dagabu Posted November 8, 2013 Posted November 8, 2013 By JOHN SKIPPER john.skipper@globegazette.com MASON CITY | The 2014 Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI) convention will be held Aug. 9-15 at the North Iowa Events Center in Mason City. Dan Creagan, PGI president, made the official announcement at a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Events Center. Jerome Mostek of Mitchell, who will be a convention host, said 3,000 PGI members, including their families, are expected to attend the convention, which will be held Aug. 9-15. Sue Armour, executive director of Visit Mason City, the city's tourism organization, said the convention is expected to have a $1.7 million economic impact with guests staying in motels and hotels and patronizing restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores and other North Iowa businesses. As Creagan put it, "There's no better way to burn up money." The convention was held in Mason City in 2005 and 2009. Creagan, a native of Centerville who now lives in Bellevue, Neb., said the purpose of the convention is to give PGI members a chance to come together to learn from each other about industry techniques and to show off their own creative work. But the big draw for the public is the fireworks shows after dark. Mostek said one of the new features this year is an all-ladies pyro show with fireworks designed and set off by women. Also, he said, a pyrotechnic train wreck will thrill those in attendance. "But it's a ground show. You have to be in the grandstand to see it," he said. "In fact," said Mostek, "if you're not in the grandstand, you're going to miss half of what is going on." Technical seminars and classes are scheduled for PGI members during the week. An estimated 10,000 spectators are anticipated to attend shows planned for Sunday, Aug. 10, Tuesday, Aug. 12, Wednesday, Aug. 13, and Friday, Aug. 15. David Green, general manager of the Events Center, said, "These shows are way over the top -- we couldn't be working with better people, and the way it's going to affect the local economy it just couldn't be better." Green said tickets for the show went on sale at 1 p.m. Thursday. Prices are $10 per ticket for the Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday night shows, with children under 10 admitted free. All tickets are general admission for those shows. On Friday, general seating is available for $13 a ticket and reserved seating is $18 a ticket with no discounts for children. Starting July 19, all ticket prices go up $5. Parking at the Events Center will be free. The PGI is a non‐profit organization founded in 1969. It is an independent, worldwide association of amateur and professional fireworks enthusiasts.
shouldnoteatindat Posted December 9, 2013 Posted December 9, 2013 wish i could come but live far away 1
James76 Posted February 7, 2014 Posted February 7, 2014 We will be there! Come see us in C vending to try out some of our '76 Pro Line items. PGI always has amazing shows, and it is a great chance to see some new product.
dagabu Posted May 27, 2014 Author Posted May 27, 2014 Spirit of '76 indeed has a lot of good stuff for a nice price. When do you come out with the catalog and price list?
dagabu Posted August 2, 2014 Author Posted August 2, 2014 I will be bringing a tube cutter (STAR M-200) and a wax pot for tubes for general use by anybody. I have plenty of wax and daubers. I will also have a dozen 1/2" end burner sets and chipboard at my table in manufacturing for everyone to sit down and pound out a few rockets or drivers if they like. This tooling is brand new and has never been used to make a single rocket, if successful, they will be used next year in Wyoming for a new class, "Ground-Ip Rockets" rockets from scratch. Anybody interested in teaching/learning 1/2" drivers/rocket motors should stop by and say hi.
TYRONEEZEKIEL Posted August 2, 2014 Posted August 2, 2014 Dag, I'll come by and help out for a little bit.
dagabu Posted August 3, 2014 Author Posted August 3, 2014 Gorski is bringing the two wax pots for waxing now, another is bringing the M-200 tube cutter, I am just bringing rocket stuff now. Come on over Tyrone! Lets make some drivers!!!!!
TYRONEEZEKIEL Posted August 3, 2014 Posted August 3, 2014 You got it. It will be my first convention and second time to meet other pyros. Im gonna be overloaded and enjoy every second of it.
dagabu Posted August 3, 2014 Author Posted August 3, 2014 What do you all think of these Tiki torches for convention?
dagabu Posted August 3, 2014 Author Posted August 3, 2014 Thanks Nate, my buddy made several with wine bottles and they were nice but I thought PGI might be more of a hops and barley kind of place.
TheSidewinder Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 A nifty idea, and they all look great! Looks like he switched the clamping design too. Bottle in front, check the orientation of the screws for the neck clamp, versus the ones in back.
dagabu Posted August 4, 2014 Author Posted August 4, 2014 That's a hinged clamp, The Home Depot mixes stock all the time...
TYRONEEZEKIEL Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 Hey fellas. Manufacturing is sparse. Get here and let's start building! Dag. I'm ready to start hammering some rockets
pyroman2498 Posted August 11, 2014 Posted August 11, 2014 Can't be there this year sadly but someone is getting me a shirt (btw I wear a large. .... )
dagabu Posted August 13, 2014 Author Posted August 13, 2014 Get week so far. Making rockets with TY, many first timers making and shooting rockets. My daughter got 6th place in best small rocket and our club is leading in points. Sunny and 75 perfect day to make rockets!
pyrokid Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Sounds great Dag! Keep us chumps who couldn't make it updated!
jessoman Posted August 14, 2014 Posted August 14, 2014 Arr- Pyro envy, Is there a way I can ignore all the PGI updates. I think I'll CATO with jealousy.Keep havin' fun guys
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