have smoking bans hurt your business?

daofktr · #1 07-26-2007, 02:44 PM

i just joined up with a cover band that plays in the tristate area...indiana/kentucky/ohio...and my bandmates have been kvetching mightily about trying to land gigs in ohio, due to the new smoking ban. many many bars have lost a lot of money because of it, which affects how much they are willing to pay bands. we're finding that it's smarter to just hit the other states.
i know that bradjonesbass has seen this happen in ft. wayne, IN, where there is a new ban.
have any others out there seen gig patterns or pay rates change because of the law?

disclaimer:
i don't intend this thread to d/evolve into a smokers' rights/nonsmokers' rights tussle. that's for another thread. ditto with any health issues. i'm not trying to start any fights here, so say yer say, drink yer drink, tip the band and be nice.
thank you.

Baryonyx · #2 07-26-2007, 03:14 PM

Nope, but they sure make going to work nicer.

Asa Samuel · #3 07-26-2007, 03:18 PM

i think its highly unfair for some bars and clubs.

it would be much better if it was up to the manager\owner of the bar\club\pub to wether they have a smoking ban in thier establishment.

some places will undoubtedly loose buisness over the smoking ban.

msquared · #4 07-26-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daofktr

disclaimer:
i don't intend this thread to d/evolve into a smokers' rights/nonsmokers' rights tussle. that's for another thread. ditto with any health issues. i'm not trying to start any fights here, so say yer say, drink yer drink, tip the band and be nice.
thank you.

You didn't really think that was going to work, did you?

daofktr · #5 07-26-2007, 03:38 PM

naah, but i had to try!

some folks just have to put in their 2 drachmae, and God bless'em!

Quote:

Originally Posted by msquared

You didn't really think that was going to work, did you?

SMASH · #6 07-26-2007, 03:45 PM

Business never better for bars and restaurants where I live, ban ... no I'll call it what it really is - it's a long overdue enforcement of long-existing safety laws and personal rights laws not a ban at all, in place for at least a decade now.

I'm a smoker too, btw.

Restaurant/bar patronage has It has a lot more to do with the economy and wages IMO, and ours are booming. Also the culutre of the city - this was once more of a movie town, whereas Seattle was a live music town which allowed it's scene to boom. Live music is more "in" now, along with better venues and bands which also has a lot to do with it.

Around here, smokers are glad to go outside. It's a beautiful place and not very cold even in winter.

When I've been to club shows in Portland and California the places were hopping too. Good clubs with good bands though, so if crummy bands in dives can't get a crowd I hope they're not blaming safety regulations.

i_got_a_mohawk · #7 07-26-2007, 03:56 PM

The bar i work in is up with the profits over past years.

But we dont get bands in atm, as the roof, floor and toilets are/have been recently refurbished.

Baryonyx · #8 07-26-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Junkie

some places will undoubtedly loose buisness over the smoking ban.

Thankfully, no one will end up in hospital with lung cancer because of this!

Asa Samuel · #9 07-26-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

Thankfully, no one will end up in hospital with lung cancer because of this!

thankfully, there will be more people over-poppulating the world and genreally making it a crapper place.

most of you wont agree with that but i think the world is way too over-poppulated and we should bring back capital punishment in the UK.

ahh well, you'll all hate me now.

Mon Rominee · #10 07-26-2007, 06:42 PM

If your business is failing over a matter such as a smoking ban, then I suggest you have a crappy business model (unless, of course, you're a club for smoking, in which the ban prolly doesn't apply). easier to make excuses then to come to terms with providing a less than desirable level of service...be it entertainment quality or whatever. A good business listens to its patrons and grows and changes to suit and remain vital. A business blind to this deserves to fail.

I for one could not be happier with the ban. And the clubs around here are plenty busy. Except when there's a crappy band (gasp)

If People want a cig they go outside and come right back in...unless all they wanna do is smoke, I would have to say there's a bigger underlying problem.....with them.

anderbass · #11 07-26-2007, 07:14 PM

After the apparent success of all these anti-smoking regulations...

