We're down here on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
I'm pleased to be joined by Will Costs.
He is executive producer for Macy's Fourth of July fireworks.
Will, you got the party started up there on that closing bell podium with some fireworks here.
Thank you.
Yes, yes, thank you for having us.
Exciting day for us.
Always happy to welcome Macy's here, of course, for this tradition every single year.
Anything you can share with us today that Macy's is announcing.
As we approach the 4th of July, today is officially 50 days until our 50th Macy's Fourth of July fireworks, the nation's biggest fireworks show celebrating a fantastic anniversary.
We look forward to bringing the biggest and best show to New York City and the nation.
I can't believe it.
50 days away from America's 250th birthday.
What is happening in these next 5.
Days to get ready.
This is the official countdown to the big event.
We have our pyrotechnics almost, uh, sorted out.
We've got a couple of last minute things to do.
We've got some colors to to figure out.
Our music is coming together, but over the next couple of days we'll be getting our final score in place, our pyrotechnic designs in place.
We're excited about animating off the Brooklyn Bridge this year, Lower Manhattan, Lower East River, the West Side of Manhat.
And it's gonna be a really fantastic and exciting event for us.
So it sounds like there's not really a bad view, is that right?
There's not a bad view.
If you have eyes over lower Manhattan, you're gonna have the water over lower Manhattan, you're gonna have a fantastic view of the spectacle this year.
You're gonna be in the right place.
Are you in the control room when this all goes down?
How does this work?
I'm actually at a desk at command.
We call it command, and we count down 54321.
We hit a button and then for 25 minutes there's a fantastic show of pyrotechnics effects from the Brooklyn Bridge down to lower to lower edge of the waterfront in in Manhattan.
OK, so you mentioned there are still a few details that need to get ironed out like the colors, for instance.
What goes into color selection?
Is there any sort of science or artistry behind it?
There is actually a lot of science behind it, but our color stories, uh, for the most part are influenced by the music.
So when we, depending on where we are and the emotional journey of the score itself is how we'll start to select colors if we're in a patriotic mode and mood we'll be a little red, white, and blue.
If we're in a party mode, we might add a little extra color and a little extra sound and booms and crackles and bangs.
So it really is dictated by the emotional journey of the score which we take great pride in doing and have been doing for the last 50 years.
OK, so we got to get those eyes on lower Manhattan NYC expecting millions of tourists, visitors, viewers, you name it, right, people who are going to be here for the spectacular throughout the Fourth of July weekend.
What does this mean for Macy's?
We are, we've been a part of culture and a part of life's moments, big and small, for the last 50 years in fireworks.
We're celebrating our 100th parade this year.
Uh, we take great pride in being that, uh, emotional and personal vessel for a couple of hours on Thanksgiving morning or on the 4th of July evening where strangers, families, friends can come together and experience a little spectacle, a little surprise, a little.
Light and a little bit of community.
Any fun facts you can leave us with before we have to let you go, Will?
There's over 60 pyrotechnicians that are going to be working tirelessly around the clock on the 3rd to the 4th, getting our show prepared.
We've got a variety of performances that are going to be happening on our national broadcast from 8 to 10:00 p.m.
Fireworks should, uh, be starting promptly about 9:25. p.m. and we look forward to sharing this gift to New York City and America.
OK, 9:25 p.m.
I'm adding it in my calendar.
I got to make sure I have a good view, especially this year.
Will, always a pleasure.
Thank you for joining us here at the stock exchange.
Really appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
Happy Fourth.
Happy Fourth.
We're ready to go.
Yes, that's Will Coss.
He is executive producer for Macy's Fourth of July fireworks.
