The smoky haze that settles over many New York events is about to clear, thanks to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's new law banning smoking in public places. While much of the news coverage of the ban—which takes effect March 30—has focused on how it will change New York nightlife, industry pros have been asking how it will change events.
"It's all a big mystery. They haven't made the law so clear about how it affects events," says Ted Kruckel, president of event planning and PR firm Ted Inc.
In fact, many of the venue managers we asked about the ban felt certain it wouldn't change things at all. "If a host wants guests to smoke at a private party, they can," one manager at a popular event venue told us.
But that's not what the city says. "The end line is that the law is about worker protection," says Jordan Barowitz, a spokesman for the mayor. That means any public or private event held at any venue with paid employees—from bars to restaurants to independent event spaces—can't allow smoking.
Still, enforcement of the law presents another question. "When you put five or six hundred people in a room, and people want to smoke, they'll find a way. Once one person does it, others will follow," says Joseph Cady, event manager at the popular venue Eyebeam Atelier. While it's easy to imagine undercover cops walking through New York bars and cafes, will they muscle past velvet ropes to patrol parties populated by chain-smoking models?
The law offers a few exceptions: Smokers can light up at cigar bars and outdoor dining areas with no roof or ceiling enclosures. Nonprofit clubs with no employees and bars with no employees except the owners can also allow smoking. And there's an odd event-friendly loophole: Venues are allowed to host five events a year that promote tobacco products—like Cigar Aficionado's Big Smoke cigar-sampling event at the Marriott Marquis.
Venues can erect smoking rooms that abide by several restrictions, but New York Nightlife Association counsel Robert Bookman doesn't foresee a lot of venues spending money on such renovations. "For event spaces, it's probably more trouble than it's worth," he says.
One venue that isn't worried about enforcement is Sky Studios. The multi-level venue is technically a private home, which may leave it unreachable by the ban. Venue manager Jennifer Blumin believes smokers can puff away as long as the host approves.
Serena owner Serena Bass plans to rig creative smoker-friendly areas, like one near her club's entrance. "People will be lining the steps outside [to smoke]," she says, "so we'll decorate it and serve drinks through the window."
Opinions are mixed about how the law will affect event business. "Smoking at events has been less and less over the years," says Penny Glazier, co-owner of the multi-property Glazier Group. "Most people are not putting ashtrays at tables, so it shouldn't be a problem."
Kruckel, however, laments how the ban will change the mood at some bashes. "Smokers bring energy to parties," he says, "and the ban is one more step toward a world of boredom, one more reason to focus on celebrity as event content."
—Jill Musguire
"It's all a big mystery. They haven't made the law so clear about how it affects events," says Ted Kruckel, president of event planning and PR firm Ted Inc.
In fact, many of the venue managers we asked about the ban felt certain it wouldn't change things at all. "If a host wants guests to smoke at a private party, they can," one manager at a popular event venue told us.
But that's not what the city says. "The end line is that the law is about worker protection," says Jordan Barowitz, a spokesman for the mayor. That means any public or private event held at any venue with paid employees—from bars to restaurants to independent event spaces—can't allow smoking.
Still, enforcement of the law presents another question. "When you put five or six hundred people in a room, and people want to smoke, they'll find a way. Once one person does it, others will follow," says Joseph Cady, event manager at the popular venue Eyebeam Atelier. While it's easy to imagine undercover cops walking through New York bars and cafes, will they muscle past velvet ropes to patrol parties populated by chain-smoking models?
The law offers a few exceptions: Smokers can light up at cigar bars and outdoor dining areas with no roof or ceiling enclosures. Nonprofit clubs with no employees and bars with no employees except the owners can also allow smoking. And there's an odd event-friendly loophole: Venues are allowed to host five events a year that promote tobacco products—like Cigar Aficionado's Big Smoke cigar-sampling event at the Marriott Marquis.
Venues can erect smoking rooms that abide by several restrictions, but New York Nightlife Association counsel Robert Bookman doesn't foresee a lot of venues spending money on such renovations. "For event spaces, it's probably more trouble than it's worth," he says.
One venue that isn't worried about enforcement is Sky Studios. The multi-level venue is technically a private home, which may leave it unreachable by the ban. Venue manager Jennifer Blumin believes smokers can puff away as long as the host approves.
Serena owner Serena Bass plans to rig creative smoker-friendly areas, like one near her club's entrance. "People will be lining the steps outside [to smoke]," she says, "so we'll decorate it and serve drinks through the window."
Opinions are mixed about how the law will affect event business. "Smoking at events has been less and less over the years," says Penny Glazier, co-owner of the multi-property Glazier Group. "Most people are not putting ashtrays at tables, so it shouldn't be a problem."
Kruckel, however, laments how the ban will change the mood at some bashes. "Smokers bring energy to parties," he says, "and the ban is one more step toward a world of boredom, one more reason to focus on celebrity as event content."
—Jill Musguire