• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

smoke machine at shows

#2
Our band has one. I think they are cool but, I think you have to use them at the right moments. If you use them for every song, it looks like your over-using them. You almost have to use them in conjunction with your lights. Lights REALLY add to the effect. In fact, I'd say don't use your smoke machine unless you have some really good back lighting. :D See pic.
 
#3
tubajoe said:
...If you use them for every song, it looks like your over-using them....
Click to expand...

So verrrrry true!!!

I know a band who uses theirs for the entire opening set. First time I saw them, I thought maybe they were doing a Marlboro ad. The "novelty" wears thin quickly.

Personally, I like blacklights better.

P831970367.jpg
 
#4
Schwinn said:
People in my band want to get a smoke machine, but I think they're stupid. What do you think about it?
Click to expand...

what style of music are you guys playing ? it might not look too cool with a country western band ...
:D
actually , this reminded me of my 1983 raggae band . we were playing a patio gig in the middle of the winter , and we used a kerosene heater to keep ourselves warm . well , the heater malfunctioned and started spewing white smoke { and a really nasty smell } out into the
already small crowd !! cleared that place out in seconds , and nobody would come back out for the rest of the night :(

sorry for the hi-jack , but the memory just popped into my mind when i read the question ...
 
#5
Consider a HAZING machine instead. They put out an almost invisible mist, which just makes the lights look better, so you can see the beams. Much better to breathe, and most people don't even notice it and you get all the improvement to your light show that fog affords, with none of the heavy nonsense.

My opinion, if you're not playing heavy metal, thick fog looks ridiculous.
 
#7
the thing with smoke machines is people dont know how to use them, they thinks its a faucet(sp?)you turn it on when you want it, and turn it off when you dont want it,

the smoke machine needs like 20-30secs to "warm up" and once you take your foot off the button, the fog machine needs to cool down, (1-1:30 minuets)

the trick is to cues it up for the courus and stop right when it starts spitting out fog

other wise it turns into a subliminal malboro ad as stated previously
 
#8
Our lighting guys installed the smoke machine under the drum riser. They drilled 2" holes all around so the smoke would spread evenly around the stage. This gets rid of that big cloud of fog right where the machine is.
On the other hand, some club owners won't let you use fog machines. We have even set off the fire alarm once or twice when our guy leaned on the button too long. :D
 
#12
david meissner said:
what style of music are you guys playing ? it might not look too cool with a country western band ...
:D
actually , this reminded me of my 1983 raggae band . we were playing a patio gig in the middle of the winter , and we used a kerosene heater to keep ourselves warm . well , the heater malfunctioned and started spewing white smoke { and a really nasty smell } out into the
already small crowd !! cleared that place out in seconds , and nobody would come back out for the rest of the night :(

sorry for the hi-jack , but the memory just popped into my mind when i read the question ...
Click to expand...

We do covers ranging from goo goo dolls to metallica.

The one time I saw a band use smoke it was horrible - a thick cloud. That's why I'm against them.
 
#14
My band is thinking of using a fog machine with strobe lights. I think that would be a pretty fun effect, but like you guys have said, the novelty will wear thin very quickly. Also, i dont know who we will get to operate them. Anyway, i think fog is fun if its not over used. :hyper:



Another little story. :rolleyes: The NHS organization at my school makes a haunted house for elementary kids every year and we use a fog machine with all kinds of "spooky" lights. Anywho, there was a kid (who smokes a lot of pot and will do anything if you dare him) "helping out" with the set up. People dared him to take a hit off the fog machine and he did. Not just little puffs, but huge hits. And not just one...but like 7. :eek:
 
#18
The other vital piece of equipment with a hazer is a box fan! It helps spread the haze around evenly - which makes all the lights look good, not just the ones on the hazer side of the stage.
 
#20
tubajoe said:
I don't think I've ever played with a bubble machine befor. What is "fall downy?" Is that when you look at the bubbles and you fall down? :p
Click to expand...
I played showcase gig once and the band before us brought out a bubble machine for their final song. when we started playing, the stage was covered in soap. i usually move around a lot so i spent the entire gig trying not to fall down.

so as ralph wiggums (the simpsons) might say, "i was all fall downy".
:hyper:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back