Cigarette smoke..cough...yuk!

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 25 Apr 2002 4:26 pm

There is one place I play that the cigarette smoke is like ground fog and the place has little or no ventilation. My eyes burn and my your intruments & clothing stink after the gig. I get undressed in the garage and hit the shower before hitting the sack.

Maybe it's partly in my head, but I feel like I have been dragged through a knot hole for a few days after I play a weekend in this smoke infested pit.

There are not many places to play in Rhode Island & So. Eastern Mass and the band is booked into this smoked out club for the rest of the year.

Care to share experiences or offer any suggestions. Except wearing a gas mask that is?[This message was edited by Len Amaral on 25 April 2002 at 05:27 PM.][This message was edited by Len Amaral on 25 April 2002 at 05:28 PM.]

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 25 Apr 2002 5:05 pm

Naw Len,
just go ahead and stink...everybody does it.
Seriously though, I'd go through the same routine 5 and 6 nights a week when I played full time. Finally, CA passed a no smoking in public places law the works great for the most part. Maybe folks still get away with it in the more obscure dives but the better places and the Rest./Bars are nice.

Make yourself a poster and demonstrate. It worked out here! I really do feel your pain.

Tom Jordan

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Sierra Royalty S12 5/5 Universal Tuning, Session 400 LTD, ProFex II

Chris Caruso · Post by **Chris Caruso** » 25 Apr 2002 5:48 pm

I'm with you Len. I am a reformed smoker (19 years) and I hate smoke. We play at a club in NH and when I get home I get the "Dad you stink" and my wife throws the clothes in the laundry immediately at 2 o"clock in the morning!!!

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 25 Apr 2002 6:07 pm

Smoke!!!!!!!!!the one reason I will not play out anymore,sides I can't manage all that weight.Draggin all that stuff in and out.
I do enjoy do'in a jam every so often and woodshedin in my music room,maybe I jus gettin old.

Bill Ford

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Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 25 Apr 2002 6:44 pm

Smoke was really bad at the Dallas show, even with NO SMOKING signs on the walls.

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 25 Apr 2002 7:00 pm

Len...I am 72 yrs old and I can't lift my steel or amp because I was a smoker and played the likes of the smoke filled bars as you described for the past 35/40 years. I am slowly dieing with emphysema as a result of all of the above. My steel is copper colored because of the nicotine buildup and my amps are popping and cracking because of the nicotine build up at the contact points. The neck selector switch on my P/P is in need of replacement because of this. Even if the money is good and you can buy new equipment...you will never be able to buy a pair of lungs. I HAD to quit playing the bars because of the SMOKE filled environment. Do your lungs a favor and get away from this type of playing environment. Remember, it is a case of "life or Breath".

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 25 Apr 2002 7:34 pm

Oh, don't get me started on this. I'll be doing it Friday and Saturday. It won't be too soon for me when they pass a national no smoking law for bars and restaurants!

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 25 Apr 2002 7:51 pm

And I say bring those no smoking laws on. Although I'm not a smoker, once upon a time I would enjoy a good cigar. But after watching my dad squander a perfectly healthy body because he couldn't give up his Camels, that straightened me out once and for all. Kenny Dail's right; health first. Yeah Kevin; let's move forward.[This message was edited by Rex Thomas on 25 April 2002 at 08:52 PM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 25 Apr 2002 7:56 pm

Well, I'm a light, but conscientious smoker.

I think that if/when smoking is banned in bars, the crowds will drop off as much, if not more than they did when the DWI/DUI laws got tougher. That will result in even less places to play!

Most of the "decent" places I play have very good ventilation and/or judicially spaced smoke eaters. I guess that's because it's Texas where the air conditioners run most of the time and it's usually too hot to open a window.

Terry Wendt · Post by **Terry Wendt** » 25 Apr 2002 8:18 pm

That "smoke" is actually what gives your guitar "TONE" and also helps "build character" as a steel guitar player!

[my opinion]

he he he

2pT

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TheEarlyDays.com

and appearing regularly...
Jimmy Crawford/Russ Hicks... and Buddy Emmons on Bass! aLotOfSpace.com

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 25 Apr 2002 8:19 pm

Is it the case that the steeler's world is just plain smokey? When my MSA arrived via UPS a couple years ago, it smelled very smokey. Either the previous owner was a smoker or he played a lot of smokey venues. I ordered some steelin' CDs from one retailer and they thoroughly smelled of smoke. I just recently ordered some steel training material from another retailer and it smelled very much of cigarette smoke. Nothing I've ever had shipped to me or bought in a store ever smelled like cigarettes--apart from PSG related items (including the PSG itself!). This is pretty new to me (a non smoker). Now I'm not down on smokers (though I do think it's not a good habit) but there seems to be a prevalence of smoke in a fair amount of the steel world I've had contact with. Am I right, or is this a skewed perception?

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Bill L | My steel page | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?[This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 25 April 2002 at 09:22 PM.]

Steve Miller · Post by **Steve Miller** » 25 Apr 2002 8:46 pm

"it worked out great here (in CA)."

Yea, it worked out great all right. None of the ex-smokers in California will have to breath what they forced others to breath during there lifetimes. With the double wammy of the DUI laws and no smoking laws the bars are deserted or closed up altogether. The club scene is almost nonexistant. I'd rather breath a little smoke and have gigs to play.

The FAIR solution is to make the clubs vent the smoke out. I am an ex-smoker but you will NEVER hear me complain about second hand smoke. The way I see it I have NO RIGHT to complain.

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 25 Apr 2002 9:07 pm

I have never played in a smokey environment, for which I am thankful. I play in a Christian Supper Club, 98 nights per year. It was a honky tonk before. We replaced alcohol and smoke with iced tea and Jesus.

