How Do You Setup For A Pipe Club Meeting?

[carolinachurchwarden]

I am planning to attend my local pipe club meeting tomorrow night and was just wondering how many of you organize, carry, or prepare for the outing. This is how I have decided to do it, just because it makes sense to me:
I have found that the simplest place for me to dry my tobacco is at the office, what with a cat, a dog, and a wife, busying about. So I have brought with me today several blends I may want to smoke depending on my mood: Black Frigate, Nording Labrador, and Boswell's Majestic 586. I'm placing enough for a few bowls of each to dry on my paper plate under my desk fan, one blend at a time. They'll all three be dry enough before the day is out. (Took a little more BF out so I can have a bowl or two today as well, can't resist) My plan is to take those dried out portions and then toss them into a few zip top baggies to take with me. I'm not sure if this is the best option, but it's the only one my mind runs to. If I don't pre-select, then dry it out in advance, then I'll be sitting there smelling everyone else's blends while mine dries. I typically leave all my blends in jars or bags at home and pull out what I want to smoke a bowlful or two at a time.
Does anyone do anything different if they're going somewhere for a while where you're meeting other smokers? I mean, this is only a once a month thing for me. All my other smoking is done at home or at the office, so going to some other place is kind of new to me. I don't have anything I would necessarily call a full time blend, because I'm constantly switching from one to another, unless I have a Black Frigate full day, but the next might be full of several different blends. Any advice, tips, suggestions are all welcome!

 

[mso489]

Boy, you're way ahead of me about this. I'd grab a pipe, a blend or two, a light, pipe cleaners, and go. But forethought is a good thing, as long as you don't over-think it, and only you can judge, for you. My only suggestion is that if you are likely to smoke a good deal more than you ordinarily would in the given amount of time, you might want to take along a filter pipe, maybe along with an unfiltered, to ease your nic dose. It's a nicety, and just a thought.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

My only suggestion is that if you are likely to smoke a good deal more than you ordinarily would in the given amount of time, you might want to take along a filter pipe, maybe along with an unfiltered, to ease your nic dose. It's a nicety, and just a thought.

Very good advice, although I don't really own any filters. I'll just take it slow. My heaviest blend is the Black Frigate, so if anything, I may just smoke it really slow and drag it out. The others are pretty light on the nic hit. I should pick some filters up sometime and keep them on hand, just for occasions like these. That's one of the things I haven't considered. I never smoke with them, but usually only take a bowl or less a day on average. I'll take some chocolate along for the ride tomorrow as well, couldn't hurt.

 

[daveinlax]

If you’re going to a shop you’re not a regular at I wouldn’t bring anything I didn’t buy there and I would plan on spending at least $15 bucks an hour for your seat time. If the place has a waitress over tip her. 8O

 

[kickinbears]

I would plan on spending at least $15 bucks an hour for your seat time. If the place has a waitress over tip her. 8O

Wait ... are we talking pipe club or strip club rules here?

 

[mso489]

'churchwarden, a filter pipe that takes a standard adaptor, as do most 6 mm and 9 mm, is good for pipe clubs, pipe shows, and pipe shops where they sit around and smoke. I always try to tip well, if not overtip, when possible. Most wait people rely on tips for income. You don't have to guess if their intentions are good; they're there, they're working; sometimes they do extra. Sometimes, if you have them, small bowl pipes are useful, since you can try a series of blends fully packed without overlapping flavors.

 

[jpmcwjr]

If the place has a waitress over tip her.

Damn! Where's my mind?? I read "tip her over".....
Prep is good. No prep is good. Definitely buy a tin or two if it's at a tobacconist's.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

It's not at a tobacconist, and from the looks of things, never is. They hold the meetings, or rather gathering more like it, at different restaurants that allow you to smoke. From the looks of it, they try different places all the time, so their will be waitresses bringing food, beer, what have you and I always tip when I go out. If this were held at a tobacconist, I would certainly agree to not take my own tobacco, or at least, take little of my own, and purchase something there, but in this case, if I don't take my own, I'm not smoking.

'churchwarden, a filter pipe that takes a standard adaptor, as do most 6 mm and 9 mm, is good for pipe clubs, pipe shows, and pipe shops where they sit around and smoke.

I will look out for some filters, as I have several pipes that will accept them, I just never use them during regular smoking at home or office. I'll look for some either at George's or the TB over here near Durham.

