zeus - sparkman

Show NarrativeAn expectant crowd waits in the darkness. Their murmurs silenced by the sudden loud crackling of Zeus! The crowd leaps back, surprised and excited.Harnessing 2 million volts of electricity into a mystical flow of oscillating chaos, the primal wizardry of the ‘SparkMan’is ready to launch any event into the reams of sizzling myth with an awe inspiring live show.The SparkMan explores sizzling arcs of pure energy and discovers the power to direct this immense electrical power.The action intensifies into a one-man dynamic mastery that will electrify and sear itself into the memory of audiences.

Show DurationIn its current form, the show lasts for approximately five minutes.The show can be tailored to suit various time slots, or worked into your own show/music. To achieve this, additional rehearsal time will be required to ensure effective choreography.The Spark machine itself can be run for no more than five minutes; maximum, within any one hour.The machines workings must be allowed to cool down. There are no exceptions to this rule. We generally have a maximum limit of three performances a day to avoid danger from performer fatigue.

Physical SpecsThe Spark tower stands 2m tall.The arcs strike out at about 2m from the coil.The stage area is 6m x 6m, although if only standard steel deck stage is available. The total weight of all equipment and performer will not exceed 200kg at any time.Safe clearance for the audience is required to an absolute minimum of 5m from the coil, and 8m for any electrical equipment.The public safety area is therefore min. 8m by 8m. This is required to be fenced and secured by the client. The client’s security is required to prevent public and foreign objects from breaching the safety fencing. If indoors, there must be a minimum ceiling height of 7.5m, with no electrical equipment above or below the 8m radius clear zone. Seeplans for stage and safety zones. Contact us to discuss any possible exceptions to this.

What to ExpectOur Show Team consists of three crew.• 1 Performer (or your local staff, only for international client)• Technical Manager/Show Controller• Safety Observer/Costume AssistantDepending on the show location and contract duration, arrangements will have to be made by the client to accommodate and feed our crew. The travel costs will be equated into your quote, although we do ask international clients to arrange return flights. Please contact us with your show specifics to allow for accurate price quoting.

Once we arrive on site It takes us approximately an hour to unload and set-up the Spark machine. After this is complete we must undertake ashort live to ensure it is functioning correctly after assembly. This is generally very brief, just a few seconds, unless alterations need to be carried out, in which case subsequent tests will have to occur until the Technical Manager is happy with its operation. Once complete, if the machine is to be left for any duration, we advise that there be some form of security or steward presence to prevent members of the public from gaining access to the equipment.

Pre ShowDue to the nature of the chainmail suits that our performers wear, please allow at least 30 minutes to prepare before a show. Access to an appropriate dressing room/area will be required.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with enquires on any shows or bespoke installations: Massimo Magliulo +39 377 3010292 [email protected]

Wet Weather

In the event of wet weather, its severity will decide whether a performance can go ahead. We cover our equipment in wet conditions, but as long as there is a break in the rain at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start, then the show can go ahead. These 15 minutes allows time to remove covers and dry equipment. Light rain at this point need not stop a show. We cannot perform in fog or drizzle.

Heavy rain unfortunately is a showstopper. However with client’s agreement we are more than happy to change a show time if scheduling allows.

Client flexibility in wet weather scenarios is desirable. The Technical Manager will always have the ultimate say on whether conditions are safe for us to perform!

After Show

Once the performer has spoken to the crowd and returned to the dressing room, we allow half an hour to get out of the suits and pack them away. After this point we can deconstruct the Spark machine straight away if required. The packing of the equipment takes 1 hour. In the case of nighttime de-rig, we would require some form of lighting or at least power for our own lights (unless ambient lighting is considered satisfactory).

Our performer is generally happy, by prior arrangement, to be interviewed and have photos taken.

The Technical manager can answer any technical or health and safety questions. We do ask that any event photography or video footage be shared with ZEUS-SparkMan.

The Technical Science Behind the Machines Function and Operation

The Spark Rider machine is a standard Mechanical T-Coil. It consists of the tower (secondary coil), an earthing point atthe base of the coil, and a winding at the base of the tower (primary coil).

The theory of operation is as follows:

Power for the coil is derived from a standard 3 phase generator producing 400-415v.This power is fed into a controller, giving us smooth input power control from 0-415v.

The input power is then fed into a High voltage transformer which steps up the voltage from the generator to as muchas 20,000v, depending on the setting of the controller. This 20,000v is connected across a High Voltage pulse capacitor.

