HamerHokie Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 GOOD: No more smoke. During the time of year where I have chest congestion for weeks on end, lack of cigarette smoke makes the throat feel better at gig's end.BAD: Drop in crowd size by 40% at least, hope this is short term.
MCChris Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 I'm guessing it's short term. Smokers gotta socialize eventually.I was out both Friday and Saturday a couple weekends ago seeing a friend's cover band and Webb Wilder respectively; both venues were packed.
cmatthes Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 I actually know MORE people willing to go out now to see bands than before the ban. Montgomery County has been smoke-free for the most part for several years.According to all the bar owners I know, smoking isn't killing the crowds, it's the crackdown on DUIs and tougher BAC restrictions. Two have specifically mentioned that the smokers (a broad sweeping generalization that is not mine!) are typically not their best customers anyway.
Bruiser Brody Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 There's been a smoking ban in Austin for a few years now. Not a big deal since places have built outside beer gardens or patios which is cool. Cool that some bars have spent the money building covered outside stages where folks can light up and drink and be as loud as they want as well. yee-haw
HamerHokie Posted February 11, 2008 Author Posted February 11, 2008 Where did you guys play?Friday - Apehangers in Southern MD, this is a biker bar and it was really impacted.Saturday - Ram's Head in Savage MD, not nearly as bad.
Thundernotes Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 Our ban became mandatory in September and some rooms have recovered or even expanded their number of regular customers. Others (like the bowling crowd, for example) have not returned. Don't laugh - the bowling lanes are a great gig for us and only 3 miles from home.
jisham Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 One of my former bands played Apehangers alot several years ago but I can imagine them being hit for sure.
Boogie1 Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 GOOD: No more smoke. During the time of year where I have chest congestion for weeks on end, lack of cigarette smoke makes the throat feel better at gig's end.BAD: Drop in crowd size by 40% at least, hope this is short term.The bars have been lighter here in AZ ever since the ban in May '07. It sprung back somewhat, but not enough. It is nice not going home with that STANK though........in my amps and guitars too! That's some NASTY stuff, tobacco. Nothing in the world I hate more!
petemfa51 Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 We've had the NO SMOKING thing in clubs up here (RI) for years now. MORE people go to clubs now because of it!!!The smokers just go outside, have a smoke, and come right back in. The bars set up outside areas just for this.Every band I know up here says it was the best thing they ever did, BIG increases in crowds.
DavidE Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 There was definitely an impact in Columbus, Ohio. There was an instant drop off and a lot of bars let everyone smoke for a while. Then the ban went state wide and most of the bars that illegally allowed smoking complied. Honestly, I've seen the impact. We still have busy nights, but where we used to pack the place when we played every Thursday, but now when I've popped in on the occasional weeknight to see someone play, it's just dead. The crowds are different than they used to be. The people who voted for the ban really didn't start coming out to bars. They probably wanted smoke free restaurants.Smokers have gotten used to going outside. Smart bar owners have put a little money into tent walls and heaters to make the outdoor smoking experience more tolerable for their best customers.I agree with this for Columbus too: "The bars have been lighter here in AZ ever since the ban in May '07. It sprung back somewhat, but not enough."On the other hand, we still get as many gigs as we want and turn down plenty of offers. I'm not making any less money. People still come out to see us every once in a while. :-) I can breathe. My gear, clothes are car don't stink from smoke. I'm a happy camper.
sw686blue Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 Same happened here. All the bars and restaurants bitched at first and, yes there were fewer customers, but after awhile, the patrons came back.Feels good to go out and not come home smelling like an ashtray.
Craig S Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 From a equipment standpoint, your gear loves it. My old Twin smelled so bad of smoke I never could get the odor and smoke stains out out until it was restored. If you have stuff that uses computer technology it's even better.
peedenmark7 Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 I dont smoke... most people in the bars I go to do smoke...its my decision to expose myself to second hand smoke...I am sick of the squeeky wheel politics in this country.tell folks they cant smoke,and the bar loses business... the govt. has no right or business determining where and when you can smoke.no more than they can tell the smelly guy sitting next to me in these places the he/she needs to bath and use some f-ing deodorant.. yet I still suffer for the sake of political correctness.booze is next....be prepared when they tax the sh!t out of that..personally I am more irritated by the yuppy 30 somethings that bring their rotten children into the restaurants/bars that I frequent or happen to visit while on the road..running around like wild indians, ,crawling around my feet at the bar rail.... begging ,crying and whining for quarters to play the adult gambling machines , completely unattended while their parents suck up booze for the afternoon/eve.....the problem isnt with smokers... its with the non smokers... you cant discriminate and tax the shit out of one group of people, especially under the guise of it being a luxury tax...