 

[pianopuffer]

Isn't the pipe club supposed to be a place of learning and sharing among fellow pipers? I'm all for supporting local B&Ms where clubs are frequently held, but if I choose to bring in blends to share with others, who cares if I bought it from them or not?
I agree that spending some cash to support the efforts of said shop is a prerequisite but to what end?

 

[pappymac]

The set up for the New Orleans Pipe Club is very simple. Bring several pipes with you and a selection of tobacco you think other pipe smokers may be interested in trying. Don't get anal about drying out the tobacco first - there are a lot of non-aromatic tobaccos that are good smokes right out of the tin. If you want to bring some aromatics, just take the lid off the jar or tin and let it sit for a couple of hours to dry out some.
Before last December, we held our meetings at a couple of restaurants that had outdoor seating where smoking was allowed. Everyone made sure to order at least a couple of drinks and tip the bartender or wait staff. Since December we have been meeting at a local pipe shop which has two indoor smoking lounges and a covered patio. We encourage the people attending to make at least a small purchase to support the shop. So far, the shop is happy with the arrangement because the manager tells me they usually sell at least one new pipe per meeting along with numerous tins - they make as much money in our 3 hour meeting as the do in a day.

 

[mso489]

pianopuffer, I think buying something is always optional and not a foregone obligation. Still, pipe shops are not a get-rich proposition, and in this day and time, they hang somewhat on the edge, so if I'm attending an event or just stopping by, I support the shop ... just some pipe cleaners, or a tin or a few, depending on what I can do.

 

[pianopuffer]

mso - without a doubt. I think its imperative we support our local shops as best we can. I too always make a purchase of some kind (usually a bulk blend or two, sometimes a pipe!) as a way of saying thanks. I think the $15 per hr rule seems a bit arbitrary. Support them however you wish, but don't feel obligated to empty your wallet if you cannot afford to do so.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

This is why I just leave the top off of my tins when I pop them. The longest it would take me to smoke a tin is a month, and that is only if the I am not crazy about the blend It hurts nothing to dry out the whole tin at once. It would take a very, very long time for a blend to actually be hurt by being dry, if that is even possible... maybe if you live in a desert.
As to pipe club meetings... The Briary has a microwave for drying blends that we have just bought. 8-10 seconds, and it is ready to go.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

Okay, well, I might just let some things sit out a bit longer when I pop a tin, maybe let it dry to where I like it, then jar it from now on. I just didn't know if I can just let it sit there in the open for so long. I mean, it takes me a while to get through an entire tin, even if I love the stuff, just because I don't smoke a great deal. I use it more of like a treat for myself. Can't smoke in the office, can't take too many long breaks to smoke it, so on the way home, maybe a lunch, once I get home, and not every day, is about all I smoke.

The Briary has a microwave for drying blends that we have just bought. 8-10 seconds, and it is ready to go.

Ooooh, I bet it smells wonderful in there, with people drying out their blends. I just got the best compliments on my "dessert" the other day while trying to nuke some CB Gold at the office. I know it'll never dry fully, but I still need to get some of that moisture out.

 

[scloyd]

If I'm going to a B&M to smoke with other pipers/friends (club or not) I feel obligated to buy at least a tin of tobacco.
If I'm on the road, I won't go into a McDonald's and use the restroom without buying at a drink. Then 50 miles down the road I'm stopping to pee again and buying another drink...
I don't see a difference. If I'm using their facility, I should purchase something.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Ooooh, I bet it smells wonderful in there, with people drying out their blends.

Actually, what makes The Briary smell great is all of the pipes and cigars that are burning at all times of the day. I am not even sure if you could smell a tiny amount of tobacco being dried in the microwave over the wonderful tobaccos burning.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

The Briary does sound tempting. I might have to make visit there someday if I pass through that way. I plan to make a pilgrimage down to The Country Squire over in Jackson, MS someday, so maybe I'll swing through there and smoke a bowl.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

When you do, drop me a line, and I'll meet you there if I can. I love meeting forum members.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

We actually have a pipe club meeting tonight, but it is our wedding anniversary today, so I won't be there... for very long, ha ha. ::

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

for very long, ha ha.

For very long at the pipe club meeting or for the anniversary? :rofl:
Happy Anniversary!
I'll do that if I pass through that way, which after looking at a few pictures on google maps, it's making me want swing in there more and more. Looks like a great shop!