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Praise for our show at PGI 2006
As a former PGI president, competition judge, PGI Bulletin editor,
frequent lecturer at PGI conventions and Western Winter Blast
conventions, and long time co-owner of a display fireworks company, I
have been deeply imbedded in professional pyrotechnics for many years
(over 34), and have seen many professional displays. I have observed the
huge New Year's displays at the opera house in Sydney Australia, I
attended as a crew member several of the Montreal International
Competitions, I attended the World's Fair displays in Vancouver, British
Colombia, and have been privy to the workings of some of the giant New
Year's Eve displays here in Las Vegas. I have visited factories in
Australia, England, Taiwan, and many in the U.S. Although pyrotechnics
have never been my primary profession, it has clearly been more than a
"hobby". I mention all this to provide a little more credibility to my
assessment of Aaron Mayfield's PGI convention show on Friday night,
August 11th 2006. IT WAS CLEARLY THE BEST SHOW I'VE EVER SEEN. The
product and the presentation were simply awesome.
The show featured many married stars and comets having brilliant colors
with gold or silvery tails (glitter formulations cannot be mixed into
the same composition as colored stars; to achieve a colored star with a
true glitter tail, it is necessary to attach two different kinds of
stars together and to be sure that both are burning independently).
There were long tailed comets of several distinct kinds in huge numbers,
long-lasting lampblack effect stars that rained from considerable
heights, double petaled chrysanthemums with colored pistils that
featured a second, initially invisible pistil, of white dragon eggs that
appeared as a surprising sizzling ball of particulate fire in the center
of the burst just before all the other stars became extinguished. There
were periodic great fans of colored and tailed comets, girandolas
(flying horizontal wheels) - in large numbers, all of which performed
perfectly - rising and falling and rising again to end with color
bursts, timed reports (titanium and simple flash), tourbillion shells,
whistles, self propelled stars ("go-getters"), and notably what appeared
to be a true red glitter effect (although some of my pyrotechnics
friends claimed it was a debris laden red strobe - perhaps Aaron will
help us clarify this) - the list of effects could go on and on. I
couldn't detect any omissions of major kinds of effect, nor did the
shells and effects appear to "step on one another" except when it was
clear that it was intentional. Big shells had trajectory garnishments
that all remained attached to the shell and worked perfectly allowing
one accurately to trace the path of the shell visually. The choreography
was excellent, but somehow did not take center stage, and it managed to
enliven the performance without stealing the attention of the viewer. It
was truly a pyrotechnist's show. Aaron Mayfield can be rightly proud! I
am especially grateful to the PGI for insuring that I was there. I will
endeavor to make arrangements in the future to attend up-coming PGI
conventions - it is simply sinful to miss anything so stunning.
Bob Winokur
I'm David MacGregor, I shoot with Steve Jones and Stellar Fireworks. I gotta
tell you, your Tuesday night display was the best I've ever seen. Your
selection of shells to the music was exquisite!!! Good Job, you made all us
pyros from MO proud. I can't wait till the PGI video comes out.
David MacGregor
Ozark, MO
Aaron,
I have to say that your show in Appleton was VERY, VERY COOL!!! I also
would like to thank you for the DVD you gave me. It was wonderful.
It is unfortunate that people don't understand what you do. I am tired
of seeing the same Chinese shells all the time. Your product is so
unique, and you use it very well. I especially love it when you
completely flood the sky with multi colored go-getters, coming from the
mines and the aerial shells.
It was nice to finally meet you and see your work in person. You truly
are an artist. I look forward to seeing one of your shows again.
Thank you for what you do, and keep it up.
Sincerely,
David Arnold
From: "David Armstrong"
This convention was fantastic! to say the least. From beginning to end,
all the shows were great and the competition was ...well...all I can say
is, I'm glad I couldn't compete this year!!! It was marvelous! I have to
say Dittos to Daniel Clarks comments on the A&M Display!! I had the
pleasure of meeting one of the fellas from A&M at a Taco Tico in Mason
City and I took advantage of the opportunity to compliment him on their
show. Without a doubt, the finest display of pyrotechnics that I have
ever seen! I didn't get his name but the modesty, humility and sincere
way that he responded to my compliments is something that I won't
forget. These gentlemen at A&M have got their ducks in a row. Talent and
dedication..."The proof's in the pudding."
Dave Armstrong
Are you going to have videos of your public display from the convention
available for purchase? It was so awesome we would just love to watch it again
and again.
Thank You
Chad & Tina Schmitz
Aaron,
That was an AWESOME, AWESOME showing of the Italian, Spanish and
Japanese fireworks. Our family and friends were just in awe. You are
right about the colors being more brilliant then the Chinese fireworks.
I also agree with you about the salutes. I participated in the Italian
workshop in making a 4" shell which I fired off that evening, it was
spectacular. I hope that the WBA will have the Italian's and their
fireworks back next year.
Thanks again,
Cathy O'Connor
Second year member (second shell ever produced)
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