Fireworkers cannot get out of the crisis
business
Normally it would be high season for the Salzburg pyrotechnician Christian Czech at the moment. He gilds Europe-wide as a top man. Two years of the CoV crisis had a massive impact on his company. On New Year’s Eve, he shoots the big fireworks in the city of Salzburg – a drop in the ocean.
First there was the particulate matter discussion, then the CoV crisis: These are hard times for all those who shoot professional fireworks in the sky. For the colorful spectacle over the old town of Salzburg, pyrotechnician Christian Czech WILL be responsible, as it has been for many years. The preparations have been almost complete since Thursday.
No recovery in sight for the industry for years
Czech makes around 20,000 euros in sales with this one event. “It’s definitely a relief for the industry. It’s been two very tough years and I assume it will probably be another two tough years, maybe even more. The truth is only that: With the fixed costs that I have with my company, I can’t survive a New Year’s Eve fireworks display, ”says Czech.
Pyrotechnics companies are not going to recover anytime soon
to die
“Couldn’t keep employees even with short-time work”
He had to shut down his operating company Pyrovision completely. “With the fixed costs that we have every month, it was not possible – even with short-time work – to keep employees because we had zero sales. If nobody celebrates, nobody makes fireworks. This means we are dismissing the employees, ”says Czech.
2020 was passed without a bang
Last year the city of Salzburg canceled the traditional New Year’s fireworks over the fortress. Celebrations were also not allowed to take place, Austria is in lockdown at the turn of the year. This year it’s at least a little more relaxed. Nevertheless, New Year’s Eve WILL not go off without restrictions, like here is to read. For example, Salzburg’s gastronomy has to close with the prescribed curfew at 10 p.m., but the New Year is greeted again with a big bang.
Fireworks in three-quarter time
For this purpose, a clay material was brought to the ramp next to the fortress railway. A total of 400 fireworks will be shot into the sky over the city of Salzburg on Friday, punctually at midnight. Then “the Blue Danube Waltz is played and we have tried to coordinate the fireworks so that it is synchronous. People, if they have a good view, could watch it from home, watch it from their car. All you need to do is switch on the radio and have the experience synchronized with the music, ”says Czech.