Refusing to play at places where smoking is allowed

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Around here a lot of bars tried to be non smoking establishments. They all failed...
...When the city ban came in to affect they even gave him a waver. When the state passed a ban they would not honer his waver and he was out the money...

But if they're all on a level playing field having to abide by non-smoking laws, does that mean all the other bars are not doing well either?

Back to the original OP's question:
As you can see by the discussion here, I think you'll find many that agree with your stance and many that don't. I think the laws of your local area will dictate whether that will be problematic or not. Before smoking laws were introduced, I do not know of a bar that didn't allow it, which I imagine would be the same where you're at.

 

[dtripoli]

I think it's mostly a matter of perception and bias.
Not that long ago, every gig was a smoking gig and it was rare to ever play a smoke-free event.
No one thought about it nor whined about it.
It came with the job.
If you are a baker, don't complain about the heat
If you run a jackhammer, don't complain about the noise.

If smoke bothers you, don't play smoking gigs and don't whine to me about evil smokers and how it infringes on your space.

BTW, I am not a smoker but I support your choice to smoke

 

[drea2304]

I had to laugh at some of the posts here... You can clearly see that some people here smoke, and will rationalize any way possible to justify supporting their own interests. Like we have not heard it all before... Oh veterans smoke and they...so we should allow...and I have the god given right to...blah, blah, blah.

I really do not care if you smoke or not, but don't try to BS the rest of us. Grow a set, man up, and say that you support smoking gigs, because you are a smoker, and this supports what you perceive as your own best interests. Trying to blow smoke up out butts, just destroys any credibility you may have had (pun intended).


As for gigging in a smoke filled venue... CA has banned smoking indoors, even in bars, and many outside gigs allow smoking only in certain areas. The people who complain about their right to smoke never really consider the rights of non smokers. IF they did, such bans would never have been necessary. I do not like laws dictating what we can and cannot do, but I also have issues with smokers deciding that everyone around them should stink.
I worked as a bar bouncer for many years. I have heard all the arguments. If smokers had collectively been more considerate of others, such laws would never have even been dreamed up

10-4!!!

 

[bolophonic]

I have about as much sympathy for bar owners as your average citizen does for a crack dealer. I don't wish either any ill will, but I don't shed any tears when their plans don't work out. One just happens to be legal.

My friend installed a 75k air filtration system in his bar to keep people happy and to hopefully increase business. He had the air tested inside on a packed Friday night. It tested better then the air in the parking lot.

The system didn't happen to vent into the parking lot, did it?

 

[jive1]

Where I live, all places are non smoking unless they have an area with it's own ventilation system. However, there's not too many of those around. I'm a smoker, and I really don't mind stepping outside for a smoke, and I'll do that even if the place allows smoking indoors.

As a bandleader, if the OP didn't want to play in smoking places and can do their job, it's not a problem. But, if I took a job where there is smoking allowed, the OP should be OK with me getting a sub. Now if I got a steady, well paying gig at a smoking establishment, then I might go ahead and replace the OP because it becomes impractical to find a sub on a regular basis. But, I fully support the people like the OP who don't want to play in places that allow smoking. On the flipside, I would expect someone like the OP to understand if I had to call in a sub or a replacement. We have the right to choose our working conditions, and that includes whether to work somewhere smoky or not.

 

[BootzillaSun]

1st i didn't read every post ,but the very 1st post asked Should i let the band i am auditioning for know about his smoking issue . I quit smoking 3yrs ago and had smoked for 20yrs . I think you absolutely have to tell the band your auditioning for about the issue. Manly because of the potential gig and financial limitations that you would bring to the band . Here in NY there is no indoor smoking and most places have smoking areas. I find the smell of the ppl after they come back in even worse than the smoke its self almost. I hope you can find a band of non smokers that only play at places that are 100% smoke free and PAY. To anyone that turned this into anything more than that its this simple if you don't like smoking walkaway they might not like the way you look or smell either

 

[kevteop]

I was a smoker (I'm not any more) when the public smoking ban was introduced in the UK, but I agreed with it at the time and still do. People who work in bars - musicians included - shouldn't be expected to work in those conditions when we know the cancer risks of passive smoking, it's just ridiculous.

 

[hdracer]

That's a pretty bold statement. Got unbiased proof that this was the precise cause and that allowing smoking would change this? Keep in mind that external economics and the price of a bar drink vs. what you can buy at the store is cheap and the economy isn't always in the best of shape in most locations.

My bar is doing quite well, almost too busy at times.

Not sure where you are at but around here in the summer the bars with patios do okay but as soon as winter hits it dies. You don't need statics when you walk into a place and there is only 20-25 people there when there use to be 70-90. I have five customers that are bar owners. Two of the own multiple bars. They all say the same thing and none of them smoke. Just talk to the beer distributors delivering to bars, they are all down 30-40 %. Some of that could also be from the .08 blood alcohol law now too. The big clubs that bring in big acts do well along with the higher class places. It is the working mans dumps that use to book cover bands and pack the place on weekends and would be full from 4-11 pm on week nights that are hurting. From I have been told what is happening is the smokers do not stick around long. May be have one or two then leave. After they leave their non smoking buddy's leave because their friends are gone. It does hurt the economy all the way around.

There are ways around the smoky bar. Install a proper ventilation system and allow smoking. No ventilation- no smoking. Air quality should be the standard.

 

[hdracer]

The system didn't happen to vent into the parking lot, did it?

No it was filtered.

