RTP-area local music and culture

[jge AT cs.unc.edu]

> Well, that and the fact that one of my employees swore to me that he
> would never go to a non-smoking venue and that there were a lot of
> people like him (I don't smoke, so I can't relate.)

I think I feel this guy's pain; I am personally sick of the puritanical
mindset
that's been sweeping the country (both socially and legally) for the
past 10-20
years. I don't like government banning my right to pollute myself with
any substance
I choose.  But (maybe I'm reading too much into these guys' attitude) I
also reject
the notion that a person is making some sort of big counter-cultural
statement by
smoking and/or being militantly anti-nonsmoking.

Do these people not get that by smoking you are supporting one of the
biggest, most evil, Republicanism-enabling industries in the country ?
Do they not get that by not banning smoking in bars (when there's
overhelming
evidence that it's extremely hazardous to the health of the employees),
that
society is saying "the kind of people who work in bars are losers, who
gives
a shit if they have a safe workplace ?"

I feel Glenn's pain too (ok, I've never tried to run a small business).
 I'd second the
suggestion he talk to Frank and Mouse and see what they think it's done
for them
business-wise.  Maybe there could be a smoking area behind 506, if
there was
some way to separate customers from bands and their gear (maybe bang
another
doorway into the back wall ?!?)   Making the music room non-smoking
might work
if there was a strong airflow from back to front, and maybe a window at
the end of
the bar so people could grab a drink there.

I'm not real smoke-phobic, but I go to OCSC a hell of a lot less than I
used to;
I don't worry all that much about the second-hand smoke health-wise,
but I hate
having a hangover when I only drank two beers.  And I know a lot of
people who
won't go out at all to places where there's smoking - people who've
started going
to the Cradle and Cave again.  And as far as other items on the agenda
of the
club-goer besides good music, check out the demographics at the Wine
Bar next
time they have a live band ...

John





>
> > If the town would allow people to drink on the sidewalk in front of
> > 506, now we'd be in business.
>
> Haven't I seen folks drinking at patio tables in front of a restaurant
> just up the street?  How does the law differentiate?
>
> Could we just turn the Cage into a glass tube with a giant exhaust hood
> and make that the smoking booth?  Or maybe something with sliding glass
> doors in that corner behind the doorman?  (only sorta kidding)
>
> > And, for the record, we did have one band, Deerhoof, request a
> > smoke-free show - and not a single person complained, so there is a
> > precedent there.
>
> Sample of one, but still...
>
> --rt
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