Masters de Feu 2017: the public invited to join the jury

On Friday, September 8, 2017, Masters de Feu opened a door rarely accessible to the general public: the jury room. On the occasion of the 2nd edition of the international pyrotechnic art competition, held at the Compiègne racecourse, five spectators could join the judges’ table and take part in evaluating the shows competing for the Silver Master. This initiative brought the audience’s perspective together with that of invited personalities, including Sandra Lou and Philippe Candeloro, for an evening designed as a major popular, artistic, and spectacular gathering.

Five spectators at the heart of the decision

The principle was simple, but especially rewarding for participants: interested spectators were invited to register on site as soon as they arrived at the racecourse. That evening, at 20:30, a draw would select the five people tasked with representing the public on the jury. These one-night jurors would then join the seven personalities already mobilized to decide between the competitors.

In a pyrotechnic competition, the jury does not merely admire the sky. It observes, compares, and ranks. It pays attention to rhythm, the structure of the show, the precision of the effects, the connection between music and pyrotechnic writing, as well as the overall emotion conveyed to the audience. To be a juror at Masters de Feu, even for one evening, is therefore to step behind the scenes of artistic judgment: the one that turns fireworks into a competitive work of art.

A score out of 20 to decide between the competing nations

The five public members selected by draw had the mission of scoring the three countries in competition. Scoring was out of 20 points, according to four criteria announced by the organizers. The goal was to determine the competitor set to win the Silver Master, the distinction attached to that edition of the competition.

This voting mechanism gives the event its full strength. Masters de Feu is not just a succession of luminous tableaux: it is built on a true competition logic. Each fireworks house presents a creation with its intentions, aesthetic choices, technical mastery, and ability to captivate a crowd gathered outdoors. By also including spectators on the jury, the event makes this assessment even more vivid. It reminds us that pyrotechnics are an art of precision, but also an art of reception: they are measured as much in the sky as in the faces turned upward toward it.

Sandra Lou and Philippe Candeloro among the jury personalities

The announcement highlighted the presence of Sandra Lou and Philippe Candeloro alongside the public jurors. Their participation helped give this 2nd edition a strong event dimension. A jury blending personalities and spectators created an interesting balance: on one side, media or artistic figures accustomed to major events; on the other, the public’s direct experience, sensitive to emotion, the clarity of the show, and the immediate impact of the pyrotechnic tableaux.

This dialogue between expertise, celebrity, and popular feeling fits Masters de Feu perfectly. The competition takes place in a spectacular setting, yet it is meant for everyone: families, enthusiasts, the curious, music lovers, and admirers of grand night shows. By inviting five spectators to take a seat on the jury, the organizers turned the evening into a participatory moment, where the audience was no longer merely watching, but also contributing to the outcome.

Prizes to extend the experience

The five spectators selected by draw did not leave with only the memory of having judged an international competition. Each was to receive two tickets to Parc Astérix, as well as two Gold Circle seats for the 2018 edition of Masters de Feu. The offer thus brought together two worlds of leisure and spectacle: on one side, the nocturnal thrill of a pyrotechnic competition; on the other, the family-friendly, immersive experience of the famous theme park.

The announcement notably mentioned Pégase Express, an attraction then promoted as a new experience to discover at Parc Astérix. For the winners, the prize therefore offered a double promise: enjoy a day at the Irreducible Park and return the following year to Masters de Feu in privileged conditions, in Gold Circle. This continuity is significant: the one-night juror also became a preferred guest for the next edition, extending the bond between the event and its most engaged spectators.

On-site registration at the official shop

Registration was scheduled for Friday, September 8, 2017, from 18:00 to 20:15, directly on site, at the official Masters de Feu shop. Since the draw was announced for 20:30, interested spectators had to come forward before the start of the evening and observe this exact time slot. This arrangement made it possible to identify candidates, draw up the participant list, and carry out the draw within a clear timeframe.

An important clarification accompanied the call for applications: taking part in the draw to become a jury member did not exempt participants from purchasing a ticket to access the event. In other words, registration for the scheme was reserved for spectators who were present or able to enter the site under the usual ticketing conditions. The chance to become a juror was an added experience, not free admission to the evening.

When the audience becomes a privileged witness to pyrotechnic art

With this initiative, Masters de Feu affirmed a powerful idea: a major pyrotechnic competition is built as much with the fireworks artists as with those who watch them. Inside the Compiègne racecourse, spectators were not simply attending spectacular launches; some could help recognize a performance, contribute to a ranking, and take part in the drama of the awards.

This approach gives the Silver Master a distinctive meaning. The prize is not merely a technical award granted from afar: it is part of an evening, an atmosphere, a meeting between creators coming to showcase their expertise and an audience gathered to experience a rare moment. The presence of jurors from the general public makes this connection even more tangible, bringing collective emotion into the decision-making process.

This article is now a look back at an announcement published in 2017. The details mentioned — date, times, draw, personalities present, and prizes announced — correspond to that specific edition of Masters de Feu. They bear witness to a moment in the competition’s history when the event invited its spectators to move, for one evening, from the grandstand to the jury table.