Need some advice on using dry ice

[lil_goldie]

Has anyone ever used dry ice around their arrangement??
We have a banquet coming up with $50-$60 centerpieces/table (which is a huge amount of $$ for around here). The theme is fire and ice. The director of the event just told me she wants to use dry ice.
My thought is that it would be much to cold to even be near the flowers (-109.3 F or -78.5 C).

Thoughts? Advice?
I told her I would ask the experts....that's you!:yourock::grovel:

 

[Marlene]

Temperature around the flowers is not the only issue. In a confined space, the increased level of carbon-dioxide created by the sublimating dry ice will make the room feel VERY stuffy, not to mention what it would do to the overall temperature of the room. I would suggest using fake plastic ice cubes instead to nestle the flower arrangements in.

 

[RWK]

Dry Ice and flowers have been used in many applications.......they can and do work together.

The important things to remember.........Dry ice needs water to make it fog.........either the ice placed in a container of water or water poured over the ice.

Dry Ice effects though are SHORT - You will have to replace water and ice periodically to keep the effect lasting longer than an hour or so.

Depnding on how she wants the designs to look.......I have a trick that I use many times over to give an ice effect.

I take a large clear trumpet vase.......crumple Irridescent cellophane into the vase......fill the vase with water.....and place my design in a lomey tray on top of the vase.

The effect of the cello and water looks just like ice crystals........looks even cooler with the small submersible led lights shining up from the bottom of the vase.

 

[TGDragonfly]

It's a cool look, but it does not last long. We did it twice, once we inserted a plastic black designer tray inside a oasis wreath and poured in about one inch of water. Right before guests entered reception after cocktail, we walked through and dropped in a small pre chipped piece of the dry ice (maybe a 3x3x2 in a 9 inch designer tray). The effect lasted about an hour? There were also several small floating candles in the dish as well so at least it had some life after.

Fortunately for this event we received a healthy service fee which allowed me to keep several people on staff to replenish the ice. Maybe you could bring this point to your client. I would recommend using heavy rubber gloves instead of tongs to avoid an accidental drop. There was no damage to the flowers in the wreath at all.

The other time we used them we had ice sculpture bowls nestled in a wring of Proteas as centerpieces . We floated the dry ice and for some reason the effect lasted much longer which makes we wonder if combining dry ice and water ice would work, it may not be dramatic but maybe if exposed enough water melting ice could combine at a slower rate. Maybe it was because we used a larger chip of dry ice.

You may want to experiment. Good luck.

 

[TOTO]

YUP! Nice effect but short lived.

You might want to suggest to the event coordinator a rental of one or two fogging machines.

Two would give you a large layer of fog on the entire dance floor and can be directed to whichever area gives you the greatest effect.

In fact, some of them are so inexpensive that, you can buy one or two outright and use them over and over.

http://www.halloweeneffects.us/EF_400_400_Watt_Mini_Fog_Machine_p/ef-400.htm

 

[roysecityfloristand gifts]

That is an excellent site TOTO, thanks.
Those large disco balls are great, and prices are definately great!

 

[lil_goldie]

Thanks for the tips.
Here's the Kicker (which had me seething):
I get a call from the Charity's event director. She had originally told me she wanted $60 centerpieces.
We brainstormed some ideas and were talking about how nice the pieces will be for $60.
She drops this on me
"yes, that sounds very nice. Now we have a budget for $30 per table. Hoping you can donate the other half of the cost of the arrangement"

.......uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh. I'll have to think it over

WTH!!! She sort of backed me into a corner on this one

 

[TGDragonfly]

Ahh thanks but no thanks.

 

[TOTO]

HA! Charity begins at HOME, yours!

Too funny! Wonder if she ran that idea passed the Caterer suggesting that they charge them HALF PRICE for the food, and donate the other half.

And wondering if she is working for FREE as well?

No corner there. If they can afford afford $30 per centerpiece, than that's what you can afford to create and deliver.

On the flip side, tell her that, you will DONATE 1 centerpiece which they can use as a prize in their 50/50 raffle at the end of the evening.

Gotta love these CHAMPAGNE PARTY GOERS with BEER BUDGETS wanting to work off your dimes.

