Effects rider: what I bring and how I use it
For venues and promoters: equipment list with power ratings, electrical requirements and what I need from the venue.
This page is for venues and promoters. Before you agree to effects, you want to know exactly what comes on stage, how much power it draws and how it will be used. Everything is here.
In short
- The sparks come from cold spark machines, with no flame and no pyrotechnic materials.
- I operate everything myself, live from the desk, cued to specific songs. Nothing fires by accident.
- I have business liability insurance of PLN 500,000 (ERGO Hestia) that covers stage effects. Policy available on request.
- The equipment is my own, tested at more than a hundred shows with my band 4dziki and at festivals.
Equipment and power ratings
| Effect | Equipment | Qty | Power (manufacturer spec) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold sparks | VEVOR / BAGUO cold spark machines, DMX controlled, titanium granules, spark height 3 to 6 m | 4 | up to 700 W each |
| Smoke | ADJ Fog Fury Jett fog machines | 4 | 730 W each |
| Confetti and streamers | lightmaXX Cannon Shot FX FOUR electric launchers, 4 tubes each | 3 | 150 W each |
| Handheld confetti | confetti gun, 3 tubes | 1 | no power |
| CO2 | CO2 gun with 6 kg bottle | 1 | no power |
| Bubbles | smoke bubble machine with LED | 1 | 1000 W |
| Control | Firefog D192 DMX desk, OXO TW 512 wireless DMX link | set | negligible |
Total: approx. 7.2 kW with all machines running at once (4 × 700 W sparks + 4 × 730 W smoke + 1000 W bubbles + 3 × 150 W confetti launchers). The machines draw the most power while heating up before the show.
Power requirements
- 2 circuits of 230 V / 16 A near the stage: one for the 4 cold spark machines (approx. 2.8 kW), one for the 4 fog machines (approx. 2.9 kW).
- A third 230 V socket on a separate breaker for the bubble machine, 3 confetti launchers, the desk and the DMX link (approx. 1.5 kW).
- One 16 A circuit handles approx. 3.6 kW, so I never put sparks, smoke and bubbles on the same power strip.
- I bring my own extension cords and power strips. All I need from the venue is sockets on three different breakers.
How I use each effect
Cold sparks. The machine heats titanium granules and throws sparks upward, 3 to 6 metres high. I set the height to match the room. There is no flame and no explosion, and the sparks are much cooler than with pyrotechnics. I place the machines at the edge of the stage or on the sides, at a distance from the audience and from fabrics that I agree with the venue before the show. They run in short bursts for the choruses, not continuously.
Confetti and streamers. Launchers fired electrically from the desk at the peak moments of a song. One load is 12 tubes per show.
CO2. Short, targeted blasts of white cloud from a handheld gun. The cloud disappears within seconds.
Bubbles. The bubble machine releases smoke-filled bubbles lit by LEDs. Good for calmer moments and the band's entrance.
Smoke. The fog machines build the light on stage and never hide the band or the exits. I adjust the amount of smoke to the size of the room.
What I need from the venue
- Power: as above, 3 sockets of 230 V / 16 A near the stage, each on a different breaker.
- Space: the edge of the stage or the sides for the machines and launchers, plus a spot for the desk (can be next to the lighting engineer).
- Time: about an hour for setup and a short check before the band's soundcheck.
- Contact: one person from the venue to walk through the machine positions with me.
Contact
Questions about equipment, setup or documents: write to me or call: +48 692 711 426.