“The problem is that we mainly work in the summer so when we miss each other, we can’t make up for it too much. » Frédérique Marmajou, co-manager of the Marmajou company in Dax, summarizes here the difficulties that the fireworks experts of the South-West have been encountering since last summer. After two summers well upset by the Covid-19, it was the weather and very high temperatures combined with a terribly low humidity level that challenged the organizers of pyrotechnic shows.
And the fires that break out in mid-July have cooled the municipalities quite a bit. Even if it means canceling shows at the last moment. In total, Eric, a pyrotechnician in Mérignac, considers himself lucky to have been able to postpone part of his events without which his company could have lost up to 80% of annual turnover. For her part, Frédérique entrusts 20 minutes not to have been so lucky and claims a 20% reduction in its activity due to the drought.
“You have to explain to us where we set fire to a lake”
Frédérique Marmajou, who manages the family business in the Landes, remembers having agreed with the town hall of Moliets-et-Maa to shoot from the beach on July 14, before receiving the ban… at the last moment. “And our customers always tell us the same thing: ”it’s a cancellation by the prefect so it’s not up to us to pay the costs”. Only, it is us, the organizers, who have paid the costs”. “The first decree of last summer fell on the evening of July 12, two days before our peak of activity, when all the costs were already incurred: truck rental, staff”, recalls, for his part. , Eric. And to add: “It’s true that you shouldn’t do anything, especially when you see what was happening in the region, but when you cancel shows that were to take place on the water…”
The fact remains that the coming summer promises to be at least as hot and dry as the previous one and the director of Marmajou then decides, not without emotion: “The company is clearly in danger and we must not be the only ones. “If there is another drought, it could be catastrophic, not just for us, but for the sector in general,” adds Eric.
Professionals in the sector, Frédérique and Eric in the lead, therefore expect more “case by case” when issuing these orders which should necessarily fall. “This case by case would allow certain events to be authorized”, say the experts. Eric also suggests appealing to everyone’s professional responsibility: “It would be irresponsible to shoot a show in the middle of the pines if it’s very dry, on the contrary, a show on the water, that doesn’t fear much according to Me. “Same story in Dax:” When we organize a fireworks display on a lake and we are canceled. You have to explain to us where we set the fire on the lake? ! »
Replaced by drone-based shows
Another track, finish with the dotted orders. “The bans were renewed every week, a longer decree would have made it possible not to incur costs”, loose Eric who works for the company Carat Pyrotechnie. All these solutions, Frédérique Marmajou wrote them “twice to the prefect of Landes, in September and December”. “I still haven’t had a response, even to say that she had received my mail, plague the pyrotechnics pro. When we are told see you next year now, we are not as serene as before. But everyone seems to have nothing to do with it.
In the meantime, another problem arises. The town hall of La Teste-de-Buch, a town largely devastated by the fires of last year, has already announced that it will give up its fireworks for the next summer season. These will be replaced by “laser and sound” shows or even drone-based shows. A competition that angers Frédérique, who is not ready to convert: “We specialize in fireworks and Toros de Fuego, drones are not the same job. And then, you have to say that people love fireworks. More optimistic Eric assures him that “the contracts are there for next summer”. The expert wants to believe in it like his clients: “Now we will see if a decree is issued or not and under what conditions. »