Can't even being to imagine what some of their ANNUAL SALARIES and BENEFITS might be, can you?

 

[TGDragonfly]

Corporate events are lame this year. feel sorry for all the saps in DC that fed off of K Street now that the White House has given them the boot.

Stay Social.

 

[lil_goldie]

haha yeah I'm laughing because I just thought it was kind of a underhanded way to go about it.
I called her back later today and I said I can donate 25% of the total cost
So basically the arrangements would cost me $10 per arrangement (basically half our time)
The only reason I'm doing this is because the whole charity's workforce are EXCELLENT customers.
And the event director is a wonderful advertiser. She's bringing me with her on our local radio morning show and tons of other stuff.
She promises big, but she delivers big.

 

[RWK]

haha yeah I'm laughing because I just thought it was kind of a underhanded way to go about it.

I called her back later today and I said I can donate 25% of the total cost
So basically the arrangements would cost me $10 per arrangement (basically half our time)
The only reason I'm doing this is because the whole charity's workforce are EXCELLENT customers.
And the event director is a wonderful advertiser. She's bringing me with her on our local radio morning show and tons of other stuff.
She promises big, but she delivers big.

Lil Goldie - You're new to FlowerChat since we last had a discussion on donations and donation policy.

Since you have agreed to donate a portion of your time and monies to this event..........Now is the time that you should revamp and re-write your donation policy. If you don't have a specific policy established, now is the time to do so.

Your donations are a powerful form of advertising, and like other advertising media/forms......they need to WORK FOR YOU !!!

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In regarding donations made by your shop as requested by various charities and individuals......If your donation policies do not work in your favor.....then you need to change your policies.

By having the policy written down, this does several things.....first of all, you avoid situations like this lady put you in.....you could have said.....Oh, you are wanting part of this donated, then we have a donation request form that must be fillled out.

It also protect you and your staff because you can show that this is shop's policy and neither you or they can go against established policy.

There are those who feel that policies of the shop do not extend to owners/managers and in cases like this.....established policy should apply to everyone.....owners/managers/employee alike.


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Your donation policy should stipulate how your product and donation is used and what you should get in return for that donation.

I helped to revamp a good friend of mine's donation policy.

Here is what we changed it to.

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1) All donation requests must be made in writing and submitted to our shop no later than one month before your event.

2) We have a donation form to be used. As a part of this form, it asks for you to give us the approximate value of the donation you are seeking. The form also asks for the name of the organization, the person making the request, contact information, the reason for the donation, and the approximate value of the donation being sought.

3) In addition, the form requests that you provide certain items in exchange for this donation.

a) Our shop should recieve a minimum of two invitations to attend your event.
b) A verbal thank you or acknowledgement must be made from the podium
c) If a listing of the donators is posted in your program or a sign listing the donators, then our name must occupy the number one position.
d) A complimentary ad at least the size of our business card must be made available in your program.
e) Lastly, if your organization is not a current customer of our shop, then you must agree to a 1 year period in which we become your exclusive florist for all events, functions, and floral needs for your organization and it's officers and board.

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In short, If your donations are not working for you as a form of advertisement, then you are losing out

 

[lizzie ann]

Dry Ice and flowers have been used in many applications.......they can and do work together.

The important things to remember.........Dry ice needs water to make it fog.........either the ice placed in a container of water or water poured over the ice.

Dry Ice effects though are SHORT - You will have to replace water and ice periodically to keep the effect lasting longer than an hour or so.

Depnding on how she wants the designs to look.......I have a trick that I use many times over to give an ice effect.

I take a large clear trumpet vase.......crumple Irridescent cellophane into the vase......fill the vase with water.....and place my design in a lomey tray on top of the vase.

The effect of the cello and water looks just like ice crystals........looks even cooler with the small submersible led lights shining up from the bottom of the vase.

We do this too Ricky but instead of submersible acolytes we use the acolyte light pads at the bottom and if we really want to light it up we add one on the top facing down......spectacular light show. Looks so much like ice without the hassle

 

[lil_goldie]

Wow Ricky,
that's quite the donation policy.
We don't have one in place, but after reading that I will definitely take the tips I've learned and apply those.
I'll check out that old thread about donations.