Can you be rich playing music for a living in sg?

[bongman]

Is S'pore really pathetic? If so, nobody would be paying $$$ to watch those foreign acts coming here. And why do they come here if it's pathetic?

soft here to promote local scene
hope we are discussing about the same issue

of course as compered 20 years ago,
when David Bowie came to promote his LET's DANCE album
nobody was keen to see him
now Singaporeans are affluent and educted, any foreign acts
coming in can bring in big bucks

 

[bongman]

I agree with HeartRockSingapore on this matter.

Most people here want the best outta every situation. They have no difficulty in expressing their hearts' desires.

But they can't make the best outta any situation. They just sit there and whine, criticise, compare etc. Ain't that pathetic?

if this is a genuie discussion - then let's talk some truth
then always hoping, wishing and pretending...

 

[Elvin-Seraphim]

money or love?

wel..let's not deviate from the topic..know that it's quite unsettling to agree that we can make it big in music..but for a sec.. how rich do u want to be in the music industry?.. u dun really have to look far.. ie. at rock stars, pop bands.. in fact.. there are some (not sure how many..but i've known a few).. rich musicians out there..and they are mostly private/ free lance teachers of music.. lecturers.. piano teachers.. violinists who teach privately.. and a drummer with no paper quailfications but is juz dang gd (plays freelance for pubs and bands juz hire him).. they all juz continue with their passion..(of course..they divide their passion with other stuff like song writing and such).. making money can be a secondary priority..but eventually..the source of ur work..is still the primary job of music making/playing.. u can actually earn quite abit.. if u consider $5k to be gd money.. i'm sure it's quite a gd start.. and u can be rich even with $5k..depends on how u manage ur wealth man.. well.. for the examples mentioned above.. they are earning abt $7k-$9k.. and it's quite above average.. unless u wanna venture into business with ur music.. u cud make bigger bucks outta it..

 

[stillwater]

bongman, so wat makes singapore's music scene so pathetic compared to those places u been to? on wat basis?

all night scene clubs with vibrant bands? 8O
i won't argue on that since its a matter of taste and perception...
wat's ur definition of vibrant anyway?

TV good for health? 8O
hmm... nvm, i'll pass on that also...

cheers

 

[bongman]

here damn terok lo...
remember TV is good for health

 

[jumbofret]

*SIGHS*

Tom Hess, if you're reading this... Yup, I agree with you man. I'm a big fan of Bumblefoot aka Ron Thal, and I have read some of his interviews and I get whatcha mean...

Well, I am a local-based foreigner. Born and raised here. Give ya a hint, you mentioned that your CDs are doing very well in my fatherland...

The Singaporean mindset is at fault, really. Most S'poreans are:
Apathetic
Pessimistic
Defeatist
Lazy
Unoriginal
Traditional
Conservative
Backwards
Over-reliant on the "bigger guys" ie Govt and MNCs
etc

Cheers man.

To the others, don't flame me for pointing out ya flaws. It's just a general statement, afterall.

 

[purplehaze3691]

Yo dude , that's is not a nice comment about singaporean, what if I say something about your father land , would you like it . I think you have hurt a lot of softies feeling by telling us what you think of us Singaporean .

 

[jumbofret]

I said MOST. That means, there are EXCEPTIONS. If it doesn't apply to you, you shouldn't feel hurt.

I mean, just look at bongman's comments. Arguing and complaining only, nothing constructive and positive.

See, HeartRockSingapore and a few others were engaging in a very good constructive discussion. Based on their experience and knowledge.

 

[purplehaze3691]

what does your most means? majority? I am a singaporean born and bred here serve my NS , went through all the shit , so I am most of the singaporean you mention here , it's like saying you have an ugly face but I do not mean you , MOST of the people have an ugly face , so you should not be hurt

 

[HeartRockSingapore]

I hope we are not heading for a clash of civilisation here I guess Jumbo's observation could be right, and we do sometimes need an outsider's view. But frankly the delivery is not so nice even if you used MOST. It's only a PC word. But I do not think we are only talking about exceptions, but more so as in minorities.

Let's take SOFT for example, almost 8000 members but in reality only a minority would be prepared to stick out their neck to comment. Even if they do stick their necks out, how many would be prepared to go out into the street to do something?

Now take me as an example. Many bands get to perform free, no audition, no fees, no selling of tickets, no purchase of goods. How many of us would be willing to do that. It is easy to sit in front of the computer but going out there and facing the music, literally and otherwise is no fun.

Some have hinted the lowliness of me using government money to fund the gigs, but do you know how low a person can feel going to the government to beg for things. The HeartRock Centre thing is a real disappointment with officials in the government.

But if we believe in the world we live in, in this case the livelihood of music in Singapore, then the dissappointments become nothing but non-fatal mosquito bites.