A large high voltage charge builds up on the capacitor, and when it is full, this energy is discharged through a rotating spark gap into the coil of wire at the base of the coil. This large pulse of current induces a very high voltage pulse intothe secondary coil (the tower we stand on) and the effect is a bolt of electricity that jumps from the tower.

This pulsing effect is occurring about 200 times per second, so visually it appears as though the lightning is continuous, but actually it is just pulsing rapidly. The power controller allows us to limit how much charge accumulates on the capacitor, and this gives us control over how long the maximum arc length can be.

With full power going into the machine, the longest arc record is 2.5m from the tower or 5m with 2 coils.

Safety

The performer wears a stainless steel chainmail suit which acts as a flexible Faraday cage to protect them from the electricity. It provides a low resistance path for the electric current, which forces the electricity around the body instead of passing through it. The performers are safe inside a flexible metal cocoon.

The audience is kept safe by keeping them a minimum of 5m from the machines. This is more than twice the possible distance that the machines can strike out. A safety barrier is set up at this distance and the barrier is enforced by security personnel during the show. Electrical equipment must be at least 8m from the coils, due to the large magnetic field that the machine creates. Although we recommend this distance for electrical equpment we cannot guarantee orvexcept any liabilty for damage to elctrical equipment from its proximity to the coils.

Background information

The Zeus-SparkMan have been operating shows since many years. We have performed dozens of shows around the Europe Italy including France, Germany, Serbia, England and Poland. We are extremely proud of our safety record andduring this period there have been zero incidents and no insurance claims made. Our machines have been providing safe entertainment and special effects for years at functions ranging from dance parties, music festivals and corporate parties, to special effects in movies and television, and entertainment in shopping center, outlet and malls.


Requirement

Staging A flat stage platform on which to set machine up and perform. The minimum requirement for this is a 7m x 7m stage at a height of 1m with steps at the rear and a surrounding black valance.

Sound System If you would like our performance to music, you will be expected to provide a sound system and playback. We recommend a reasonably powerful system i.e. 4kW, as the sound of the lightning itself is high, and audience reaction is generally very loud. Please provide a handheld radio microphone for theshow controller to address the audience.

We ask that associated PA/speaker systems (sometimes referred to as FOH or Front of House) be arranged behind the performers to ensure that they hear their cues. If not possible, then a side fill monitor system should be used. Safety requires that all audio equipment/cabling be a minimum of 8m from the coil.

DressingRoom A secure dressing room/tent nearby (15 meters max) for the performer to fit their suit. This must be well lit and have a table and at chair. If the location is expected to be cold, we will require some formof heating. Vice versa, if the location is hot, air conditioning or at least a cooling fan will be required.

If it is not possible to have a nearby dressing room, we will require transport to and from the stage. The performers’ chainmail suits are heavy and delicate and cannot get muddy or the performers be asked to walk extended distances.

Access Italy and European jobs will require access to stage and secure parking for a Hi-Top MWB Mercedes Sprinter van: Height 2.65m, Width 1.88m, Length 5.64m

International jobs will require access for freight delivery and collection.

Power The Big SparkMachine requires a 32 Amp, 3-phase supply. 415volts per phase to operate.The Standard SparkMachine requires a 20 Amp, phase supply. 210volts per phase to operate.An independent supply from a generator must be used to provide this, to prevent damage and ensure isolation from the other electrical equipment being used. This is implemented for safety purposes. If you want use to run from a mains feed please contact us to discuss.

We will also run our lighting from this generator, therefore a 16 Amp, single phase, 240 volt output willalso be required.

Our power cable gives a length of 5 meters from our control box, and connects via a Standard Ceeform32A 5-pin plug. If the generator location were expected to be further away from our control box than this, we would require an appropriate extension cable (32Amp3Phase)

Lighting We ask for four lights to provide blue and green. You are more than welcome to add to this, however this must be discussed beforehand.

Any lighting will have to be at least 6m from the coils for equipment safety, and we discourage the useof DMX control in close proximity to the Spark as the magnetic field created interferes specifically with these data frequencies.

LED lights will lose the ability to work DMX from exposure to this. Tungsten filament lamps are unaffected by this magnetic field, however moving head fixtures or programmable lamps should be kept well back.

Fire Exting. One 5kg CO2 fire extinguisher to be provided.

Security One security at all times that the pubic have access to the venue. Then four security / stewards supplied during each show for crowd management, they will be briefed by the technical manager.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with enquires on any shows or bespoke installations

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