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Magicsquared Inner circle 1262 Posts |
I'm assistant directing a show at a theater here in NYC. The stage is about 20' X 15'. At some point they're going to want it to snow on stage. For the purposes of this show it doesn't matter if it "snows" for a long time or a short time, it doesn't have to look particularly "real," and it certainly doesn't have to actually melt. They'd like to keep it as inexpensive as possible too.
What, if any, options do I have here? Thanks for any help you can provide. |
ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
You can use the age-old technique of white confetti in paper cups strung along a string suspended above the stage. Jiggling the cups makes the snow fall.
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Soap powder, or get you some white plastic sheets and run them through a shredder.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Moth Regular user 109 Posts |
Second vote for the shredded plastic - recycles better than paper - and you can make drums fairly cheaply out of wire and luan, manual crank OR use the variant on the paper cups - the "snow bag" - cut some twin sheets in half, sew together, cut slits in the bottom, run a rope through, rig at the proscenium line, and shake when ready! All snow lives or dies by side light as well...IMHO...so have some!
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mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
I'd think the easiest method would be using white confetti paper in some sort of shaker over the stage. When ready for the snow, just start shaking the device and "let it snow."
Good luck. Mark. |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Use a hardwire cloth wire drum with confetti in it. A slow turning electric motor simply rotates the barrell and drops the confetti through the holes. Confetti? Use a cross cut paper shredder. For cleanup, use a leaf blower.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
Richard has the right idea: a hardware cloth drum on an axle, turned either by a motor or an endless rope. Hardware cloth is like chicken wire, but with smaller openings.
The old method used for umpteen years was a long piece of canvas held between two battens, the long way. The canvas had a number of holes cut in it. By moving one of the battens up and down, you shook the snow thru the holes. You can buy fake snow from theatrical suppliers or make your own.
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-17 21:32, hugmagic wrote: Man, I wish I had thought of that years ago. Can't tell you how long it took me with a push broom to clean up such messes.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Use a couple guys with bad dandruff and have them stand above you, audience, wherever...and have them scratch their heads.
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Dave Gerin New user New York/Daytona Beach 55 Posts |
You can get two large fans from Walmart or target and place them on the side of the stage so there angled over the stage. Then you drop white confetti over then and the fly about 20 feet in the air and go pretty far
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Steve Burton Loyal user 258 Posts |
How about three guys standing in the flies fanning it ala Chinese Snowstorm. The confetti is available at a number of magic dealers and if they stood reasonably close together you might be able to get a pretty wide effect.
Steve "All things being Equal, I'm having a Splenda day." |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
In the movies, crews used to use broken up corn flakes. I wonder if that would work on stage, instead of confetti.
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