jerseydrew Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 Same happened here. All the bars and restaurants bitched at first and, yes there were fewer customers, but after awhile, the patrons came back.Feels good to go out and not come home smelling like an ashtray.+1 They all came back.No smoking in NJ. Thank goodness!!!!
dfitz Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 Smoking Ban hit MA a few years ago and there was an initial drop off as NH still allowed smoking so people went up there (most of the gigs I play are on the border of MA and NH)...but over about 6 months everything was back to normal...as someone up above mentioned...the gear loves the no smoke! -Dave
hamerican gigolo Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 I dont smoke... most people in the bars I go to do smoke...its my decision to expose myself to second hand smoke...I am sick of the squeeky wheel politics in this country.tell folks they cant smoke,and the bar loses business... the govt. has no right or business determining where and when you can smoke.no more than they can tell the smelly guy sitting next to me in these places the he/she needs to bath and use some f-ing deodorant.. yet I still suffer for the sake of political correctness.booze is next....be prepared when they tax the sh!t out of that..personally I am more irritated by the yuppy 30 somethings that bring their rotten children into the restaurants/bars that I frequent or happen to visit while on the road..running around like wild indians, ,crawling around my feet at the bar rail.... begging ,crying and whining for quarters to play the adult gambling machines , completely unattended while their parents suck up booze for the afternoon/eve.....the problem isnt with smokers... its with the non smokers... you cant discriminate and tax the shit out of one group of people, especially under the guise of it being a luxury tax...Amen! The truth will set you free. God forbid the politically correct may have their freedoms at theexpense of everyone else,and i don't smoke. As far as bratty kids are concerned,parents need tobring back the good old-fashioned American ass whipping.
Craig S Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 personally I am more irritated by the yuppy 30 somethings that bring their rotten children into the restaurants/bars that I frequent or happen to visit while on the road..running around like wild indians, ,crawling around my feet at the bar rail.... begging ,crying and whining for quarters to play the adult gambling machines , completely unattended while their parents suck up booze for the afternoon/eve.....Isn't the logic here the same? don't go to those places if that bugs ya'.... sorry, a liitle devil's advocate here. I know where you are going though... for my kids tha't not even an option and they are not allowed in bars or adult only areas... Seems like most places are trying to accomodate an outside area from smokers which seems to be working.. Seems like attendance is back up or increased in some of the clubs I've been in.. I know a lot of non-smokers who would not go to a music bar because of the smoke.. I think demographically there are more non-smokers so maybe this will actually increase attendance.
Zoner Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 As someone who had to quit playing in bars due to a pulmonary condition, I welcomed the smoking ban here in MN and will go back to playing gigs as my part-time job. The ban was primarily designed to protect employees, not patrons, so see it as an extension of OSHA regs in a way. Smoking is somewhat unique in the sense that smoking is a personal choice that can have severe (deadly) consequences for those around you. Imagine being a kid riding around in a car with both parents smoking and the windows up. The kid has no choice but would it be a stretch to say that the parents were endangering their child? It is a slippery subject (banning smoking) and a good example of where freedoms, rights, and moral responsibilty converge and create controversy. Oh, and my Mom would stuff a napkin in my mouth if I was being a PITA in a restaurant - not very P.C. at all I would say! Z
shredmeister Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 I dont smoke... most people in the bars I go to do smoke...its my decision to expose myself to second hand smoke...I am sick of the squeeky wheel politics in this country.tell folks they cant smoke,and the bar loses business... ote name='peedenmark7' post='269611' date='Feb 12 2008, 11:39 AM']I dont smoke... most people in the bars I go to do smoke...its my decision to expose myself to second hand smoke...I am sick of the squeeky wheel politics in this country.tell folks they cant smoke,and the bar loses business... the govt. has no right or business determininthe govt. has no right or business determining where and when you can smoke.no more than they can tell the smelly guy sitting next to me in these places the he/she needs to bath and use some f-ing deodorant.. yet I still suffer for the sake of political correctness.booze is next....be prepared when they tax the sh!t out of that..personally I am more irritated by the yuppy 30 somethings that bring their rotten children into the restaurants/bars that I frequent or happen to visit while on the road..running around like wild indians, ,crawling around my feet at the bar