Karaoke Forums

Check it out, Ohio has a "can't smoke in public buildings" kinda' law.....
I have lost 3 week nights of gigs...
Since they have on fines established for the bar owner as yet. just what can I do?

wait it out. NZ went that way 2 years ago and sure things took a downturn but have slowly picked up again. Bars will soon sort out they have to provide somewhere outside that is sheltered for their smokers to nip out and have a fag in, then clientelle will return

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Yep, this whole NO-Smoking thing is getting sooooooooooo stupid!  I'm a non-smoker, hate it with a passion actually.  Take away that, next they'll be going for something else.  Quit giving away our freedoms and stand up....MrD

_________________
[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

Oregon has not gone non smoking yet but I have a gig that has been going for 3-1/2 years now and this summer the bar was sold after 43 years with the same owner. The new owner took over and made the place non smoking. Kind of scary to come in and immediately run 3/4 of your customers away. The guy had big "kahonies"

Initially the business did slow down for about a month or two, then we started building back with new clientel and then some of the regulars came back as well
now the business is up almost 30% over what it was when it was a smoking establishment. Interesting to note that the smokers acutually liked the idea of smoking outside and coming into a smoke free bar! Many of them found that they really like the smoke free environment as their eyes did not burn and they could breathe easier (these are the comments coming from the smokers).

I understand the fears of what will happen next when changing to non-smoking, many times those fears are not warranted, and sometimes they are. Sounds like the bar owners at your gigs jumped the gun a bit. A little patience on the bar owners part will pay off. All other bars and restaurants are in the same boat with the new law and people are not going to stop coming into bars because they can't smoke, temporarily maybe but not for long. Smoking is not what draws people to bars, never has been and never will be.

If I were a smoker (quit 12yrs ago) I would not stop going to bars, restaurants, and public buildings because they are off limits to smoking. Life goes on and we adapt. I would not like it but I would find a way to either quit or adapt to the laws.

Have patience things will turn around in a few months  :yes:  and your gigs will be calling you to come back.

_________________
FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Pray that it becomes a nation wide law and that will put everyone on an equal basis.

Let Nazism reign in the land of the free.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

You got that right Timber!!! Spose we could sneak across he border and we could get some Canadian soc sec #'S?

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Flipper you explained that so well.

I have been concerned what will happen to the bars business if they decide in our area to go nonsmoking. After reading what Flipper said it puts me more at ease. It
does seem the studies done on the issue back up what he says. The bars have less business at first, then build back up with even a bigger business then before.

It is just so hard to believe it's true when the vast majority of people smoke in the bar.

I guess it would be like starting over and building a new crowd.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I have to say I was really suprised at the comments coming back from the smokers. I was predicting doom and gloom myself prior to the new owner taking over the business. He made it clear to everone that it would definately be a non smoking environment.

Seeing is believing though. It was completely different than what I expected it to be. Here in Oregon it rains alot in late fall and winter, I just could not see folks standing outside and bearing the elements. The owner has a barrell full of golf umbrellas for them to use and a couple of decorative awnings to give them cover. They have had no complaints. He is installing a couple of heating elements under the awnings when the temperatures plummet. I'm thinking this could be a different deal in Chicago or East coast in the winter months.

The venues that adapt the best will do just fine.

This bar is one of about 3 in the entire Metro area (population 2 million) that is non-smoking yet they seem to be doing much better than others in the immediate area.

_________________
FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

It's been non smoking in Austin for a while, I like the fact that I can actually get through a night without have tears in my eyes, clothes that dont need to be hung out to be aired out, not having to wash my hair three times when I get home or having to blow my nose to get the smell from my lungs.   Plus there's always the doors outside, or even patios for people can still smoke with their drinks.   And the difference are noticable in where places still smoke.

We actually have an enclosed beer garden out back. It has a fire place and one of those heating elements you were talking about. They keep it open year round. I suppose it would become the smoking lounge if the laws do change for us.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

One thing I noticed almost immediately was my energy level was much higher during the show and most noticably the morning after the show.

