Hookah Masters and COVID-19 crisis: How has is it affected them? CIS

The crisis of COVID-19 has affected all sectors of the economy, but if we focus on the hookah industry, the main victims of this global pandemic are hookah craftsmen and institutions. The full-scale closure of the business has led many employees in the critical economic situation.

We decided to interview six hookah masters from different countries and show how the consequences of the pandemic affected their lives and work.

This article is devoted to hookah masters from the CIS. You can find materials from other regions at the links below.

Hookah Masters and COVID-19 crisis: How has is it affected them? Brazil

Hookah Masters and COVID-19 crisis: How has is it affected them? Spain

Alfred Semenov, hookah master from Moscow (Russia)

What is your name and in which hookah lounge you work and for how long time?

I worked at the Villa Dadiani restaurant for 12 months.

Do your hookah lounge work now? If not, when it stopped?

Our institution, like everyone else, is going through difficult times, and of course does not function due to this pandemic.

How much hookahs usually you prepared per day for customers? What is your average salary per day?

On average, we make 20 hookahs. From time to time it happens less or more.

If your lounge closed do you have any salary or support from your lounge employer?

There is no material support. I do not receive it. I work as outsourcing company, so it would not be advisable to discuss such questions.

What are you do now in quarantine? How your life changes? Do you have any other work?

I spent at home most of the time. Of course, I was looking for a part-time job in different directions, but wherever they didn’t take a job, and so there were enough of mine. My Life has not changed, in principle. It has remained the same. Our business was badly damaged. Yes, we were a promising young restaurant, and now they remain, just a huge number of banquets were ordered for almost all Summer and they all went wrong. Now we have to re-raise everything from its knees, in principle, like other institutions do.

What is your 3 favorite hookah tobacco brands?

My three favorite tobacco brands? I’ll say with confidence that in the first confident place all the products of Dark Side company. Second place confidently I will give tobacco W.T.O. Very saturating delicious really premium tobacco. I will give the third place to brands such as: Tangiers, Fumari, Adalia, Sherbetli

What is your 3 favorite hookah model brands?

Wookah, C.W.P, MattPear.

Can you be interested if some hookah manufacturers will offer you a remote job via first in the world international hookah job service Hookah Head Hunt? What do you think about this service?

I am sure that this service will help many masters with employment. I would love to ride around the world if there were such offers. On an ongoing basis, I do not need employment, I hope and will not. Develop in this direction is a very good idea!

 

 

Anatoly Nikiforov,  hookah master from Novorossiysk (Russia)

What is your name and in which hookah lounge you work and for how long time?

Hey. Oblepikha – a hookah lounge with a Soul, Novorossiysk. I work there more than a year.

Do your hookah lounge work now? If not, when it stopped?

We work in the mode for delivery, but this is very rare. The last working day in normal mode was March 23 or 24.

How much hookahs usually you prepared per day for customers? What is your average salary per day?

10-15

If your lounge closed do you have any salary or support from your lounge employer?

I am a co-owner, so no)

What are you do now in quarantine? How your life changes? Do you have any other work?

With quarantined classes, everything is sad, there is nothing to do, the „burn community“ helps. I hope we all get stronger after quarantine. There is no new work, because there is still hope for an early discovery)

What is your 3 favorite hookah tobacco brands?

Fumari, Satyr, Tangiers

What is your 3 favorite hookah model brands?

Doosha, Mattpear, MIG

Can you be interested if some hookah manufacturers will offer you a remote job via first in the world international hookah job service Hookah Head Hunt? What do you think about this service?

I believe that the service is very cool, and I hope it will help many to find their place in the industry. If someone offers a job, I will be only happy)

 

 

Valentina Kalashnikovа, hookah master from St. Petersburg (Russia)

What is your name and in which hookah lounge you work and for how long time?

Unique Hookah from December 2015. (and then the UH Academy)

Do your hookah lounge work now? If not, when it stopped?

We are waiting for the completion of restrictive measures, then we will open..

How much hookahs usually you prepared per day for customers? What is your average salary per day?

 An average of 10-15.

If your lounge closed do you have any salary or support from your lounge employer?

I do not receive, but we pay the employee once a week.

What are you do now in quarantine? How your life changes? Do you have any other work?

Now I am remaking the branding design of the lounge in social media, I am writing a strategy for further development also. At the beginning of quarantine, we made some repairs in the lounge and we made several pieces of furniture with our own hands. My life has not changed much, I just miss the constants. And, well, I also go through „Burn school“ and other training related to SMM and design.

What is your 3 favorite hookah tobacco brands?

Tangier’s, Satyr, Nakhla.

What is your 3 favorite hookah model brands?

Alpha Hookah, Khalil Mamoon, Wookah.

Can you be interested if some hookah manufacturers will offer you a remote job via first in the world international hookah job service Hookah Head Hunt? What do you think about this service?

I will be glad to cooperate if the offer is interesting. It is clear that I just won’t go to work somewhere behind the bar, but there are many other areas in our industry. So far, my resume is not on this platform, but will appear soon. The service is good, very useful for those who are looking for something in this industry. From the fun, you can immediately see who evaluates himself as himself. I believe and hope that this will all be over soon and we will all meet again

 

 

Daniil Volodarsky, hookah master from St. Petersburg (Russia).

