If you could have a Big Red Button in your house, what would it do? Most people probably wouldn’t really ponder upon this type of thing but that wasn’t the case for Brian Gaut who, not only considered what would happen if he were to have an emergency button in his home, but made it happen! He explains, “The idea of The Emergency Party Button came to me at work one day early in September of 2007. I can’t quite remember what got me thinking about it, but for some reason, I wanted to have a Big Red Button available to me that did something spectacular when pressed. The idea of something so minimalistic and innocent causing something so phenomenal has always intrigued me.” When I first saw what the red button did when pushed, I immediately thought of Austin Powers, because it starts a disco party and there is a reason for that thought. That scene was what inspired Brian to make his own button! And it is the coolest thing ever!
This is what the button looks like. It’s not attached to anything. Just a red button with a couple of lights, contained in a small metal box which requires the turn of a key to be activated (this kind of power isn’t safe in the hands of just anybody!)
It doesn’t appear to be much, but looks can be deceiving because a ton of ingenuity went into making this button!
When pushed the following happens:
The first thing that happens when the button is pressed is the hallway light turns off.
Second, as if by magic, the blinds close to block out any sunlight and to set the mood.
Third, the fog machine starts up because it can take some time before it actually starts producing fog.
Kitchen lights turning off is the fourth thing that happens.
Then the light above the dining table turns off, which is the sixth thing that is triggered by the button. Brian likes to refer to this as the “poker light” because they never use the dining room table for dinners, but rather to play poker with friends!
Seventh, the MP3 player turns on with the classic party tune What is Love. I can just imagine the guys from Night at the Roxbury bursting in the door to start grinding on someone.
The eighth thing to happen is the black lights turns on.
At the main beat of What is Love the laser light kicks in.
Then the strobe light joins the party right at the chorus of the song.
And last but not least, an LED sign displays a message saying “THE EMERGENCY PARTY BUTTON HAS JUST BEEN ACTIVATED”
Here is a video of it all coming together!
You have to admit, this is simply amazing! It makes you wish you had an Emergency Party Button of your own to impress all your friends and be ready for a party at the push of a button, literally. The great thing is that Brian not only dreamed this up but he made it happen all on his own for just around $600! The great thing is that he explains how he does it all on his website so you CAN make one for your own home! And if you want, you can even adapt it to suit your own needs. If you aren’t much of a party-er you can have a “Going To Bed” Button that turns off the house lights, turns on your bedside lamp, locks doors, feeds the cat, and whatever else you usually do before bed! Just imagine all of the possibilities!