Job Discussion Forums

Mike S. · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 91 Location: New York City

I�m an ESL teacher and rock singer. I would like to find a part time job teaching ESL in the afternoon, so that I can sing at night in bars (this is what I did in Mexico, but went broke doing it). Is anyone else a musician who is managing to combine ESL teaching with gigging as a musician at night in Japan or know someone who is?

Thanks,

Mike S.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

What is your visa status? I'm not talking about the legalities of working as a musician on a teacher's visa. Many do that on the sly. I'm talking about your current visa and work situation.

You won't get a work visa for part-time teaching. That's my point.

I knew a couple of guys who played music at night but could hardly call it steady work, certainly not enough supplement to live on with a part-time job. They had FT jobs teaching.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

I second that, I have a friend who did the same.

One thing you might not realize is that the 'live' music scene in Japan is not the same as back home. Bands generally have to rent the club they play in not the other way round.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

You can get gigs, but you need to fill a party niche as the regular gigs at clubs won't pay the rent (though they might keep you in free beers/drinks).

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I know people who do this, but they had to get a full-time job first to get their visa and put in some time at that job before being able to set up a schedule where they could fit in gigs at night. You can probably use that time to build up some connections anyway.

YouHadMeAtASL · Joined: 30 May 2007 Posts: 60

Mike, I'll be moving to Japan in September. We should jam. I'm not sure what city I'll be in yet though.