What I Wish Every Client Asked Before Hiring a Fire Performer
I have been performing fire since 2017. I have done corporate galas, weddings, music festivals, dive bar shows, and private lakehouse parties across Minnesota and beyond. Here is what I actually want you to know before you book anyone, including me.
Every few weeks I get an inquiry that starts with: We want fire at our event. How much?
And look, I get it. You saw something incredible at a festival, or a friend sent you a video, and now you want that energy at your thing. That is the right instinct. Fire performance is genuinely unlike anything else you can add to an event.
But price is like the fifth question you should be asking. The first four matter a lot more, especially here in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, where there are real permit requirements, real venue policies, and real safety stakes.
So here is the unfiltered version. What I would tell my own friends if they were booking a fire performer for the first time.
01
Ask for the insurance certificate before anything else.
Not "are you insured?" Actually ask them to send you the Certificate of Insurance. A real professional has one ready and sends it without hesitation.
In Minneapolis, most venues and corporate clients require a COI before they will even confirm a fire performance on their property. Some will ask to be listed as an additional insured on the policy. This is standard. It is not a big ask. If a performer acts weird about it or cannot produce one quickly, that tells you everything you need to know.
Hard truth: If they cannot show you a COI, you are absorbing all the liability. That is not a savings. That is a lawsuit waiting to happen at your event.
I carry professional liability insurance and can get you a COI well before your event date. That is baseline. It should be baseline for anyone you are considering.
02
Minneapolis has specific fire permit requirements. Know them before you book.
This one surprises a lot of people. You cannot just book a fire performer and show up, especially in the city of Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Indoor venues almost always require a fire permit from the Minneapolis Fire Department. Outdoor events at parks need a City of Minneapolis Special Event Permit, and if you are using Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board land, there is a separate permitting layer on top of that. St. Paul runs through the St. Paul Fire Marshal's office. Edina, Bloomington, Minnetonka — each has its own process.
I know the Twin Cities permit landscape and can guide you through what is typically needed. But here is the thing: the permit obligation legally falls on the event organizer, not the performer. So you need to know this going in, not the week before your event.
Timeline tip: Start the permit process at least three to four weeks out. Some Minneapolis jurisdictions require a site inspection before approval. Do not leave this until the last minute.
03
Ask what props they actually perform with and watch a video.
"Fire performer" covers an enormous range. Fire poi is nothing like fire eating. Fire fans are nothing like a double staff act. A leviwand show in a dark venue looks completely different from fire hooping outdoors at golden hour.
I perform with fire poi, fire fans, fire eating, single and double and triple hoops, double staffs, palm torches, juggling clubs and balls, leviwands, light whips, and dapostars — plus LED versions of most of those for indoor venues. I can mix and match based on your space, your crowd, and your vibe.
But whatever performer you are talking to: ask for a video of the specific act they would do at your event. Not a highlight reel. The actual act. What you see is what you are booking.
04
Indoor fire in Minneapolis is possible but it takes planning.
A lot of people assume fire is outdoors only. It is not. But indoor fire performance has real requirements that you need to work through before the day of the event:
Ceiling height: 14 feet minimum depending on the act
Ventilation: fuel fumes build up fast in enclosed spaces
Fire suppression coordination: the venue's system needs to know what is happening
Fire permit: almost always required for indoor open flame in Minneapolis
Venue approval: get it in writing, not just verbal confirmation
If your venue cannot do open flame — and a lot of Minneapolis hotel ballrooms and event centers have strict policies — LED performance is not a consolation prize. My LED show with poi, fans, hoops, leviwands, and light whips in a dark venue is genuinely spectacular. It is a completely different experience. No permits required.
05
Minnesota weather is a real factor. Get a contingency plan in writing.
I love performing in Minnesota. I also grew up knowing what a July thunderstorm at 7pm looks like when you had an 8pm outdoor show booked.
Before you sign anything for an outdoor event, agree on these things:
Wind threshold: what speed triggers a modification or cancellation
Rain plan: is there a covered backup space
LED swap option: can we move indoors with LED if fire is not safe
Rain date or refund policy: what happens if we have to cancel entirely
I have performed through a lot of Midwest summers. I will not put your guests at risk to make a show happen, and I will call it early if conditions are not safe. Make sure whoever you book has the same philosophy. And get it written into the contract.
06
A safety assistant is non-negotiable. Not optional.
I do not perform without a dedicated safety assistant. Period. That is someone whose only job during my set is watching for hazards, managing the perimeter, and being ready with the extinguisher. Not me. A separate person.
Every performance I do includes a wet towdown station, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, natural fiber clothing, a marked audience perimeter, and a pre-show site walkthrough. This is not extra. It is the baseline standard for anyone doing this professionally.
Ask directly: "Do you bring a dedicated safety assistant to every performance?" If the answer is no, or if they say they handle it themselves, that is a red flag.
07
Know what type of event you are booking for. It changes everything.
I perform at corporate galas, weddings, festivals, bar shows, private parties, and community events across Minneapolis, St. Paul, the suburbs, and Greater MN. The act I would bring to a Duluth festival is different from what I would do at a Bloomington corporate dinner.
The best booking conversations start with: here is my venue, here is my crowd, here is the vibe I am going for. From there I can tell you exactly what props make sense, what the space requirements are, whether fire or LED is the better call, and what the permit situation looks like.
Summer in Minnesota books fast. If you are planning a wedding or festival date, reach out six to eight weeks out at minimum — earlier for peak season weekends.
I have been doing this since 2017. I have performed at Shambhala, Cascade Equinox, Kindle Northwest Flow Festival, Great Lakes Flow Fest, and dozens of private and corporate events. I have also seen what happens when people book someone who was not ready for the responsibility that comes with this work.
Fire performance is incredible. It should be at more events. But it deserves to be done right — with the right permits, the right safety setup, and a performer who treats your event like it matters.
If you are planning something in the Twin Cities or anywhere in Minnesota, I would love to talk through what is possible.
About the Author
Damn Danielle
Minneapolis based fire and LED performer, flow arts instructor, and multi-prop entertainer performing since 2017. Available for corporate events, weddings, festivals, and nightlife shows across Minneapolis, St. Paul, the Twin Cities suburbs, and Greater Minnesota.
