Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: snow machines?

Author

Message

mattyjaco
Player
Player

Joined: 5/04/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Topic: snow machines?
Posted: 11/15/06 at 1:21am

For the show im directing (a christmas story) in the final scene and during curtain call, I thought it would be cool for a snowfall onto the audience. I have no idea how well these artificial snow machines work, basically i have about 35 feet of proscenium that i would like a nice even snowfall to come from. any idea how wide these units cover or how many i might need? something like this http://www.123dj.com/lighting/fog/americandj/snowflurry.html

IP Logged

TimW
Star
Star

Joined: 8/10/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 83

Posted: 11/16/06 at 8:29am

The ones I have worked with work great. You can get good coverage by adding a fan to help blow it around. One drawback to them (at least the one I used) is they are louder than you would think. If you will have music to mask the noise, I would rent one first to try it out. Your coverage will also depend greatly on how high you place it. Higher is better.

IP Logged

Gaafa
Celebrity

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:34pm

Looks like a great effect Matty!
However over the punters, it may be an idea to add some UV [black light] flouros in the house to bounce off the vapoured snow particles for a better visual effect.
I feel just shooting from the pro above the apron, on the beam light bar, would give the punters a better visual effect.
Seeing the pros arch is 35? wide, you might have to rig up a flexi elephant hose manifold duct, to distribute evenly.
There are duct hose inline fans available to assist the delivery.[used on air con duct systems]
Also as suggested fixed or even oscillating fans, even using the house sweep fans, if they are installed, will assist to swirl the snow particles around, before they evaporate.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP Logged

B-M-D
Celebrity

Joined: 11/03/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 346

Posted: 12/13/06 at 10:02am

Snow or anything falling from above on the audience?! Great effect but not sure I'd appreciate it as an audience member. No I take that back...I definitely would not appreciate that as an audience member.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

IP Logged

tblan
Lead
Lead

Joined: 8/10/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 36

Posted: 12/13/06 at 4:45pm

I was talking with one of the touring light designers that came through my theater a while back about fluid based snow, and he said that they always end up covering everything in a sticky goo and don't look that realisitc. I don't think the audience would be thrilled about that. Perhaps blowing plastic fake snow out with fans?

IP Logged

Nanette
Celebrity

Joined: 8/01/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 399

Posted: 12/13/06 at 6:22pm

I've never personally used a machine as such, but EPCOT uses them during their Candlelight Processional and it's really quite awesome. Perhaps someone knows a contact there?!

In a world of margarine, be butter!

IP Logged

Aimee
Celebrity

Joined: 8/31/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 156

Posted: 12/14/06 at 10:10pm

I've used snow machines. We just used one for a winter scene in a show.... God what a mess!

They do leave a nasty residue on things...like the floor and the lighting instruments. If you are aiming toward the audience....might not be a good thing. We mopped up the floor nightly and wiped the lights down after the show, more of a pain than anything.

BUT, the effect is awesome. We used two for roughly the same space and it filled the entire stage.

good luck!

Aimee

IP Logged

mikepatterson
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 8/22/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 12/14/06 at 10:36pm

We're using one for one short scene in Scrooge and Marley, it sounds like someone using an electric leafblower, the residue is a minor pain, and the fluid is $25 US per gallon.

I think the only reason we're still using it is that the president of the theater (also co-director of the show) bought it and can't admit to herself how bad it is.

On the other hand she also bought a follow spot and it's GREAT.

IP Logged

Joan54
Celebrity

Joined: 10/03/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 207

Posted: 12/15/06 at 8:37am

Hey Mike......Has anyone tried to build a baffle for the snow blower to cut down on the noise? We bang together temporary ones when ever we work on a job where there is no power and we have to run generators all day. Make sure that the blower has a gap between the bottom of it and the floor....like a piece of rigid foam or a rubber mat. Then build a rough box around the machine with plywood lined with foam insualtion...it doesn't make it sound proof but it does cut way down on the noise. Check that you aren't interferring with vents or pulleys or whatever...

