Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: to fire a cannon

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   Once again I am looking for some advice...In the battle scene of the Nutcracker we have a stage cannon that fires twice, the second time "hitting" the mouse king and knocking him over.  
In the past we have used a rather pathetic can of air with some rosen in a tube that a dancer fires off to create a small little puff of smoke at the point in the music where the cannons fire.  
We want something better.  I've done some research on confetti cannons which I personally think would be awesome but the director is worried about the mess making the marley being slippery for the dancers.  

Any suggestions on simulated smoke or something else fun to shoot out of a cannon?  
Much appreciated!

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Just a nut Walk-On Joined: 10/04/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: to fire a cannon Posted: 10/19/07 at 10:34am
	Once again I am looking for some advice...In the battle scene of the Nutcracker we have a stage cannon that fires twice, the second time "hitting" the mouse king and knocking him over. In the past we have used a rather pathetic can of air with some rosen in a tube that a dancer fires off to create a small little puff of smoke at the point in the music where the cannons fire. We want something better. I've done some research on confetti cannons which I personally think would be awesome but the director is worried about the mess making the marley being slippery for the dancers. Any suggestions on simulated smoke or something else fun to shoot out of a cannon? Much appreciated!

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Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 10/19/07 at 11:31am
	Anything on the dance mat will become a problem, including talc powder, as you would know - so the confetties is out. Hire the confetti cannon & incorporate it in the made up stage cannon, extending the barrel, using a cardboard carpet tube or plastic storm water pipe of similar diametre. {In the tube/pipe part of the barrel, fit a spring back disk to close it off near the barrel end} Besides running a hose from a smoke machine to fill the stage cannons barrel, when the action of firing the compressed air charge from the [confetteti] cannon, forces the end disk cap of the stage cannon to open, realeasing the smoke. I have no ideas at present?
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
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vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 10/19/07 at 12:38pm
	How about adding to your smoke with a little flash of light or simulated fire at the cannon mouth? A flash of light may be easiest. Trigger the light to flash onto the smoke in red. Or "Fire" can be simulated with silk scarves or similar. If you rigged the scarve to fire out and pull back with an elastic, you could make the effect a little better without messing up the floor.
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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
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Topic: to fire a cannon( Topic Closed)