Well said, Handpulled Boy and Padgett.
High time indeed.
The water idea is sound. But even that's now becoming harder to achieve when more and more pub landlords are actually charging (often ridiculous amounts) for water (and that's even when you buy a beer or other alcoholic drink at the same time) - it's an insidious and unwelcome development that penalises singers and drivers most unfairly.

Having been at both ends of the smoking debate so to speak, and having suffered from the effects, both as a smoker and non-smoker over the years, I'm not ignorant of the arguments.

What's more, each person's metabolism is different, and so is the day-to-day effect of passive smoking on one's immune system which can vary enormously. There are times when I can stand to be in close proximity to a smoker for a short while, but also times when it makes me physically sick within minutes. Depends on my resistance on that day. Different types of smoke (pipe, cigar, waccy-baccy, heavy-tar) affect in different ways and to different degrees. Airflow and environment also have their impact on how one reacts to smoke.

But these things are clear and let's face it, non-contestable:
1. Any decent minded folk club attendee who is also a smoker will - and generally will have no problem about doing so - have the good sense and good courtesy to light up outside the room or area where the club is being held, and have respect for the health of (a) the performers and (b) their audience, via the air that all have NO CHOICE but to breathe.
2. The very fact that an increasing number of clubs and venues and performers are becoming n/s in the performing area (as opposed to imposing a complete ban) is encouraging and must surely be taken as indicative of a trend of opinion from folks who have put up with it for far too long.
3. And let's not forget that many have now died or become seriously ill as a result of passive smoking, that cannot be denied.

We all know that a complete ban on smoking in public places and public houses is impractical and unrealistic to expect just now, but let's at least be working towards that asap (by means of 1 and 2 above, say, as a reasonable compromise), otherwise soon there won't be many of us left to carry on the tradition!