So I owe him an apology.
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Post by Count Zero on Jan 11, 2006 5:05:05 GMT -4
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Post by echnaton on Jan 11, 2006 11:20:08 GMT -4
I applaud you for taking an interest in safety and speaking up about your concerns. That kind of constructive action helps keep everyone safe.
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Post by JayUtah on Jan 20, 2006 17:23:31 GMT -4
Gad, I missed this whole thread until now. Sorry.
Good that it seems to have worked out. When I put people in charge of safety, I'm generally unimpressed by what requirements they feel they are under. I'm more impressed by what requirements they wish to impose on others. Every job in the theater carries with it some requirement for safety, and I consider a person who does that job qualified only when he takes personal responsibility for ensuring the safety of those who must interact with him or his creation. Safety cannot be "someone else's job."
One of the luxuries of working in a well-funded theater is a better commitment to safety. We have a full-time security staff who are all trained in emergency medical techniques, CPR, and various forms of rescue. Our theater has mandatory safety briefings for stage motion, lighting, pryo and special effects, flying, rigging, scenery-moving, and a whole host of other discliplines. The briefings are repeated every time a show opens and attendance is required even if you've sat through the same briefings a dozen times.
You should never have to be coy about asking for credentials. Credentials exist only to be asked for. They have no other purpose. I always make it a matter of protocol so that there's no overtones of suspicion. Everyone who is required to be licensed in his field must, as a matter of course, present a current license on or before his first day of work.
Kids in theater is really a separate issue. I've had the pleasure of working with some kids who had the most professional and cooperative attitude of any on the cast. Many have Broadway or touring experience. I've also worked with some real monsters. My experience is that the casting director is best to handle this. Casting criteria has to include comportment offstage. And you cast the kid's parents along with the kid. Fortunately our theater requires any actor under age 16 to have a guardian on the premises during any rehearsal or performance. Our kids stay pretty much in line.
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