Money

[ChrisTurner]

I'm just curious on how much does everyone spend on fireworks for their 4th of July shows?

[FlyingDutchman]

I try not to think about it. :rolleyes:

[nayslayer]

I spend $500 wholesale for about 5 minute show or so.

[Bazerk]

This year I am in for a little over 7K.

[Rick_In_Tampa]

This year I'm in for just over $6K, but that includes a new Cobra firing system. I spent just over $3K on the fireworks themselves and related accessories.

[stratos294ho]

I'm in for $550 this year.

[nayslayer]

lol, Im just a small backyard show guy, so my budget small compared to you guys.

[Pyropug]

Easy $3000 - $4000

[Berserker23]

I usually spend $1300-$1500 every year

[vegassalute]

Like someone said earlier, I'd rather not think about it either. Let's put it this way, I budget myself $5K but when it comes time to place my orders, I suffer MASSIVE impulse overruns. It's a legitimate disorder. And I have it, big time.

[Bazerk]

Like someone said earlier, I'd rather not think about it either. Let's put it this way, I budget myself $5K but when it comes time to place my orders, I suffer MASSIVE impulse overruns. It's a legitimate disorder. And I have it, big time.

I suffer the same. I usually budget 3k and ended up at 7k. Lol

[ChrisTurner]

I'm around 3k so far. Not counting all the cobra mods I bought. Lol

[esgrillo]

estimate $1000/5 minutes and add an extra $500 for finale items

[joewad]

I spend enough to say, Don't tell my girlfriend. I have an ex for a reason. http://www.pyrotalk.com/bulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=2250&stc=1

[ChrisTurner]

estimate $1000/5 minutes and add an extra $500 for finale items

Isn't your show around an hour long? Big money

[DexTee]

I will have to get back to you after my party, as I keep buying more and more! :)

I'm also using several vendors this year, not that any one in particular has the best pricing on certain items, but more so that I want to spread my money around to help keep several local folks in business.

[esgrillo]

lol its about 22 minutes

[djsmurf]

Like someone said earlier, I'd rather not think about it either. Let's put it this way, I budget myself $5K but when it comes time to place my orders, I suffer MASSIVE impulse overruns. It's a legitimate disorder. And I have it, big time.

HAHA, can we see a doctor for this disorder? I think they would try to tell us we are crazy.

As for budget, there is a bunch you don't think about. I'm building racks tonight for the new 3", 5", and 6" guns I have this year. Lumber, screws, time, it all adds up.

That said have fun with what you can afford. There is nothing that says you need to bankrupt yourself to enjoy yourself in the pyro world. Have fun, shoot what you can afford and then add the "well next year" thought process. :D

[DexTee]

They say in racing that if you are in control, than you are driving too slow ... when applied to pyros, if you have cash in your wallet, than you don't have enough fireworks. :)

[MtnViewPyro]

I budgeted 1k for my first electric fired show this year. After order 1of2, I already surpassed 1.5k. Soooo, my budgeting skills are not the best.

[chriskrc]

Looking at about 1000 to 1200 hundred this year. Could be a little more but thats about average for me

[Bigjohnson]

I don't even want to think about it this year. Racks, cobra, and product. Was a pricey year

[fatcat]

According to the wife, too much; according to me, not enough. In reality about 14-1600 between one of the advertisers here on this websight and a local vender who gives me a great discount and brands I can't get from the wholesaler I use.

[pitts]

More than I tell the wife

[Kenny East]

Before class B, about $1500... Another $500-800 on 1.3 products... Not including the new racks, tubes and firing system.... Or any other pyro supplies... It's an addiction for sure but at least it's not crack!

[chriskrc]

Before class B, about $1500... Another $500-800 on 1.3 products... Not including the new racks, tubes and firing system.... Or any other pyro supplies... It's an addiction for sure but at least it's not crack!

Who doesn't love this addiction?

[PyroDre]

lol i spend 6 or 7 hundred dollars (wholesale) on fireworks every year.... only to never get to shoot them because I end up working a big 4th of July show somewhere....ughh

[PyroManiacs]

Anywhere between 1 - 3k.

Besides this year, 0. Saving to buy a house.

[NorthernKYPyro]

I budget for 1K on the dot. Then the tents pop up with crazy products that I "have to purchase" or new things enter the market such as Jawbreaker Shells or Dave's new products. Then it gets closer to 1500.

[thump junkie]

Budget. What is that. If you shoot fireworks , there is no such thing.

[PyroManiacs]

Anywhere between 1 - 3k.

