Bubbles!!!

[OrchDork]

Hi!!

We are doing a musical and the director really wants a bubble machine. The problem that I have is that I am worried about slippage. Now I heard tale of a recipe for bubbles that is non-slip or less slipperly than soap and water.  Might anyone know this mythical recipe? If so, are you willing to reveal your secrets.

Thank you!!!

[NomieRae]

The only way I've been able to counteract the bubble effect of making the floor slippery is using an old dance technique of mopping the floor with a mix of sprite and water to make it sticky, but it's not ideal (invites bugs in the summer months) 

Another idea: carpet! I know the Gazillion Bubble Show at New World stages uses carpeting on their deck.

[LizzG]

I second carpet!  It's worked very well for my current show, and though we don't use bubbles, we have slippery food products and all sorts of water on our stage....

[sahuff.asm]

We used bubbles during a childrens show a couple of years ago and found that as long as the bubble solution itself didn't spilled onto the stage (like an actor tipping their machine and a puddle ending up on the floor) the actual bubbles themselves didn't create that much trouble hitting the stage and popping.  Between shows we made sure to mop really well using warm water and adding some Slip No More to our mop water. We didn't have any problems with our production you just have to be careful about spilling the solution

Carpet sounds like an ok idea depending on cost though...I imagine that would be expensive...and on what else is going on in the show, would carpet be feasible?

[Balletdork]

yup- carpet!

Especially at the nozzle- or even just a 6" square directly at the nozzle is very helpful!

But, no I don't know any mythical non-slippy bubble recipes!

[On_Headset]

One alternative (if House Management will allow it) is to set the bubble machine in the audience. If the bubbles never hit the stage, you don't need to worry about cleanup, and the effect can be just as pronounced if the bubbles emerge over the front row (or even from behind the audience--just remember to start the machine a good 20-30 seconds earlier than you otherwise would, and perhaps use paper fans to help get the first few batches over the audience quickly).

[MatthewShiner]

That could make it slippery from the audience though . . .

[Trak26]

have used a bubble machine in Lend Me a Tenor, bathroom door opened and all these bubbles came rushing out - first time I have heard of bubbles getting a laugh from the audience.
my problem was not slippage on the floor - we had carpet, but the bubbles popping on the set and leaving stain marks on the painted flats. took a lot washing to get rid of them.