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Smoking is killing me

#41
RCCollins said:
really? a ban? so no one can open a smoker-friendly business?
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I personally love the smoking bans. I can finally go out for a few drinks and not come home smelling like an ash tray. I do, however, agree with you to a certain extent. I think a fair solution would be for businesses that want to allow smoking to apply for smoking permits (much like alcohol permits), and that there be a limit on the number available based on the population of the area.

That would open the possibility for bars who cater to specific crowds to keep their main clientele (I'm thinking of places like biker bars). Also, we could see places like cigar bars where people want to go burn a stogie and drink a nice glass (or three) of cognac or scotch. Make them post on their doors that they are smoke-friendly establishments.

This way, everyone wins. Non-smokers could go to their favorite bars, and smokers could go to their bars. At that point, they could leave it up to people to make their own decisions as to where to spend their evening.

I know that this isn't really the forum for this discussion. This is just an idea that has been bouncing around in my skull for a while. Sorry for the thread hijack.
 
#42
I used to play in a smokey hellhole in N KY....we were all constantly getting upper respiratory infections. In the winter when they opened up the door and I was outside you could see the smoke just pour out of the door. It was nasty. I could feel the film on my skin and would have to go home at 2am to take a shower. The drummer left his drums there fulltime as we were the house and..he brought them home once to clean them and it took about 10 white shop rags to clean his drums that became dark brown. It was pretty scary. And I was a smoker at that time. They had smokeeaters that they would not even turn on because they needed filters and they dind't want to spring for them because they wanted more profit...the owner's son's fiance was pregnant and worked in there every night breathing the huge cloud of smoke. I had a bass I used there and had it in a gigbag for about 7 years without ever opening it, when I opened it, I could still smell the smoke.

All that being said..it would feel strange to me playing in a joint with no smoke.
 
#43
Sorry but smoking bans are GREAT! Smoke in your own house or car. Someone smoking at the next table in a bar or club affects me, me drinking a beer at the next table doesnt affect you (unless I choose to). Thats the bottom line. I said it before, if you wore a fishbowl on your head so I couldnt smell it, then light your hair on fire and have at it! What I like to do is go stand next to the smokers and pass gas for 10 minutes every 10 minutes...hey its a bar, your arent there for your health!
 
#45
A few of my friends sort of burned out and became deadbeats. A fun night with them turned into sitting on the floor with them chain smoking. I got sick of the sore throat burn and the stinking clothes. As far as I know they are still like that. :hiding:
 
#46
MUSHROOMSeAcOw said:
Gas masks are pretty metal.
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When I first read the original post, I had this mental image of the band members wearing WWI-era gas masks:

GasMasksOnBikes.jpg


With the right clothing, it'd be a cool visual to go with the band! Just make sure you still use the fan, or passing out would be a real risk :cool:
 
#47
My experience only and YMMV.

A smoking ban in all bars and restaurants was enacted in my state a few months ago after our citizens voted it in. My main band has a standing weekend gig at a local room (550 capacity) that was notorious for its heavy smoking clientele and bad ventilation. After 4-hour shows Friday and Saturday nights at that establishment I was literally useless all day Sunday... headache, worn down, eyes burning, irritable. We played our first smoke-free weekend in that same venue, and not only could I fall into bed without taking a shower, but I could not believe how much better I felt that Sunday. Even my wife noticed.

This is not meant as a dig on smokers, I am simply saying that not having to play in smoke-filled environments has made a world of difference in my outlook toward gigs and will likely extend my gigging career. I'm 44 and not sure how much longer I could have kept it up otherwise.

BTW... the manager of said establishment told us that since the smoking ban went into effect he has actually seen bigger crowds, and that they are younger, better dressed, behave better and spend more money than the "regulars" that frequented the place before the ban. So that kind of puts the lie to the "bad for business" argument against smoking bans, at least at this venue.
 
#52
When I was gigging 5-nighters for many years in the 80's, we often played rooms so smoky you could see yourself exhaling puffs of second-hand smoke when you were singing. I was always fighting some kind of allergy/chest cold/bronchitis/depressed immune system malady. Again, no offense to smokers, but we're just not all cut out for that.

I got out of performing for a couple of decades, and now at the ripe age of 51 I can once again enjoy a healthy rotation of regular gigging due to the public smoking ban in my state.

As for reservation casinos, I'm sure cigarettes are a big part of their revenue, both the casino and the reservation. I don't know what you could possibly do to avoid it if you want to play with this band in smoking venues.
 
#60
Luckie said:
I live in MN, and not being able to smoke inside when it's -20 is way uncool.
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I can see your point but having to play for hours in a stinky, smoke filled room when you don't smoke is way uncool, too. :D

I also agree that I'm not going to a bar for my health but I'd rather not go there for my lungs to be abused, either.

True, the air doesn't belong to me but it doesn't soley belong to the smokers, either.

IMO and YMMV, of course.
 

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