What is your name and in which hookah lounge you work and for how long time?

I stopped working in hookah lounges since HCS 2019. Field events feed much better. Plus, I work as brand ambassador for Fumari tobacco.

Do your hookah lounge work now? If not, when it stopped?

Now all my catering has been covered, since most of the orders come from venues in other cities.

How much hookahs usually you prepared per day for customers? What is your average salary per day?

Depends on the contingent of the public. From 20 to 80 in a few hours.

If your lounge closed do you have any salary or support from your lounge employer?

The main disadvantage of working for yourself. If you don’t work, then you don’t earn. As for Fumari, due to the ban on events in Russia, offices are closed. Support is for information only.

What are you do now in quarantine? How your life changes? Do you have any other work?

Life has changed critically. He began to spend a lot of time with his family, periodically leaving the country to finish building the cottage. The work was in retail, but at the moment went into the production of craft products not related to hookahs. The problem is different – the people do not have money to buy them expensively)

What is your 3 favorite hookah tobacco brands?

 Fumari, Satyr, Total flame

What is your 3 favorite hookah model brands?

Totem, VZ, Japona hookah

Can you be interested if some hookah manufacturers will offer you a remote job via first in the world international hookah job service Hookah Head Hunt? What do you think about this service?

I would be interested if this is not tobacco products in terms of promotion. I am faithful to my brand. There was a Spectrum SEO job vacancy, but it’s already taken. There are no technical limitations. All the same, knowledge in marketing is extremely useful. Accessories, Hookahs, coal, retail chains – I will be glad to cooperate. I find the service extremely useful, given the plans for its further implementation. Thanks to the Hookah Battle team for such an idea)

 

 

Artyom Potrekhalichev, Hookah master from Moscow (Russia)

What is your name and in which hookah lounge you work and for how long time?

Frigate Lounge. From the end of January 2019 to March 25, 2020

Do your hookah lounge work now? If not, when it stopped?

March 25th, 2020 was the last change before self-isolation, unfortunately, now breaking the regime has been working for 2-2.5 weeks

How much hookahs usually you prepared per day for customers? What is your average salary per day?

Depending on the season and weekdays or not. In the best season – an average of 10

If your lounge closed do you have any salary or support from your lounge employer?

No help.

What are you do now in quarantine? How your life changes? Do you have any other work?

In search of work. I am preparing, together with one person, an interesting research project on the temperature of a cup while smoking. major home repairs started in the room. I almost completed the angle of the comp.

What is your 3 favorite hookah tobacco brands?

Nakhla, Tangiers, Al Fakher.

What is your 3 favorite hookah model brands?

Alpha Hookah, KM, Artyom Team (My hookahs, which I prepared for Hookah Battle)

Can you be interested if some hookah manufacturers will offer you a remote job via first in the world international hookah job service Hookah Head Hunt? What do you think about this service?

I will only be glad. I also helped to test the service.

 

 

Кirill Poklad, Hookah master from Minsk (Belarus).

What is your name and in which hookah lounge you work and for how long time?

Myata na kolasa (the premium hookah clubs chain) I work there for a 3,5 years

Do your hookah lounge work now? If not, when it stopped?

Yes, it works

How much hookahs usually you prepared per day for customers? What is your average salary per day?

Around 50-60 hookahs per day.

If your lounge closed do you have any salary or support from your lounge employer?

No, because I quit, and in principle the lounge works

What are you do now in quarantine? How your life changes? Do you have any other work?

I’m sitting on self-isolation, I am studying at the Bern school, yes, I plan to open my own institution

What is your 3 favorite hookah tobacco brands?

Tangiers, Duft, Chabacco

What is your 3 favorite hookah model brands?

Cwp (Razor), Japona, Koress

Can you be interested if some hookah manufacturers will offer you a remote job via first in the world international hookah job service Hookah Head Hunt? What do you think about this service?

It would be cool to collaborate

 

 

Raiymbek Jumamuradov.Hookah master from Aktau (Kazakhstan).

What is your name and in which hookah lounge you work and for how long time?

Space Hookah, Kazakhstan, Aktau

Do your hookah lounge work now? If not, when it stopped?

Does not work, closed until quarantine is removed

How much hookahs usually you prepared per day for customers? What is your average salary per day?

20-25 hookahs per day.

If your lounge closed do you have any salary or support from your lounge employer?

Not getting anything.

What are you do now in quarantine? How your life changes? Do you have any other work?

At home, I am looking for an idea for my next performance at HookahBattle, life has not changed, but I’m glad that I spend more time with my family, but I already miss work at the counter, I have not yet looked for work.

What is your 3 favorite hookah tobacco brands?

Tangiers,Darkside,Fumari

What is your 3 favorite hookah model brands?

Wookah,Hoob Hookah,Japona Hookah

Can you be interested if some hookah manufacturers will offer you a remote job via first in the world international hookah job service Hookah Head Hunt? What do you think about this service?

I will only be glad I posted my resume on HHH a long time ago, excellent service, something that was lacking in the hookah industry, thanks to HookahBattle for such a service!