Damian Ferrar
Shaun Barnett
centre drones in the middle alongside pyrotechnics , and the lighting showed it off beautifully .”
Pyro Pyrotechnics , including fireworks and flames , has the advantage of being popular in the winter season as well as being widely used at UK festivals and indoor live music shows . Force FX , which supplies confetti , flames , pyro and CO2 products , has been “ inundated ” with events after Covid , says admin assistant Ashling Barclay . As well as the Commonwealth Games , this year has seen the company work on major stadium live shows , and festivals such as Download and Truck .
“ By manufacturing our own products in-house , we are always updating our systems to be the best they can be . Our newest model is the IP Rated-CO2 Jet ,” says Barclay , who adds that they are dust and water resistant which makes them the “ ideal solution ” for outdoor events .
“ By attaching the CO2 Jets to a CO2 cylinder and a controller , you can expel a plume of up to eight metres which gives you a smoke visual but is actually just CO2 ,” she says . “ They are perfect for being used on stage , at a festival or in a club . When the beat drops , the plume expels .”
Hertfordshire-based Entertainment Effects provides special effects such as flame jets , streamers , confetti and pyro at sporting events including football ,
“ We ’ re really starting to gear up for next summer already .”
– Shaun Barnett
rugby and darts . One of its main products is the wireless G-Flame , produced by German manufacturer Galaxis . Commercial director Phil Allen says sporting events bring more challenges than music events as there is a much shorter turnaround , therefore all its equipment is tailored and wireless so there are fewer complications . He says the flames can be controlled within one tenth of a second and the use of timecodes means it is possible to synchronise flame activity to a music track .
Another one of its in-demand products is the Sparkular Cyclone , which creates 10m tall jets of sparks , specially designed for arena shows and indoor events where there is less space . Allen says the machine replicates traditional fireworks or pyrotechnics that would usually burn up to 1500 ° C , but instead these are non-hazardous and can be touched by operators and synchronised with music . Originally launched as an indoor product , a waterproof version has been created for use at outdoor events . Another popular product offered is a coloured smoke mine that Allen says is primarily used at sporting day events where pyro and fireworks are not as effective .
Lasers Strictly FX ’ s UK division has provided special effects and lasers at events this year such as Glastonbury , Download , the Reading and Leeds festivals , Adele ’ s performance at
BST Hyde Park and the Queen ’ s Platinum Jubilee Pageant . Strictly FX UK chief operating officer Shaun Barnett says , “ It ’ s the same with anything , the supply chain has been slow but we ’ ve started to get new high-output lasers coming through , which have been custom-built and designed for us by our teams in the US . We ’ ve reinvested a lot of money into new equipment , but everything is taking so long to get to us .”
Barnett says Strictly FX is currently building two previsualisation suites in its West London offices , that will be rented out to clients as a creative hub : “ Tours and shows will be put together under one roof , we ’ ll be working with designers and creatives for each show . That ’ s an exciting change for us .”
Barnett says preparing for next summer at this time of year , instead of in January and February , is not something the company would usually do , but his team is eager to get “ ahead of the curve ”.
“ We ’ ve got a busy touring season coming up ,” he says . “ Like everyone else , we ’ ve struggled with crew and equipment this year so we ’ re really starting to gear up for next summer already . We ’ ve got in-house training schemes in place and we ’ re taking in talent for new full-time positions .”
LED This summer , AV equipment supplier Creative Technology ( CT ) provided the LED video elements for both the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium and the Queen ’ s Platinum Jubilee .
At the Commonwealth Games , it was engaged by Birmingham Ceremonies ( a joint venture between Gary Beestone Associates and Done and Dusted ). CT provided LED
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