DougF
09-07-2007, 01:29 AM
This is something I did in a bar years ago, but given the right facility where you CAN use fog liberally this doesn't turn out too bad. It's a way to create some eerie foggy lightning and set a mood.
What you'll need are some variable rate Egg Strobes, that's some little strobes in a shape of an egg where the flash rate can be varied. How many you'll need depends on the amount of area you want to cover. You'll also need to make a wiring harness which is easy to do.
Egg Strobes have a screw in base like a standard light bulb. Your local Lowes or Home Depot has quick connect light sockets that can be attached to a length of lamp cord, and as many as you need to accommodate the egg strobes. Read the rest before you run out to buy parts!
Once you get the wiring built, here's where you'll have to improvise according to you own situation. Fasten the strobes from the ceiling in a random pattern, well spaced. So make sure you get enough wire to allow for this layout.
Once you have them installed, test them and make sure they fire. If they all are firing, next you want to adjust the timing to give the appearance of a SLOW NON-sequential Random firing. It's ok if a couple of them go off at once occasionally. Think of how lighting flashes when it's cloud to cloud BEFORE a big storm.
Now that you have the timing set you need to put something like a baffle to block a direct view of the strobe so you don't get the Flashbulb effect. Diffuse the strobe light back to the ceiling or adjacent wall, a diffusion gel would be great if you can get it. Something that is a non touching shield/shade. Is what we want.
Got all that done... now fire up the fog machine turn out the lights and liberally fog the room. Fire up the strobes, you should now have an effect very similar to that of high cloud to cloud lightning.
Now here's an idea to start the party, with the room dark start with Track #1 from Chiller by Erich Kunzel/Cincinnati Pops Orchestra on Telarc... It's called "Opening Sequence" it's a Sound effects sequence or Soundscape that tells a story. Turn on the strobe and let them sequence then turn them off with the flow of the track. If you have listened to the track you'll get a feel how it all fits together. At the exact climax, I believe it was a scream and a growl, BLAST into Thriller at the opening music stab and bring up the dance floor lights to display your brightest most brilliant and active display and get the party started.
When I did this at a bar I had to do this sequence twice that night because the patrons thought it was so cool and kept requesting a repeat. If you need to kill more time before Thriller, let the CD roll into cut #2 Overture from Phantom of the Opera then go into Thriller.
Maybe I had dumb luck with this, or maybe it was a stroke of genius but either way when I did this it worked and worked big.
So this is my Halloween idea for you. :sqbiggrin:
Let's hear your ideas!
What you'll need are some variable rate Egg Strobes, that's some little strobes in a shape of an egg where the flash rate can be varied. How many you'll need depends on the amount of area you want to cover. You'll also need to make a wiring harness which is easy to do.
Egg Strobes have a screw in base like a standard light bulb. Your local Lowes or Home Depot has quick connect light sockets that can be attached to a length of lamp cord, and as many as you need to accommodate the egg strobes. Read the rest before you run out to buy parts!
Once you get the wiring built, here's where you'll have to improvise according to you own situation. Fasten the strobes from the ceiling in a random pattern, well spaced. So make sure you get enough wire to allow for this layout.
Once you have them installed, test them and make sure they fire. If they all are firing, next you want to adjust the timing to give the appearance of a SLOW NON-sequential Random firing. It's ok if a couple of them go off at once occasionally. Think of how lighting flashes when it's cloud to cloud BEFORE a big storm.
Now that you have the timing set you need to put something like a baffle to block a direct view of the strobe so you don't get the Flashbulb effect. Diffuse the strobe light back to the ceiling or adjacent wall, a diffusion gel would be great if you can get it. Something that is a non touching shield/shade. Is what we want.
Got all that done... now fire up the fog machine turn out the lights and liberally fog the room. Fire up the strobes, you should now have an effect very similar to that of high cloud to cloud lightning.
Now here's an idea to start the party, with the room dark start with Track #1 from Chiller by Erich Kunzel/Cincinnati Pops Orchestra on Telarc... It's called "Opening Sequence" it's a Sound effects sequence or Soundscape that tells a story. Turn on the strobe and let them sequence then turn them off with the flow of the track. If you have listened to the track you'll get a feel how it all fits together. At the exact climax, I believe it was a scream and a growl, BLAST into Thriller at the opening music stab and bring up the dance floor lights to display your brightest most brilliant and active display and get the party started.
When I did this at a bar I had to do this sequence twice that night because the patrons thought it was so cool and kept requesting a repeat. If you need to kill more time before Thriller, let the CD roll into cut #2 Overture from Phantom of the Opera then go into Thriller.
Maybe I had dumb luck with this, or maybe it was a stroke of genius but either way when I did this it worked and worked big.
So this is my Halloween idea for you. :sqbiggrin:
Let's hear your ideas!