Speaker Spotlight: Tara McManus
TEDxBushwick Speaker Spotlights provides an inside look into each of the 10 incredible speakers that will be featured at the official TEDxBushwick: Collaborative Creation event on March 26th!
Tara McManus is a professional fire-eater and first FDNY licensed Fire Producer. She is the Co-founder of The Floasis, a community fire and flow arts center where she and other instructors and performers teach and rehearse. She is also the owner and Designer of 3rd Earth Fireproof, a line of flame resistant clothing and accessories for fire performers.
Here’s our Q&A with speaker Tara McManus:
What first got you interested in fire performance?
I had seen fire performance at parties before and thought it was cool, but I didn't feel the draw to do it myself until I saw a group of fire spinners at a festival spinning fire as a group of friends then it really appealed to me.
How have you pioneered fire safety in this realm of performance?
I worked with the Explosives Unit and Flambeaux fire to create a licensing system for fire performers. We came up with a 40+ page booklet of safety material based on guidelines from NAFAA and Flow Arts Institute Safety Project. I am a board member for both organizations and I currently have the most fire performance safety credentials in the United States. When the FDNY released the E-28 (fire producer) and E-29 (fire performer) licenses, I was issued the very first E-28 license. In order to get the license, a performer must take an approved safety course, there are two approved courses, one of which I teach at The Floasis.
I have taught roughly 100 performers since December and about 30 people have gotten their licenses since January. In addition to the licensing program, I worked with the FDNY on getting a full year open-flame permit for The Floasis, a permit of this kind has never existed before because usually ongoing permits are for the exact same show and its renewed monthly. The permit for The Floasis allows or any type of fire performance, rehearsals, and experimentation and allows for unlicensed performers to learn safely.
When did you realize you had an idea that was worth sharing?
I had to hold my breath for a while, because leaking info about what was happening at the FDNY could have jeopardized my work. I was contacted about TEDx a week before The Floasis was approved and was confirmed just as the license was released. I have been excited about telling this story but I had to keep it under my hat until January.
What do you think is the importance of creatively collaborating in our lives?
Collaborating with others adds legitimacy to your cause. I used the work, research, and credibility of other organizations to create a title for myself that didn't exist before. “Fire performance safety specialist” didn't exist and the information out there was limited so I became a part of the organizations to help make it a movement. Flambeaux walked me into the FDNY headquarters, he didn't have the credentials I have but he has 20+ years of experience with the FDNY and so his recommendation is golden.
The House of Yes was my project to find out how to make The Floasis totally compliant. When I made a system for House of Yes, I did the same for The Floasis. That was all funded by Kickstarter and managed by the operations manager of The Floasis, Lydia Brooks, which is just another title we came up with together to make ourselves legit.
What was the last thing you've created?
I am so excited about this event--I am building flaming props, producing special effects, helping to write the script, and playing one of the lead rolls. I have used every one of my skills to make this show happen!
There is also a show coming up at House of Yes April 20th and April 21st called "The Floasis Presents: Fire Within."
Who/what did you collaborate with to create this?
The performances revolve around a 7 piece band, the two singers in the band wrote the music and the script, and we spent many days and nights planning, writing and rehearsing together. It’s at The House of Yes and we rehearse at The Floasis. The Floasis presents: Fire Within show is a showcase of our community members.
Why do you love Bushwick?
We opened The Floasis here 5 years ago because it was cheap, other artists lived here, and I knew we could get away with doing illegal things. Now it has become the epicenter for my art, which is now legal! Fire performers have been moving to Bushwick to be able to attend more classes and spin jams every Wednesday. Other venues like The House of Yes, The Muse, and Bushwick Bizarre are all right here. I can walk to most of my gigs.
What do you wish more people knew about Bushwick?
That at its roots, this is still home to many families that have recently immigrated here. Most young people coming to Bushwick are also not originally from NYC so this is something they all have in common. Rather than debating who was here first, we all need to fight the rising costs of housing because it affects all of us.
