General Tips
Ask your crew before using fog, preferably at the start of the event.
Check the venue for smoke alarms. Fog machines can trigger them just like smoke from a real fire. You may need to disable the smoke alarms while using a fog machine.
Don’t leave fog fluid in the fog machine. If left in a hot machine, the fluid can turn into sludge and damage the unit.
Don’t make people stay in the fog for too long; it can cause them to cough.
Block the windows and close doors so that the fog doesn’t escape.
The nozzle gets very hot. Be careful not to burn yourself.
Lighting
When using a strobe light with fog, warn people with epilepsy or migraines because the fog amplifies the light’s effects and can be dangerous.
Small Fog Machines
Small fog machines use a different type of fluid and function more like vaporizers. They work well for “close-up magic.”
Smoke Ninja PRO — $230
My Setup
Backwood Bay® Extremely Long-Lasting Fog Machine Fluid — 2.5-Gallon Square Container — fits in a milk crate for storage — $89.99
Antari Z-800II Fog Machine — 120 VAC, 800 W — about $250
Rockville Audio Bag 1200 (Amazon) — $40
Foldable funnel — $10
Eventually, I want to upgrade to the Z-1020. It has DMX!