Fun
FAQs & Helpful Hints
Working
With Gerb Effects
Often
called a "spark fountain," a gerb effect produces a jet
of sparks that can shoot anywhere from six to twenty feet into the
air and last up to twenty seconds or more. The fallout from most
gerbs is cold, which means that they can safely be used near actors
and scenery. This property has made gerbs a very popular effect
for rock bands who often mount them above the front of the stage
to create a "waterfall" of sparks. Gerbs are also hugely
popular with professional wrestlers, who use them to make their
entrances to the ring more dramatic. This week, I'd like to look
at how to use gerbs to create a great-looking, safe effect for your
next production.
When selecting a gerb, there are three variables that you will have
to address: height, duration and color. The product descriptions
for all of our gerbs will specify how tall the effect is, how long
it lasts and, if applicable, what color choices are available. To
choose the appropriate height for your effect, consider the space
in which it will be used. If you're in a club or restaurant with
eight-foot ceilings, you'll want to stick with one of the smaller
effects, while the larger fountains could be used at an outdoor
show, or in a large theater.
If you'll be using the gerb in very close proximity to a performer
or audience member (in a tabletop centerpiece, for example) you
should probably consider using an Ice Fountain. The Ice Fountain
produces a spark fountain that is much smaller than a typical gerb
-- around 12 - 18 inches -- and burns at a much cooler temperature.
While we advise against the practice, some performers have been
known to hold an Ice Fountain in their hand while it burns, and
we've no knowledge of any unusual problems resulting from such use.
When deciding on the duration of the effect, consider both how you
want the effect to look and when in the show it takes place. If
you are using your gerb indoors, in the beginning or middle of your
event, you'll want to use the shortest duration you can get away
with. This reason for this is simple: the longer a gerb burns, the
more smoke it creates, and your audience doesn't want to sit in
a room full of smoke. If you really want to use that 20 second gerb,
use it at the end of the show so that the audience can quickly get
out of the smoke.
Depending upon the type of gerb that you choose, you may or may
not have a choice of colors. As a rule, all gerbs by all manufacturers
are available in silver, but other colors may be available for specific
gerbs. For example, the ProStage II gerb by LeMaitre is only available
in silver, while the Ice Fountain can be had in silver, red, green
or gold. The color you choose is really just a matter of personal
taste as the color of the gerb doesn't noticeably change its performance.
But if you simply must have a gerb in gold (or red, or green) be
aware that it will limit your selection.
Even though gerbs are one of the safer pyrotechnics, it never hurts
to use some common sense when setting up your effects. First, you
should never place any pyrotechnic so that it's right next to or
pointed directly at a piece of scenery, as this can cause scorching
or, in extreme cases, start a fire. Allow at least a foot or two
of clear space around the gerb and make sure that the spray won't
hit any nearby curtains or scenery. You'll also want to provide
a clear line-of-sight from the operator to the effect. The operator
makes the final call on whether or not it's safe to fire the effect,
so make sure your effects operator is someone whose judgment you
trust!
*********************************************
Theatre Effects Customer Service Department
service@theatrefx.com
www.theatrefx.com
Theatre
Effects, 11707 Chesterdale Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45246
Phone: 1-800-791-7646 or 513-772-7646 Fax: 513-772-3579
*********************************************
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