Questions For Mushrat

[ih303]

Ok, so as some of you may know, I have recently taken over management of a really nice hookah lounge here in Rapid City, SD. I've been working on making improvements to the place, which has included getting all new hookahs and a new menu lineup of shisha. Last week, I received in all of my goodies including 30 MYA QT's, and a whole lineup of AF, SB, and Nak shisha's.

Now, one would think everything would be peachy at this point but it's not. I've got some issues and need some advice. Mush, I know you have a similar setup to what I've got so I figure you'd be a good resource for answers. Please help me out if you can.

Issue 1 - Bowls
The bowls that come with the QT's are relatively deep and narrow. My first issue with these is that quite a few of them are simply too big for the stem/grommet. We've been double-grommeting these to remedy this issue. What kind of bowls do you use and have you experienced this problem before?

Issue 2 - Hoses
We started using the hoses that came with the QT's since they were newer than our old ones and looked a little nicer. The first problem I found was after a customer smoked a bowl of AF Rose, the hose totally took on the flavor and everything we smoked after that using that hose tasted like rose. I'm wondering if we need to have a few hoses dedicated to the floral flavors. Also, I noticed there are no hose-tips that seem to be able to fit the standard MYA hose. What kind of hoses and tips do you offer at your lounge?

Issue 3 - Bases
After using the new QT's for one night, we came in the next day to find that two of the bases had already been cracked. We attributed this to the servers just being too rough when setting them down (we have a granite bar and table-tops). Have you had issues with QT bases cracking on you? I know they're easy to replace, which is one reason I chose to use them, but I'd like to prevent any more breakages.

Of course, this is open to anyone who would like to help out with information. I only singled out Mushrat because he has a successful lounge. Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

[Scalliwag]

put a rubber mat down on the countertop and tell the staff to be a bit more careful. Go to Hobby Lobby if you have one nearby for QT vases and get extras. That's about all the advice I can give on your troubles. The others are best lest to those that have dealt with a lounge environment. Freezerburn works at a really busy lounge and can give great advice firsthand too.

[mushrat]

Ok, so as some of you may know, I have recently taken over management of a really nice hookah lounge here in Rapid City, SD. I've been working on making improvements to the place, which has included getting all new hookahs and a new menu lineup of shisha. Last week, I received in all of my goodies including 30 MYA QT's, and a whole lineup of AF, SB, and Nak shisha's.

Now, one would think everything would be peachy at this point but it's not. I've got some issues and need some advice. Mush, I know you have a similar setup to what I've got so I figure you'd be a good resource for answers. Please help me out if you can.

Issue 1 - Bowls
The bowls that come with the QT's are relatively deep and narrow. My first issue with these is that quite a few of them are simply too big for the stem/grommet. We've been double-grommeting these to remedy this issue. What kind of bowls do you use and have you experienced this problem before?

Issue 2 - Hoses
We started using the hoses that came with the QT's since they were newer than our old ones and looked a little nicer. The first problem I found was after a customer smoked a bowl of AF Rose, the hose totally took on the flavor and everything we smoked after that using that hose tasted like rose. I'm wondering if we need to have a few hoses dedicated to the floral flavors. Also, I noticed there are no hose-tips that seem to be able to fit the standard MYA hose. What kind of hoses and tips do you offer at your lounge?

Issue 3 - Bases
After using the new QT's for one night, we came in the next day to find that two of the bases had already been cracked. We attributed this to the servers just being too rough when setting them down (we have a granite bar and table-tops). Have you had issues with QT bases cracking on you? I know they're easy to replace, which is one reason I chose to use them, but I'd like to prevent any more breakages.

Of course, this is open to anyone who would like to help out with information. I only singled out Mushrat because he has a successful lounge. Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

lets see...
1) We also have to double grommet some of the bowls. Not a big issue as grommets are cheap.
2)You need to order the male tips to fit in the non-metal tipped Mya hoses. I evenually changed all my hoses to the metal tipped ones. More sanitary and they take a standard female tip. PM me who you use for your wholesale. I may be able to help.

http://www.hookahcompany.com/male_hookah_tips_3718_prd1.htm

These are the type of tips you need for the wooden ended Mya hoses.

3) Ya, did you check them when they arrived. Somtimes UPS/FED EX can do a number on the bases. They can also crack if you wash tem in really hot water and then fill them with cold/ice water. This is true of ANY base mind you. Could also happen in the cleaning process if your employees are being rough with them. Watch how they handle them in the back.

Hope that helps.

[ih303]

Thanks for the quick reply.

