Below you’ll find six special effects that we use regularly at real events – from Premier League stadiums to arena tours to product launches. We cover what the effect actually does, the technical specs that matter for venue sign-off, and a real-world example of it in action. If you’re sourcing special effects equipment hire for an indoor event, this is the list to work from:
CO2/Smoke Jet
Few effects match a CO2 jet for sheer immediacy. A burst of pressurised liquid CO2 converts to gas on release, producing a dense white plume that climbs 6–8 metres in a fraction of a second before dispersing cleanly into the air. No residue, no lingering smoke, no venue complaints. Just impact – and then nothing, leaving the stage or walkway exactly as it was. An exciting new alternative to using cumbersome CO2 bottles is the new Magic ECO2JET which closely mimics the effect of real CO2 using smoke fluid. The effect is as powerful as traditional CO2 jets and the effect does not depend on humidity; even on a sunny day, you’ll get big white smoke clouds. Equipped with a specially designed nozzle and a built-in high-speed turbofan, the ECO2JET can blast smoke clouds up to 12m. If you want something truly unique, try our new coloured RGB smoke jet!
In practice, these effects shine for walk-on moments, DJ drops, award reveals, and any cue where you need something dramatic on the beat. ENT FX has used CO2/Smoke jets with artists including Lewis Capaldi and Tion Wayne, and at the European Darts Championships in Glasgow – environments where the effect has to fire on cue and perform identically every single time.
Considering CO2 jet hire for your production? CO2/Smoke jet hire – speak to the team about the machine that’ll work best for your venue.
Confetti Cannon
Confetti has been finishing events for centuries, and there’s a reason it hasn’t been replaced. Done properly, it transforms a moment – a grand finale, an award reveal, a track’s final chorus — into a photograph. Done badly, it leaves a mess the venue charges you to clean up.
The gap between the two comes down to equipment and planning. ENT FX operates a range from handheld single-shot cannons through to the Magic FX Powershot and the Stadium Blaster, which fires 10 kg of confetti per minute up to 20 metres. For arena-scale events, the Magic FX Stadium Shot reaches 50 metres when loaded with stadium streamers – coverage that turns an indoor arena into a spectacle.
Biodegradable confetti is available for venues with strict environmental conditions, and colour matching to brand specifications is standard. ENT FX provided confetti effects for Arsenal’s FA Cup Victory Parade at the Emirates Stadium – a production where scale, precision timing, and clean execution were all non-negotiable. If you have the budget, confetti can be customised to create shapes and designs that are unique to your brand and event.
To discuss scale, colour, and timing for your event, explore confetti cannon hire.
Sparkular Cold Spark Machine
The Showven Sparkular has changed what’s possible indoors. Traditional pyrotechnics require combustion, exclusion zones, and often a local authority licence that takes weeks to secure. The Sparkular uses no combustion at all – its sparks are cold, generated by a titanium powder pushed through a heated element. The result looks identical to a firework fountain but can be placed within one metre of performers and fired in venues where pyrotechnics would never be permitted.
At Entertainment Effects we can offer the full Sparkular range. The standard unit produces plumes up to 5 metres, fully programmable to music via DMX. The Sparkular Fall fires a curtain of sparks downward from a truss – ideal for dramatic stage backdrops. For arena-scale work, the Sparkular Cyclone delivers double the height, up to 10 metres of cascading sparks that are visible from the back row of any major venue. Go handheld with the Sparkular Blaster for on-stage impact.
These machines work particularly well for boxing walkouts, concert performances, product launches, and any event where the visual needs to hold up on broadcast or social media. The precision timing and small safety footprint make them compatible with complex productions that standard pyro could never accommodate.
Find out more about Sparkular machine hire.
Flame Machines
The first question is always the same: can you actually use flames indoors? In most cases, yes – but only with the right crew, equipment and safety assessment.
Indoor fire special effects either rely on IPA fuel (isopropyl alcohol), or propane gas. The Magic FX Flameblazer is IPA-fuelled, wired, indoor-certified, and available in configurations reaching 6, 8, or 10 metres. The Galaxis G-Flame is a wireless, compact, propane fuelled flame unit that reaches between 2.5 and 6 metres — making it adaptable to truss-mounted or floor-level positions.
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The practical considerations for indoor flame use are ceiling height, positioning, active ventilation, the type of fire suppression system installed, and local authority sign-off. We’ll conduct a full venue assessment before confirming any flame hire – this is not a box-ticking exercise but a genuine technical evaluation that protects you, the venue, and the audience.
For more detail on what’s involved, visit our flame machine hire page.