 

[Lee H]

Not sure where you are at but around here in the summer the bars with patios do okay but as soon as winter hits it dies. You don't need statics when you walk into a place and there is only 20-25 people there when there use to be 70-90. I have five customers that are bar owners. Two of the own multiple bars. They all say the same thing and none of them smoke. Just talk to the beer distributors delivering to bars, they are all down 30-40 %. Some of that could also be from the .08 blood alcohol law now too. The big clubs that bring in big acts do well along with the higher class places. It is the working mans dumps that use to book cover bands and pack the place on weekends and would be full from 4-11 pm on week nights that are hurting. From I have been told what is happening is the smokers do not stick around long. May be have one or two then leave. After they leave their non smoking buddy's leave because their friends are gone. It does hurt the economy all the way around.

There are ways around the smoky bar. Install a proper ventilation system and allow smoking. No ventilation- no smoking. Air quality should be the standard.

OK, this is the point where I call BS. You can tell all the big stories you want, but I have worked as a bouncer in too many bars to lend credibility to second hand accounting from someone who is obviously trying to promote his own interests

I was working as a bouncer when CA passed it's ban on indoor smoking, and continued to do so until last year. The bans did evoke a minor and temporary backlash. Then those who were going to drink came to the realization that they were not making a difference, and went back to furthering their drinking habits. They just went outside to smoke. I have even enforced the smoking ban as security at biker rallies. Aside from a few whiners, it was no big deal. Smokers walked outside with their drinks, then came back in for another drink

You are not stopping drinkers from drinking, just because they are not allowed to have a lit cigarette and an ash tray on the bar. That claim is absolutely ridiculous, and anyone with any common sense, at all, will realize that...



Besides, bar business is ALWAYS seasonal. It picks up arouns Christmas, and drops off after New Years. When outdoor activities are at their peak, people drink at the laks, campground, or outdoor events. When nothing else is going on, and weather forces them inside, people go to bars

 

[hdracer]

OK, this is the point where I call BS. You can tell all the big stories you want, but I have worked as a bouncer in too many bars to lend credibility to second hand accounting from someone who is obviously trying to promote his own interests

I was working as a bouncer when CA passed it's ban on indoor smoking, and continued to do so until last year. The bans did evoke a minor and temporary backlash. Then those who were going to drink came to the realization that they were not making a difference, and went back to furthering their drinking habits. They just went outside to smoke. I have even enforced the smoking ban as security at biker rallies. Aside from a few whiners, it was no big deal. Smokers walked outside with their drinks, then came back in for another drink

You are not stopping drinkers from drinking, just because they are not allowed to have a lit cigarette and an ash tray on the bar. That claim is absolutely ridiculous, and anyone with any common sense, at all, will realize that...



Besides, bar business is ALWAYS seasonal. It picks up arouns Christmas, and drops off after New Years. When outdoor activities are at their peak, people drink at the laks, campground, or outdoor events. When nothing else is going on, and weather forces them inside, people go to bars

You have no idea what the weather is like here in Minnesota in the winter. Bouncing is not owning. Keep your BS to yourself. You are the one pushing your one way view. I pointed out ways to have good air quality.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

There are ways around the smoky bar. Install a proper ventilation system and allow smoking. No ventilation- no smoking. Air quality should be the standard.

I imagine that the working man's dumps wouldn't have the financial means to put in a decent ventilation system. Heck, they are probably the same ones that want us to play for free!

 

[the yeti]

we dropped a club this year for mostly the same reason. if we were making more there we might not though.

if you were auditioning for my band i'd understand your position.

 

[spade2you]

You have no idea what the weather is like here in Minnesota in the winter.

I've been in Minnesohhhhhhta before. Smoking or not, I'm less likely to mess around with bars when there's lots of snow, ice, and subzero temps.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Yeah, but you're French.

All public places in France are non smoking. Bars, restaurants, hotels, working places, everywhere. It's been this way for over 10 years.
Although well aware of most prejudices typically associated with frech culture, I'm afraid I didn't get your joke, if there was any.

 

[jive1]

I imagine that the working man's dumps wouldn't have the financial means to put in a decent ventilation system. Heck, they are probably the same ones that want us to play for free!

I used to play at a cigar bar long ago. Paid well, and the clientele was pretty well to do. They probably sold as much brandy and cocktails as beer. Not sure whether they sunk alot into ventilation, but my guess is that they did because the place didn't stink. Actually the room was quite nice.

I really do think that if I opened up a bar that allowed smoking inside, I'd have a slamming business, especially in places that get real cold or real hot. Sure the non-smokers wouldn't come, but that wouldn't be my target market. In Atlanta, there's a company doing pretty good business running an upscale mobile cigar lounge where people are willing to pay a premium to smoke comfortably.

 

[ChrisB2]

Look, smoking a pack a day is stupid, anyone who still smokes cigarettes habitually is not too bright. But if people want to smoke in a bar, I say let 'em. Everyone is free to choose whether to patronize the smoking business or not, and to choose to work there or not. If you guys saying the ban helps business are right, why are bar owners against it, and why weren't there any non-smoking bars before the ban???

You pee in the pool but I don't think you should be banned from swimming in public.

 

[stratovani]

Not a problem for us here in Massachusetts. It's been no smoking in bars and restaurants for a few years now. Hey, you want to light up? Go outside. I did when I smoked, and it didn't bother me at all.

 

[jonas_24112]

Would be a problem here in rural south central Va. Most popular bars are smoking. Bigger cities within 1 hr are a mix of smoking and non.

 

[otherclef]

I guess it's unfortunate that the OP lives in an area where smoking is still allowed.

It's unfortunate you think its ok for a small group of men to tell us what's allowed.