Besides this year, 0. Saving to buy a house.


By the way, I should have mentioned that this house will be on at least 10 acres in NWPA so all you mofos can add another location to shoot at! ;)

[djsmurf]

By the way, I should have mentioned that this house will be on at least 10 acres in NWPA so all you mofos can add another location to shoot at! ;)

Nice congrats on looking at a new place. #showprep

[wink]

1 cobra 18r2 two 18m $1211.91.WF Boom after 40% discount about $1300.00.marriage counseling around 200.00 dollars an hour unless we can get on Dr phil.LOL

[gt95stang300]

Spent around 3500 on wholesale fireworks this year, but around 3500 or so for support stuff also lol Luckily that stuff was only a one time purchase. Now just have to rent a uhaul to get all the stuff out to the shoot site and set it all up on the 4th :( Going to be a rough day but it will be worth it at the end of the night.

[chriskrc]

By the way, I should have mentioned that this house will be on at least 10 acres in NWPA so all you mofos can add another location to shoot at! ;)

Congrats on the house and that sounds like a nice piece of property at 10 acres. That will be nice to put your own magazine on too.

[upNdown]

My buddy and I are up to about $600-$700 for our small backyard show. We'll probably keep the budget the same next year, but try to spend that wholesale and double our stash.

[upNdown]

My buddy and I are up to about $600-$700 for our small backyard show. We'll probably keep the budget the same next year, but try to spend that wholesale and double our stash.

By the way, any suggestions on the best way to make that happen from Massachusetts? I guess I could order from Spirit of '76 and drive down to PA to pick it up, but at 5 hours each way, that hardly seems worth it.

[liame]

By the way, any suggestions on the best way to make that happen from Massachusetts? I guess I could order from Spirit of '76 and drive down to PA to pick it up, but at 5 hours each way, that hardly seems worth it.

Make friends in NH that don't mind you shipping an order to their house. just dont let the Staties catch you on your way home

[PyroManiacs]

Congrats on the house and that sounds like a nice piece of property at 10 acres. That will be nice to put your own magazine on too.

I dont have a specific one in mind yet, but my current plans are to just save as much as possible over this next year and a half or so, and since my sister owns her own realty company in Erie, she can view all listings in the county before they are even listed. So when something fitting my criteria becomes available, Ill be golden. Having at least 10 acres is a must!

[MontanaMike]

We're about 1700 this year not including shipping. All 1.4 from WFBoom. We didn't add any equipment this year -- although I would like a few more racks. I agree about the impulse buy thing...plus I suffer from the "I can't pick between these two, so I'll take both" disease as well.

[pimpdaddee28]

The median with me is about $1500 and at least $900-$1000 of my budget is spent on wholesale (at WF Boom).

[nayslayer]

ha pimpdaddee, nice youtube channel

[chriskrc]

I dont have a specific one in mind yet, but my current plans are to just save as much as possible over this next year and a half or so, and since my sister owns her own realty company in Erie, she can view all listings in the county before they are even listed. So when something fitting my criteria becomes available, Ill be golden. Having at least 10 acres is a must!

That's a great plan and having a nice piece of property is always a must. Good luck to you on the search.

[shake the cove]

500 to 1000 on 1.4. more when the 4th falls near a weekend.$300-700 on 1.3 items usually cakes. Hard to tell since I buy by case like many of you and some itemsare 6-12 to a case and some last till next year. I help shoot 2-3 profesional shows each year to get my big boy pyro fix.That way I can spend less on 1.3 items usually, sometimes,not always LOL

[shake the cove]

This year I am in for a little over 7K.
Damn,Bazerk I wish I was related to you.:cool:

[Bazerk]

Damn,Bazerk I wish I was related to you.:cool:

I'm actually over 7k now. I wish I had self control. ☹️

[215less]

answer to my wife, 100-200.... actual cost... 1000 hehehe

[flatlander]

I'm actually over 7k now. I wish I had self control. ☹️
Wow Bazerk I can't imagine setting up 7 K worth of fireworks. Our group buy was $4200 and that was 2000 lbs worth.

[Rick_In_Tampa]

I'm actually over 7k now. I wish I had self control. ☹️

OMG! Why would you wish such a thing on yourself!!??

[PyroManiacs]

OMG! Why would you wish such a thing on yourself!!??

Yea, I agree. There is no such thing as too much pyro.

[Bazerk]

Wow Bazerk I can't imagine setting up 7 K worth of fireworks. Our group buy was $4200 and that was 2000 lbs worth.

