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My host takes smoke breaks so I fill in. We are close to the doors and this dude walked up and set a big full pitcher of beer and glass on the table. "I'm gonna set this here while I go have a smoke>" "THE HELL YOU ARE GET THAT SOB OFF MY TABLE". Greg was outside looking in the window laughing his arse off.

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WOW - if you wouldn't let me put my beer on your equipment table ..I'd walk out and never come back... What kind of show are your running anyway ?

Yea it was funny afterwards. But there is problem Some don't like to leave their drink unattended. Also there has already been a few cases of women getting accosted while outside on a smoke break.

On the flip side I back my van up to the front door and dont have to worry There is always somebody outside, parking lot security is tight.

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People really have no idea, do they?

In there mind the most precious thing is their beer. Who cares about your expensive equipment.

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when Im playing in the band, people will set their drinks on our speakers.All of us have grown tired of this and tired of asking them not to,so now we get creative.

Their drink might just disapear,or get used as an ash tray,they may even get a drink from the first set in the last set ect ect. We are always coming up with new ideas.

Our creativity has gotton out of hand at time with this, but I will not put our actions in writing for it could be used against us.

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE LAST TUESDAY

scorp its only out of hand if you pee in their glass

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Haven't got to that point yet but they have found some abc gum at the bottom of their empty glass.

Peas in their glass that will go on the list for the next gig.

I can hear it now"There's peas in my drink" what somebody peed in your drink"no there is peas in my drink" somebody call a taxi.

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE LAST TUESDAY

As an aside, I'm surprised a KJ who takes smoke breaks still has a job!

Why would you abandon your show even for 10 minutes (which I'm sure it at least 2-3 times a 4-hour shift) when you're the on-stage host?

Chew some nicotine gum or wear a patch if you're that ciggy-dependent. Or use some freakin' self-control!

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I don't think it's so much an issue when the owner of the rig is there & gives the host permission to go.

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Then I guess bathroom breaks are out of the question too.

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I take smoke breaks only when someone I trust is singing, the venue is calm and the song is over 4 minutes, I usually only disappear for under 1 minute and I will only go outside to smoke if I can see my rig at all times when i'm there. If I cant see the rig, I don't have a break.


I have one fag break per hour at absolute most.

I have three reasons for this...
1. I'm addicted to nicoteen and need my fix
2. I suffer for hives and stepping outside helps stop the itching and
3. I use the time to talk to customers, praise them, encourage them and general check everything is okay for them.

Although I realise reason 1 is about 80% of the reason why I smoke at work, I see it as no different, to leaving the desk to help a customer look up a song, or to explain the rotation.

Edited to add. . . That toilet breaks scare the hell out of me. I rather cross my legs for four hours than leave my equipment unattended whilst I go sit in a locked room. Even if it is only for 30seconds.

I'm so lucky that the men's room is just behind the stage in my home room. Since I'm up till 3:30am I'm drinking gallons of coffee, and man... that stuff makes you wanna go more than beer.

I'll look over the room and if everyone's settled in, and it's a singer I can trust (or if it's anyone singing Picture ) I'll make a run for it.

The deal with Picture is I have to get there fast because everyone else in the room has the same idea. So I'm outa there in a flash before the lineup.

Dangerous Dan, I believe that Karyoker is normally part of a two man team, so either can safely leave their stations if need be. That one threw me at first too.

Yea Ive got a laptop, camcorder and camera under my chair too. I never would leave it alone. WE usually have friends Ive known for years sitting close by too.

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That's a bit harsh !
I take smoke breaks and yes even have to go to the bathroom at least once a night.
I am on the stage from 9pm until 2 or 3am. I never take what's considered a real break. I keep the karaoke going the entire time. The door to the porch is right next to the stage. I usually step out and have about 3 minutes to smoke a small portion of a cigarette. I can still hear the music and see the singer from the porch.I think the patrons actually appreciate the fact I keep the karaoke going and don't put on music while I break.

You should get your facts straight before judging people. I have never taken a 10 minute break while running karaoke or believe I've abandoned anyone. BTW my shifts are 6 hours, not 4.

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Your post was so funny to me,looking at that picture and preaching about self control, PRICELESS!!

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Boy, don't we know that to be true!

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Well obviously if you have another KJ taking care of the show so the patrons aren't "abandoned" that's a whole other story.

Taking a squirt while someone's on-stage is also another story...I will time my "visit" to when there's a longer (4-5 minute) song, get the singer started and then take care of business. I'm always back with time to spare.

And certainly if you're only smoking a portion of a cig while a singer's on-stage, that takes about the same time. You're still not leaving the show unattended or putting on music while you indulge in your personal habit.

I guess my frustration with smoking DJs is from a show a couple of months ago where the host went out about every hour to take a smoke break and left music playing for about 10 minutes each time.

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That's cool Dan.

You just really got my dander up. I feel like I go above and beyond by never taking a real break and to be told I should lose my job because I sneak out for a couple drags upset me.

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It's usually just half a song. I call up one singer and if I get new slips I que them. We are both make announcements and cut up on the mic esp when we sing one every now and then. The tempo or mood does not change one iota. Between us we have 15-20 years experience hosting. Break? For 4 hours there is virtually no silence what soever.We sometimes play DJ for dancing, it depends on the size of rotation and what the audience wants. BTW there is a security sitting close by checking id's. Some of them I dont like are the ones spending more time outside smoking. But it's no biggie.

EDIT I have known him that long too. The way we work together most strangers assume we are related Father-Son etc..

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I don't get it. Why do you have to leave the room to have a smoke?
Not being a smoker I don't have this problem (use to but not anymore)
so I understand the need for a smoke, but why leave the room?
You're not telling me that you have smoke free bars are you?
Couldn't you just step away from the equipment far enough to have a
smoke?

Lone Wolf in Texas