So do you use the Mya bowls then? What kind of coals do you use? I've switched over to CH Nats and have had to start poking more holes in the foil since the coals take up most of the surface area on those bowls.

Have you had problems with certain flavors staying with the hoses? Since those standard Mya hoses are not washable, I'm not sure what I can do about the flavor.

I was already thinking about using some kind of mat. I'll just have to figure out where to buy such a thing.

[FamiliarJoe]

Thanks for the quick reply.

So do you use the Mya bowls then? What kind of coals do you use? I've switched over to CH Nats and have had to start poking more holes in the foil since the coals take up most of the surface area on those bowls.

Have you had problems with certain flavors staying with the hoses? Since those standard Mya hoses are not washable, I'm not sure what I can do about the flavor.

I was already thinking about using some kind of mat. I'll just have to figure out where to buy such a thing.

I know a number of lounges do this (I think Cotsi does at his as well). You can keep hoses for each flavor of shisha so that flavor always is in THAT hose. I wouldn't change the hoses personally if the customer wanted to change flavors from something like AF plum to AF melon. I would definitely change the hoses if the customer wanted to switch from AF melon to cocoa or pipe flavored. You know what I mean?

[mushrat]

Thanks for the quick reply.

So do you use the Mya bowls then? What kind of coals do you use? I've switched over to CH Nats and have had to start poking more holes in the foil since the coals take up most of the surface area on those bowls.

Have you had problems with certain flavors staying with the hoses? Since those standard Mya hoses are not washable, I'm not sure what I can do about the flavor.

I was already thinking about using some kind of mat. I'll just have to figure out where to buy such a thing.

Sorry i missed that part.

The mya standard hoses can be washed a few times. The coils are wrapped in plastic. I have several hoses designated for special flavours. 2 apple, K-peach, clove, Zag, Jasmin, chco-mint all have a few hoses set aside for those flavours specifically so the ghosting doesn't matter.

My bar top and tables are all ceramic tile and I have never damaged a base by putting it on those surfaces. The damage to your bases is likely shipping or handling in the back area.

I use Exotica coals/ DON'T have to cover the entire head with them to get good smoke and they are relatively inexpensive, despite their other drawbacks.

[jeremyk]

you could get the rubber base protectors for your bases i have on on my qt and its works great and maybe have hoses for certian flavors like has been said or get completely washable hoses ive seen both on HS.com good luck

[Tyler]

One thing to do is to get some colored string or tape and categorize your hoses, use one for flowers like rose/jasmine, one for mint and mint mixes, one for fruits, and one for just any kind of mix, that will help with ghost flavors of rose/mint ruining the session of people who don't like rose or mint at all.

[no longer welcome]

Hi IH, I've seen many lounges in this neck of the woods use colored tape to coordinate hoses and hookahs to flavors, like a green band on a hose and hookah will mean it's only used for mint, the rest idk since these places all serve 80 SB flavors (lame imo but that's socal) but you will see different colors on the setups.

[ih303]

Thanks for the feedback, all.

I definately think I'll go pick up some colored electrical tape today and start coding my hoses. The last thing I want is a bowl of choco-mint to taste like flowers.

[mushrat]

I just use a magic marker on the wooden part of the handle myself. Colour codes can be screwed up by rushed employees. If the hose says 2 apple, you know its for the 2 apple. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)

As for the other hoses, we always take a quick pull off of the end that goes into the hookah for 3 reasons, 1 to check for dust or rust, nothing worse than handing someone a hose and on their 1st pull, they get a mouth full of crap, 2 to see if it has a ghost flavour of something that will clash with what's in the hookah I'm about to bring out, and 3 to check for blockages.

[inino]

be prepared to buy lots and lots of bowls. standard shallow egyptians should probably do. on the base issue, I believe someone said that a hobby store sold qt vases for really cheap, so if you really want to use qt's then that might help.

Think of it like this, the stuff that is the leat durable, you want to have lots of extra's, bowls hoses bases and probably stoppers and bearings because sometimes they dont fit or get lost.

[Vladimir]

If you wanted some decent and cheap bowls I am very happy with my 96 cent chipped egyptian from Hookah Company. Can't be beat for 96 cents! Though it may be a tad small, I guess that depends on what you are charging and what you are going for (I have been using the bowl for short group smokes or when I am smoking alone).

[Sonthert]

I own a lounge too, been in business longer than Mushy, too...

I guess he doesn't want my input...

[ih303]

Wow, a man of many hats. I had no idea you had a lounge too. Certainly your feedback is appreciated.

