Design Your Own Fireworks Show Information and Tips 
or let our fireworks display company design and shoot your display or show for you.
Firework shows on July 4th and New Years have been an american tradition for decades. Fireworks Design has been built for the fireworks enthusiasts and the passionate pyro. Backyard fireworks shows have turned into great fireworks displays. We would like to offer our fireworks expetise to offer you design planning and choreographing your 4th of July fireworks show. Ideas and design tips wedding birthday party shows. Special events or any other celebration. 866-507-3877
Purchase our fireworks show design DVD. $14.95
DVD includes everything listed below in great detail and so much more. 102 min. Order in Online Store or by Contacting Us with subject line of Fireworks Show Instructional DVD 08
Pre-Show Setup
You should plan your fireworks show just like a professional pyrotechnician would. The below is a brief outline for a fireworks display.
Site plan | The area in which the fireworks will be discharged.
Discharge Site | The exact location you will shot from. In the Center of site plan.
Shooter in charge of show | The person in charge of show control
Monitors these people secure the discharge site
Loaders load and reload fireworks preshow and during show
Magazine or day box to keep fireworks covered and safe until discharge
Obtain extra safety fuse. Comes in 3ft, 6ft, 12ft and large rolls.
Inspect all fireworks and equipment, such as mortars or firing tubes or racks — Look for any damage or leaking.
Read the instructions for every firework item. This is required for the safety of the person shooting the show and your audience. This is also important for the performance of the fireworks. Some items like fan shaped cakes and aerials will have instructions on what side should face the audience, "Off The Charts" is a great example. This pre-planning will ensure safety, optimum effect, design and presentation.
Remove any cello packaging, locate fuses and remove fuse covers prior to shooting. NEVER remove fuse cover until you are ready to begin your show. Most rockets will have a plastic cover over the fuse at the base of the rocket load.
Unwind the fuse on all the reloadable shells (artillery) in advance. This will make them easier to handle in the dark. Your loader should be in charge of this.
Plan your firing order. Shoot your smallest items first. Then move on to ground level fountains, spinners, crackers and wheels. Build your show literally from the ground up. Next, add some small rockets, roman candles and winged items. Then build up to larger items like multi-shot cakes, reloadable shells and large stick rockets. Use fillers in between, these are mid aerials that project showers of sparks and "fill" the sky. Work up to your finale use your large multi-shot cakes and then the 500-gram multi-shot cakes. The 3" finale racks are the best to use. Depending on your budget shoot as many of these at one time during finale.
What is a site plan? A drawing or map of the area you will be shooting from. Indicate crowd and discharge site. Keep distance from spectators. Once you have chosen your shoot order, remove your fireworks from the secure area and line up your fireworks prior to sundown. Place them back in the box and keep them at a safe distance from the shoot site *see distance chart. Keep the box covered at all times with aerial fireworks.
Make sure your shoot area is flat and solid. If you are shooting from grass it is recommended to place a 4' x 8' piece of plywood over the grass area. This will ensure your shoot surface is flat and solid. Wild Bills Fireworks has several shooting platforms, mortars and custom built mortar racks available for purchase. these may be reused many times. Avoids the cardboard mortars that come with class C fireworks. An electronic firing system for class C is also available.
A Choreography section will be added. However order the DVD for great designs and lay outs. You can learn to shoot like a real pyrotecnician.
If you shot a big show, purchase our mortars. They are professional mortars that can be reused hundreds of times.We also sell angled mortar racks. These are the most popular. Imagine the effects you can produce with reloadables in an angled rack.
If you are going to pre-load your show, or Set up the fireworks hours prior to shooting, follow these key safety tips:
Keep your fireworks separated.
Make sure you can light your fireworks without standing over any unlit item.
Ensure all fuses are facing the same direction if possible.
NEVER leave your site plan unattended. This is what your monitors are for. Maintain a perimiter and keep it clear of spectators.
Have a fire suppresion plan ready. Water, fire extinguisher, sand.
Use buckets full of sand or dirt to safely place your Roman candles and bottle rockets.
As you are setting up, pay attention to the wind direction and have the spectators positioned upwind from the launch site so the smoke blows away from the crowd instead of towards them.
All fireworks should be lit at least 250 feet from any structure. Your Audience should be separated from fireworks in the following distances for optimal viewing and safety.
The general rule of thumb is 100ft per 1" of a shell. So 1" reloadables you will have a fall out area of about 100ft. 1 7/8 will be 178 feet.
150 FEET - All reloadable items, artillery, 500-gram multi-shot items, any large multi-shot item, and large stick rockets.
100 FEET - Medium size multi-shot items and medium stick rockets small reloadables or artillery
75 FEET - Roman candles, small multi-shot items, small stick rockets, and flying wing items.
50 FEET - Firecrackers
25 FEET - Ground base fountains and ground spinners.
It's Showtime!
Think Safety First! Never endanger yourself or others!
Only have one person at a time light the fireworks
Never shoot fireworks in polyester clothing, wear cotton
Always wear eye protection when lighting fireworks
Make sure your shoot site is clear of people and pets
Never use a cigarette lighter, only use a punk or wooden match
By no means, alter or modify any item
Never try to re-light a dud
Light only one item at a time
Never put any part of your body over an item
Never shoot fireworks in high winds
Have water ready on site
Show Tips
Have a shoot list or firing order
Shoot your show to music
Keep a good pace with two shooters and one prep person (loader)
The darker the background to your display, the more spectacular it will look
Be ready to light the next item when the previous one finishes. Avoid long delays
Mortars and single-shot aerial shells should be shot off at random in combination with multi-shot aerials
Save your biggest or best single item for after the finale and light it while your guests are cheering
Pacing, creative planning, product selection and safety will ensure a great show.
Want to see what a real site plan looks like? Click here to download. Every site plan is different, just like the show and the property layout. We want to see pictures or video of your show. Send it to us and on July 25th we will announce a winner. The winner will get a picture of their show in our catalog and a $500.00 Wild Bills Gift Card. Entries must be received by July 5th at 6pm.
Happy Fourth of July
*This information is here to help promote the safe use of fireworks. Check with all needed local government to make sure you comply to their laws. Wild Bills Fireworks and or any of its affiliates is not responsible or liable for your actions. Safe Shooting!