Putting some sparkle into your career

After David Macklin sets off the fireworks display at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks this week, he'll return to more mundane tasks.

Like his company's plan to franchise fireworks operations.

No, he's not kidding.

Lantis Fireworks & Lasers, a Salt Lake City company with an office in Reno, figures that franchises are a way to deal with one of its most vexing problems.

The fireworks business traditionally has worked through informal apprenticeships in which old-timers pass their expertise along to younger people, explained Macklin, the company's western regional manager.

"Then when you teach someone everything you know, they go out and compete with you," he said.

With the franchise program, Lantis will provide the same training and support everything from regulations and supplier relationships to choreography of displays in exchange for a 6 percent royalty on revenues.

Macklin estimates the market for fireworks displays and their close relative, laserlight shows, totals about $600 million a year in the United States.

Much of that market goes up in smoke on a few hours on July 4.

Along with the show in Sparks, for example, Lantis Fireworks this week will handle displays at Virginia City and Hawthorne.

That means that Macklin prospects heavily during January, February and March, lining up Independence Day business.

A team of pyrotechnic designers takes it from there.

Lantis Fireworks each year imports at least seven 40-foot seagoing containers filled with pyrotechnics to meet its designers' visions.

As the company ramps up for its busiest day of the year, it has no trouble finding part-time workers to help with the holiday rush.

"A lot of people like to be involved with fireworks," Macklin said.

Part of the task of Lantis and other companies in the industry is widening the market beyond its reliance on Independence Day business.

Likely prospects? High school celebrations, sporting events and corporate festivities.

"It's really a matter of making good contacts in the entertainment industry," Macklin said.

"It's amazing how many events don't use fireworks that could use fireworks." The possibilities in Reno, Macklin said, are even greater than most places.

"Reno has a lot of potential with the casinos and all the special events," he said.

Now in his ninth year working fulltime in the industry, Macklin got his start like most in the industry under the wings of a family that specialized in the business in his native Australia.

Along with his sales and management duties, he keeps in hand in on the practical side, too.

The show at John Ascuaga's Nugget, which will involve the launch of fireworks from the hotel as well as the neighboring rail yard, will find him at the controls.