[Sonthert]

Ok, so as some of you may know, I have recently taken over management of a really nice hookah lounge here in Rapid City, SD. I've been working on making improvements to the place, which has included getting all new hookahs and a new menu lineup of shisha. Last week, I received in all of my goodies including 30 MYA QT's, and a whole lineup of AF, SB, and Nak shisha's.

Now, one would think everything would be peachy at this point but it's not. I've got some issues and need some advice. Mush, I know you have a similar setup to what I've got so I figure you'd be a good resource for answers. Please help me out if you can.

Issue 1 - Bowls
The bowls that come with the QT's are relatively deep and narrow. My first issue with these is that quite a few of them are simply too big for the stem/grommet. We've been double-grommeting these to remedy this issue. What kind of bowls do you use and have you experienced this problem before?

Issue 2 - Hoses
We started using the hoses that came with the QT's since they were newer than our old ones and looked a little nicer. The first problem I found was after a customer smoked a bowl of AF Rose, the hose totally took on the flavor and everything we smoked after that using that hose tasted like rose. I'm wondering if we need to have a few hoses dedicated to the floral flavors. Also, I noticed there are no hose-tips that seem to be able to fit the standard MYA hose. What kind of hoses and tips do you offer at your lounge?

Issue 3 - Bases
After using the new QT's for one night, we came in the next day to find that two of the bases had already been cracked. We attributed this to the servers just being too rough when setting them down (we have a granite bar and table-tops). Have you had issues with QT bases cracking on you? I know they're easy to replace, which is one reason I chose to use them, but I'd like to prevent any more breakages.

Of course, this is open to anyone who would like to help out with information. I only singled out Mushrat because he has a successful lounge. Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

Bowls-sure, double gasket them.

Its prudent to use a logical color coding system, rather than a random one. You can mix flavors if you use a logical hierarchical system. A random system doesn't allow for mixing.

I've had four glass bases break in 5 years. One broke because I was drunk and banged it against the stainless steel sink, one slipped out of a guys hand when his hand was wet. If you are using that many acrylics, I would question why.

I don't like Myas for lounges, I don't think they're sturdy enough. I'm sure other people will disagree with me, that OK. I think you get better results with Egyptian or Syrian pipes.

[mushrat]

I disagree. The qt's are small enough to be able to have several on a table and still see your friends. Their low center of gravity makes them next to impossible to tip over, and they smoke as well as any larger hookah. They also will last longer because there are no welds nor are they pieced together like many traditional hookahs.

But hey, each to his own.

[evilded777]

Dude... are you close to Sioux Falls? Yeah, I dunno my geography. But I get out to Sioux Falls, every now and then for training and such; I'd love to stop by, if its not too far.

[mushrat]

Dude... are you close to Sioux Falls? Yeah, I dunno my geography. But I get out to Sioux Falls, every now and then for training and such; I'd love to stop by, if its not too far.

north carolina?

[evilded777]

Dude... are you close to Sioux Falls? Yeah, I dunno my geography. But I get out to Sioux Falls, every now and then for training and such; I'd love to stop by, if its not too far.

north carolina?

Sorry Mush, that was directed at the OP. He's in SD.

I wish I got to NC, I'd be sure to visit your place... it looks great, and you have an awesome menu.

[Sonthert]

I disagree. The qt's are small enough to be able to have several on a table and still see your friends. Their low center of gravity makes them next to impossible to tip over, and they smoke as well as any larger hookah. They also will last longer because there are no welds nor are they pieced together like many traditional hookahs.

But hey, each to his own.

Hookahs not placed on tables, but on floors have lots of advantages. I never allow hookahs on tables, for instance. Bad practice, in my opinion. More likely to break shit if they do fall.

[crowley]

QT Bases are terrible. their cheep but are not ment to be moved often. i broke one just by putting it in your average bathroom sink and filling it.

[ih303]

Dude... are you close to Sioux Falls? Yeah, I dunno my geography. But I get out to Sioux Falls, every now and then for training and such; I'd love to stop by, if its not too far.

Actually, Rapid City's on the other side of the state. But if you ever get out this way, definately stop by. I love getting all the feedback I can on how I'm doing.

[ih303]

I also really like the QT's for their low center of gravity. We have some high table-tops and some short servers so tall hookahs just didn't work that well. When servers have to stand on chairs to rotate coals, it's not a safe situation. Hookahs on the ground seem like a huge liability to me.

I was sold on the QT after owning one personally. I like how they break down and are easy to clean. They also hit extremely well and just seem like solid little hookahs.

[mushrat]

putting them on the floor my be traditional, but in a small crowded bar, it's also impossible.