Rates of Pay

[ianeagles]

Hi to all,

As there is no law enforced set rates of pay for trainees, senior firers and all employees of a fireworks companies, I am trying to assess what pay structures that different companies set out, I know many people see firing as a hobby like me but it costs. I know this is a personal question and different companies have different ways of paying firers and employees. I may not get any feedback from this, but would really like your comments please.

Do all unexperienced trainees have to pay to get the experience, travel too and from the location of the display at thier own expense, also training courses etc.

Level 1 firers, do they get travel expenses paid, training etc

Level 2 firers, do they get travel expenses paid, training etc

Thanx for your time on this awkward question but any comments would be helpfull

Thanx again,

Ian

[Masterchief]

There was a sizeable thread on this matter very recently

[Masterchief]

See here:

Crew Pay

[Arthur]

Actually the minimum wage legislation does apply as in the other thread.

[ianeagles]

Thanx mastercheif for the quick reply,

I have read the crew pay link and I think I was right in assuming that people wouldnt be honest and straight forward when it came to talking about money and pay.

I do believe what rocketrev quoted below,

Originally Posted by RocketRev

'Twas in a year like this that I started pro-firing...... I gather that in most years displays are split between the weekends either side of Nov 5th, but when Nov 5th is on a weekend, then display requests are concentrated in that one weekend. So it could be a good year for would-be firers to get an entry into pro-display work as companies look to recruit more crews to cope with that. It could also be an interesting year as freelancers find themselves very much in demand and able to pick and choose - maybe going where the money is. And existing volunteer firers, now they've some training and experience under their belts, will they be poached by companies offering pay?

So will this year and next be the time when crew pay becomes an issue?

I just hope someone will be brave enough to come out and tell us,

thanx again

Ian

[ianeagles]

Originally Posted by Arthur

Actually the minimum wage legislation does apply as in the other thread.

Would that mean that minimum wage would come into play, for every hour you was working for, including travelling too and from a display?

For example:

An electrical show, hours for setup 6.00 hrs
firing and clearup 2.00hrs

Minimum wage: £5.80 x 8hrs = £46.04

and travel costs

is this then a typical firers wage to cover legal government pay?

[»PureParty]

There seems to be quite a spread in what is paid throughout the industry, might be easier just asking the companies with whom you think you may be working?

[Mixologist]

If its a hobby it should cost you ;o) lol!

I did get various prices via Pm`s from the thread but it is not my place to put this in the forum.

[ianeagles]

Originally Posted by Mixologist

If its a hobby it should cost you ;o) lol!

I did get various prices via Pm`s from the thread but it is not my place to put this in the forum.

Yes it is a Hobby, but a very expensive one if you gotta fork out petrol every display, especially when fuel prices are on the up!!!

like I said before I realise many people wouldnt reply to my post as it is a personal question and relative to whom you work for,

Thanx anyway

[»PureParty]

You will find some companies being a little coy about money, I guess that's understandable. I can't say I agree with operating on a long term bases of not paying their staff, if a company is making a profit then they should pay their staff, I think that is a fair way of working.

If we are working on a competition display where all the budget is going on pyro then generally we just pay for the crews traveling expenses, rather than the normal crew rate.

As for crew rates, once you are "capable" then we pay from £50 (local display easy site) through to approaching £200 for a lead firer on good sized display during the busy November weekend.

In my experience that's a pretty standard scale for a proper commercially run display business

Hope that helps


Stuart