The sound & the fire.

• Position: Final entry - Deloitte senior associate Richard Giedlin Interviewed - Interview

Deloitte senior associate Richard Giedlin, who is also CalCPA's 2015 co-YEP of the Year, is a self-starter in more ways than one. Not only is he a self-taught DJ, but he has taught himself the ancient art of fire dancing. We talk with him about both of his hobbies, as well as his decision to become a CPA.

How did you get into fire dancing?

The summer between high school and college, I was determined to learn something new. I watched YouTube videos and joined an online community that practiced swinging glow sticks on strings. Clearly the next step was to swing fire, and after some experience I felt good enough to upgrade to fire poi. Needless to say, my parents weren't happy at the time.

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What is fire dancing?

The art dates back decades and is not commonly practiced today. Maybe you've seen people do it at a Hawaiian luau, and I'm always critical of other people's abilities. Performers use fire poi, a combination of a leather handle and chain attached to a Kevlar wick. This wick is then dipped in kerosene and lit on fire. It's important to keep it moving at all times, otherwise you'll feel the flame. What's really cool is that you don't need music to perform; when you swing the fire, it creates a whooshing sound. You're creating music and performing at the same time--it's quite the thrill.

Any hot accidents while learning you care to share about?

I take safety very serious. Before lighting up, I'll check the chain and squeeze any excess kerosene out of the wick. Then, you need to spin the poi not lighted to get any extra you may have missed. This prevents lighted fuel from getting in places it shouldn't. Surprisingly, it takes 3-5 seconds for cotton to light on fire, which gives you plenty of time if do make contact. I carry a fire extinguisher for a spotter just in case.

How did you get into DJing?

Some of my friends who spun fire got the urge to DJ electronic dance music. It was a fad, and I learned easily since I knew music theory from my time playing alto saxophone. I didn't really DJ until I became a club promoter in college. The DJs we hired at events pushed me to move to vinyl if I wanted to spin at clubs, so I drove to Oxnard to buy my first set of turntables from a craigslist ad.

What sort of tracks do you spin?

Anything to get paid. It was a college side business that broke even. My favorite music to spin was '90s hip hop and R&B. When you're hired for a night, the first hour is dead and nobody wants to dance...