A quick reminder to those who love the more recreational varieties of high energy materials:

If you want to attend the Pyrotechnics Guild International convention (http://www.pgi.org/) in Fargo ND, USA this August, you must join the PGII by May. It looks like we have a product demo display Monday night... Anyone who is going to be there Sunday and Monday and/or is interested in getting PGII certified, please contact me off list.

If you're in Canada or near Montreal between June 12th - July 28th, CHECK IT OUT! La Ronde: the Coupe du monde SAQ - Special 20th Anniversary Edition. (http://www.lemondialsaq.com/en/info/presse.asp) I've wanted to go to this for years, but I'm always doing my own shoots on the competition nights. Here's some photos of what I've missed: Montréal Fireworks Photos (http://www.montreal-fireworks.com/photos-montreal.html) This year, all the competitors are the WINNERS from the last 20 years... This will be incredible.

And lastly, if you all don't hear from me too often for a while, it's 'cause I'm busy! :)

PS- If you're not busy on the 4th of July and want to be- And you're over 18 by then, have no felony convictions and are a US citizen- You COULD be working on a pyro crew this 4th of July if you ask a US pyro company right about now. Most companies are doing their training of new crew members this month. We'll be running a training session in MN on May 23rd.

(edit)
PPS- If you need more information, ask off list.

Do you have some connections with the US pyro company? I would like to do that for 4th of july. I meet all the requirements. :)

I really wish that I lived abroad. The opportunities to see some great sights are endless at this time over in the US. A mate over here has been doing some shoots with a few different companies and has attended a few meets.

It's an industry I have always wanted to get into. Anyone with extensive pyro knowledge here would not be looked passed for employment at a Pyro company. Over here there just aren't many of those sorts of people working on the shoots. If any of you guys (and girls?) get the chance to experience it, grab at it. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Mmmm, Montreal...

Be sure to report back Bert. There are alot of people who would be interested to hear about it.

I would like to do that for 4th of july. I meet all the requirements. :)
Contact me off list. Did you get my message?

I've been having trouble using the messaging system on this website. Mabey you could email me at dvgzsdbn@yahoo.co.uk

Bert's right ,The fireworks at LaRonde(now owned by 6flags therefore I believe all those with 6flags season passes can use them there) are awesome, they do a great job. Since they are all the different countries putting on the shows they don't hold back.(I think it is one of the biggest if not the biggest FW competitions). One of the countries even used a ship in their show one year as a launching area I believe.

And that was my two cents worth. (canadian: therefore worth even less...)

Take a look at this!

shell accident (http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&c2coff=1&threadm=10ac272e.0405091638.1f7fb3d4%40posting.goo gle.com&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26c2coff%3D1%26group%3Drec.pyrotechnics)

Hopefully there are no serious accidents like in Florida last summer...two people were hurt in the above event, lucky they weren't killed!

Last year at PGI I saw an 8" multi break shell drop the bottom shot just like that- The shot fell through the roof of a metal skinned pole barn behind the race track, and went off when it hit the ground. In the flash, you could see all these large sheets of metal siding and roofing lifting up into the air...

I'd like to know how close the gun used for the shell in your video was to the audience/parking area. And why the heck they were shooting a nice shell like that in the daylight!

Looking at the video, I count 7 seconds between the shell burst and the shot going off on the ground. That's about the maximum time allowable for a shell in the 5" - 6" range, the guy who made the shell probably under lifted it.

I'd like to know too...

They seem ridiculously close, it and obviously didn't work out so well. Apparently two people in the car it landed under were hurt, I'm not sure how badly.

Take a look at this!

Holy shit, take a look at THIS (http://wantingseed.com/graphics/fireworks.avi) ! Where do they let a display be staged like this one?!