Have You Influenced Any Hookah Purchases?

[enfer singe]

This is as much of a question as it is a story so you guys have been warned about the read. Cliffs at the bottom if you don't feel like reading the whole thing. Also, sorry if this was already a thread, I couldn't find anything about it.

As one of my friends asked my advice on where to look and which hookah to buy I was thinking about my other friends who have come to me after smoking hookah with me asking the same questions. I go to a small college and so many times when people are getting together or having parties they invite me and ask me to bring my hookah along. I got my first one a little over a year ago and have said multiple times that it was some of the best money I have ever spent. So many people at the parties tell me they are scared because they have never smoked anything in their entire lives and they are sometimes intimidated by the size, complexity, etc. of the hookah. Needless to say, almost everyone who goes into it with an open mind loves it and you have to pry the hose out of their hand in order to get a hit in.

Anyway, like I said, I was just thinking about the people who, after smoking with me, have ended up asking for advice and eventually getting hookahs over their own and was suprised that in the year and a few months I have had mine, four of my friends who I have introdiced to it have bought hookahs. Of course many more of my friends have them but these are the ones that I like to think I directly influenced.

So in short, I am sure that many of you have similar experiences so I was just curious to hear about them. Hookah purchases you have influenced or just stories about introducing people to hookah and how they respond to it.

Cliffs:
-Since I have had my hookahs many people have had their first (or one of their first) smokes on it
-By my count I have directly influenced four of my friends to buy hookahs of their own
-Any similar stories?

[cypherkk]

I got someone into it just by talking about it while playing an MMORPG. I got my next door neighbors to get one of their own after they were comming over to my house for it for 6 mos.

[cemab4y]

Interesting! And I am looking forward to additional responses. I myself, have never influenced an individual to purchase a hookah, yet. And the operative word is "yet". When I return to the USA (I am in Iraq now), I am going to host some "Arabian nights parties". My wife already has a "harem girl" outfit, and I have a "Thobe" (White shirt-dress worn by Arabs, and "Gutra" red/white checkered headcloth with black rope.

I am going to invite my friends over, and serve arabian sweets and desserts and dried fruits and Turkish coffee, and of course, have a couple of hookahs going.

Maybe some of my friends will discover the hookah experience, and purchase one for their own use. I am considering opening a hookah lounge in my retirement years. (I have spent 3 1/2 years of my career in Saudi Arabia and Iraq). By hosting some parties in my home, I can gauge the reactions of people, and see if there is enough of a demand to go into the business.

[Hannibal]

Maybe some of my friends will discover the hookah experience, and purchase one for their own use. I am considering opening a hookah lounge in my retirement years. (I have spent 3 1/2 years of my career in Saudi Arabia and Iraq). By hosting some parties in my home, I can gauge the reactions of people, and see if there is enough of a demand to go into the business.

The hookah lounge sounds like a great idea! Oh and where in Saudi did you live? I lived in Riyadh for the first 9 years of my life. I lived in the ABV Rock Group Airport Compound if you've heard of it.

[cemab4y]

I did a six month contract in Dhahran, Eastern Province. I worked at ARAMCO headquarters, what is called the "Main Camp". I lived nearby in Dammam. That was in 1991. In 1997-1998, I worked at the King Khalid International Airport authority, in telecommunications engineering. I lived in a barracks, near the airport. It was about 20 miles from Riyadh, the national capital. Both contracts were unforgettable! I am big fan of Saudi Arabia, I would love to go back for another contract, but it is difficult now for an American to get a contract, the insurance costs for foreigners is very high, and firms are reluctant to hire Americans.

I have done some internet research, and there is a firm, that will assist you in setting up a hookah lounge. They have a detailed business plan, and a complete "turn-key" operation. I am an electrical engineer by profession, I am currently on a contract in Tall'Afar, Iraq. In my retirement years, I think a hookah lounge, with pillows on the floor, and arabian music, and arabian films on the wide-screen TV would be an excellent source of income.

You could also sell hookahs, and supplies, tobacco,etc.

[Hannibal]

You try working in Dubai? My dad works for an engineering company (CH2MHill). Its quite like Saudi except more western and of course extravagant like they show it on the Discovery channel and such. On my last visit I met up with some old friends who lived with me in Saudi, one of which just recently left Riyadh. She said that its even better than when I left in 96 now that they decided to follow U.A.E's approach to international business.\

Oh and my dad used to work for ARAMCO back in the 80's and early 90's before he began work for ABV Rock Group. I see quite a few of their contracting work in Dubai as well.

[GordonMac]

i have now made it so popular at my school that everyone now knows about it. I have turned people that said they would never smoke anything into hookah owners now. The hookah companies should be payiing me.

[KyDUDE]

Of Course we have, If you have read our story about hooters and our Hookah! ( see my past posts)
we gather at a local bar on wed nights now to smoke our hookah, eat and bullshit! A few of the guys have bought their own hookah's! and we also have regular customers smoke ours with us!!
this is a pic of us last week:

[cemab4y]

I never have worked in Dubai, but I have changed planes in their airport many times. I spent a week in Doha, Qatar (nice), and I have been all over the Gulf region. I have been in Iraq 22 months, and I like it here just fine. The place has unique challenges, but over all it is OK.

I am convinced that Hookah is the next big smoking craze. How long it will last? I don't know. I am 53 years old, and I have seen crazes come and go. Examples: Hula Hoop, Lambada, Macarena, Cigar clubs, etc.

With all the turmoil and terror in this part of the world, and the bad feelings that most Americans have towards all things Arabian, it is a puzzlement, how an Arabian smoking device could have such a fascination for Americans. If the gas prices get any higher, people are going to start lynching Arabs in the street.

[cypherkk]

as an interesting sidenote... the friend I recently got into hookah on the mmorpg, absolutely loves it. He started out with tangiers F -lline. He has had no problems and absolutley loves it.

hmmm. I think I'll startout with the most difficult and powerfull hookah to smoke and... have no problems whatsoever... lol

[lazria]

I'm slowly and surely twisting my "friends" into full-blown hookahophiles.

In fact I have some friends coming over tonight - he's bringing some shisha he got overseas (his hookah was stolen by his EX) and she's only ever smoked Rose before - Curried Chicken, cherry tea and 3 hookahs... plus some Movies what a NIGHT!

[Allia22]

I'm slowly and surely twisting my "friends" into full-blown hookahophiles.

In fact I have some friends coming over tonight - he's bringing some shisha he got overseas (his hookah was stolen by his EX) and she's only ever smoked Rose before - Curried Chicken, cherry tea and 3 hookahs... plus some Movies what a NIGHT!

Oh man, that sounds like a good time!!! I think I've influenced 3 of my friends to get hookahs, 2 directly, one I'm not too sure about...