I'd guess the next Government ban will probably be on All forms of loud music in All public places.

It's been proven to damage your hearing. So with the smoking-ban precedent in place, loud music will
also probably be outlawed throughout the USA very soon... (It'll be much safer for everyone, right)

i_got_a_mohawk · #12 07-27-2007, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Junkie

thankfully, there will be more people over-poppulating the world and genreally making it a crapper place.

most of you wont agree with that but i think the world is way too over-poppulated and we should bring back capital punishment in the UK.

ahh well, you'll all hate me now.

The world is over populated, its scientific fact.

And capital punishment is still an allowable punishment for treason, they should start using it again! "you bottled him in the street, treason!"

HowLow · #13 07-27-2007, 10:48 AM

I don't think the ban hurt businesses around Boston. Clubs & Bars are still packed and we smokers just go outside to get our nicotine fix. It's also really nice to NOT have a smoke film on my basses or have all my gear & clothes completely reeking every night. IMHO, if there's anything that really affected bars and clubs, it was 911.. I'm guessing everyone bought/built a home theatre the following holiday season and now only occasionally go out for live music.. the clubs and bars are still packed but alot of places closed in 2002, well before the smoking ban.

bryan bailey · #14 07-27-2007, 11:17 AM

I don't know why they haven't been trying to make new forms of smoke filters for places like this. I know they make them but crap if you can blow up a continent with the push of a button you'd think they could make an ionic breeze quadra big enough for a friggin bar.

Asa Samuel · #15 07-27-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

The world is over populated, its scientific fact.

And capital punishment is still an allowable punishment for treason, they should start using it again! "you bottled him in the street, treason!"

yeah but people never get done for high treason in the UK anymore

we should have it as low at littering you loose an arm, stealing you loose both your legs, assault all limbs removed and if your just not very nice you get the death sentence

pointbass · #16 07-27-2007, 11:45 AM

The NJ smoking bans have been in place for almost a year and a half now IIRC .... seems like it's been longer than that, fo some reason. At first, there was a lot of griping and whining about the loss of business, but in fact the good places continue to pack 'em in and the business is fine.

I agree that the borderline joints are using this no-smoking law as an excuse for their poor business planning. Most of these places were a dump before the ban, and now it's just easier to see how nasty they are without the smoke filled haze hanging in the room .....

For me, I'm very glad for the ban. I stopped smoking about 4 years ago and I'm sure happy the places I play in now are smoke free ..... much nicer environment ......

Asa Samuel · #17 07-27-2007, 11:48 AM

am i the only one that likes the scene of a smoke-haze at a punk gig?

i_got_a_mohawk · #18 07-27-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Junkie

am i the only one that likes the scene of a smoke-haze at a punk gig?

The only good thing about smoke at a punk gig is it covers the smell of the crusties!

BlacksHole · #19 07-27-2007, 12:43 PM

Although I'm an ex-smoker who prefers a smoke-free environment, there are now less clubs that feature classic rock bands in our immediate area and we find that are gigs are further away as the smokers can travel a bit and find an environment they like. If they couldn't just drive a few extra miles, then perhaps the smoking ban would not have cut into business, but it is not terribly far to places that allow smoking. When much of your clientele happens to be biker bars, smoking bans aren't appreciated.

Ben B · #20 07-27-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointbass

The NJ smoking bans have been in place for almost a year and a half now IIRC .... seems like it's been longer than that, fo some reason. At first, there was a lot of griping and whining about the loss of business, but in fact the good places continue to pack 'em in and the business is fine.

Same here in San Diego. When the smoking ban started, there were a lot of restaurant and bar owners complaining that they would go out of business. I remember that a couple of bars near my house were almost empty the first 2 weekends of the ban. Then the smokers came back--they just went outside to smoke. As far as I know no club went out of business.

I never heard that any band's wages were affected by smoking bans.

Ben