Fog machines.......

[capnsandwich]

I do know that if you're playing 5 hours in one night, a fog machine that's right next to where you're playing will cause your fingers to get sticky and you will have some sore fingers afterwards. I speak from experience. I should've had enough sense to point it a different direction.

 

[Foamy]

I do know that if you're playing 5 hours in one night, a fog machine that's right next to where you're playing will cause your fingers to get sticky and you will have some sore fingers afterwards. I speak from experience. I should've had enough sense to point it a different direction.

But, Cap'n.....
Did it at least look cool while it was working?

 

[capnsandwich]

But, Cap'n.....
Did it at least look cool while it was working?

Hellz yeah it did, if you're into the whole 80's metal god thing. Too bad we were playing reggae.

 

[bassmeknik]

Oxygen deprivation tends to do that to Ya .Regards
Sam

Last time I checked airplanes with internal combustion engines routinely fly through clouds and military planes used to hide in clouds whenever possible (before smart weapons) so I am pretty sure oxygen levels were safe. I essentially created a cloud inside the building. Not very dangerous but frustrating enough for the school officials to not hire us again and that was unfortunate. During the cloud we played a 20 minute version of Fleetwood Mac's Green Manalishi and several people were engaging in forbidden activities that the adults could not see due to the cloud...

Dropping larger quantities of dry ice into boiling water causes a thick cloud of water vapor.

 

[mindbass]

since i can't stand the smoke from these things i pull the plug before the gig (and then watch the sound/lightman's wild gesticulations as to why it isn't working)

 

[bassmeknik]

since i can't stand the smoke from these things i pull the plug before the gig (and then watch the sound/lightman's wild gesticulations as to why it isn't working)

I don't like the smell of fog juice either, sneaky but I might think of something like that.

 

[Hawkbone]

Last time I checked airplanes with internal combustion engines routinely fly through clouds and military planes used to hide in clouds whenever possible (before smart weapons) so I am pretty sure oxygen levels were safe. I essentially created a cloud inside the building. Not very dangerous but frustrating enough for the school officials to not hire us again and that was unfortunate. During the cloud we played a 20 minute version of Fleetwood Mac's Green Manalishi and several people were engaging in forbidden activities that the adults could not see due to the cloud...

Dropping larger quantities of dry ice into boiling water causes a thick cloud of water vapor.

The dry ice releases CO2 as well, so the fog is a mixture of CO2, air and water vapor. Enough CO2 and people will suffer oxygen deprivation or asphyxiation. That's how CO2 fire extinguishers work, they replace O2 with CO2 (CO2 is heavier than O2, so the O2 rises above the fire), depriving the fire of O2 fuel. replace fire with people and you see the potential for trouble.

 

[chaosMK]

Fog machines are going out of favor - they are too concentrated and they are for 80's bands.

I don't mind fog machines and prefer them if available.

Then again, this is a pic of me:

 

[BartmanPDX]

When overused they are. It's not supposed to be a huge cloud, just a faint mist in the air for the lights to hit. You have to have some slow moving fans to properly disperse it. Nobody should "perceive" the fog.

This, but it's called haze, and you use it to show the light beams. We bought an oil-based (not water based) haze (not fog!) machine, and it's very nice. It's the American DJ haze generator and it uses its own special fluid that is different from the regular water-based fog juice that 95% of the machines use. It leaves no residue, and it doesn't bother our finicky lead singer, who could not stand regular fog from a water-based unit. It doesn't take much to create the effect.

Really makes the lights pop, but it was expensive -- the oil-based haze machines cost $400 and up, and the juice is $40 per gallon but lasts for a really long time.

 

[AndyLES]

I do lighting/sound for bands in and around the NYC area, and haze is essential for making the lights, be they scanners, parcans, or LEDs, look good.

However....here's one thing no one has mentioned: ALL mist machines, including water based hazers, CAN and OFTEN WILL set off smoke alarms. Be sure to check with the venue before using. Usually, if the place has good ventilation near/by the stage, or heat sensors rather than particle sensors, you'll be okay.

But if you use the machine and the alarms DO go off, the club owner may try and sack you with the false alarm fine from the Fire department (which is quite expensive). Proceed with caution.

 

[makkE]

Had a fog machine blow right in my face this summer.
Here's an impression:

 

[c2thej2theizzo]

I do lighting/sound for bands in and around the NYC area, and haze is essential for making the lights, be they scanners, parcans, or LEDs, look good.

However....here's one thing no one has mentioned: ALL mist machines, including water based hazers, CAN and OFTEN WILL set off smoke alarms. Be sure to check with the venue before using. Usually, if the place has good ventilation near/by the stage, or heat sensors rather than particle sensors, you'll be okay.

But if you use the machine and the alarms DO go off, the club owner may try and sack you with the false alarm fine from the Fire department (which is quite expensive). Proceed with caution.

+1

 

[Munjibunga]

Hazers instantly double the effectiveness of your light show. It's just another tool in a lampies arsenal.

If the 'residue' of the fluid (it's 99.5% water anyway) was at all harmful to you or your lungs, the bottles would have to be plastered in health warnings by law. They aren't.

As a rule, dry ice makes a bed of smoke that clings to the floor, while smoke machines/hazers fill the room with, well, haze.

Still, if it ain't O2​ or N2​, I don't want it in my lungs. OK, maybe a little CO2​ would be OK.

 

[JaamE]

since i can't stand the smoke from these things i pull the plug before the gig (and then watch the sound/lightman's wild gesticulations as to why it isn't working)

It bothers my husbands asthma, as soon as that cloud rolls down he has to grab the inhaler :-(

 

[AtomicPunk]

We use one live. We have a fairly extensive light show and once I fired that thing up, the rest of the band loved it. Then our photographer gets the camera out and says "hit the fog". But loading it is a pain in the ASS...once that juice gets on your fingers, they will be sticky for a half hour, even after washing.
But yes, our sound guy cleans out all the amps and our drummer waxes his drums and comments that it is from the fog machine. Yes, he is insane. But he has a point.

 

[Ryan L.]

We use one, too. We have a lot invested in our LED lighting setup, and the fog machine really helps make everything stand out.

I have never had problems breathing from it at all, but my clothes do stink from it after a gig, and my gear has that faint fog juice aroma on it.........