I don't know whether I am doing the right thing, but I am pursuing to transform the Singapore scene into a flourishing industry no matter what mindset Singaporeans largely are.

I am inviting those who believe in the notion that Singapore can make it in music to join me, in spirit or in flesh (keep your minds clean). I have things going on and will need a lot of brains and brawns to carry them out.

 

[afterdeath]

RN is willing 2 fight 2gether wif ppl like u, anthony......... :wink:

 

[AgingYouth]

Some have hinted the lowliness of me using government money to fund the gigs

Morons!!! Milk the government's money for all it's worth!!! I'm a taxpayer too!!!

 

[HeartRockSingapore]

But AY, you cannot call them morons. They are really purists who believes that the government should not interfere into the music scene. By doing so, some would be unfairly marginalize and not being able to demonstrate their capabilities. Don't you think they are right in this sense?

 

[drummar-buah]

i'm supporting Heartrocksingapore.

i believe it's through this small gigs that Singapore will start recognising local talents.
and i mean TALENT. cuz imho sometimes when i attend gigs. and i hear some of the bands play.. it really turns me off as the standard isn't there. i think jumbofret has actually been too general about singaporean's attitudes.
from wat i can see.. even though bands which i hear that turn me down. they are actually the ones who are enthusiastic enough to keep trying to break this barrier and shout out to the world that local singaporean music are actually good. no offence. but i feel that watever songs these bands are playing. they should actually try to perfect it as best as possible. if they happen to play really badly on stage and audiences will probably be more uninterested in local music. so.. yup.

no offence to any bands or anyone here ya? peace out

 

[jumbofret]

HeartRockSingapore is certainly a man worthy of respect and admiration. Well, of course in my opinion lar.

Yeah, the "most" I used is for PC flavour. If not, I kena flamed for sure! Save the flames for your burgers, because it just tastes better! :lol:

Some people here are really so simple-minded. They will go "Oh, organize gigs ar? Go get sponsors loh!!!" and they don't know how hard it is do get them. They just don't know the harsh reality.

Haiyoh, I don't think you have much choices... That's why you had to seek financial assistance from govt... Nothing wrong with that, really.

But IMO, AgingYouth is right. Must milk the govt's money for all it's worth! Otherwise the money will be used for trivial matters... Like repairing remote roads or something, lol.

There will be opportunities, there will be change. Imagine.

What if Sony, Universal, EMI etc decides to explore SEA and scout for talent that's unavailable in the West? What if that day comes? Will S'porean musicians be able to seize the opportunity, or will they fall short in standards, in comparison with the other SEA musicians?

 

[HeartRockSingapore]

Thanks Jumbo for kind words. Thanks to Drummer Buah too.

My hunch about big name labels are much the media monopolies, going for safe bets. But still we are happy that the media is beginning to allow a small amount of what I coined as the "Alternate Pop" to get into it. ST Life started it, followed by Power98, then Perfect 10 and now LIME. Deals established labels had with local bands so far are limited to distribution, and this is not what bands need really, except for that brnad name attached to themselves. What bands need most is more investments to expand their visiblity and listenership beyond Singapore. Risky business, but it pays high.

There are few things Singaporeans, especially the 8000 members and other browsers of SOFT can do for Singapore's music is to attend more local gigs whenever you can, bands should try to be versatile. Being versatile doesn;t mean selling but rather being more competent. You actually have to master more genre than what you love to do. I would also suggest to bands not to rush into recording of albums as this only shows that you have a couple of thousand dollars in your pocket. It does not show that you have become a better band. spend more time watching others, more time thinking and more time on coming out with music that not only you think it is good. All these will help speed the growth of our music.

Edited...

We should explore the setting up of independent lables strong in financial planning and management.

 

[AgingYouth]

I still believe that the government should never intervene in music and the arts. But hey, they have the money... Well, musicians in Singapore are already marginised. I've never seen a NAC-sponsored event for Rudra and metal gigs. But hey, if T'ang Quartet needs money to rent the Esplanade Concert Hall, they are there. But I reckon it's not easy for the classical musicians to canvass grants as well.

I'm just interested in their money man...

 

[HeartRockSingapore]

You are absolutely wrong to put that allegation on NAC. RUDRA did receive strong financial support from NAC.

Can you ask an investor to put money with you and don;t ask? Unless you are GOD, which obviously does not need investment at all.

 

[AgingYouth]

No lah, most contractors are surving on these A&A jobs... the entire construction industry is sorta in a slump for a while. A&A jobs keep them afloat. Well, prolly till the constructions of the IRs.... Wheee....

 

[jumbofret]

Yeah... I think what HeartRockSingapore said is true... IMO, bands also need to learn financial management as well. They spend way too much money on their branded guitars and basses than on other important matters.

Thanks AgingYouth, for correcting me!