Frank
2433 posts
May 26, 2013
5:56 AM
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I was at a Maria Muldaur show a while back - she sold out a two shows...an early and a late show - this was in a little blues bar. She did not permit smoking at her shows - stating she was not able to perform/sing anymore with a room full of smoke...IT was just to hard on her voice and hurt her chest.
Many blues musicians and fans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke - does it just go with the territory?
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Kingley
2680 posts
May 26, 2013
6:17 AM
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Well it used to go with the territory. Thankfully these days though smoking is banned in a lot of places. Here in the UK, it's illegal to smoke in pubs and clubs. I'm glad that is it. I have emphysema and that's down to smoking. Most of the cause of it was my own smoking, which I quit a long time ago. However after that smoking was still legal in pubs and clubs for quite a few years. I was playing in that environment and my harps, case, mics and even my leads used to be sticky from all that secondhand smoke. Plus they used to really stink as well. I'm certain that all that contributed to my emphysema too. Thankfully at the moment it's fairly mild and I'm still able to play. Although I struggle with some of the complex stuff these days as my breath control is not what it used to be.
Last Edited by Kingley on May 26, 2013 6:29 AM
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TheoBurke
417 posts
May 26, 2013
6:29 AM
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Smoking has been banned in California public buildings, government and commercial, for years. So second hand smoke doesn't pose a threat to working musicians.Smoke , indeed, does impair a player's ability. When I quit a two pack a day habit 15 years ago, my stamina and control increased amazingly over time. The runs I played became faster (!) and longer in duration, and the accuracy improved as well. I took a six hour "stress test" a year ago--an extended medical examination to see how well your heart is doing-- and the doctor was fairly amazed at how well my heart is working. I strongly suspect the results would have been otherwise had I not quit smoking.
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nacoran
6822 posts
May 26, 2013
9:56 AM
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The smoking bans gave me a second life. I never could go to lots of places because of my asthma and an allergy to cigarette smoke (specific to cigarettes- my dad's pipe smoke wasn't nearly as bad).
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Stevelegh
755 posts
May 26, 2013
10:16 AM
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On 19th of May I made 6 months free of cigarettes. Not a single puff. Yay for me! I did it with a mix of Chanpix (Chantix) and therapy. The therapy was to actually make me quit. Chantix removes the addiction, so you become a smoker of choice (about 4 a day for me). Those are tough to quit, but here I am.
After a 30 year habit, I was getting rales. See wiki link below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crackles
As far as playing goes, yes. I'm sure we could further improve our lungs with exercise or those who are smokers could help themselves with some jogging.
Maria Muldaur is nearly 70 years old and smokey environments may be an issue. I'm sure as a child of the 60's, she's done her fair share of abuse. I'm fully expecting my health to catch up with me in the future.
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chromaticblues
1390 posts
May 27, 2013
4:34 AM
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Frank smoking hasn't been banned in public places in TN? I thought it had been. Or I quess my first question should be where did you see her?
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jbone
1264 posts
May 27, 2013
5:49 AM
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Steve, good on you man!! I am at almost 2 years free. 35 year habit. Welbutrin and the patch worked for me, of course I was ready inside myself finally.
Some places are smoking here and one in particular has a cigar fan who is so obnoxious- literally- he sits in the middle of the room and smokes those big turd-looking stogies that can single handedly clear a room in a few minutes. But what to you do? If you're paid to play there and you accept, it's on you. Most smokers are not that bad though.
I believe that playing harp over my smoking years actually was a saving grace and maybe kept me from getting worse effects. More oxygen and more lung exercise. I used to think quitting was for wimps but my wife has always had bad breathing issues and my smoking didn't help at all. After 8 years with me she finally got to breathe easy in her own home again, and that's a great feeling for me. Wish I'd done it sooner but that's life.
I sure don't blame artists who can have a no smoking request honored.
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A440
80 posts
May 27, 2013
6:05 AM
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Here in Paris (as in most places today I guess), smoking is banned in public venues. But yes - anyone singing, playing harp, or simply breathing second hand smoke will suffer. I guess there is a whole generation of blues and jazz musicians who played in smoke-filled bars of the 60s through 90s who have suffered immensely as a consequence.
I once knew a non-smoker who died of lung cancer in the 1990s... he had been a bartender for 20 years.
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Stevelegh
757 posts
May 27, 2013
6:33 AM
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@Jbone: Good for you too! Great to be free isn't it?
Yes, harp playing helps maintain lung function. My wife runs global clinical trials for COPD drugs. She brought a monitor home one day and we tried it out. She was amazed that after a nearly 30 year habit, my lung function was at 104%. It's particularly surprising as I take zero exercise.
I'm not so arrogant to think my vices won't come back to bite me in the arse one day, but I'm glad I stopped riding that train when I did.
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SuperBee
1144 posts
May 27, 2013
6:40 AM
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Haha, Frank isn't TNFrank...
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Kingley
2681 posts
May 27, 2013
6:44 AM
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"Yes, harp playing helps maintain lung function."
That's one of the reasons I keep playing. On the last spirometry test for my emphysema, my lung function was 97% of someone my age. So I'm trying to keep it that way.
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Frank
2445 posts
May 27, 2013
7:22 AM
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CromBlu...I saw her here,MoonDogs the gig was a long time ago - she had juke logan playin harp too...Smoking wasn't banned at the bar - she requested herself that no smoking be allowable at her shows there.
Last Edited by Frank on May 27, 2013 7:24 AM
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Leatherlips
207 posts
May 27, 2013
3:36 PM
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When I first started playing pubs and clubs here in Australia, back in the 90's there was no ban on smoking. I swear it was the second hand smoke which was responsible for my hangovers, not to mention the stnch in my clothing.
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Frank
2453 posts
May 27, 2013
3:38 PM
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The smoking in bars never bothered me when I was young, NOW and old man - it sickens me :(
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chromaticblues
1391 posts
May 28, 2013
7:00 AM
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@ Frank
I've never seen John Logan, but knew of him in the 80's and 90's. Mostly because of his work on TV.
I'm assuming he was VERY good?
I never like the smell of cigerette smoke!
I use to hate waking up the next day and smelling like stale smoke!
MoonDogs has an array of good music.
Seems like a cool place!
Last Edited by chromaticblues on May 28, 2013 7:02 AM
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