2006-2015 · Pyrotechniq · Chicago
Twenty years on fire.
I co-founded Pyrotechniq, Chicago's premier fire performance troupe, in 2006. Over the next decade we performed in 500+ professional shows across the US and abroad - for corporations, municipalities, festivals, weddings, and nonprofits. Ten years on the road. Zero burned audiences.
10
Years on the road
2006-2015. Co-founded the troupe, stepped off the stage in 2015.
500+
Professional shows
Corporations, municipalities, festivals, weddings, nonprofits.
$100K+
Peak annual revenue
Built into a real small business. Bookkeeping, insurance, the lot.
100%
Safety record
Fire-marshal endorsements across multiple states. Zero burned audiences.
Watch
Selected reels.
What we did
A full palette.
Pyrotechniq's working motto: "Urban fire masters. Anytime, anywhere, for any reason." We tailored every show to the room, the audience, and the brief.
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Fire performance
Anytime, anywhere, for any reason. Dance, prop manipulation, dramatic sound, energetic choreography, fully insured.
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UV / blacklight / LED
For daytime gigs, indoor venues, or fire-phobic crowds. UV-reactive costuming and high-contrast props.
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Choreography + costume
Custom-designed scenes. Music selection, theming, costume fabrication. Tailored to the room and audience.
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Teaching + workshops
Spinning flags, fire sword, contact sword, fire belt. Built the props, taught the technique.
What it taught me
The art of running a small business.
Running Pyrotechniq taught me what a real small business actually requires. SMB management, S-corp bookkeeping, banking, insurance riders for high-risk work, contracts that protect you when things go wrong. The visible craft was the easy part.
The other half of the job was choreography, dance, movement, costume design and fabrication, music and video production. Show up for a corporate event and they expect you to deliver a complete production - costumes, music, choreography, stage management, safety plan. You build it all.
The fire was the easy part.
Performed at
Selected venues, to name a few.
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FIFA World Congress
Atlantis Resort · Bahamas
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Burning Man
Black Rock City · NV
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Tastefully Simple
Annual sales conference
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Navy Pier
Chicago · IL
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Daley Plaza
Chicago · IL
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Museum of Science and Industry
Chicago · IL
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Shedd Aquarium
Chicago · IL
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Block Parties
We love 'em
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And hundreds more
Indoor and out, day and night.
The exit
In 2015 I stepped off the stage to point my energy elsewhere. The troupe carried on and evolved into Black Circle Creative.