I used to walk in the front door of my house and straight to the laundry room, then to the shower before going to bed. I did not want the cig smell on my hair to work itself into my pillow case and then have to smell it all week long.

Gone are the plugged sinuses the next morning along with no more smoke hangovers and headaches to deal with.

It's an amazing difference!

_________________
FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

That would be a perfect place to have it Babs

Providing the laws will allow it. Many laws are a bit overboard....like no smoking within 25 ft of any entry door (absolutely rediculous) that is total overkill. Right now they smoke right in the entry section and a very small amount if any gets into the building and the ventilation system quickly handles it.

If you think about it, if you are in a business area they are basically saying ....no smoking anywhere but in the middle of the street. Oh yeah that'll go over big with the smokers

I believe that the law must have a little flexibility in it to accomodate businesses that are trying to adhere to the new law and still stay in business.

_________________
FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Smoke hang over  LMAO I think you are on to something. I am a smoker myself, but the day after I have a show I always feel like doo doo. I figure it is a combination of the late hours and smokey enviroment.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

You know I just got to thinking about why the business went up 30% in just 3 months.

There are by far more non-smokers than smokers.... by going non-smoking it opened his bar up to a much broader market. Perhaps that broader market was not coming into his business because it was a smoking environment. By eliminating smoking he basically opened up his doors to more folks.

One thing we did notice is that it was a more professional and much younger clientle. They purchased the top shelf liquor ordered more food and tipped better than the other crowd. Change can be really good sometimes.

This of course is just theory not science but it makes sense.

_________________
FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I started noticing the smoke hangover when I started doing private parties. Many of them do not allow smoking in the facilities or they are outdoor events that pose little impact on the air quality. I would come back from those shows with plenty of energy and I was up early and felt good.

When I did my smoking bar gigs I was draggin my arse the next day.

After a while I found a definite pattern to it. Perhaps this is what you are experiencing

_________________
FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I come from an era where druks in a bar would gom out in the alley and duke it out They would come back in and buy each other drinks and would bond for life. Families would raise calves and in the fall would either butcher them or take them to slaughter houses then they would wrap and put in the freezer for the winter. The middle class was the majority and did not depend on in-efficient government agencies to solve social problems  Brothers of sisters took care of wife beaters Divorces took place in the home and not in the courts..You could takre any teen and put them in the woods and they could survive for by the time they were 12 they knew who they were and whom their god was.. WE had traditions and unwritten laws like respect your elders and even crooks had a code that respected society..

Now we have a society that at 21 years of age kids dont have a clue what life is about hey dont know the difference between men and women or what their roles should be..

Years ago a neighbor was admiring my military ribbons and I informed him the battle is not ovewr there anymore it is here.. Stand up and protect your rights for the liberal assholes will take them away.. Do you know any 12 year da that could survive in this society?  Fifty years ago 90% could and assume the responsiblities of an adult.. Now they depend entirely on government control...

Watch out fatties you are next...

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Think about your smoking gigs now.   I have many non smokers that leave sometimes when the smoke level gets to high for them.     I would love to see no smoking in all of my imaginary jobs.     Can't wait for the Smokeless Nazis to show up.    Why should I or anyone else be subjected to anothers statistcally proven, dirty, disgustingly filthy, illness causing habit.     Name one good reason.    Don't tell me I have a choice.

First off tobacco is a legal product and second anyone has the right to open up a non-smoking bar.  Once again the PC Nazis open their mouth and b i t c h and complain.  I can't wait til they take away alcohol (we all know the damage it can cause), cars, airplanes (they pollute), milk (that's just plain evil) and anything else someone finds offensive or bad for us and then we can all go to jail.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

Actually, that is not my understanding. Overall, based on bar sales figures from some dozen states which have gone through this, business returns to about 6% less than normal after dropping off 15-25% initially.

The circumstance described by Flipper often happens when a bar or restaurant goes non-smoking when all other bars in the area are smoking.

Cincinnati bar owners are particularly concerned, because Kentucky is a five-minute drive away....