I am a working musician. Three years ago my band performed in 12 different bars in Maine. Now we play in two bars because of the economic downturn. That is a 90 percent drop. All bands have seen this drop in bookings.

Ten years ago, when my band started playing in Maine, my eyes and throat would burn at the end of the night from the smoke hanging in the air. Since then bar owners have spent thousands of dollars on systems to clean up the air. No smoke folks!

Bar patrons have stated that they will no longer patronize bars if the smoking ban passes. Bar owners know this means lost revenue.

We have been told the first to go will be the bands. Thousands of hard-working musicians who use the money that they pay taxes on to supplement their incomes will lose jobs that they love doing. Imagine, someone actually loving his or her job!

I testified against “An Act to Ban Smoking.” This new legislation, “An Act to Protect Workers from Secondhand Smoke and to Promote Worker Safety,” is crafty. Would you think it was referring to bars?

The opening article in the bill addresses off track betting lounges. You have to research state laws to realize that bars are included.

People will lose jobs.

Our governor recognizes musicians and performing artists as an economic entity in Maine. What message will this ban send to musicians if he signs it?

Deborah L. Danuski, Lisbon Falls