Weeks of planning, days of wiring due to the fact that I can only work on this stuff after work and spending time with the family, and about 4 hours to transport and set up at the shoot site. Trailers and trucks are involved in every level of the show from pickups to transport to shoot site and most everything in between. It is a major undertaking and hopefully, if things go as planned, I will be sharing the epic journey with you guys in the form of a short documentary style video. Ive taken photos and video of everything involved starting from driving up to Lynch Imports for the demo night all the way to what will be the shoot on the 4th of July. This video will not be nearly as good as next years as I will plan for the documentary meaning I will be filming with that in mind. None the less, its out of love that I spend this time and money and at the end of the day, hundreds of people will have smiles on their faces for the duration of the show and hopefully, a memory that will last a lifetime.

[hillbilly]

$ 500 to $1000 would be more if had 54 [ the smell of powder smoke what it does to you]

[Bazerk]

Yea, I agree. There is no such thing as too much pyro.

There is a thing as too much. As much as I didnt believe that, after this year, I do now. The last years 4th of July I did consisted of only 78 36 200g, 500g cakes, 6 1.3g cakes, 60 2in canister salutes and a chain of 10 3in shells. That was a 20 minute solid show. This year Ive got 0 200g cakes, over 300 500g cakes, 24 cases of 1.3g cakes and 432 3in shells. Believe it or not, this is a problem. I dont want to exceed a 25 minute show and to get all of this in the air in 25 minutes, it will be a complete sky puke show. That is a lot of firepower to be squeezing into a 25 minute window. So in saying that I will have spent more than necessary and also have to store fireworks until New Years. Make sense?

[Rick_In_Tampa]

Having seen your work in the past, I have no doubt the documentary video will be first class, just like the show.

Today a co-worker asked me how long my show was going to be this year. He couldn't believe how short (30 min) it is compared to how much stuff I have. People just don't realize how big an undertaking it is to put these shows together. I told him my 30 min show probably takes 300 hours of time to put together from inception to cleanup. I'm sure your documentary will be a real eye opener for most people. I look forward to seeing it!

[Bazerk]

Yea, I agree. There is no such thing as too much pyro.
Just to give you an idea of what happened last year.

2016 4th of July

https://youtu.be/UyU1D60HTZ0

New Years 2017

https://youtu.be/m8DDOhD3Uok

[Bazerk]

Having seen your work in the past, I have no doubt the documentary video will be first class, just like the show.

Today a co-worker asked me how long my show was going to be this year. He couldn't believe how short (30 min) it is compared to how much stuff I have. People just don't realize how big an undertaking it is to put these shows together. I told him my 30 min show probably takes 300 hours of time to put together from inception to cleanup. I'm sure your documentary will be a real eye opener for most people. I look forward to seeing it!

I appreciate the confidence Rick, lol. If you like this years then next years will be quite a surprise.

[PyroManiacs]

If you like this years then next years will be quite a surprise.

You got me pumped!

[Rick_In_Tampa]

I appreciate the confidence Rick, lol. If you like this years then next years will be quite a surprise.

Looking forward to it!

By the way.... Which drone did you use for the New Years Eve show?

[Bazerk]

Looking forward to it!

By the way.... Which drone did you use for the New Years Eve show?

I used the Phantom 3 for the 4th of July and the Phantom 4 Pro for New Years. Big difference in quality. This year there will be 2 DJI Mavics and the Phantom 4 Pro in the sky. All 4k and we will be sending one through the breaks as well.

[PyroManiacs]

I used the Phantom 3 for the 4th of July and the Phantom 4 Pro for New Years. Big difference in quality. This year there will be 2 DJI Mavics and the Phantom 4 Pro in the sky. All 4k and we will be sending one through the breaks as well.

This definitely sounds like a visual treat!

[Bazerk]

This definitely sounds like a visual treat!


As it should! Lol. I'm excited.

[Rick_In_Tampa]

I used the Phantom 3 for the 4th of July and the Phantom 4 Pro for New Years. Big difference in quality. This year there will be 2 DJI Mavics and the Phantom 4 Pro in the sky. All 4k and we will be sending one through the breaks as well.

I was hoping you'd say that! I'm going to pick up the Phantom 4 Pro next year for sure. The video quality is very impressive.

[Bazerk]

I was hoping you'd say that! I'm going to pick up the Phantom 4 Pro next year for sure. The video quality is very impressive.

Next year they will have something better and I'll have a phantom 4 pro for sale. �� You can also pick yourself up a GoPro hero 5. A lot of the ground footage from New Years was taken with that. It's a great camera.

