Hint's for an exceptional show!
The structure of a show should be a complementary blend of fireworks with the other elements of the presentation whether they are music, narration, sound effects, or non-pyrotechnic features. All to often designers forget how easy it is to overpower certain areas of a show with inappropriate elements.
Keep in mind that your audience will be seeing this show probably for the first time; make it easy to follow and understand but at the same time not so predictable that it becomes boring.
Try watching a few of your favorite movies to understand how a soundtrack works in relation to the visual elements. With the sound turned off it should be immediately apparent how vital the sound is yet we go to a movie to SEE a movie not LISTEN to it.
Vocal music can easily overpower fireworks so be careful if and when you decide to use it, especially popular or well-known selections.
Don’t crowd your shooting area. Keep in mind problems with smoke dissipation and effects overlapping whether in the sky or on the ground.
Double check your set up carefully before firing, elements shot out of place or in the wrong direction become very obvious during a show.
Think in terms of how a magician uses “misdirection”. How can you sneak effects into the air without the audience realizing it until the moment you need it. Shell lift noise and flash by necessity will always precede the actual display of the item by several seconds. How do you deal with it? In most cases it will be a distraction that needs to be hidden if possible but can it be turned into a feature?
Use dark sky (and “dark” audio) to create contrast and variety.
Be aware that the fireworks make noise themselves, don’t ignore the range of sounds available to you. In some cases the sound is impossible to obtain in any other way.
Don’t assume that things like lift or break charges that precede or lag behind the visual will not be noticed, or that flash breaks on inserts in cakes with somehow not distract from your charcoal willow effects. Keep in mind all these “little” annoying things can work against you to prevent a good show from being a great show.