By ANGELA GREGORY
Jazz singers may seem synonymous with smoky bars, but for one Auckland performer the combination is too much.
The owner of Parnell cigar bar Cuba says he will have to close if proposed smokefree legislation is passed, but jazz singer Caitlin Smith says the cigar smoke is putting
her off weekly performances at the bar.
Cuba bar featured in yesterday's Herald after owner Jon Olsen said he was concerned that his business could go under because of an imminent law change banning smoking from bars, clubs, restaurants and casinos. But his story has had an unfortunate twist, Smith deciding she cannot tolerate the smoky atmosphere any more.
After her first gig at the bar last week, Smith said her voice was badly affected by the smoke. She had to inhale steam to soothe swollen vocal cords and yesterday gave notice for the end of the month.
"I don't intend any ill will, but the smoke's a real problem. They've got to think of the safety of their employees and musicians."
Smith sings in other bars around the city, where she also had to tolerate smokers - but not to the same degree as Cuba.
"The question to how often I perform is how smoky it's going to be ... one gig in a smoky bar does more damage than four gigs where there is little or none."
A non-smoker, Smith said she could not wait for the new legislation to take effect, as her voice was her livelihood. Smoky bars were only okay "if you want to sound like something from the Simpsons", shesaid.
Smith believed bars and pubs really only wanted smoking allowed because they knew smokers spent more on alcohol than non-smokers.
She had visited New York and praised the smokefree bars, some of which did not even allow talking while musicians played.
The Smoke-Free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill will be discussed by Parliament tonight to decide whether it will go through to committee stages.
MPs last month backed the bill's second reading 76-39.
Anti-smoking lobby group Ash says the bill would save 100 non-smoking workers' lives a year.
Herald Feature: Health
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