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 26 Apr 2002 4:54 am

As a confirmed non-smoker I see the debate mostly from my side, no smoking in public places. Obviously according to statistics, I'm in the majority of the population, but I still depend on bars for my living. I've always thought that good ventilation might be an intelligent alternative. Then again, we're dealing with bar owners here. If it wouldn't make a buck, they wouldn't do it.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 26 Apr 2002 5:23 am

*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 03:56 PM.]

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 26 Apr 2002 5:45 am

I play other places where people smoke, other than the place I referred to above, and it is not much of a problem.

For the steel players in the RI South Eastern Mass area, the place I am referring to is "Blondie's" in Fall River, Mass.

If you get a gig in this place, make sure you bring the Visine and an oxygen bottle.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 Apr 2002 7:53 am

Len, this is a great subject, at least for those who don't smoke ! It stinks..
Literally ! My own band mates smoke like little smoke stacks, the clubs we play are like ashe tray testing grounds.. I too, strip in the garage and run up to the shower, even after rehearsals, but I've come to live with it , I don't play out 5 or 6 nights a week like many so it doesn't really have a major effect on me at this time.
tp[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 26 April 2002 at 08:58 AM.]

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 26 Apr 2002 8:41 am

My MAJOR complaint with the Dallas show was the stinking, dirty ash tray odor as soon as we walked through the door. My eyes burned the entire time I was there. I heard many of the same complaints from other people,,,even heard people say they wouldn't be back. LOVED the music,,,HATED the smell????? I'm always amazed at people (both men and women) who use perfume to smell good and then smoke and smell like a dirty ash tray. Don't they know they stink????

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 26 Apr 2002 8:49 am

Sonny, I'm surprised at your comments. Are you talking about this year's Dallas show? They had "No Smoking" signs in the lobby this year and the only ashtrays in the main hall were in the far back, behind the sound man.

Since I'm a smoker, I didn't notice any smell, but could tell that a lot fewer people were smoking. In fact I missed more of the show than usual because I usually went outside to smoke.

Del Rangel · Post by **Del Rangel** » 26 Apr 2002 9:09 am

Research in California tends to suggest that Non-smoking statutes have not appreciably impacted the revenue of bars and restaurants. What many people complain about--that bars jobs have dried up--may have more to do with major demographic shifts, and general economic changes than anything else. Just my non-smoking two cents. See http://www.repace.com/fact_rest.html There are a number of these studies floating around. Also see http://www.gaspforair.org/gedc/gedcecca.htm [This message was edited by Del Rangel on 26 April 2002 at 10:13 AM.]

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 26 Apr 2002 9:31 am

There came a point in the late 80's or early 90's where a lot of my friends who used to come out when I was gigging started being unable to tolerate the smoke. I was smoking at that time, but stopped in the early 90's. Now I have a heck of a time tolerating it - there is a good blues place I used to go to when I was in Calgary but I pretty much gave it up because it was too smoky. I really like the folk club venues where there is no smoking. If live music has to be dependent on the ability of people to drive drunk and chain smoke, no wonder club musicians are feeling like an endangered species. But surely the answer isn't turning back the clock to the good ol' days when everyone who was pulling out of the parking lot at closing time was a menace on the road and the smoke was so thick you could cut it. Not everything about those days was good. How many fellow players and family members do we have to lose to lung cancer or emphysyma? [This message was edited by Bob Blair on 26 April 2002 at 10:33 AM.]

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 26 Apr 2002 10:36 am

Ya know those round tables that are set up behind the Soundboard at the Dallas show (about six feet from vendors along the back wall of the hall)...
People chain smoked at those tables all weekend, from open to close.

My Dad and I had a noticable tickle/sore-throat by friday afternoon.

Jim, glad to hear you went outside to puff... but there were many folks chokin' 'em back all weekend at those tables.

I saw at least 2 guys at the show wearing those neck things you have to wear after they cut a whole in your throat (I assume from smoking related illness).
At least one wheelchaired smoker, and one of those motorized tri-cycles parked in what I have to assume is the "Smoking Section" too.

(I guess they were thinking, "I got'cher "No Smoking" sign raaght'cheer Baayyy-Beee!")

Not much different at St.Louis (for us anyway).
Often time the only place to sit down was in the designated "Smoking Side" of the hall.
And folks smoked throughout the vending booth areas both inside and outside the main hall.

"Smoking Side" that's a good one!

With that said...
I'm still going back for more!... (steel that is

)

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 26 Apr 2002 11:33 am

A few months ago I was almost turned away from a recording session because my equiptment stunk so bad. They actually made me go outside, polish my steel and Amour-All my amp before they let me back into the control room. Thank goodness this producer didnt have the club player vs studio player mentality.

I'm glad to see the general opinion is changing here on the forum since the last time I posted a similar subject a couple years back. That was a flame fest that kept me from posting for quite awhile. Yet I continue to endure other people's toxic stench so I can play and make my meager living.(like tonight for instance)...I'm really not complaining though, it's just a fact of my life as a honky tonk man.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 26 Apr 2002 1:04 pm

It's been my experience that if you smoke about half a pack every week or two your body builds up a tolerance to it, just as it does to alcohol, caffeine, and other poisons, and then it's not so uncomfortable in a night club. The trick is not to get hooked. And, BTW, I've smelled things in bars that are worse than cigarette smoke.

>

C#

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 26 Apr 2002 1:46 pm

I would like to go on record as saying, although there was a designated smoking area at the Dallas show, I made a firm committment to myself that I would not smoke in the hall this year, instead going outside. I also know I wasn't the only one.
If nobody else will, I will thank the thoughtful smokers who did so.
-John