How to Make Fog Juice for Theaters

Once upon a time, fog juice was expensive and people would attempt to circumvent the cost by creating their own. While the cost has gone down, some die-hards continue to make fog juice. Also, it's a fun bit of chemistry that can get your toes wet in the field of practical theater.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glycerine
• Demineralized water
• Sealable gallon container

1. Put the glycerine amount that you plan on using in a clean gallon bottle or sealable container. This makes mixing easier. It also makes determining the percentage much easier, and you can even eyeball it with a good amount of accuracy.

2. Fill the rest of the container with demineralized water.

3. Seal the container firmly, making sure that it doesn't have any leaks.

4. Shake the container vigorously. If shaking is difficult for you, you can stir the contents with a spoon or rod. Make sure the contents are combined thoroughly before you use the mix.

Tips & Warnings

• The amount of glycerine determines the density and duration of the smoke. The more you use, the thicker the smoke will be.
• This fog mix is more likely to clog machines than some others, but is also inherently safer to the actors.
• Don't go above 75 percent glycerine. Glycerine dries out your actors and aggravates their sinuses. This particularly comes into play with actors that are in the smoke, as opposed to having their mouths and noses above it.
• As with any chemical concoction, be careful with the contents. Don't breathe directly from the container, and don't apply it to your skin. The contents of the container are more concentrated than what will be on the stage, and have a more drastic effect.