Lighting the torch (Hothead) and the shocky poppy glass. I jumped and squeaked a lot!
For a long time now I don't care about the "pops", I just stick a rod in the flame and squint my eyes a little. LOL
I rarely wave the tip of the rod in and out of the flame to heat slowly unless it's expensive glass that I don't want in the form of frit all over my work space.