I played a four hour job last night at a hotel. This was on an acoustic piano, an upright with a very nice bass response.

Before I go further, I should mention that smoking is not allowed over here anymore in public buildings.

I look down at the keyboard and see that the lowest Bb has melted into the A and B surrounding it. It would appear that someone who smokes was playing the piano and didn't notice that the cigarette was doing its best to set the keys on fire.

If I pressed down the A or B all was well, but if I pressed the Bb it took the A with it. I asked the waitress for a steak knife and proceeded to do surgery on the melted plastic. A little filing away at the melted plastic and the piano was usable once again.

Maybe the guy smoking was playing jazz fusion.

I'd say "it's a shame how poorly some take care of others gear," but there are characters who do that kind of neglect to their own gear.

I'd imagine you'd have to get a key pretty hot to cause that. I wonder if maybe some kids were playing with a lighter.

I always made sure I never laid the lighted cigarette on the keys of the old Balwin Acrosonic; always on the wood...

Wonder how long time the piano had been in that condition.

It was probably just a guy who had a smokin' set.

(sorry, couldn't stop myself...)

--Dave

hee hee

but interesting story, it's amazing what can happen to pianos

I own a yammy baby grande that came from a once very well known gig for international heavy weights here in Sydney, the piano plays beautifully but its cabinet came with an interesting patina including of all things stiletto marks..

I love my piano even more for its interesting history still noticable on the woodwork although my dad did a tidy up. and the fact mechanically it was obviously well maintained for the international artists.

fortunately no "smokin'" performances as dave put it

Its amazing to me how many cigarette burns I see on pianos, and more commonly, Rhodes. WTF? Someone would really put a lit cigarette on an instrument? Use a freakin ashtray!

Folks are no longer permitted to smoke in public places here but in the past when I played in a local theater I would see people put out their cigarettes on the marble floor. Not only were they rude, they were too fucking lazy to seek out an ash tray.

Just about everyone in my wife's family smokes. They don't smoke in my house (my wife and I won't permit it), but they smoke in their own and my clothes always stink after I leave their homes.

It is nice though to eat out in restaurants and not have the idiots next to you blow smoke in your direction while you're eating. It's also great that most bars here are smoke free. The very small neighborhood cafés are allowed to skirt the rules however. Long story - Google it if you're interested.

A slight hi-jack.... This thread reminded me of the dozens of times (back in the 70's) people on the dance floor attempted to set their drink on the curved top of my Rhodes. You had about 20-30 seconds to take them off before they slide off on their own...

Many years ago, I had a lady in a club try to set her drink in the upper opening of my leslie which was spinning fast at the time.........what a surprised expression she had on her face as her drink disintegrated in her hand............thankfully, she wasn't injured.

I wish there was video for that! About a year ago an inconsiderate substitute bassist set his drink on top of my leslie 21. It was running on slow at the time. All I had to do was speed it up and the glass obligingly walked to the edge and dumped all over the top of his amp which was parked right next door. Splash back was easy to clean off the leslie's surface (score one for Ham Suz). Not so easy for the muppet hide covering of his gear.

Oyarsa, I think you're looking at this the wrong way. Had she been severely hurt or killed, there would be a good chance she wouldn't dilute the gene pool with her stupid children. You have to look at the bright side of all accidents.

Same around here. No smoking inside public places and none within 10 meters of a public door. There are designated places in stadiums and university campuses and stuff. It's frankly a fabulous by-law, only the dumbest, most obnoxious jerk would disagree with it.

I was just remembering a friend of mine from Boy Scouts this AM. I remember being quite impressed on one camping trip (he was a few years older and technically an adult at this point) where he put out his cigarette on the sole of his shoe, and then put the butt in his shirt pocket, presumably to throw away later properly.

If you've ever taken a close look at the side of a busy road and seen all the butts, you'll hate it every time you see a smoker throw a butt out the car window if you didn't already.

Houston has banned smoking indoors within the city limits, and it's the greatest thing. No smoke at restaurants, and no smoke at clubs. I might not have decided to become a musician full time if it weren't for the ban.

Cigarette smoke is in interesting thing... My band has played all over the greater Cincinnati area for the past 22 years. Within the past couple of years, the state of Ohio has banned smoking in all public places, including night clubs. I sing on nearly every song, and the second-hand smoke has never bothered my voice before. However, after a couple of years in smoke-free environments, some physiological change has taken place. We recently played a job in a neighboring state that does allow public smoking, and after about a half hour, I could barely even talk! Needless to say, my singing voice was totally shot. I suppose it's a "tolerance" thing, and I have none at this point...

However, after a couple of years in smoke-free environments, some physiological change has taken place. We recently played a job in a neighboring state that does allow public smoking, and after about a half hour, I could barely even talk!

Well, I guess that's what happened to me. I saw Kevin Anker (aka kanker) play recently when his group was performing over my way. I walked through a bunch of smokers standing in a protected entrance area leading to the main door and I lost my voice when I first talked with Kevin. I think it was a combination of the smoke and having to talk over the sound system but my voice just disappeared. It's really strange when that happens.

Are you sure it wasn't just a factor of being in the presence of the greatness that is... Kanker?

I'm sort of torn on this subject. I really hate smokers, but yet, I love their freedom to smoke. Ideally, I would love it if the free market would result im non-smoking establishments putting MOST of the smoking establishments out of business. But so far it hasn't happened. I guess the only problem I have with a ban is, what if a guy wants to make his business out of a cigar lounge - complete with humidor, book shelves, guys sitting around smoking cigars and sipping congac. That's a business model. If somebody wants to cater that market, shouldn't they have that right? Now in the larger picture, I think everybody should have the right to be entertained without getting lung cancer as a result. So it comes down to options. If you have sufficient options to be entertained in smoke free environments, then I'd rather the government not get involved. But unfortunately, there are probably not enough of those options around these parts at this time. But I think there is plenty of demand for smoke free venues if more people would just step up to the plate. It just seems that there ought to be a way to satisfy everybody without BANNING anything.

The difference between smoking and other vices is that smoking adversely affects others who don't want to deal with it, every time.

Some may argue that drinking affects others. The difference is that it can, but it depends on the behavior of the drinker. But smoke gets everywhere.

They changed the law about smoking in public establishments some time ago in the state of Pennsylvania (thank God). However, private clubs are exempt from the law if they vote to keep smoking in their bar area. I belong to the local American Legion and there is still smoking allowed, so I only go in there when the public is allowed into the club and then there is no smoking. I absolutely hate to STINK on my clothes and in my hair (what's left of it anyway), so I usually go to a public sports bar to see football games without having to deal with the smoke in our Legion. The drink prices are double in public bars compared to our Legion, but I pay it because I can't deal with the stink. I'm not much of a fan of "government control" but in this case, I'm all for it. We're voting come March about banning smoking in our Legion and I'm going to show up and vote for a SMOKE FREE club.


Mike T.

Here's the important distinction - the members are being allowed to vote. It's not the gov't forcing it down the club's throat.

I enjoy playing smoke free rooms. I also enjoy smoking a pipe or a cigar at a cigar bar or tobacco shop. In Indy the ban states that if you allow smoking, you can't have customers under 18. I think that's reasonable - if you enter a venue you that allows smoking, you have to be an adult. You make an informed decision for yourself, but don't force that decision on kids. Anything more than that is way over the top IMO. I'd much rather deal with a room full of smokers than a room full of drinkers anyway...

I just thought you were overcome with emotion...