Snow Machine Needed

[JTilling]

HI all.

 

 

I need to hire a snow machine for an indoor stage in febuary 2016 for about a week. I don't know much about these so looking for some advice. This is for a panto of Beauty and the Beast. There has been a suggestion of possibly hiring more than one so that the snow effect is not only over the stage but also over the crowd at the same time.

 

Also where is the best place to hire it from near Swindon or Oxford? How much would I be looking at for a week roughly.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ynot]

Define snow machine...

 

Snow blower - VERY noisy (vacuum cleaner on blow!) and residue can be a little slippy on the stage

 

Rotating snow dropper - like this one - much much quieter and gets a fairly even distribution of re-usable paper flakes - need a few to cover a stage.

 

Or for cheapness, make yourself a snow-bag in the old fashioned way.. (Tricky, but not impossible to do over the aditorium)

 

 

 

[themadhippy]

theirs also a rotary dropper,bit like the thing on the back of gritter lorry that might work over the auditorium

http://www.effectspecialist.com/imagesSP/0F0ACFA6-2B3E-FB41-53AE9BB4AE4C1B9E.JPG

[Ynot]

Ah yes - forgot those.

Still a fan as I recall, but not nearly as noisy as the vacuum blowers :)

[ninjadingle]

If you want the snow dropper - stage electrics is probably your best bet.

 

If you want snow blowers I have a contact in Swindon - PM me.

[Brian]

If you want the snow dropper - stage electrics is probably your best bet.

 

I'm not sure about 'best', they are a bet certainly but there are plenty of other companies with the right kit.

 

Give JustFX a call. They did the poppy drop in the Albert Hall last weekend and also have just about every variety of fetti drop machine you can think of as well as more traditional foam-based snow machines.

[JTilling]

Thanks All! Very Helpful indeed. Im thinking a snow dropper for above the stage and then possibly a snow blower type machine for over the audience.

 

Budget Permitting of course http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif !

 

Is there anything I need to be worried about like allergies etc to the snow mixture of is it all the same considerations I make when using smoke/haze etc etc.

[timsabre]

The wet foam snow can stain some fabrics. I'd be wary of putting it onto an unsuspecting audience in case you spoil mrs higinbotham's prize suede jacket.

[Paul O]

Out of interest what did you decide to use? I'm booked for White Christmas next November in an 1,100 seat theatre and although it's a long way off I'm already pondering the best methods to make it 'snow' on stage and in the auditorium.

[JTilling]

Still not decided yet. I've only just come back from a christmas break so Its time to get back on it today! http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif

 

 

 

Out of interest what did you decide to use? I'm booked for White Christmas next November in an 1,100 seat theatre and although it's a long way off I'm already pondering the best methods to make it 'snow' on stage and in the auditorium.

 

 

 

[MarkPAman]

I saw one of these in use recently, and was really quite impressed with the effect. It gives a light dusting, not a blizzard, and was only on for a minute or so, but it really did look like snow. Most of it seemed to fall within a radius of about 2m from the machine, which was enough for the scene it was used in.

 

 

 

http://www.effectspecialist.com/imagesSP/0F0ACFA6-2B3E-FB41-53AE9BB4AE4C1B9E.JPG

[Paul Turner]

CITC FX make a snow fluid that falls dry. IIRC is called super extra dry fluid. White light are the Dealers in the UK. they should be able to help.

[Jivemaster]

I discovered recently that some pyro suppliers have snowflake shape confetti in cannons for stage use. I'd seriously prefer anything paper based over liquid based especially near or over an audience. The claim for "hit by a paper snowflake" sounds less expensive than "designer coat stained by unknown fluid"

[tomwiffen]

The effect you might get from a confetti cannon might be a little bit short lived but something like this product from Magic FX - Swirl Fan - can give a more prolonged effect.

 

AC lighting in the UK are able to supply.

[LXbydesign]

A BIG plus for above.

 

I went out with a magic tour last year and we had about 4 swirl fans in the audience and 2 over stage for the snow effect. Worked a treat. Not noisy - complete coverage of venue - and when lit by the lights looked lovely.

 

Highly recommended