ExpoShows is a fireworks show production company run by a sole proprietor and a crew of thirty; among those thirty are fifteen licensed pyro technicians, three show designers and twelve pyro technician trainees. The sole proprietor David handles the networking, procurement, scheduling, purchasing, finances and logistics of each fireworks production. He oversees the build of new tubes (where the fireworks are shot from) each June and the training and licensing of the pyro technician trainees. ExpoShows is extremely busy two times a year, once around Fourth of July and again at New Year’s Eve although this year they have procured a contract with Six Flags this year for the month of October working on pyrotechnics for ‘Fright Fest’. In the “off season” David acquires new show contracts and works with the designers on each customer’s unique fireworks display. The company is growing in reputation; last Fourth of July they did five shows, this year they did twelve.
Company Strengths:
• Shows generally go off with no problems – no problems, good reputation. Good reputation, lots of business.
• Financially stable. Many return clients.
• Same core crew year after year. Great communication and rapport between crew members for a more cordial work environment.
• New trainees every year. Keeps old crew members up to date with latest pyrotechnic laws and regulations not to mention constant refreshment of safety skills.
• Safety is mandatory. All crew members are supplied with fire retardant shirts, hard hats and safety glasses.
• David treats all crew members (and family members if they are present) to food and drinks after each show and does a “company banquet” each Fall at Universal Citywalk . Pyro is a stressful job and you need a crew that is cohesive and on top of things, these outings help to de-stress and build team camaraderie.
Employee Feedback
Overall, the employee’s main complaint is that paychecks are not received on time. The way the system is set up is the workers are paid “the day after the show goes off”. This includes payment for the yearly tube build which can take up to an entire month before the shows are scheduled. “When large sums of money are owed, David tends to split it into payments over a couple of weeks instead of giving you one lump payment as promised. And usually it’s like two or three days after the show instead of the day after since David is tired after it’s all over.” This makes things hard for his crew members, many of which are lower socioeconomic status and typically live paycheck to paycheck. Additional complaints of poor scheduling (which crew members are at which show) and “David being too spread thin and always on the phone” were discussed. Occasionally there have been too many crew members scheduled for one site and not enough with others. With twelve simultaneous shows happening all varying in size it is important to have the right crew at the right show for things to go safely and smoothly. David constantly being on the phone makes it hard for the workers to get clear instructions and often slows things down; the calls are work related and usually need to be handled urgently.
Areas of Improvement:
David needs a personal assistant to help with planning, networking and logistics. Also to handle phone calls so David can be fully present on site during the busy seasons. Assistant could handle the accounting and payroll as well to ensure employees are paid on time and there is money to purchase new product for future shows. David needs to pay his employees as promised in the amount promised; the employees do know about this weakness at his point in time and can be pro-active by trying to save money or making payment arrangements ahead of time for several days after the shows they work. If David were to have an assistant, he could take the initial payment from the client to the bank, deposit it and have it split into appropriate amounts and have cashier’s checks made out for the crew members the day after the show as promised. This would save time and recordkeeping. Another option would be for David to get a business loan and pay his employees from those funds until he receives payment from clients. This would solve the day after issue and would allow crew members to be paid bi-weekly during the tube build. Additionally the checks could be ready for the same night as the show goes off which would make the employees even happier.
