When Tedward LeCouteur is performing, he has no trouble ignoring his fears and trusting his instincts. But when it comes to expanding his business, that’s definitely not the case.

LeCouteur founded and runs Bearclaw Manufacturing from his fifth-floor apartment in a modest building steps away from the old Mann’s Chinese Theater in downtown Hollywood. Bearclaw is a one-man shop where LeCouteur designs and manufactures tools used by fire performers staffs, batons and swords that can be set afire and twirled around.

But with orders for his handmade products already piling up for 2006, LeCouteur faces an unavoidable dilemma.

“Business has hit a plateau. I need to hire a full-time employee to help me build the tools, but building the tools is my favorite part. I’m nervous about teaching someone all I’ve learned. In effect, I might be hiring and teaching my perfect competition down the road.”

Bearclaw’s main business is making products for fire performers and business has been good. LeCouteur designs, researches and hand makes items for his company’s catalogue of 280 different tools. Last year, he sold more than 1,000 pieces which amounted to more than $60,000 of revenue. All by himself. This year, he predicts business to eclipse $100,000 and he realizes that he can’t do it alone anymore.

“I’ve spent around 14 hours a day for the past five years making these products,” sighs the former computer programmer as he gathers various parts strewn across his workbench, which doubles as his coffee table. “I don’t even have time to do laundry, much less develop a business plan and explore new markets.”

According to LeCouteur, fire performers have been around for hundreds of years in communities like San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. But because of the Internet, the art form now is catching fire in smaller cities and even in rural areas.

Burning boost


A big reason for this explosion is the annual Burning Man event, held every summer in a remote part of the Nevada desert. According to Andie Grace, the communications director for the event, Burning Man is a celebration of expression and art through many mediums, but mostly fire. Last year, the 20-year-old event hosted more than 35,000 people, and among them were more than 1,000 fire performers many of whom use Bearclaw’s equipment.

“Fire performance art is at a crucial point now,” said Crimson Rose, the director of art management for Burning Man. “The art form is going to the next level and is being pushed to its limits. It’s making its way out of the underground and into mainstream America.”

As the popularity of fire handling heats up, safety is becoming a bigger issue.

“If it’s not safe, authorities won’t let it happen,” Rose said.

LeCouteur realized that early, and, in addition to starting Bearclaw, he also established and runs the North American Fire Artists Association (www.nafaa.org), an organization that promotes fire safety and hosts forums for artists to talk about safety issues. The site also outlines requirements for fire-performance permits in major cities. The Web site gives instructions on how to conform to local regulations, where and why a permit is needed and basic safety tips like how to safely store the fuel used in the shows.

“Playing with fire is dangerous, no doubt about it,” LeCouteur said, as he brushed over his singed, hairless forearms. “But I’ve laid the groundwork, and real progress has been made.”

But with progress comes more work. Now he spends most of his time just keeping up with orders.

“I used to spend a few hours a week researching and trying out new designs for the tools. But now I’m overwhelmed, and the competition is beginning to catch up with me.”

So LeCouteur has decided to hire his first full-time employee so he can dedicate more of his time developing products.

“I’m nervous about it, but it has to be done. I need more time to experiment and advance the Bearclaw brand.”

One product in development is a line of fireproof clothes that fire performers can wear as costumes. He has a material that can withstand 1,800 degrees without melting or igniting. The material feels like cotton.

“The appeal of fire and the excitement of running your own business are very similar it’s the danger element. Ignoring the fear and trusting your gut instinct is the only way to get over it. Hopefully, I won’t get burned.”