capturing NEON lighting with strobe lighting..? help

[autpaxautbellum]

How do you capture neon lighting well with strobe lights. since the strobes diffuse the neon lights it doesn't pop.and look good.

So would i have to use hot lights to get the neon lighting.

heres the scenario:

a group of people being somewhat backlit by neon lighting and lights from inside of a tattoo shop.
its dark....around 9:00 pm.
should i use strobes or hot lights?

or..something else?

Hope to get some feedback before monday
!
Thank You!

 

[tempra]

expose for the neons, tell everyone to keep still and fire the flash at the end

 

[shorty6049]

maybe use a colored gel over the flash to add to the color of the neons?