(cough)… Played the Philadelphia Union League ‘cigar gala’ last night. It was like playing in the midst of a forest fire (cough, cough). 150 guests, cocktails with cigars, then 4 courses, each course with a special cigar to go along with it, and I mean whilst eating (cough). I love a good cigar and its aroma, but ‘twix 500 and 600 lit and smoked in a three and a half hour period … (cough). Super nice people and the room was ventilated somewhat (cough). Yeah, I'd do it again ... I started in the 50's when playing in a smoke filled room was the norm.
Ciao,
Jerry (cough)

Hi Jerry. Thanks for sharing your gig experience. That's one gig (cough cough)I definitely would have had to pass on (cough cough, cough cough).
I find cigarette smoke annoying enough, but cigar smoke (especially the stale variety) would be intolerable for me to put up with.
I suppose a quick shower plus throwing all your gig attire into the wash (or sending it (tux?) off to the dry cleaners) will remove it from your hair and clothes ,
but how long does stale cigar smoke take to finally dissipate from your music equipment? Pee yew!
I guess one would have had to live thru the 50's & 60's to become accustomed(?) to that. Lucky for me, I started out gigging here in California, when smoking was first banned in public places.

Cigarette smoke is particularly hard on the (formerly) white binding on guitars. It turns an easily recognizable yellow after a few months. It's easy to tell instruments that have been played in smoke filled bar rooms.


Of course that's half (or more) of my equipment. Frankly I don't know how we survived.

An EX partner of mine-Preston Weber, had 1/2 his tongue cut out due to cancer, even though he never smoked.

Ruined his career and his life.


I smoked a pipe for 30 years, but quit 10 years ago after an oral cancer scare.


NASTY!


Russ

Wow....that would've been rough for me, lol...

Hey JerryT,

You should of received Hazard pay for that gig.

Just curious, what kind of songs did you play for that type of gig? I see you started in the 50's, but where did you end up and what did you play along the way?

Thanks

Smoke gets in your Eyes?

Smoke On The Water

Good Ones Donny, Btweeen, Scott!!

Do I know how to setup them up or what?