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Smoke Machine

#27
[skyraider] said:
I'm playing in a band where the lighting crew always sets up near my side of the stage. And every time they have a smoke machine set up, usually just a foot or two from my foot. All though the gig they are blasting that thing and I'm hating it. The thing irritates my eyes and throat--I have a scratchy throat for days after the gig.

Nearly 20 years ago I quit smoking for my health. I am a pretty serious bicyclist, usually riding over 80 miles a week.

No way am I risking my lungs for a cool lighting effect in some crappy club. I've told them that I'm not going to be on the same side of the stage as the smoke machine anymore. If they want the effect then the guitar player and lead singer can have as much as they want.

Anyone else have this experience with smoke machines? I think this is the reason I don't see them very often with other bands.
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Our rider has nothing specific for lighting, other than NO FOG NO HAZE
 
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#28
Ask them to movie or switch to a haze machine. Haze is the less abrasive effect and it wouldn't take much cabling to move it. I don't understand bands and artist who want no haze or fog. Haze/fog to lighting is like reverb to sound. Sure you don't need it but it takes it up a level

But seriously. The type of industry your are in I don't think you can complain
 
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#29
I have never liked those machines.:vomit: They always made me feel crappy afterwards.:poop: They recently started using one in church for the worship service and I hate it. I pull the plug as soon as I can sneak over to it. It is right behind me. I don't see why a fogger machine is needed in church. Doesn't make any sense at all.:banghead: Those things pose a health hazard and maybe OSHA should be called in to protect the employees of the club. That should put an end to it. :rage:
 
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#30
[skyraider] said:
I'm playing in a band where the lighting crew always sets up near my side of the stage. And every time they have a smoke machine set up, usually just a foot or two from my foot. All though the gig they are blasting that thing and I'm hating it. The thing irritates my eyes and throat--I have a scratchy throat for days after the gig.

Nearly 20 years ago I quit smoking for my health. I am a pretty serious bicyclist, usually riding over 80 miles a week.

No way am I risking my lungs for a cool lighting effect in some crappy club. I've told them that I'm not going to be on the same side of the stage as the smoke machine anymore. If they want the effect then the guitar player and lead singer can have as much as they want.

Anyone else have this experience with smoke machines? I think this is the reason I don't see them very often with other bands.
Click to expand...
have switched off more smoke machines during gigs than i can remember, if they switch them back on i unplugged them, this is only if they are placed too close for comfort
 
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#34
hrodbert696 said:
When I was in high school, I acted in a play called "Steambath," set in - you guessed it - a steam bath. The whole freaking play. They ran the fog machine nonstop, and I came away from every performance with a horrid headache. The experience made me hate the things with a passion.
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You acted in "Steambath"? There was a TV or Movie version of that, which I LOVED! Forgot all about it. IIRC, pretty forward-thinking play for a high school to do.
 
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#40
[skyraider] said:
I'm playing in a band where the lighting crew always sets up near my side of the stage. And every time they have a smoke machine set up, usually just a foot or two from my foot. All though the gig they are blasting that thing and I'm hating it. The thing irritates my eyes and throat--I have a scratchy throat for days after the gig.

Nearly 20 years ago I quit smoking for my health. I am a pretty serious bicyclist, usually riding over 80 miles a week.

No way am I risking my lungs for a cool lighting effect in some crappy club. I've told them that I'm not going to be on the same side of the stage as the smoke machine anymore. If they want the effect then the guitar player and lead singer can have as much as they want.

Anyone else have this experience with smoke machines? I think this is the reason I don't see them very often with other bands.
Click to expand...

I doubt moving the machine to the other side of the stage will relieve your symptoms. There are certain hazers and hazer fluids that are less irritating, but they don't put out a heavy smoke effect. The idea is just to add enough shimmer in the atmosphere for the the moving lights to sparkle and cast edges. The machines and fluid are expensive and the lights have to be fairly powerful to create the desired effect.

When a band I managed started getting into lighting, I recommended they buy the Reel EFX DF-50 as they have a good reputation for creating a light sparkly haze that is not too harsh or irritating. You really don't even see the haze, but it really makes the light show pop. Reel EFX, Inc - ReelEFX.com

They wound up buying a couple of huge and expensive Chauvet Hazers and creating a really thick billowing fog that set off the fire alarm in a couple of places. Now before they use the Hazer they have to figure out how to turn off the smoke sensors.

I found the haze fairly irritating. It made my throat scratchy and gave me a headache. It also made it difficult for one of the vocalists to sing.
 

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