A strobe can provide a spectacular onstage effect.

Picture a dark and spooky night expertly recreated onstage. Suddenly, lightning strikes, illuminating the entire tableau, followed by a blinding white flash and a puff of smoke that finally reveals…Dracula!

Such a dramatic entrance for everyone’s favorite vampire probably sounds like a technical nightmare to execute. In actuality, these splashy special effects can be produced through a simple strobe light and a flashpot. Even though operating such SFX equipment to great aesthetic advantage may be relatively easy to do, the possible safety hazards that exist when you’re dealing with strobes and flashpots must be taken very seriously. Shock, severe injury or even death could result if you don’t know what you’re doing or if you get lazy and careless.

The Skinny On Strobes
In essence, a strobe light is an electronic flash unit device. As a general rule, electronic flashes function by producing “pulses” or bursts of light at short intervals. Although such an effect may be as brief as a split second, the light produced is of an extremely high intensity and delivers maximum visual impact.

The frequency of a strobe light’s pulse can be controlled by pretiming its speed. Many units contain speed control mechanisms, so it’s easy to set your strobe to flash at a variety of intervals, from fast to slow. Strobe light units range in size from small to large, which means it’s easy to correspond their size with the size of the space you’re working in. As for power supply specifics, a small strobe, say to light a black box, could simply be plugged into an outlet. A larger strobe set-up for a big budget venue would, obviously, require more voltage. Also, quite conveniently, most strobes units can be set onstage, in a wing or operated from a nearby location such as the lighting booth.

Strobe Safety Guidelines
Even if you understand such functional basics, however, don’t assume you understand all of the essentials regarding this equipment, especially when it comes to the rules and regulations of safety. “It’s when people get overconfident that accidents are most likely to happen,” explains Zack Percell, owner of Z11 Pyro Supply in Rockford, Illinois. Percell is an experienced stage SFX technician and a full-time ATF certified manufacturer of SFX products.

The main risk factor involved when working with strobe light units is electrical shock. Such a danger can easily be prevented, but you’ve got to stay alert and pay attention. Whether you’ve worked with strobe lights in the past, or it’s your very first time incorporating the technique into a production, always observe the following safety tips to the letter, making sure your designer and crew have them down cold as well.

•Wear rubber-soled shoes or sneakers to work with the equipment.
•Many strobe device operators practice, and strongly advise, keeping one hand in your pocket whenever you’re near high-voltage or powered line-connected systems.
•Wear safety eyewear (such as goggles) when operating the equipment.
•Dry run cues with the power supply turned off as often as possible.
•There’s safety in numbers. Work with a team, not alone.
•To avoid conducting electricity, never wear metal near the equipment, such as metallic jewelry or belt buckles. Don’t allow a metal-based tool to be a conductor, either.
•Speaking of tools: Never, ever solder, repair or tinker with the equipment if you’re not expert in fixing it, especially if there’s live juice flowing through it.

Protect Your People
A lesser-known potential danger involving the use of strobe lights in a performance is the risk it poses to people who have epilepsy. Viewing the flash of a strobe can actually cause seizures in epilepsy sufferers. It’s an absolute must that you post highly visible warning signs outside the theater, so your patrons are aware there’s a strobe in the house before they even enter it. Be certain to include the same notice in your program and make a pre-show announcement as well.

Because every production’s needs are different, it’s best to consult an expert at a theatrical lighting or supply store when picking out equipment the first time around. It’s also more economical to rent rather than buy initially. At the right time, your dealer can advise you on the best equipment to purchase.

Fire Away Flashpots

The Puff Pot flashpot from Luna Tech

The results produced by a flashpot can really wow your crowd. Flashpot effects are most often used to literally blind your audience to an actor’s placing him or herself onstage or to a set change. You can also use isolated flash effects as an elaborate lighting design tool, as its element-of-surprise factor can be especially powerful.

The purpose of a flashpot is to create a bright flash, often accompanied by a flourish of smoke. The devices are actually cardboard pots, filled with lighting powder. A flashpot must be ignited each time a specific effect is to be produced. There are a number of different igniters one can use, depending upon the type of flashpot. A popular model is the Surefire, which works for flashpots that have standard plugs and cords. Flashpots can also be ignited through reusable devices, such as the Glo-Plug, or sparked by electric matches. Flashpots often employ handheld controls; some are battery-operated. The secret to pulling off a flashpot effect lies in the amount of flash powder used. You need a sufficient amount so the device will work, but employing too much can be dangerous.

“It is very important to use a professionally manufactured flashpot, not something homemade,” says Percell. “It is also very important to use a professionally manufactured control system. A system that is not properly made could potentially fire a device early or otherwise malfunction, leading to a number of hazards.” Below are Percell’s tips for flashpot safety:

•Your flashpot operator must be the person who sets it up and always has a clear line of sight from the control area to the flashpot(s). Also, the operator should never fire a flashpot if there’s any possibility someone could get hurt.
•There should be no smoking or open flame within 50 feet of a loaded flash pot. There should always be one to two fire extinguishers handy as well. Flame-proof all costumes, scenery and fabric.
•Secure your flashpots to the stage in positions where there is no possibility of bodily injury or property damage.
•Always make sure the performers know when and where a flashpot will be fired.

In A Flash
Flash powder presents numerous safety challenges on its own. Percell gives us the following advice in regard to its proper handling and use:

•Never combine flash powder with any other chemical that is not made specifically for that purpose. Sometimes, flash powder can be mixed with additives called Sparkle Additive or Micro Stars, but those are the only things that could be safe to use.
•Don’t mix different types of flash powder.
•Never mix a Binary Kit over carpet. You must avoid building up static electricity and avoid all high-static environments.
•Never put a foreign object in the bottle containing your flash powder.
•Don’t load your flashpot directly from the flash powder container. Measure your load in the container’s lid first, then put the lid’s load into the flashpot.
•Always make sure that the flashpot is disconnected from its power supply when loading the powder. If you’re using a 120-volt firing system, make sure your controller isn’t plugged into the power source.
•If your flash powder remains clumpy after mixing, never grind it with a sharp or blunt object. Instead, pour your intended load onto a plain piece of paper and squeeze the lumps out with your fingers.
•Never smoke while mixing or handling flash powder. Keep all open flame, including lit cigarettes, 50 feet away from flash powder.
•Don’t store remaining flash powder near the stage where flashpots are being used.
•Flush any leftover flash powder down the toilet.

Resources Alert!
Needless to say, if you’ve never attempted flashpot effects before, you’re going to need some hands-on guidance. Go straight to the pros. A reputable dealer is necessary to help you choose and operate the correct devices danger-free. No matter how small your budget might be, don’t cut corners when it comes to safety; conversely, if you’ve got a multimillion dollar facility, you’ve got a lot to lose, so play it safe.

Finally, when working with strobes and flashpots, allow lots of rehearsal time. Respect your SFX. A little razzle-dazzle can really spice up a show but, as Percell says, “none of it is worth it if someone gets hurt.”


Lisa Mulcahy is the author of the book Building The Successful Theater Company (Allworth Press). She’s written for Marie Claire, Glamour, Seventeen and The Chicago Tribune.