Bubble Machine at Wedding = Slippery Floors

I put my Bubble Machine on the floor beside the stage and have it shoot out onto the dance floor for the first dance.

However, everytime I use it, it leaves the floor very slippery and I'm afraid of people falling.

How can I prevent this? What am I doing wrong? Is my setup wrong?

Best advice.... no bubble machines indoors. You are begging to be sued.


You put bubbles on the dance floor and wonder why it is slippery?

I put my Bubble Machine on the floor beside the stage and have it shoot out onto the dance floor for the first dance.

However, everytime I use it, it leaves the floor very slippery and I'm afraid of people falling.

How can I prevent this? What am I doing wrong? Is my setup wrong?

I don't own one but I believe that is an inherant problem with using them expecially on non-capeted flooring.... Personally I wouldn't risk it.... all I need is some geriactrics to fall and crack a hip sue me and take all I have...

You are doing nothing wrong (per say) with your setup or equipment. You just need to know that bubble juice is essentially dish soap. Would you put dish soap in a spray bottle and start spraying it over a polished wooden/tile dance floor? That's basically what you are doing. The only time bubble machines are a good idea indoors (besides when you have carpeted floors) is when the dance floor is so packed that the bubbles never reach the floor...like in a club.

As an aside, Abbey, hopefully you are informing your clients that you are going to bubble that first dance, right?

Try incorporating the bubble machine into either a send off or a finale for a ceremony instead. Outdoors only! :sqbiggrin:

Rick

I use to do this bit where I'd get the Bride and Groom in a circle of guests. I'd pass out the little bottles of bubbles to anyone in the circle. The couple would dance in the center to Don Ho Tiny Bubbles. I'd walk around and pass out leis to the women. The photographers were able to get great pictures.

Alas, no more tiny bubbles. Juice all over the floor, people slipping, etc. None of the venues around here will allow bubbles anymore. I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

Funny, of course, that Chuck, Rick and myself all chime in on a thread with "bubble" in the title.

Funny, of course, that Chuck, Rick and myself all chime in on a thread with "bubble" in the title.

cuz we know the inherent problems.... :sqbiggrin:

In my area most places ban bubble & fog machines. They won't even let you bring them in.
Bring towels!

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread - Bubbles stain dresses.

I ALWAYS mention this in my meetings with my couples. You would be amazed at the look of horror on the bride to be's face when she hears this. Then when she asks if it's really true (because they have just plunked down a chunk of change for those little bubble favors), I pull out a magazine clipping that was authored by a seamstress on wedding dresses. That normally stops them in their tracks.

As for the thread author's question - Listen to your fellow jocks here - I have a bubble machine too - but if it's used, it's only outdoors - and not at wedding receptions.

No bubbles indoors, and NEVER on wooden floors.

I hate my bubble machine... Very messy... :monkeymad:

We had one inside at the wedding, Kids loved it, and it was put over top the carpeted area... Just dont run it all the time.... Cycle it....

We had one inside at the wedding, Kids loved it, and it was put over top the carpeted area... Just dont run it all the time.... Cycle it....

Sorry... bad advice. Just not a good idea at all with a wedding on slippery floors.

Bubbles stain dressesWhere were you when Bill needed an excuse?

What I would suggest is, those of you who carry liability insurance ask your carrier what they think about bubble machines inside. After all they are the ones who will be protecting your assets should something happen. Your insurance company is a great resource. After all you pay them all that money and never talk to them.

If you don't have insurance and use bubble machines inside you are at a much greater risk. You should consider insurance, it's the best piece of mind I ever bought.

They might cover you, they might not, but no matter how you slice it, bubbles + floors that get made slippery by bubbles are not a good thing.

I don't buy insurance to test out the waters so I can see if I make bad choices.

I guess I should have been more specific about the insurance. I would doubt very much on a regular policy that the insurance co. would cover you. With added liability coverage I'm sure they would. Any company adding liability to their service should contact their agent before using anything above what your general service is.

A client may request a bubble machine. The venue may allow it. That doesn't eliminate you from any liability that may happen. If it's not part of your regular service but you are considering using it, it's just a good suggestion to check with your carrier first.

I've seen bubble machines put on a second floor so that the bubbles cascade over the railing. But the bubbles either land on a carpeted area or are dispersed enough not to create a problem. Some clients can be very pushy about getting what they want. If it's a bubble machine, confetti, etc they will have it. Let them get it from somewhere else. I wouldn't use one indoors either, not without protecting myself first.

Bubbles are a nice effect if you're Lawrence Welk. :)

They do indeed make a slippery mess on hard floors. And it doesn't take long for that wet, slippery film to accumulate.

Shirl and I did a wedding reception at a rented hall a few years back where someone had placed one of those little Spencer's bubble machines just inside the entrance door. We didn't know it was there 'til we started loading in... and we were slipping and sliding around on the floor.

I went around behind the door and pulled the plug on the thing. We got all loaded in and were setting up when the early birds started to arrive. Someone... we didn't notice who... plugged the thing back in. The early birds were coming in, arms loaded with gifts, cookers full of food and other assorted sundries.

It was like watching the Three Stooges ~ they were coming in the door and sliding all over the place, dropping things and swearing etc. Some of those women were wearing high heels, too. Fortunately, no one fell.

The pups were loving it... they were running around and sliding across the floor, bumping into people who were coming and going through the door. What a mess.

My recommendation ~ keep that stuff outside. :)

Sorry... bad advice. Just not a good idea at all with a wedding on slippery floors.
I donno... Its what we did... Not my company... its the place I work for... The machine was fare away from the dance floor... In my opinion, its pointless.... The thing is a mess... The solution froze on use, (from the cold drive).... I mad the other guy worry about it.... If it my gigs, I dont offer it....

Where's the dead horse when you wanna beat something? I concur on the bubbles = bad news on wood floors!

Where's the dead horse when you wanna beat something? I concur on the bubbles = bad news on wood floors!


Noooo! Please don't bring back the horse.

Noooo! Please don't bring back the horse.

hehehe

Matt I see your showing your AZZ again.