Fog ( dry ice ) machines

[MoireBass]

Propylene glycol is a major component of antifreeze in auto coolants. And yes, it is one of the slipperiest substances in an auto shop.

Antifreeze is ethylene glycol, and is quite toxic. Different substance.

You also sometimes hear of CO2 injuring or killing people when someone throws dry ice into a swimming pool at parties. It displaces the oxygen at ground level and can end up asphyxiating the swimmers.

There was a club (in Germany?) that used dry ice as fog one night a couple of years ago and killed a bunch of their patrons.

 

[60bass]

Stage fog isn't dry ice. It's vaporized fog juice.

Nowadays yes, but back in the day it was dry ice, heated water, a 55 gal or larger drum and a blower motor. IMO that fog was better as it billowed and bloomed far better than fog juice. However, dry ice was a HUGE PITA to use. When we traveled with it the very first thing we had to get into the club was the 55 gallon drum that had a heater element built into it. Then we had to find a source close by to fill the drum with water and plug it in. Then we also needed a giant ice chest to keep the dry ice until we needed it. Then finding a place to even buy dry ice. Then also the fun of having to dump the drum after we were done and getting ready to load up for the next gig.

Like I said a PITA.

 

[Steve Dallman]

They use haze at our church occasionally. The crap triggers my asthma, and not a lot triggers my asthma. I know several people who have the same experience. I have problems for a day or two after exposure.

 

[Zooberwerx]

No firsthand experience with the hardware but they’ve been using micro-pelletized dry ice to “sand blast” in sensitive areas. It evaporates so there’s no abrasive residual grit, just the target product itself (paint, rust, corrosion, etc.).

Riis

 

[mdlewis]

I played a high end show at a state-sponsored theater in the EU which had a very advanced, modern AV system installed that also included a fog machine. The crew were top notch professionals paid for by the state and there were a lot of them, one for each of the many controllers and boards. We asked the crew to please not use the fog machine as our singer and our horn player strongly objected because it compromised their performance.

In the middle of the set we had a corny theatrical intro in which we would play three notes, wait an indeterminate amount of time and repeat. This required us to use sight cues as it was timed to the antics of the singer. Wouldn't you know it, but we play those three notes, and then bang, the entire stage fills with a very dense fog and we couldn't see each other. We had to wait until the fog dissipated and start over as the 'spell had been broken' and we couldn't stop laughing.

What we didn't realize is that the state-sponsored crew was paid in such a manner that if they didn't do any work they wouldn't receive any compensation for the show. And the guy that ran the fog machine was determined to get paid.

 

[DJ Bebop]

At my old Reggae shows we didn’t have to rely on fog machines for an effect.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

You knew the route. IIRC, truck drivers would hold-up outside the metro Boston area and hire taxis to assist navigating the city streets. Apparently, the Boston grid was designed by a spastic chimp with a drafting board.

Our local resource in SE Virginia is LifeNet...I've undergone some limited training...plus I own a Yeti beach cooler!

Riis

Some of the Boston grid was literally designed by cows. Truth.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

I am just not a fan of fog. It interferes with my breathing and too many times, the machine is set up behind my bass rig and just coats the interior with its effluent. I'm also not confident that it's good for microphones and many times I bring my mics (including condensers) to the gigs. But if the LD is sparse with it, it's OK. The real problem is that LD's don't seem to understand the word sparse.

 

[Pocket Dave]

At my old Reggae shows we didn’t have to rely on fog machines for an effect.

View attachment 5423268

View attachment 5423263

THIS was the principal fog component at every concert I attended in my misspent youth.

 

[DJ Bebop]

THIS was the principal fog component at every concert I attended in my misspent youth.

 

[5StringBlues]

Then finding a place to even buy dry ice.

IIRC, we used to get it at Baskin-Robbins ice cream stores.

 

[60bass]

IIRC, we used to get it at Baskin-Robbins ice cream stores.

We used to also get it from grocery stores too.

 

[slagheap]

Before my time. We had Clear Light and Window Pane. Not hazy at all.

Orange Wedge - VERY hazy!

 

[Captain Comet]

Antifreeze is ethylene glycol, and is quite toxic. Different substance.



There was a club (in Germany?) that used dry ice as fog one night a couple of years ago and killed a bunch of their patrons.

I stand corrected.... thanks!