From Parties to Playa

When in the middle of the desert in the dead of night, it helps to have a little illumination with you!

This is a sound activated, light up EL wire trench coat and top hat, with independent, adjustable threshold controls for each.

I created this in 2012 for use at Burning Man. It made two appearances in the desert, as well as many more to events since then.

All parts were aquired on ebay.

• Trench Coat: $35

• 20’ EL wire + sound activated module: $22

• 2nd sound activated module (for hat): $12

• Battery pack: $ 0 (on hand)

Total cost: ~ $70

Construction was very straightforward: a sewing needle, clear thread, several thimbles, and LOTS and LOTS of patience.

I sewed the sound module to live inside the jacket pocket for easy switch access, with the battery pack in the opposite pocket.

In the end, it was a fantastic learning project that taught me so much about electronics, soldering, sewing, and so much more!

It currently lives in my closet, awaiting a return to the playa, or wherever else it’s needed.