He finds time long. Jean-Laurent Roparz spends his days hanging on the phone or scrutinizing his emails. Based in Houilles (Yvelines), this professional in pyrotechnics, at the head of the JLR company since 2010, counts 12 cancellations of fireworks on July 14 everywhere in France.
“The last goes back to yesterday. Nobody is at work. During this period, I work with roughly 25 to 30 intermittent performers who are also at home waiting. I had blocked them but impossible to do otherwise, ”he mutters.
"For me, no money, it means no salary but expenses," he adds. I rent premises to store my chassis, my mortar batteries, my firing tables and my vehicles. You have to pay for all this. "
“The suppliers store what we ordered so they are the ones who took the financial risks with the cash advance. They will have to keep the products for a whole year and bring them out in 2021, "says Jean-Laurent, who took a long time to understand the current situation:" At the start of confinement, I was very confident. I thought we would be out of business by July 14. "
"National holiday represents 80 to 90% of our turnover"
What he also finds it difficult to accept is unequal treatment. “A priori, almost no one works, but Paris will do its own. It's a big budget of 700,000 euros but we know why the capital is entitled to it and not us. It is for broadcasting on television and there will be no audience because everything will be completed at the Champ-de-Mars level, ”he deplores.
In this sector linked to events, dominated by four “majors” who trust large events, around 300 artisans share the rest of the market.
Like Jean-Laurent Roparz, this is also the case for David Kuzmic, the boss of AS Productions, in Senlis (Oise). Usually, it ensures eighteen fires on July 13 and fifteen on July 14. This year, he will draw only one in Verberie, Monday evening, and two, Tuesday evening, in Montagny-Sainte-Félicité and Ermenonville. A blow.
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"The national holiday festivities represent 80 to 90% of our annual turnover," he says. If we didn't have weddings, it would be very complicated for us. Because all that is lost cannot be recovered. "
This year, David Kuzmic will only employ five people compared to 20 usually for his pyrotechnic shows. “We are working on a just-in-time basis. Orders to suppliers were only placed this weekend so as not to buy too many products that would be useless, "he adds.
If he prepares his shows with the same dynamic as in previous years, he is nonetheless worried about the future. “We don't know what will happen in the coming months. Will the activities linked to the Christmas period be maintained? "
Stéphane Ruet, a fireworks artist based in Saint-Leu-d'Esserent (Oise) counts on the postponements of fireworks. "Some municipalities plan to shift them to September or October," he explains.
Illuminations all summer to compensate for losses
As Jean-Laurent Roparz is not a novice, he sought to adapt. "We are diversifying by making light, sound, laser and animated Christmas stories", says the fireworks artist from Houilles.
Thus, its July 14 will not be synonymous with fireworks but "Lights on the city" evenings in Montigny-le-Bretonneux. In fact, JLR has joined forces with the town to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Arcades du Lac, these emblematic residences erected by the Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill.
They will be highlighted each evening until August 30 with three special evenings, July 12, 13 and 14, as well as August 28, 29 and 30, during which this enlightened stroll will be enhanced by a musical and dynamic soundtrack. about twenty minutes from 10:45 p.m.
