snow machines

[Dragonfly]

well it's christmas ...... does anyone use one?? are they frowned upon .... any suggestions as to a good one?? know very little about these but taken the kids to panto today and they had one going as we all left the theatre created a very christmassy magical feel to the end of a fantastic day.

your thoughts please.

[Penfold42]

your thoughts please.

PLI.......??:D :D :D

[Dragonfly]

thats a very short thought there mr. Tony Brown?

wonder where the theatre stood today having one throwing out a blizzard over the stairs as I was going down them on crutches with the other 400 odd people including elderly and children???

[Penfold42]

Now the serious thought....good idea....shame i've not got any christmas bookings.:(

Like the idea...now much did it throw out then?? and what was the effect like.....when i say that....was it foam??
If i know you...you must have liked it......you know my thoughts on bubble machines.....:sofa::)

[Dragonfly]

It just had that wow factor you know walked out and saw it and everyone was just in awe ...

as I said it just added a magical end to a magical day for all the kids.

It was a fine foam chucked out a fair bit Im thinking for a particular track only at the end of the night on my party nights for about the first 30 seconds only.

just to get a "wow"

[Penfold42]

OK....found this site (http://www.cybermarket.co.uk/ishop/923/shopscr40.html)....they look alright.....but as you said, you would like a referral....

I'll just sit and watch with interest....:)

[Sam]

OK....found this site (http://www.cybermarket.co.uk/ishop/923/shopscr40.html)....they look alright.....but as you said, you would like a referral....

I'll just sit and watch with interest....:)

well.. we have had a number in here at the theatre...
One, can't remember what it was, was a very expensive beast and looked amazing....

On the lower scale we had one of those 'silver' mini snow machine thingys that you linked to.... very intermitent and very very noisy.

But I havn't really had 'personal' experience of using them in a disco

[NeilP]

I was looking at these people (http://shop.snow-stars.com/default.asp?content_id=83&content_name=Snow%20Products)a couple of days ago!

[rob1963]

I think snow machines are :Rob James:

[Penfold42]

I think snow machines are :Rob James:

Why?? :)

[rob1963]

Why?? :)

I just think they are tacky, gimmicky & unnecessary...

...although still not quite as bad as bubble machines!

I wonder how many regulars here use a snow machine at all their December gigs?

Anyone?

:D

[TONYTIGER]

Re snow machines we have two in our hire dept very popular at this time of year for party,s and weddings ,they are foam based and used in moderation are fine very cheap to buy three hires and paid for also you sell a lot of fluid .

[A1DL]

From a risk assessment perspective, I would consider controlled use in a theatre environment, where customers will typically be seated, quite different from mobile disco use, where guests will (hopefully) be enjoying themselves on the dancefloor.

My experience of snow machines is nil, however I imagine the process of generating the "snow" is not dissimilar to that used by bubble machines, which as we all know, can leave a slippy residue on floors, and can permanently mark leather clothing.

My company's block PLI policy has a specific exclusion regarding the use of bubble machines, for the reasons given above, I'll have to check if snow machines are mentioned.....

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

My company's block PLI policy has a specific exclusion regarding the use of bubble machines, for the reasons given above,

Mine too, but I don't use them anyway.

[mr rusty]

totally OT, but I remember years ago down in Harwich where I lived, they had (have) a guy carnival where the local companies built floats, usually on the back of an artic (H&S didn't seem to exist then). One year one of them had a "snow machine" where the "snow" was little polystyrene balls. They fired this stuff all over the place, and years later you could still find little piles of polystyrene hidden away in the nooks and crannies along the roads! Happy days.

[bluishbob]

When i have seen them used in the past, it is just a fine foam, but its not wet as such. I don't see how it could cause a hazard, and we had loads of it all over the dance floor. (i wasn't djing though)

[Jiggles]

When the snow drys it drys in to a powder that can then be hoovered up

[Sam]

When i have seen them used in the past, it is just a fine foam, but its not wet as such. I don't see how it could cause a hazard, and we had loads of it all over the dance floor. (i wasn't djing though)

Agree with that.

The 'foam' from the machines we get in at the theatre are 'dry' and do not really cause a hazard... it's hard to explain.... but it certainly does NOT have the same affect as a bubble machine... IMHO.

[sleah]

When i have seen them used in the past, it is just a fine foam, but its not wet as such. I don't see how it could cause a hazard, and we had loads of it all over the dance floor. (i wasn't djing though)


When the snow drys it drys in to a powder that can then be hoovered up


Agree with that.

The 'foam' from the machines we get in at the theatre are 'dry' and do not really cause a hazard... it's hard to explain.... but it certainly does NOT have the same affect as a bubble machine... IMHO.

There are different methods of producing artificial snow.
The cheapo "disco" machines are just foam like a (oddly) foam machine used for (oddly) foam parties. They will leave a residue like a bubble machine.:(
Horribly expensive machines use a foam of sorts that, as mentioned, dries to a powder and doesn't leave a sticky residue.:)
I've heard of some that's supplied as a powder, you add water to make the snow, it then dries back to powder and I guess could be re-used:confused:

Then there's the old favourite - the bean bag polystyrene balls:D no sticky residue, but could be hazardous on a smooth floor, and will keep appearing until the day the venue is knocked down, then will probably re-appear in whatever replaces it!!!!!

There's probably other methods. The safest is going to be the expensive one's used by TV & theatre.

[Larry B Entertainment]

I saw a mini chauvet snow machine in my local disco store for £60. Was going to get one to see what they were like but then thought it would be the sort of thing i use once then never again.

[electricnite]

compensation claim waiting to happen. too dangerous !!!