[adultuser]

Originally Posted by upNdown View Post
By the way, any suggestions on the best way to make that happen from Massachusetts? I guess I could order from Spirit of '76 and drive down to PA to pick it up, but at 5 hours each way, that hardly seems worth it.

No such thing as too far LOL!!
For about ten years straight I would travel to Ohio for Phantom BOGO deals (6 hours each way). It was the highlight of my year. Those were fond days for my buddy and me. Great memories.
Then I found out about buying wholesale and went to Elkton each year for about 4 years. Now, I just go local.
When I was buying the BOGO, my buddy and I would spend 2k apiece for our one show. Now with wholesale, we've cut that in half. I still miss the annual road trips, but being as I'm now getting older (read a bit less energetic) not so much.

[upNdown]

Ugh, Phantom. I just peeked in there this weekend for the first time. Everything was about 130%-150% more than the mom and pop a half mile away. Obviously it's all BOGO, but you're forced to buy two AND you have to pay more per unit? AND 90% of it is house branded, so you can't comparison shop?? Screw that. I can't believe they have customers. I guess it's all about marketing.

[Bazerk]

Ugh, Phantom. I just peeked in there this weekend for the first time. Everything was about 130%-150% more than the mom and pop a half mile away. Obviously it's all BOGO, but you're forced to buy two AND you have to pay more per unit? AND 90% of it is house branded, so you can't comparison shop?? Screw that. I can't believe they have customers. I guess it's all about marketing.

It certainly is. Hell, I was a TNT guy for years up until 2 years ago. I was paying $3k and was thrilled with the quality and quantity I was getting. Obviously I have learned my lesson, lol.

[adultuser]

Having seen your work in the past, I have no doubt the documentary video will be first class, just like the show.

Today a co-worker asked me how long my show was going to be this year. He couldn't believe how short (30 min) it is compared to how much stuff I have. People just don't realize how big an undertaking it is to put these shows together. I told him my 30 min show probably takes 300 hours of time to put together from inception to cleanup. I'm sure your documentary will be a real eye opener for most people. I look forward to seeing it!

You are certainly correct on the time and effort, BUT, my young nieces and nephews call me "Uncle Firework Man". That alone, makes it all worth it lol.
I would also chime in that as I've gotten older, I've gotten smarter (I think). IN the younger days, I'd have over 100 cues and set off everything one at a time with precisely timed fuses and lengths to get the effect I wanted. I never chained anything, except for the finale, but now I chain entire Boards with approx 10-15 cakes per. I don't spend near the time figuring out the fuse timings. By doing two boards at the same time, there is always constant sky paint. On the last couple boards for the finale though, I still measure meticulously.

[FBpyro]

Iv'e slowly worked my way up over the years I believe last year I was at about $500, I keep telling myself I'll never hit 1K but who knows maybe someday it will happen.

[Bazerk]

Iv'e slowly worked my way up over the years I believe last year I was at about $500, I keep telling myself I'll never hit 1K but who knows maybe someday it will happen.

Oh it will happen. It will happen sooner than you think, lol.

[South Carolina Mike]

Seeing as I'm new to all this here's my budget story!
1st year $0
Last year 1K
This year 2K + added a Cobra system!
I see a pattern developing! LOL!!

[Bazerk]

I couldn't resist. I had to make my first ever stash video. I tried to make it slightly deceiving.

https://youtu.be/DuQcmAX2jTE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuQcmAX2jTE&feature=youtu.be

[Bazerk]

Seeing as I'm new to all this here's my budget story!
1st year $0
Last year 1K
This year 2K + added a Cobra system!
I see a pattern developing! LOL!!

LOL. I do too and I am here to tell you it is an expensive pattern my friend. Good move on the Cobra by the way.

[South Carolina Mike]

LOL. I do too and I am here to tell you it is an expensive pattern my friend. Good move on the Cobra by the way.

Thanks Bazerk!
Well on my way to totally hooked!
I forgot to mention all the tubes and racks that I built for this years show.
43 500g cakes and 160 shells fired with 1 cobra mod, tons of planning and more fun wiring, but I think I have it figured out, set up video to follow!

[TNtwister]

$2,700 on one, $5,000 on the other.


(other people's money lol)

I throw in the cost of module batteries, setup supplies, matches and such. Plus a little on pyro if I have something special in mind.

[gt95stang300]

well finally got all my racks and multishot boards ready http://imgur.com/iyjBHxX now the only hard thing will be setting it and the other 30 cases of cakes up on shoot day. I sure hope all the people that said theyre taking videos this year actually do so i wont miss anything :p