An ‘experience’ event like Transmission is about more than just DJing. ITM’s Calanth catches up with their firebreathers to ask a few burning questions.
I began by asking firebreathers Kate, Alwryt, Chris and Loredanna what made made them want to breath fire and the answers were varied:
K: “When I saw someone else do it I was so impressed…. and I thought it would look good on my resume (in between cooking and reading).”
A: “I was already full of hot air, so thought it was the next logical step.”
C: As far back as I can remember I’ve always had a fascination with fire, but it’s now progressed from lighting toilet rolls and extinguishing them by flushing them down the toilet to breathing the fire from my mouth in front of 5000+ people at the last Transmission.”
L: “Money.”
Naturally I then wanted instructions, and Alwryt proved the most descriptive:
Step 1. Ensure you’re not soaked in flammable liquid (we’re breathing fire, not doing a Guy Fawkes impression).
Step 2. Ensure you have a flame source, preferably on the end of a stick so you don’t breathe fire on your hand.
Step 3. Put flammable liquid in mouth (do not swallow, I know it’s alcohol but it’s not worth how ill you feel).
Step 4. Spray out while holding flame in front of mouth.
NB: Kids, do not try this at home. We pretend we’re trained professionals!”
Kate learnt to breathe fire from a guy she bumped into at a dance party and she taught Chris, Alwryt acquired his logical procedures in a local wood fire pizza shop, while Loredanna learned in a carpark in Cabramatta.
When I asked what special skills were needed to breath fire the answers varied but I could see how each of them would help.
K: “You need to be comfortable with being so close to the fire and heat. And you need to be confidant in your ability.”
A: “Nerves of steel and no common sense.”
C: “Spitting & Imagination”
L: “A large lung capacity.”
What are they spitting up there?
Well Alwryt uses ”...a foul tasting concoction brewed by pygmies made from the volatile juices extracted from a particular flower found only in the deepest jungle of Brazil….” And the others all use Odourless Mineral Spirits (OMS). It is a bit like kerosene, but with less impurities & smell.
Next logical question: What would happen if you accidentally swallowed this stuff?
Universally ‘diarrhoeah’ was the consensus though only Al claimed to have tried it. Loredanna also warned that accidentally breathing some of it couls wind you up with Pneumonia or Pleurisy.
I asked each person to describe their worst accident and was pleasantly surprised.
K: “Since the last Transmission show my eyelashes on one eye are a bit shorter than the other. I have also had minor burns to lips, tongue, neck and arms.”
A: “Well, I don’t want to incriminate myself, but as a word of warning, that whole lighting your own farts trick can be quite dangerous after doing a show.”
C: “Haven’t got one.”
L: “I have been lucky, eyelashes have been my worst loss when someone opened the door and let in a gust of wind at the Greenwood. I have seen bad things though: chest hair on fire that leaves 3rd degree burns and Pleurisy that paralysed a friend’s arm when he woke up the next day, it landed him in hospital, he thought he was having a heart attack.”
Gig highlights ranged from the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sydney, the Foxtel Christmas party two years ago and Transmission.
And ambitions for future gigs ranged from breathing fire with the Prodigy in Spain, being the first fire-breather in space (regardless of the absence of oxygen), the first fire-breathing DJ to more Transmissions and public spectacles.
As for the pay Alwryt is available for roasted peanuts but the others all say the pay’s good ‘cause the work’s a little dangerous but more than anything the experience of performing is the ultimate pay.
So watch out for these people breathing fire at Transmission this Saturday the 15th for your amusement!
