NASHVILLE – As football season is in full swing and NFL players hit the fields, Nashville-based Harbor Entertainment’s Drew Dedo and Kasey Lowry are watching some of their hard work pay off. While Harbor is known in the events industry for planning and executing elaborate meetings and events, the CO2 Frogger’s rise in popularity also has them producing this piece of special effects equipment for events across the country.
More details from Harbor Entertainment (www.harbor-entertainment.com):
Dedo and Jim Lowry, Kasey’s father, developed the CO2 Frogger system, currently used by four NFL teams to create dramatic entrances. This season, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons enter the field amidst Frogger-produced smoke.
Dedo and Jim Lowry designed the unit’s barrel, baseplate and frame. Using Dedo’s knowledge of the industry’s needs and Lowry’s innovative design skills, they created a unique solution that uses custom cut poly coated aluminum parts that are combined with a proprietary CO2 liquid control value. These hand-assembled units produce a durable, reliable, high performance fogging system. One of Dedo and Lowry’s goals for the unit was to assure that the solenoid valve would operate, regardless of position. In fact, with the CO2 Frogger, the solenoid valve operates effectively at any position in a 360-degree radius. Additionally, the CO2 Frogger contains the fastest open/close and the highest output in a single jet configuration on the market.
“After many tests and prototypes, we finally figured out a way to control the CO2 to create the consistent effect we dreamed of offering,” said Drew Dedo, Harbor Entertainment founder and creator of the CO2 Frogger. “With the CO2 Frogger, special event and production professionals are easily able to control the smoke effect for a dramatic, professional effect. We’ve had a lot of fun watching our clients and the results they have created using the CO2 Frogger.”
The CO2 Frogger system uses a cutting edge cryogenic effect, capable of propelling plumes 30 plus feet in the air. Whether indoors or out, it uses durable black coating that blends into existing equipment to withstand wear and tear. The customizable systems are built for repeated use and features a sturdy base plate that can be affixed to a variety of truss mounts. It includes exposed solid brass hardware.
Jim Lowry, an industrial designer, credit’s the CO2 Frogger’s success to its design simplicity. In creating the product, he said the team put a lot of thought into how and when the CO2 Frogger would be used.
“You get one shot at this. It has to work when it’s required to work. For example, the team is only going to run into the stadium one time,” Jim Lowry said. “We wanted to make it bulletproof. Some of the high end products are, frankly, overbuilt — and the products coming out of China aren’t reliable. Part of the CO2 Frogger’s success is that we found the perfect design sweet spot — and, it’s a beautifully elegant simple design that we’re proud to have designed.”
Drew Mello at Event One FX, LLC, based in Franklin, Tenn., has been utilizing CO2 Froggers from Harbor Entertainment for many years. “Their durability, ability to be customized to any situation and their compact size has been crucial to putting out world-class CO2 special effects,” Mello said. “We have used the CO2 Frogger in indoor and outdoor venues with great success. From major sports teams and corporate clients to movies, music videos and television production, the CO2 Frogger has been incredibly versatile for our needs.”
Beyond the NFL, a number of bands are also using the CO2 Frogger system in their shows — including Red Tide Rising, Drowning Pool, Starset and Airbourne.
When Scott Whiteman, with American Cryo in Denver, started using CO2 Froggers in the bands’ shows, he initially rented the units — that changed after he worked with them.
“Due to the quality, low maintenance, ease of use and support, I purchased units for Red Tide Rising and began renting them out to touring bands — many of whom also converted their rental into purchases,” Whiteman said.
Dedo and Jim Lowry have also developed the smaller CO2 Frogger Gun, a handheld device that comes in both single and double barrel configurations. Dedo and Lowry are currently working on additional special effects units to expand the CO2 Frogger line of products.
