The CO wrote:BBadger wrote: Perhaps the number of dancers needs to be scaled back, to concentrate interest, or maybe spread out into different spokes for more "surface area"? The layout of the city changed over time, maybe the great circle needs a change-up as well.
Part of the reason conclave/great circle is there is to help provide an additional barrier between the audience and the massive pile of wood and pyro going off. Spokes would create a safety nightmare for all involved-conclave, rangers, ESD.
Thanks for that explanation of some of the other reasons behind the great circle, and I agree that spokes would be a logistical and safety nightmare. Large-scale choreography might still be an option, but it's not my performance or time so it's not my call.
The conclave generally performs for about 15-20 minutes. The waiting comes from two main things-the luminiforous procession, and the final pyro and fire safety checks. Conclaves are supposed to be in position (and stone-sober) at 7:00 PM on burn night. We then wait along with everyone else until we get the go signal. It's not us that causes delay in the burning of the man.
Not saying that it's the delay either, but, well, sometimes it seems that way to the casual observer. Maybe it's all part of having seen it more than once. It is pretty spectacular the first time, and from different views. Hell, it's cool anytime, but maybe not camp-out-the-half-day-at-Disneyland-cool after you've seen it up close. I also like how it extends the event some time, so it's not just arrive, fireworks, burn, go. Really, I haven't gotten sick of the performance, so I'll see what I think in a few years.