Hire our Haze & effects

Haze, smoke and atmosphere

Why haze matters

A beam of light is invisible unless there is something in the air for it to catch. A thin layer of haze does that: moving heads and beams become solid shafts of colour, lasers read across the room, and photographs taken from the back suddenly look like a gig rather than a village hall.

Haze, smoke or a hazer

• Haze is a fine, even mist that sits in the air and makes beams visible without fogging the room.
• Smoke is thicker and leaves quickly — good for a burst at the first dance, less good for a whole evening.
• Water-based fluid is what most venues accept because it will not set off optical smoke detectors the way oil-based smoke can.
• Effects lights and pixel bars need the same dark, hazy air to look their best.

Before you order

• Ask the venue whether haze is allowed. Old buildings with fire alarms often say no.
• Haze needs still air: an open marquee side or a strong extractor fan will take it away as fast as the machine makes it.
• Tell us if anyone in the room has a respiratory condition — we would rather plan around it than find out on the night.

Common questions

Will a smoke machine set off the fire alarm?

Water-based haze rarely does, oil-based smoke sometimes will. We check what the venue permits before the event and bring the fluid they will accept — or leave the effect out if they say no.

Does haze leave a residue or a smell?

Water-based haze leaves no noticeable residue and a faint smell that clears. It is nothing like the thick smoke of a nightclub machine.

Can I just hire the hazer on its own?

Yes, but it does most for a rig that already has beams or lasers in it. On its own, haze is a room filling with mist and nothing to see.