Displays for pubs and clubs: A half drunk pub or club audience is perhaps the most unforgiving you could ever meet. If you thought displaying for kids was bad, try a pub display. Anything too quiet will result in much audience derision, "boos", "hisses" and generally rather bad vibes. So, you need to put some noise in your display. A good tip is to keep your display shorter than the attention span of a pub audience that has been drinking ie. five minutes! Safety is paramount. In this kind of display ensure all those involved in the display are sober, that the danger area is clearly marked and that a marshal is appointed to crowd control.

Once in a lifetime events: The millennium has passed, so has the eclipse, but who knows what the next "big thing" will be. Once in a lifetime events demand once in a lifetime displays, and plenty of noise.

Guy Fawkes: You're excused for making noise on one night a year, Guy Fawkes. Make the most of it. For the other 364 days in the year you'll have to watch the noise level.

Big venues: Big open spaces and a high number of spectators means sound will have to travel further, so more noise is needed to ensure an impact.

Rockets: Almost every category three display rocket (and many garden ones) start with a bang, then the effect. Some of the larger ones are almost as loud as a maroon rocket, but are followed by a shell burst effect, so always throw a few of them in, especially at the end.

Cakes and candles: Any cake or candle that says "ejects bangs" will suffice, and you will normally even get a pretty effect too.

Screeches and crackles: You can still make a good point with noises other than bangs. Many cakes produce loud screeching or howling, and some produce funny sounds too, which always go down well with the crowd. Lidu's Assorted Reports is a very good screeching cake, Planet's Wild Bear produces one of the most spine-chilling howls we have heard, and Devco's Missile Of Star is a three tone screeching cake that won the 2003 Firework Award for "Funniest Firework". But there are many more, as our reviews will show. Fountains come in crackling versions too, if you want to add some "poke" to a garden display try Kimbolton's Glittering Gemstones which rotates crackles and screeches amongst the sparks.

We'll say it again, please advise your neighbours beforehand and check there are no nearby farms, kennels etc. This is particularly important for out of season displays.

Firework noise can travel a long way. Always make sure your venue is appropriate.

Ensure all firers are aware of the noise level you hope to attain and are prepared for it. Bear in mind many of the fast flash/bang cakes can be quite disorientating to firers immediately underneath. Consider ear defenders or ear plugs in addition to your other safety gear.

25 metres may not be enough for very big or loud fireworks. Consider pushing the audience further back.

Don't assume everyone loves noisy fireworks. Many people don't. All-out noise is not suitable for children, general displays, mixed audiences or "celebrations" like weddings. In cases like this, consider including quieter sections in the display and saving the noise for the end.

Pair up fireworks. Two look better than one, and you can make a quiet firework noisy by letting off a loud one at the same time. Or you can really go to town and let off a few noisy ones together!

Have a loud ending. A loud display needs an extra special ending. Use a few big and loud cakes (or several smaller ones) across the display area, supplemented by numerous loud rockets. Basically just light as much as you safely can, the more firers you have the better the effect. Be careful though, don't over stretch your firing capacity.

Keep it short and concentrated. All the firework display's impact is lost if gaps enter the display or if boredom sets in. Go for a maximum of fifteen minutes, but preferably much shorter. With fireworks it is a simple rule that if you halve the duration you will double the impact. Most professionals rarely exceed 5-10 mins unless they have a HUGE arsenal to back this up. If you're doing a smaller display and you're the only firer, use a smaller number of large cakes and candles so you have time to run to the other side of the display area and light the next one to avoid gaps. Shorter displays also reduce the risk of complaints.

Warn neighbours. That means people in earshot, not just next door. Call round or put a note through their door.

The best anti-complaint tip is to invite your neighbours to the display. In that way they can enjoy your fireworks too.

Ensure adequate advance publicity for large events so the community is aware fireworks will be used. This can also increase attendance!

Warn local police and fire stations so they are aware in case someone does call them.

Have your display as early as possible, preferably as soon as it is dark (summer) or early evening (winter). The exception being New Year.

Never, ever, have a "light one noisy firework then retire, have a joke and chat with your mates, then light another one..." style display where you take an hour to let off fireworks that should have been done in five minutes. That really will get on your neigbour's nerves.

Try and stick to the weekend (not Sunday unless it's Guy Fawkes).

Keep calm.

Acknowledge the fact that you are making a noise (you are).

If a neighbour has come from several streets away stress you did not realise they would be so noisy.

Assure them your display is for a reason (state the reason) and that it will be over soon.

Apologise for any disturbance caused and for not warning them first.

Ask them to stay and join in the party if they want to.

If you are letting off fireworks just for the fun of it, the point when someone complains is the point to stop!

Remember to warn/invite them next time!

Learn from the experience.