Forums > Living in Kunming > Dear Foreign Musicians With all due respect Marc0746, I appreciate your views on boycotting gigs. We all want and support a healthy Chinese local music scene. However, 2 guys playing guitar in front of a hyundai show room near the airport is not (to my mind) going to derail the future of music in this city. Yes, live music needs to be supported. Yes, original, local music needs to be supported. Nobody would disagree with that. This has nothing to do with that.
Can we get back to how to band together our voices on this issue?
Maybe a meeting somewhere?
Forums > Living in Kunming > Dear Foreign Musicians Sure, agents suck, but they exist, hence the need for us all to band together on price. I won't deny that part of the reason for this post is to alert anyone in town doing shows as to what the usual rates are. Don't get shafted. If you do a gig for 300y, that agent is still gonna charge 1200+ for you and pocket the difference.
If everybody agrees and stays strong on the prices, we can all win. Agents will be annoyed but they'll start just charging the companies more. Who cares?
1000 minimum for every gig is great idea, but unless everyone agrees, it's just not going to work. I totally support it though!
Forums > Living in Kunming > Dear Foreign Musicians Having spoken to many people around town who do a lot of 'monkey shows' (companies need foreign faces to play music), I think it's time we all got together and got some stuff sorted out. For everyone's mutual benefit!
There are many excellent local musicians in Kunming, yet companies still (for whatever reason) love to get some foreign faces at their events. My point is this: yes, you may be a musical genius, but the main reason you are being employed is because you don't have an Asian face. Sorry, but it's almost always true. (I have had Kazakh and Thai musicians cancelled for 'not looking foreign enough')
Which brings me to the main reason for writing: let's try and make a price list for monkey shows. Despite what agents say, they are not doing you a favor, and they are not poor. So, after talking to a few people, the general consensus I got (so far) is this:
Really short (1-2 hours), in Kunming city - 600-700Y each person
One day, in Kunming city - 800Y each person
One day, outside Kunming - 1200Y each person
Overnight stay outside Kunming - 1500Y plus, each day, each person
Please comment if you think I am way off/correct/almost there/whatever. I think it's in everyone's benefit if we are all united on pricing.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks
