COBRA-CON
Shows
Don't miss these displays!

Mark your calendars for the evenings of Friday and Saturday at COBRA-CON, where the sky will light up with dazzling firework displays. The schedule is packed with performances from leading pyrotechnic professionals—each ready to showcase their best work. Be sure to be there at 8:30 PM; you won't want to miss a single burst.

Friday, April 11

Show TimeTitle Details
8:35 PM - 8:40 PMNational Anthem Whitenight's Fireworks
8:40 PM - 8:45 PMBoot Camp Show 1
8:45 PM - 8:50 PMBoot Camp Show 2
8:50 PM - 8:55 PMBoot Camp Show 3
8:55 PM - 9:00 PMBoot Camp Show 4
9:00 PM - 9:05 PMBoot Camp Show 5
9:05 PM - 9:10 PMBoot Camp Show 6
9:10 PM - 9:15 PMBoot Camp Show 7
9:15 PM - 9:20 PMiShot Demo Spirit of 76
9:20 PM - 9:30 PMNCI Pyromusical Demo
9:30 PM - 9:40 AMFreedom First Fireworks Pyromusical Demo
9:40 PM - 9:55 PMPyro Competition - John Hanson
9:40 PM - 9:55 PMPyro Competition - Michael Karr
9:40 PM - 9:55 PMPyro Competition - Nathan Dexter
9:55 PM - 10:05 PMPyromusical by Tim Jameson IPC

Saturday, April 12

Show TimeTitle Details
8:25 PM - 8:30 PMNational Anthem by Dominator & RKM
8:40 PM - 8:45 PMBoot Camp Show 8
8:45 PM - 8:50 PMBoot Camp Show 9
8:50 PM - 8:55 PMBoot Camp Show 10
8:55 PM - 9:00 PMBoot Camp Show 11
9:00 PM - 9:05 PMBoot Camp Show 12
9:05 PM - 9:10 PMBoot Camp Show 13
9:10 PM - 9:15 PMBoot Camp Show 14
9:15 PM - 9:20 PMBoot Camp Show 15
9:20 PM - 9:30 PMPyromusical Demo Superior Fireworks
9:30 PM - 9:40 PMPyromusical by Chuangmei
9:40 PM - 9:50 PMPyromusical by Craigco
9:50 PM - 10:00 PMClosing show by RKM

Interviews

Donnie Toms and David Anglin

What inspired this show’s design?

Our inspiration for this show came from watching pyromusicals from various parts of the world.

What challenges did you face while designing the show?

We wanted the soundtrack to blend seamlessly, but it took us longer than anticipated to dial in the exact blend that we wanted.

How do you select the music and effects for your pyromusicals?

We spend countless hours researching music, and once we find the right songs, we then synchronize the music’s cadence with a pyrotechnic scene or a specific effect that we believe will complement the tempo. In this particular show, we made a conscious effort to create effects that perfectly matched specific sections of the music.

What’s your creative process when designing a display?

First and foremost, it’s crucial to have a music selection that you can listen to repeatedly without it ever becoming old. Once we had that sorted out and began scripting, we immediately dove into the process, adding effects to the timeline that aligned with the beats we wanted to emphasize.

Are there any special effects or unique elements in this show?

We’ve introduced several new elements to this year’s closing display that Cobra Con attendees haven’t seen at this event before. We plan to have flame machines, drones, and a new feature for Cobra Con 2025: we’ll be taking advantage of a lift.

What’s one thing you want the audience to take away from your display?

We want to convey that there are tasteful ways to embrace clichés.

Can you give us a sneak peek of the show theme?

Not Another Cliché
James Keomongkhon

What inspired this show’s design?

The challenge, the National Anthem is a staple at Pyro events across the country with many renditions. Some anthems are done simple and some are embellished to full capacity. My goal was to create a show with audio that has not been used before or used many times over, with pyro that respectfully delivers artistry and emotion that signifies dignity, gratitude, and patriotism.

What challenges did you face while designing the show?

Some of the items I will be using are newly released items to the market. Using Finale 3D at the moment there was no VDL’s created for the certain effect. Not being able to visually see or physically use the items beforehand is challenging in hopes that they will perform timely and visually from what I had in mind. Some other challenges are creating scenes and patterns that flow and articulate to the music, sounds, and desired sensations that I aim to achieve.

How do you select the music and effects for your pyromusicals?

Music selection can be tedious figuring out a song or theme you want to follow. In my case it was the anthem so I spent hours going down a rabbit hole of all of the different versions of the anthem looking for ones I haven’t heard before or haven’t seen done before. After narrowing it down to a handful of possibilities, I choose the one that personally provoked my emotions and feelings—this allowed me to script uninhibitedly. The effects, so, the challenge is to find some ornate effects and combinations of effects that will help translate the vision that I want to portray. The National Anthem already gives you some direction, as in using predominantly Red, White, and Blue items. Fortunately, I will be working with some new effects that will help highlight the beauty and expression of the music.

What’s your creative process when designing a display?

The creative process in sense can be infinite. There are a plethora of devices and effects that can be used in a display. The deciding factor sometimes is availability of products and effects that will determine what direction I want to take and how I can manipulate the effect to achieve my final vision. Sometimes I want to emulate the words in a song, a note or sound—using effects to keep up with the tempo or the beats per second. Sometimes there are effects that we see videos of that we are dying to see in person, and we challenge ourselves to recreate them. Timing also affects this process: how long do I have to script this project? What products are available? Can I get everything set up within the number of hours or days available on the shoot site? These elements will help decide how complex and how high I want to aim so I can realistically achieve my goal.

Are there any special effects or unique elements in this show?

A few new effects that have been rising in popularity—hopefully I can give a unique approach to the use of these items.

What’s one thing you want the audience to take away from your display?

Honor, Patriotism, Joy, and Astonishment.

Can you give us a sneak peek of the show theme?

America!!!
Nick Harvey

What can we expect from this year’s demo show?

WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING A SHOW USING OUR PRO LINE AND POSSIBLY A FEW ITEMS FROM OUR CONSUMER LINE. THIS MAY CHANGE IF ALL OF OUR PRO LINE PRODUCT DOESN’T ARRIVE IN TIME.

Are there any standout or brand-new products being featured?

ALL OF OUR PRO LINE PRODUCTS WILL BE FROM GLOBAL AND MIRACLE FIREWORKS. IT WILL BE OUR FIRST YEAR GOING FROM COMPOUND CAKES TO HAVING SINGLE SHOT COMETS/MINES/BREAKS AND SLICES.

What is the theme for your demo show?

IT’S A LITTLE EARLY AS WE ARE AWAITING TO SEE WHAT ARRIVES BEFORE COBRA-CON.

What effects or innovations are you most excited about this year?

PROBABLY THE BULK PRO LINE SHELLS WITH THE 1. DOUBLE BREAK WITH 1 COLOR/1 SALUTE. 2. GOLDEN CHAOS OR SWIMMING STARS EFFECT.

How do you balance showcasing individual products while still making the demo feel like a cohesive show?

WE PLAN ON JUST DOING A SHOW OF OUR AVAILABLE INVENTORY FOR OUR DEMO.
Brian Craig

What inspired this show’s design?

Inspiration? Well, other than a few shows I have done, I guess music is usually my main inspiration. E.g., I was scrolling through the “play similar songs” on my digital music app and I came across a song that I thought was really different but interesting. And I just said to myself, “I bet the attendees at CobraCon would like this!” Then I built the show around that.

What challenges did you face while designing the show?

Ha Ha, Cue count! Oh, and then there’s budget. And racks! And product availability! Honestly, these are things most show designers deal with. Truthfully though, I tend to consider logistics more than anything else. I only have a few people that are designated to help, so I try to make the setup as straightforward as possible. Because look, you could have the best show in the world, but if you don’t get it set up, then nobody’s gonna see it.

How do you select the music and effects for your pyromusicals?

I have a list I save songs to called "show ideas." When I am streaming a station on my favorite app, if a song comes on and I immediately see single shot runs, then it gets added to my list. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a certain genre either. As long as I am seeing fireworks when I listen to it, it’s added. As far as effects, I try to use what I have on hand and make it work.

What’s your creative process when designing a display?

I have done enough shows over the past years that I probably have one saved somewhere that fits the field layout. So I will take that show, save it as the current and go to changing out the songs. I then play the simulation with the new soundtrack and the old sims. That seems to kick in the creative juices. From that point I adjust the “scenes” to fit, add or subtract effects, and check to be sure I am on budget. And usually, I procrastinate till it gets to the point where I have to get it done. That seems to stem a lot of the overthinking I tend to do.

Are there any special effects or unique elements in this show?

CraigCo racks! Yeah, I know. A pretty shameless plug right there! But seriously, I go back to logistics. Being able to “pre-game” is a huge advantage when your time is limited or the amount of help is limited.

What’s one thing you want the audience to take away from your display?

Be fun, take a risk or two and try to make yourself different from the rest. Even if it's just one thing.

Can you give us a sneak peek of the show theme?

I struggle with this a little. I would have to say “different”.
Tim Jameson

What inspired this show’s design?

I wanted to do something that still had a "message" but wasn't our typical "message type show".

What challenges did you face while designing the show?

Still actively working on the design, but there's one thing that we really want to do, but still trying to figure out how to pull it off so that's a challenge. Moving product, gear, crew, etc. several states away is always a little bit of a challenge, but we've done it enough over the years that it's not too bad anymore.

How do you select the music and effects for your pyromusicals?

It starts with the music (they should call these MusicalPyros or something to be honest with you). If the client gives you some direction—whether it is the event itself or the type of crowd attending—it makes it a little easier because it gives you some kind of a path to follow. The toughest ones, but sometimes the most satisfying ones, are the ones where we have free reign on music, design, and everything else involved. I say it's the toughest because you have to find your own direction, message, etc. If that's the case, it usually ends up being something personal to me or whatever "mood" I'm experiencing at that time, haha.

What’s your creative process when designing a display?

Once the music is done, my typical process is to lay out all the Close Proximity/Frontage type items like comets, mines, gerbs, flames, etc. because I feel that is what "sets the mood" for the show. Then I'll move to the shells, and then finish up with any cakes I believe I need to "fill the gap" so to speak.

Are there any special effects or unique elements in this show?

Could be... to be determined whether we can figure a way to do something we really want to do haha.

What’s one thing you want the audience to take away from your display?

Just enjoy life.

Can you give us a sneak peek of the show theme?

This theme is all about enjoying the day. We do a lot of themes that focus on how to handle the struggles we all have in life, but thought this time we would do a show about those good days that come along and remind everyone to take advantage of those fleeting moments where everything is great—because at the end of the day, those are the memories that will carry us through the tough times.
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