No firetwirling at Summer Confest 2012 confirmed

Despite there being a long history of supervised firetwirling activities at Confest, recent developments have led to there being no firetwirling permitted at this summer’s event . The primary reason for this development has been a change of insurance policy. Further information has been kindly provided from one of our new DTE Directors, Amanda L. If you enjoy watching or performing firedancing at confest, the following will affect you.

What is permitted?

If you wish to twirl, practice is permitted however doing so with fire will not be permitted.
Amanda sums it up as: “There can be twirling, but no burning”
If you are keen on twirling at night, my suggestion would be that playing with the electronic or glow equipment will not breach the terms of DTE’s insurance.

Will this always be the case?

The constraint against firetwirling will be in effect for the duration of the current policy. In light of this, Amanda confirms that there will be an attempt next year to seek out a policy that with less exclusions, adding finally that "such a policy will be far more expensive, which would naturally lead to a hike in our ticket prices. So we need to consider everything carefully, and will be doing so prior to Easter 2012.
I'd like to thank the fire community in advance for their cooperation, as we all want ConFest to continue successfully, and are working hard to make this happen, for the fire community and all ConFesters.
A special thank you to you Bill, and to Michael Williams, for showing so much maturity and understanding in a difficult situation."

Can I bring my own insurance?

I have asked for the possibility of exemption for firetwirling under my own performers’ public liability insurance and was unable to obtain such an exemption. Amanda clarifies: “Our insurance prohibits fire-twirling full stop. Unfortunately we cannot get third party to cover it, and also, like other things on the policy, even if performers had their own insurance, it may result in our insurance rejecting any claim on the basis we have broken a condition on our policy.”
So if you were thinking about asking the same, please be advised that personal coverage will not suffice.
Ultimately, if we accept that fire twirling is not permitted for at least a while, it is up to each of us to comply with DTE’s wishes so that firetwirlers as a whole can be seen as co-operative and safety-conscious. This has the practical benefit of allowing us the best chance for this colourful art form to return to Confest

What Happens now?

For the latest information regarding firetwirling and other conditions at Easter Confest 2012, please visit the following Easter 2012 updates page: Easter Confest 2012