Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 22:26:17 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Fire


There are flaming items on the stage, and flaming idiots on the stage. 
Usually the danger comes when the two of those items come together. Or, 
as the joke goes, "Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day. Set 
a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

It is possible to use fire safely, and even take creative risk while 
doing so. Common sense, preparedness, common precautions, and respect 
for the possible dangers go a long way towards everyone's safety - 
performer and audience alike. Ignoring one or more those items puts one 
at risk of being in the second category above, if only temporarily, 
needlessly putting people in danger.

I've have used, and do use, live fire and sometimes other pyro effects 
in some of my shows, and I have used various forms of simulated fire. I 
have also been a licensed pyro tech, but that doesn't mean that I know 
everything or that I will never make a mistake or an accident will 
never happen. I've seen people with good sense get seriously hurt with 
fire and/or fire effects (and have come close once or twice myself) in 
spite of fairly good precautions. There are times when a substitute or 
fake fire will do, and times when you need to "go real, or not at all." 
Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference because we got married to 
an idea and couldn't let it go.

I've been at and/or involved in shows where there were firemen and/or 
pyro techs on location whenever there was the slightest amount of fire 
used. Some of these people took their jobs way too seriously and took 
things to ridiculous extremes, others were way too lax putting in 
physical but not mental time, and others representing all things in 
between.

I've seen Preston's show when he was able to do the fire and had no 
major concerns of his use of the fire. And the show was great.

I been at some show that used fire and spent much time mentally 
locating exits, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipments. I 
couldn't tell you much about the shows as I was too preoccupied with 
safety worries to pay attention to the show. In my book that would not 
be a good use of live fire as it distracted from rather than enhanced 
the show.

In short (if it's not too late for that), if you use fire, do so 
judiciously and safely, but be prepared for the fact that some venues 
will absolutely forbid its use, no exceptions. Often there is a work 
around, but sometimes the only alternative is different show. Try to be 
understanding of a venue's concerns and/or restrictions. Perhaps their 
rules may seem down right stupid, and in fact they may be, but often it 
is not in the authority of anyone there to change them just for you. 
Bend when you can, stay firm when you need to be.

Christopher

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