Low Fog Machine
Low fog is not the same as a standard smoke machine, and the distinction matters. Where a smoke machine fills a room with haze or rising clouds, a CO2 low fogger produces a ground-hugging blanket of cold mist that sits at floor level and dissipates without rising. No obscured sightlines, no residue, and no alarm triggers – just a clean visual layer that transforms the look of an entrance or performance.
The effect works particularly well in short, timed bursts: a first dance, an award ceremony arrival, a theatrical entrance from the wings. Density is adjustable depending on venue size and the intensity of the moment. we’ve used low fog on television productions, wedding receptions, and stage shows – wherever a quiet, atmospheric visual is needed without the disruption of louder or more complex effects.
To find out more, visit our dedicated Low Fogger page.
Handheld Confetti Guns and T-shirt Cannons
Sometimes the best effect is the one in someone’s hands. Handheld confetti guns and T-shirt cannons serve a different purpose from rigged, timed effects – they’re about crowd interaction, energy, and spontaneity. A DJ working a confetti gun into a set creates moments that no automated rig can replicate. An MC with a T-shirt cannon at a sports promo event generates a reaction that’s impossible to choreograph.
For venues where setup time is short and a full rig isn’t practical, handheld options offer maximum engagement with minimal logistical overhead. The Magic FX Powershot is a step up from a basic cannon – CO2-powered, capable of launching confetti up to 25 metres, and reusable across multiple shots from the same unit.
Handheld effects also tend to have the fewest venue restrictions of anything on this list, making them a reliable fallback for events where other effects can’t be confirmed.
Browse the full range at our confetti cannon hire page, or check out our T-shirt gun.
How to Choose the Right Indoor Special Effects
Before confirming any indoor effect, a production manager or brand team should be able to answer three questions.
First: what is the ceiling height, and is there active ventilation or a fire suppression system? Suppression systems vary considerably. Some are triggered by CO2; others by particulates. You need to know which type is installed before booking any effect that produces gas, smoke, or sparks. It is also important to know if is possible to temporarily isolate these systems.
Second: does the venue have a licence condition or local authority requirement covering special effects? This is not unusual for theatres, sports arenas, and licensed venues. If the answer is yes, your supplier needs to know early.
Third: does your supplier conduct a pre-event venue assessment, and do they provide job-specific risk assessments and method statements? We do both as standard, on every booking, covered by £10 million public liability insurance with documentation provided to the venue.
For productions where a misfire is not an option – broadcast events, live TV, stadium shows – the supplier’s track record is as important as the equipment. We’ve operated at Premier League grounds, major arena tours, and national television productions. That experience is what makes the difference when the red button moment arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use special effects at any indoor venue?
Not every effect suits every venue. The key variables are ceiling height, ventilation quality, the type of fire suppression system installed (some are triggered by CO2 or smoke particulates), and any licensing conditions set by the local authority. We assess each venue before confirming a booking – this is part of the standard process, not an optional extra. A job-specific health and safety document is provided for every event.
Are CO2 & Smoke effects safe to use around people?
Yes, when deployed correctly. CO2 & Smoke dissipates rapidly and leaves no residue. We’ve operated these jets them at sports events, award ceremonies, and concerts without incident. The key requirement is correct positioning: they should not be fired directly at faces at close range. Our experienced technicians will assess positioning on arrival.
What is the difference between a CO2 cannon and a CO2 jet?
A CO2 jet fires upward in a narrow vertical column. The Magic FX CO2 Jet reaches 6–8 metres and is typically used for stage dressing, walk-on moments, and timed cues. A CO2 cannon fires a wider horizontal burst, making it more suitable for crowd-facing activation and DJ sets. Both use compressed CO2 and leave no residue.
Can I hire these effects without a technician?
Some products are available as dry hire for experienced operators – we’ll discuss your experience and event requirements before confirming. Flame machines are not available as unaccompanied dry hire; a qualified technician is required on every flame job. For most indoor events, managed hire with an on-site operator is recommended for both safety and timing accuracy.
How far in advance do I need to book indoor special effects?
For managed event bookings, a minimum of 4–6 weeks is recommended. This allows time for venue assessment, preparation of method statements and risk assessments, and logistics planning. Dry hire of simpler effects – confetti guns, CO2 jets – can sometimes be arranged with a shorter lead time. Contact us directly to check availability for your date/s.
Ready to Plan Your Indoor Event Effects?
From a single CO2 jet on a theatre stage to a full suite of Sparkular, flame, and confetti effects across an arena, these six effects cover the indoor FX landscape. Each has a specific role, specific requirements, and specific moments where it genuinely earns its place in the production.
If you’re in the planning stages, the best next step is a conversation with us. We’ll talk through your venue, your brief, and what’s actually achievable — then put a proposal together that works.
Get in touch about your indoor event – no obligation, just a straightforward discussion about what’s possible.
