Two issues with the electronic cigarette... First, there would be nicotine in the air. Probably not a good thing for children. Perhaps you could try replacing the nicotine dipped cotton inside with cotton dipped in fog juice? If that would even work. Second is air displacement. To get the smoke out... you would have to use a air pump system like Lou mentioned with, I would imagine high powered suction/blower. Pushing air into a small box pushes air out as well. I think there might be an issue with that. A non-pyro smoke system "I don't think" would push the air out... per say.

You could use a fog machine, which you can get battery powered and small around 8"x 3" x 3" but they cost 700 bux minimum. Three inches seems pretty large for a wiz kote.

Back to the original topic, a modified wiz kote. Nothing beats borrowing something from a spectator and changing it with magic. The best version IMO is the sneaker tweaker version, it has a buffer and it's purely visual. You can't produce the shoe from somewhere else but the effect for the audience is close to the same. For a more adult audience... cellulator, also somewhat smaller for transport. To change the effect you could change the item used, or find something else to do with a shoe. Polishing or cleaning seems ideal... Maybe approach it differently from what I have seen... ask for a kid who has really dirty shoes with mud/grass stains to raise their hands, go out and try and find the kid with the dirtiest shoe instead of just asking for any volunteer. That approach might lead you to a kid in the audience who's parents can't afford good shoes and it might make the parents feel bad. After that rant, yeah a random volunteer would be the better approach. The whole "change the shoe into something else like a different color, etc.." approach doesn't work for me either... why change just one shoe? Then the kid would have a mismatched shoe. Perhaps two wiz kotes and two volunteers with the premise of them changing places "teleporters" . Double the money, double the fun. The one thing I would change with the wiz kote is the name on the front. wiz kote... it is silly. It makes no sense and I think kids would feel your playing down to them which seems contrived IMO. I do like Wolfs sonic shoe shine name, that is realistic. Ok, done ranting...

I have both the "Dirt Eradicator" and the "Sneeker Tweeker". I have to say that the DE electronic match is more reliable, 100%. Chance's solution is very good, but has not always been 100%, I wish there were TWO glo-plugs, just in case you "overload" one of them.
No doubt, the Sneeker Tweeker is a MUCH smaller prop - the Dirt Eradicator is a HUGE piece of kit to haul around. the plot is simple and very sweet - but for all these shoe-burning effects, you really need to go out into the audience and find an appropriate sized (black?) shoe. Looking for the dirtiest shoe isn't an option.
I really like this effect, and have a fab routine for whichever unit I choose to employ. Even though I'm a big fan of Wolf's Magic, this is one case where if I'm honest, I'd rather work with my easy-to-use, and 100% reliable "Dirt Eradicator". Yes, the prop is massive....yes, it's a pain to set up.....but overall, from a performer's point of view, I'd rather use this than the simpler, more magical, and more efficient "Sneeker Tweeker".
This is speaking from the perspective of many performances,

There's always these:
http://www.looksolutions.com/index_e/ind......:TINY_FX

http://www.looksolutions.com/index_e/ind......:TINY_CX

So, this is the final design that I have decided to go with.
http://s889.photobucket.com/albums/ac96/......inal.jpg

What do y'all think?

Posted: Apr 4, 2011 4:37pm
Here are some actual pics...
http://s889.photobucket.com/albums/ac96/......View.jpg

Very nice!

Very nice, Tony!!!!!

How did you do the custom graphics?

Regan

I had George leave off the words "Wiz Kote" and had Fast Signs make both the graphic, the numbers, and the words "Micro-Clean!". They drew it up, cut it out, and applied the adhesive labels, all for $40 - Which I thought was pretty good.

Thanks Tony. I think it was pretty good too! It looks really nice.