No smoking in The Blue Note
The Blue Note became non-smoking almost three months before the city-wide ban takes effect.
Published Oct. 24, 2006
Before the recently passed smoking ban takes effect Jan. 9, The Blue Note music venue decided to get a head start by making its facility completely non-smoking.
The reason for the decision, which took effect Oct. 18, is simple.
"We understand that this is going to happen in three months, so we decided to just get it over with," owner Richard King said.
Though its preemptive ban is meant to help Columbia smokers get accustomed to the citywide ban, The Blue Note is also using this time to develop an effective protocol.
"We're doing it early so we could iron it out," employee Justin Ferguson said. "When other people are ironing out their plans, we're going to be old pros."
There is no official policy mandated by the city of Columbia in regards to enforcing the smoking ban, but The Blue Note has designated a place in an adjacent alley for people to smoke, and it's been able to keep its facility smoke-free with relative ease.
"Anybody that has been smoking has been asked to put it out or move outside," King said. "Every exchange we've had has been pleasant."
Blue Note patron Amber Leathers agrees with the venue's strategy.
"I think they're doing a good job by starting to enforce the ban so people can start getting used to it," she said.
Another patron, Troy Lambert, takes issue with people who complain about The Blue Note's old smoky atmosphere.
"It's like going into a fire and complaining about getting burnt," he said. "People make choices every day; if you don't want to be around smoke then don't come."
Ferguson said the downside to the ban in general is that The Blue Note will have to employ more staff to deal with smokers.
"We're going to have to have double the crew, and it's going to cost us more money because people need to be paid or hired," Ferguson said.
Although no specific band has expressed displeasure with the rule, the ban could possibly have an effect on the acts that perform at the venue.
"It affects the bands because if people want to smoke during the show, they are going to have to go outside," Ferguson said.
Despite the cordiality from its customers, King does expect some opposition to the policy.
"We haven't had any problems yet, but that doesn't mean we don't expect them," he said.
Smoking and concerts are sometimes considered to go hand-in-hand, but King said The Blue Note hasn't encountered any major resistance yet.
"We've had a few people who are disappointed, but the e-mails we've gotten have been reasonable," he said. "We've had a few hiccups, but I wouldn't call them problems."