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

IP Logged

mikepatterson
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 8/22/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 12/16/06 at 4:40pm

We've talked about it, but never have got around to doing it. Tomorrow is the last show so I doubt it will happen for this run... although after the show I might make a box for the next time...

IP Logged

Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
mattyjaco Player Joined: 5/04/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: snow machines? Posted: 11/15/06 at 1:21am
	For the show im directing (a christmas story) in the final scene and during curtain call, I thought it would be cool for a snowfall onto the audience. I have no idea how well these artificial snow machines work, basically i have about 35 feet of proscenium that i would like a nice even snowfall to come from. any idea how wide these units cover or how many i might need? something like this http://www.123dj.com/lighting/fog/americandj/snowflurry.html

	IP Logged

TimW Star Joined: 8/10/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 83	Posted: 11/16/06 at 8:29am
	The ones I have worked with work great. You can get good coverage by adding a fan to help blow it around. One drawback to them (at least the one I used) is they are louder than you would think. If you will have music to mask the noise, I would rent one first to try it out. Your coverage will also depend greatly on how high you place it. Higher is better.
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:34pm
	Looks like a great effect Matty! However over the punters, it may be an idea to add some UV [black light] flouros in the house to bounce off the vapoured snow particles for a better visual effect. I feel just shooting from the pro above the apron, on the beam light bar, would give the punters a better visual effect. Seeing the pros arch is 35? wide, you might have to rig up a flexi elephant hose manifold duct, to distribute evenly. There are duct hose inline fans available to assist the delivery.[used on air con duct systems] Also as suggested fixed or even oscillating fans, even using the house sweep fans, if they are installed, will assist to swirl the snow particles around, before they evaporate.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 12/13/06 at 10:02am
	Snow or anything falling from above on the audience?! Great effect but not sure I'd appreciate it as an audience member. No I take that back...I definitely would not appreciate that as an audience member.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
	IP Logged

tblan Lead Joined: 8/10/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Posted: 12/13/06 at 4:45pm
	I was talking with one of the touring light designers that came through my theater a while back about fluid based snow, and he said that they always end up covering everything in a sticky goo and don't look that realisitc. I don't think the audience would be thrilled about that. Perhaps blowing plastic fake snow out with fans?
	IP Logged

Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 12/13/06 at 6:22pm
	I've never personally used a machine as such, but EPCOT uses them during their Candlelight Processional and it's really quite awesome. Perhaps someone knows a contact there?!
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

Aimee Celebrity Joined: 8/31/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 12/14/06 at 10:10pm
	I've used snow machines. We just used one for a winter scene in a show.... God what a mess! They do leave a nasty residue on things...like the floor and the lighting instruments. If you are aiming toward the audience....might not be a good thing. We mopped up the floor nightly and wiped the lights down after the show, more of a pain than anything. BUT, the effect is awesome. We used two for roughly the same space and it filled the entire stage. good luck!
	Aimee
	IP Logged

mikepatterson Walk-On Joined: 8/22/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 12/14/06 at 10:36pm
	We're using one for one short scene in Scrooge and Marley, it sounds like someone using an electric leafblower, the residue is a minor pain, and the fluid is $25 US per gallon. I think the only reason we're still using it is that the president of the theater (also co-director of the show) bought it and can't admit to herself how bad it is. On the other hand she also bought a follow spot and it's GREAT.
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 12/15/06 at 8:37am
	Hey Mike......Has anyone tried to build a baffle for the snow blower to cut down on the noise? We bang together temporary ones when ever we work on a job where there is no power and we have to run generators all day. Make sure that the blower has a gap between the bottom of it and the floor....like a piece of rigid foam or a rubber mat. Then build a rough box around the machine with plywood lined with foam insualtion...it doesn't make it sound proof but it does cut way down on the noise. Check that you aren't interferring with vents or pulleys or whatever...
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

mikepatterson Walk-On Joined: 8/22/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 12/16/06 at 4:40pm
	We've talked about it, but never have got around to doing it. Tomorrow is the last show so I doubt it will happen for this run... although after the show I might make a box for the next time...
	IP Logged

Topic: snow machines?( Topic Closed)
	Page of 2 Next >>