Tipitina's Foundation & Let's Be Totally Clear's Smoke-Free Air Series comes to Artmosphere on Friday to raise awareness about the foundation's campaign for smoke-free nightclubs and like venues.
Tipitina's Foundation & Let's Be Totally Clear's Smoke-Free Air Series hits Lafayette Friday in an ongoing effort to raise awareness about the foundation's campaign for smoke-free nightclubs and like venues.
The free show is set for 9 p.m. at Artmosphere, 902 Johnston St., and features ImagineIAM, The Pits and Christine Pierce.
"It's a matter of health safety for themselves as well as equality in the workplace between somebody who works in a restaurant versus someone who works in a bar playing music for a living. Everyone should have the right," says Rachel Nederveld, manager of the foundation's Lafayette Music Office Co-Op. "And Tipitina's, as part of our mission to help musicians and help cultural economy workers, it's definitely important to us to help with the help concerns of those we're working with."
Alexandria is the state's first city to go smoke-free across the board, while Lafayette's nightclubs voluntarily abide by the idea.
"It's really just a matter of making the decision that's right for that population," Nederveld says.
Nederveld, who also tracks as a band manager, musician, and live music lover speaks from experience where smoke-free venues are concerned.
"For my own sake," she says, "I'd love for bars and venues to be smoke free for my own health, for my own enjoyment of being there, for the right to stand where I want without having to breath in harmful chemicals from other people's mouths."
Nederveld says she understands the situation bars owners are in and their fear losing customers if they were to go smoke-free.
"There is that argument," says Nederveld, speaking as a musician. "But at the same time, if everyone is smoke-free - I understand smokers, I think if you want to smoke and do that to yourself, that's fine - but I don't see how that is at all your right to put that upon anyone else."
Presented by Tipitina's Foundation, Lafayette Economic Healthcare Initiative & Lets Be Totally Clear and the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation.