Serpentine cannons rental

What serpentine cannons are and what you use them for

A serpentine cannon fires a charge of long, curled paper streamers into the air in a single powerful burst. Those streamers unroll during their flight and then descend slowly, draping over shoulders, tables and arms. The image is more playful and thread-like than that of confetti: where confetti gives a cloud of pieces, serpentine gives a net of colourful ribbons that fills the room completely for a moment. It evokes the feeling of an old-fashioned exuberant party, of carnival and New Year’s Eve, and it is precisely that nostalgia that makes the effect so popular.

You use serpentine cannons at the moment a party reaches its highlight and you want guests to be physically caught up in it. Because the streamers come down over the people, it is an effect you feel and not only see, and that makes it perfectly suited to an exuberant crowd. Serpentine belongs to the festive special effects and works most strongly as a short, powerful accent on a peak, for example the countdown to midnight, the first notes of the party track or the moment a person of honour takes centre stage. As a continuous effect it is less suitable, precisely because it draws its power from the surprise of that one big shot.

When serpentine cannons suit your event

Serpentine cannons come into their own at events with an exuberant atmosphere where guests stand close together. At a party or corporate party a series of shots marks the moment the real party breaks loose, so the dance floor disappears under the streamers in one go. The physicality of the effect fits such a moment well: guests pull the streamers off their shoulders laughing and that makes it a shared experience.

At a wedding too serpentine works beautifully as a festive accent, for example at the entrance of the couple onto the dance floor or at the end of the evening. At a New Year’s Eve celebration or an anniversary, counting down to the big moment with serpentine cannons gives an exuberant charge that everyone experiences. It is important that the room allows it: the streamers must be able to unroll freely without getting caught in lighting or against the ceiling, and the venue must offer room for the clean-up afterwards. We assess this in advance and, together with you, determine where the cannons can best stand.

The technology: placement, setup, test and operation

Serpentine looks simple, but a good shot calls for the right placement and timing. A wrongly placed cannon gives streamers that catch on a lamp or that reach only half the room; well placed, it fills the whole space in one go.

Placement

We determine the positions of the cannons based on the floor plan and the spot where the guests stand at the highlight. We aim the cannons so the streamers form a wide fan and come down over the crowd, while staying clear of lighting, installations and the ceiling. In a large room we use several cannons in different positions, so the image is even and does not only reach the front rows. We match the free height and the path of the streamers to the space.

Setup and test

On the day itself we place the cannons, load the serpentine and connect the control. We check the path without a charge and adjust the direction where needed, so we know for certain the streamers go where they should. We do this test before there are any guests, so there is room to adjust positions. We also coordinate how many shots you want and whether we deploy them one after another or simultaneously.

Operation on location

During the programme our technician operates the serpentine cannons, so the shot lands exactly on the moment you want: on the beat, at the countdown or on the cue of the host. We coordinate the timing with the rest of the technology in advance, so light, sound and serpentine coincide. That way you do not just get a shot of paper, but a moment that fits the build of the evening.

Points of attention for serpentine cannons

The most important point of attention is the clean-up. Serpentine takes more work afterwards than confetti, because the streamers are long and can drape over furniture and lighting. We coordinate with you and the venue in advance about who handles the clean-up, and we take spots that are hard to clean into account when placing the cannons. That way you know beforehand what the effect means for the room.

A second point is the clear path of the streamers. They must be able to unroll without obstacles, so we look at hanging lighting, low ceilings and decor where the serpentine could get caught in advance. Fire safety plays a part too: we work exclusively with flame retardant, biodegradable paper, and where the effect comes close to warm light or other effects, we take that into account. Finally, timing is decisive; serpentine at the wrong moment falls flat, so we always match the shot to the peak of your programme.

Combining with light, sound and other effects

Serpentine gets its shine from the light. Under a bright, colourful light the streamers light up while they drape through the air, and metallic serpentine then glints all the more. A lighting state that shoots on exactly in sync with the shot makes the image fuller and ensures the streamers really light up instead of disappearing into the dark. We take care of that coordination between light and effect so it becomes one whole.

The sound plays a part too: a shot that coincides with a musical hit or the end of a countdown lands harder than a loose shot. Serpentine also combines beautifully with confetti or streamers for a fuller final shot, where the different effects complement each other in form and pace. Because HuurAV delivers sound, light, video and effects from a single source, all those elements fit together without you having to coordinate different parties. HuurAV takes care of the advice, the setup, the test and the operation, while standalone rental of simple effects without support can be arranged through SpeakerVerhuur.nl.

Requesting a quote

Do you want to give your party an exuberant highlight with a cloud of colourful streamers that lands over your guests exactly on the beat? HuurAV, part of Speaker Verhuur Amsterdam, puts together a serpentine cannon setup on a quote basis that suits your room, your theme and the rest of your technology, including colour choice, placement and operation on location. Let us know which moment you want to make a bang and what your space looks like, and we will think along and send you a clear proposal. Request a no-obligation quote.