How Pissed Off Should I Be?

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 5:56 am

Situation: Producer and Band need a place to rehearse material for upcoming CD project. Friend of a Friend recommends my place. Guys seem cool, the producer is a peer bandmate from way back. I let them know the ground rules, including a "No Smoking" policy. After their first day, the place reeks of ciggy butts. With all my insulation based acoustic treatments, the scent is gonna be around for a loooong time.

I'm pretty steamed about it, although I suspect the claim will be they didn't smoke in the studio, it musta wafted in from outside. But the place still stinks like an ashtray after running the AC on outside air exchange mode all night. I've had plenty of guys smoke outside my studio before and come back in to play, never to have a lingering nauseating smell like this.

Confrontation is coming. Your thoughts?...

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 7:07 am

I would tell them to find a new place to practice and be done with it. I even hate the way my equipment smells after giging in bars, my car smells like smoke the next day from transporting the gear home.

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:09 am

They disrespected you.

Do something about it.

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:30 am

wow thats really annoying. Let them know for sure, and charge them a clean up bill.

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:50 am

They can't be trusted to do a simple thing like smoke outside. What else can't they be trusted with?

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:04 am

There are some great air purifier units out there than can probably remove the smell in a day. Hotels use them all the time. I would look into renting one and charging the band for it.

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:28 am

you lay down ground rules and they dont obey the simplest of them. id say dont let them come back. you could also cockslap those suckas

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:37 am

kick 'em to the curb and don't look back.

They screwed you once; do you want another screwing if they return?

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 12:39 pm

Don't be pissed, be done. Your place smells; They're out. Doesn't matter if they smoke outside or in. Good bye.

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 1:07 pm

If you break the rules you break the agreement.

I admit I'm a smoker but I won't smoke in non-smokers environments - even if they say it's OK.

It's just a principle of respect and smoking gives you no rights to disrespect anyone - or their rules.

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 5:47 pm

I've found that you can't be "Mr. Niceguy" you have to be firm about rules, no matter how miniscule or big they may be, or else you'll get walked all over. Just let them know, either in writing or by phone, they're not welcome back to your facility.

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 5:54 pm

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Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:10 pm

The Denoument: The dudes said (and as you read on, it'll ring true) that they were very careful not to smoke in the studio. Further, they wanted to not leave butts lying outside, esp. since there's a sandbox right near the studio with kids toys etc... So, they brought the snuffed butts (the Bugler nasty hand-rolled things) INTO the studio and put 'em in the trash can (They're musicians, not rocket surgeons).

Realizing their goof, they emptied the trash can today, aired the studio out, moved the trashcan outside and smoked next door. Everything seems fine and non-stinky now.

Lesson learned though...

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:18 pm

Did you have them sign a contract? You could have had them pay for a cleaning/air purification system.

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 9:36 am

Nah, this was a mellow friend of a friend thing.

I'm not in it for money anyhow.

I've learned my lesson, though...

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