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Dealing with gig smoke : an idea

#21
On the one hand, I hate "you can't do this & that" laws, and it sucks to have legislation forcing people to live a certain way. I empathize with those who want "the gob'ment" the hell out of their lives and their lifestyle choices. For the most part I agree with them (and have fought MANY battles on this side of the line).

On the other hand, I really HATE cigarette smoke and think that most smokers are either unbelievably rude or incredibly stupid. A big part of me says, "f*ck them, make em go outside to poison themselves". If you smoke, you force others to do so, bottom line, and that sucks....hard. I know what some of you are saying, it's "well, non-smokers are trying to force us NOT to smoke". That's a weak argument. The action in question is smoking (not non-smoking) so if that's a person's choice then fine, but if someone is inconvenienced by the action, it should the the one who chooses the action. So please go outside or some other such solution. (or better yet, for your OWN sake, try to quit or cut down). We shouldn't have to have laws like this forced upon us.

I've been playing and gigging off and on for about 25 years. When I look back a pattern emerges: I'm playing in a gigging band for a while, then I get out of the scene, then I miss playing live and return, then I drift away again, and on and on. I realized the thing that makes me quit each time isn't the band drama, the lack of inspiration, the long hard nights, the being on road, the scum club owners, etc. None of that, it's the bloody cigarette smoke - every time. Christ it's disgusting. Why should I have to put up with that crap in order to play live music?

So, as much as these kind of laws suck (and they do I know), put me on the side that's glad to have them. Sorry smokers.
 
#22
doc540 said:
How 'bout we discusss the original idea of my thread rather than derail it into a smoking ban thread?


:bassist:
Click to expand...

You're right, my bad. Got kinda carried away there.

The OP is an interesting idea, I'd love to see something like this that really works. One problem to consider is that most kinds of forced air (fans and such) directed right at you tends to dry out your throat and hurt your singing. So maybe this groovy device can also slightly humidify as well?
 
#23
dravenzouk said:
You're right, my bad. Got kinda carried away there.

The OP is an interesting idea, I'd love to see something like this that really works. One problem to consider is that most kinds of forced air (fans and such) directed right at you tends to dry out your throat and hurt your singing. So maybe this groovy device can also slightly humidify as well?
Click to expand...


EXCELLENT idea! I small, plastic, re-fillable reservoir

Silencing a fan could be an engineering challenge. I currently gig with a 12", 3 speed fan which is whisper quiet, and it moves quite a bit of air. The 16" fan is also quiet and moves even more air (I use it during the peak temp months here in Texas : 8 months out of the year!...haha), and it's still quiet enough to gig with.

I'm thinking an electrostatic filter about the size of a cereal box in a housing like a 12" floor monitor wedge with a high output but quiet bladed or squirrel cage fan.

whaddya think?
 
#25
Cool idea, but I think it wouldn't work very well.

Filters in a club would clog pretty quick. Plus, there's simply too much smoke. Even though you would be blowing fresh air at you, there is simply too much in the room. In affect you would just be moving the smoke around you.

Maybe a bassman in a plastic bubble would be better idea. ;)
A completely separate environment that would allow you to be smoke free on stage.
 
#30
iamchipsmith said:
I know you dont wanna hear about smoke banning anymore, but you should honestly write a letter to your congressman.
Click to expand...

You could wear this and start a band called "masked head" and play nasty cookie monster thrash angry metal

4.gif



+1

It's coming , smoking is on its way out.Some places I go and work are 100% tobacco free , in any form it is banned.

I have recently quit *and must say it is a nasty habit , I would rather smell @$$ than a dozen smokers in a group.
I had no idea how bad it is.

It will be a glorious day when it is banned in public and semi private places all together .


Let the smokers have their own club??? sure , I don't have to go there and they don't have to come to mine.


Face it smokers, you are not going to win this one .




Your idea is not a bad one and could be done , do a google on smoke eaters and build from there


*for the 5th time in 2 years and can say I think I have it wooped this time , I can feel it like I never have.
 
#32
It might cut down on smoke in the air you're breathing, but I don't think it will eliminate the smoke. It would have to be one hell of a filter system to remove the minute smoke particles from the air at the volume that would be needed to provide enough air to breathe while pushing the smoke filled air that comes from all around out of the way.
 
#34
Doc, the filter you mentioned might help a little if you're standing really close to it. But you'll still come home stinking of smoke and so will your rig.




dravenzouk said:
On the one hand, I hate "you can't do this & that" laws, and it sucks to have legislation forcing people to live a certain way.
Click to expand...

I agree that "nanny state" laws should be avoided, but a ban on smoking in public is not one of those laws. People who smoke essentially force us non-smokers to live their unhealthy lifestyle. That ain't right. Those who wish to smoke indoors can do so at home or in private clubs.
 
#35
Once again, reeling it back to the original thread: :)

Any invention that could remove smoke from a smoky room would be a godsend. I think two things are probably true:

- Removing smoke from a small region of room is doable, and things already on the market today can probably do some of the job.

- The problem comes when you want to leave the small smokeless region of the room. There's no Mobile way to remove smoke from a room, unless we invent a Smoke-Removal-Helmet or a
Smoke-Free-Bubble. :)
 
#36
I have found that puting a piece of air conditioner filter material on the intake fan of my amp works great for getting most of the smoke out. As for my basses, I wipe them down with GHS gloss after every show. That stuff seems to have a polishing and cleaning effect. When I was a smoker, and I quit about a month ago; I didn't care about smoke damage. Now that I can smell how nasty it is, I try to avoid getting smoke anywhere near my gear. Fortunately, Ohio (where I live) now has a smoking ban. No more filter material! :)
 
#37
Doc you evidently are enamoured with your brainstorm, posting in three forums. How about a "bubble boy" outfit so you can maintain your own environment? Air purifiers are not a new idea. Think it through. So if you are standing on the X on the stage in front of this thing you will somehow overcome a room full of smoke? What happens when you play Johnny B Goode and do the Chuck Berry walk? Oh I know we can put it on wheels and drag it across the stage with you. Will it also take care of the pot that evidently is being smoked too?
I will restate fact, the country is heading towards non smoking in public. Even if the idea was a good one the horses are leaving the barn. You missed the boat.
 
#38
I'm only thinking about a stream of fresh air in my face like the small fan I use now, only the stream of air would have much less smoke in it.

During a couple of songs last night I actually had to rephrase the lyrics because the smoke was choking me.

Think: "personal smoke eater"

Hey, anything would help and be better'n nothing.:hmm:


(not really "enamored", just posting of FOUR forums to see what ideas develop)
 
#40
I think something like the ionic breeze would be your best bet. Do a google on that type of product. I checked it out a while ago and from what I know there are better ones out there that have a fan and do a better job.

Two things that turned me off about the ionic breeze was it seem to give some people headaches, and people who lived in the city found themselves cleaning the filterless grid thing very often. I would imagine it would be the same in a smokey club.
 

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