rail.... begging ,crying and whining for quarters to play the adult gambling machines , completely unattended while their parents suck up booze for the afternoon/eve.....the problem isnt with smokers... its with the non smokers... you cant discriminate and tax the shit out of one group of people, especially under the guise of it being a luxury tax...Yep. People on this forum - do you really want the government infringing on private property rights ?You really think its a good thing?You might not like the smoke but this is not a smoking issue - it is the issue of the government taking away freedom - to run your own business as you see fit, to use a legal substance.Yeah you will say its great until they come for your freedom. Just like what happened in the 30's in Germany. Same thing. Perfect example of the ignorance of lessons of history.As for the smoking - I have 2 studies that I printed out that you can't even find anymore done by the World Health Organization. The largest and longest study every done on smoking - conclusion - there is NO PROOF of harm done by second hand smoke.In a recent report (2 years ago) by the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE they did a study - A PERSON WORKING IN A BAR WOULD HAVE TO WORK 4000 HOURS - YES 4000 HOURS - to get the amount of smoke that a smoker consumes with ONE CIGARETTE.Ever take statistics? I have. Anything below a 95% confidence level is a joke. The EPA - yeah your government - has a 90% confidence level in their study. Bet you did not hear that in the media eh?Statistically speaking its a HUGE difference and makes the study a joke.There has NEVER been any evidence - yeah NEVER - NOT ONE CASE EVER PROVEN - of anyone ever getting cancer from second hand smoke. People have claimed it and cases were looked at and it was recently reported these cases occurred to Radon Gas from the ground!Face it - this shit is dribbled out by the people who don't like the smell of smoke. Personally I don't smoke. I don't like the smell either. But I like FREEDOM way more. I say Let 'em light up or make it illegal. If it was that bad it would be illegal.I don't like to get political on these boards but I am so tired of the bullshit on this particular subject and the sheeple who fall for the lies from the media and government and people with an agenda.Pretty sad if you think its OK to let the government dictate these kinds of things just because you personally might not like the smell of smoke. We will never remain a free country with that kind of thinking.
MCChris Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 Just going on record that I agree with the previous post. It's bullshit to ostracize people for engaging in a legal activity. If cigarette smoking is so abhorrent, criminalize it. Of course, that'll never happen. There's too much money and special interests involved.
silentman Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 Another harmless thread destined for political outrage! Well no one has taken a dem/repub stance directly here.
cmatthes Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 In a recent report (2 years ago) by the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE they did a study - A PERSON WORKING IN A BAR WOULD HAVE TO WORK 4000 HOURS - YES 4000 HOURS - to get the amount of smoke that a smoker consumes with ONE CIGARETTE.I strongly disagree with this point. I'm no doc, nor am I a smoker - never even tried a cigarette - but I was a bartender for a few years. I have a particular permanent respiratory condition SOLELY from working in a bar that was usually full of smokers. I've been to specialists who have confirmed this (Johns Hopkins, not just any buncha hacks). Basically, the damage that was done entirely by second-hand smoke was as if I had smoked for years. Two of my docs didn't seem to believe me at first when I told them I wasn't a smoker.May not sound plausible to some of you, but actually, this was a U-shaped bar at a very busy resort area. Most nights, I could look down the length of the bar and see the smoke being blown out by 40 or so patrons on either side. Guess where all that went? It formed a big cloud in the center that the bartenders had to walk through for 8, 10 or more hours on end. This place also had two refrigerator-sized smoke eaters running on full blast at all times, but in the patron/dining and stage areas - not the bar.I've got no problem if people want to smoke - that's a personal decision and not mine to make, but I'm gonna be REALLY pissed if lung cancer takes me down! Comparing a smoking ban to Nazi Germany is a bit of a stretch. Anyway, I also sense that this thread is getting closer to "Outer Circle" territory, but want to underscore my point above that I don't think it's the smoking bans that are killing business/bands. I think it's the increased crackdown on drunk driving. Don't think that's a bad thing at all, just a fact that is often overlooked whenever the smoking ban argument comes up.
Devnor Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 It's an indoor smoking ban. Wanna smoke, go outside. It really comes down to being considerate of others.
cmatthes Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 It's an indoor smoking ban. Wanna smoke, go outside. It really comes down to being considerate of others.Much like farting.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.