A foam party is a social event in which participants dance to music on a dance floor covered in several feet of suds or bubbles dispensed from a foam machine.

Participants may wear bathing suits

Swimsuit

A swimsuit, bathing suit, or swimming costume is an item of clothing designed to be worn by men, women or children while they are engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water skiing, or during activities in the sun, such as sun bathing.A...

 or beach attire, snorkeling goggles, sunglasses, and shower caps. Many participants arrive fully clothed, and some then partially disrobe

Nudity

Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...

 as the party progresses, while others remain fully clothed.

Generally, foam parties occur at nightclub

Nightclub

A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...

s, dance clubs, or private parties.

History

Foam parties can be dated back to A Rhapsody in Black and Blue, a 1932 short subject directed by Aubrey Scotto

Aubrey Scotto

Aubrey Scotto was an American film director and editor.Born in Los Angeles and active in films from 1929, Scotto graduated from directing short subjects to Republic Pictures features in 1933.- Selected films :* The Viking, 1928...

 where Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....

 dances, sings, and plays his trumpet in a large area of soap suds. Songs performed in the foam are I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You and Shine.

Robin Wincup developed the first foam cannon in the U.K. for commercial use in nightclubs, which then went on to become a popular nightclub activity there and still remains so today.

Foam generation

Generating hundreds of cubic meters of foam in a club environment is difficult because foam breaks down rapidly after it is generated. Breakdown is greatly accelerated by heat from club lights, air flow, and people moving through the foam. The event shown in the photo at right lasted four hours and was held on a dance floor measuring 10 by. It required three foam generators, approximately 80 liters of foam concentrate, and over 500 liters of water to keep this size of dance floor filled with foam for the evening.

Foam concentrate is diluted with water and pumped to the foam generator, which is usually suspended from the ceiling. Then it is sprayed on to the fabric bag. By adjusting the air volume from the blower, solution flow, and thread-count of the bag's fabric, various foam consistencies can be achieved ranging from a thick shaving cream texture to large bubbles. The distribution of foam can range from a blizzard-like effect of small bubbles to a thick mass of bubbles.

It is possible to hold a foam party with 10 to 20 bottles of Joy dishwashing liquid.

A Foam party dance pit is an inflatable dance pit which contains the foam and water inside to limit damage to floors or grass, or intensify the effect at an outdoor foam party.

Health

Household soaps and detergents are generally not used for foam parties; they are not pH-neutral, may contain protein-dissolving enzymes, and can cause alkaline chemical burns or irritation to the eyes and respiratory system.

There have been several reports in the media of severe allergic skin or eye reactions to party foam, but in almost all cases this has been the result of inexperienced operators using dish washing liquids instead of non-irritating foam. Sore throats have also commonly been reported, but it is not known if the exact cause is the foam itself.

Foam can conduct electricity. Nightclubs often contain environmental lighting, sound equipment, speakers, and other electronics that could potentially malfunction. In 2008, three people were electrocuted and two others injured at a foam party at the Venezia Palace Hotel in Antalya, Turkey.

One common method of protection is the use of a ground fault interrupter on devices that could come in contact with the foam. Visitors of foam parties also may attempt to protect personal electronic devices like cameras and mobile phones from the foam.

Because foam parties create a wet, slippery, and disorienting environment, glass bottles and beverage glasses may be restricted by the venue in favor of plastic cups. This reduces the risk of participants being injured by a broken bottle or glass. In some municipalities, special licenses are required and some clubs require attendees to sign a liability waiver before entering.

Since the introduction of foam cannons and foam generators, many small operators use inferior equipment and cheap chemicals.

Venue damages

Foam parties can cause damage to improperly equipped venues. Because foam contains water and soap, it readily wicks into painted surfaces, wooden floors, and drywall at the base of walls. It readily saturates upholstered surfaces such as furniture, draperies, and carpets. Carpets are of particular concern because water can be absorbed by and trapped within the carpet padding, creating an environment for mold and fungus growth.

Filling a dance floor with foam can raise the humidity to near 100% causing water to condense on pipes, windows, metal doors, and any other surface that is below the dew point

Dew point

The dew point is the temperature to which a given parcel of humid air must be cooled, at constant barometric pressure, for water vapor to condense into liquid water. The condensed water is called dew when it forms on a solid surface. The dew point is a saturation temperature.The dew point is...

. This can cause serious problems when foam parties are held in cold climates during the winter, causing condensation on the walls and ice buildup in HVAC ducts. An industrial dehumidifier

Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is typically a household appliance that reduces the level of humidity in the air, usually for health reasons. Humid air can cause mold and mildew to grow inside homes, which pose various health risks. Very humid climates or air make some people extremely uncomfortable, causing...

may be used to prevent condensation and lower the air's moisture content.

Water from the foam that is not absorbed by the air can pool on the dance floor. If drainage is not provided for the hundreds of liters of water over the course of the event, it creates additional safety hazards and may even flood the venue. There may also be a dry-off or buffer area between the foam-covered area and the rest of the venue to prevent damage to parts of the venue not equipped to deal with foam.