Job Discussion Forums

[eddy100]

Hey there BigWally..
I'll be in Taiwan very soon to start my teaching contract. I've been watching this forum and I've been impressed with how helpful you are
to everyone,..so..when I saw a question about guitars that kind of
grazed a very deep concern that I have, I figured I'd jump right in
and see if I could get my question answered.
I play. Eddy ( eddy100 ) is not my real name, and, no one in
Taiwan knows me,..so..I'm not putting on airs, etc.,.....but.....
I really play.
I'm middle aged with a couple teaching degrees and a couple teacher awards to go along with the degrees, but, that being said, I'm not
one of the "I teach because I love kids" crowd. Teaching is a
serious occupation and an income for me,..thats it.
The real love of my life is my music. Before becoming a "traveling"
teacher a decade ago, not a year went by that I didn't have a
backup band behind me every weekend in local bars of my tri-state
area back in the states. I have taught in a few foreign countries
over the past ten years, and the real thrill for me ( while I
no longer go through the hell of building and re-building back-up
and jam-bands ) is to pull out my guitar, or, pull out my guitar,
microphone, little amp and a special foot pedal effect or two
and throw down a few tunes for the pleasantly surprised few
who happen to be around.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about playing in the street
with my guitar case open looking for people to throw money into
it, nor am I looking to pick up some extra cash performing as a second
job. That's what the teaching is for;..income. I have never accepted
a penny for playing in a country where I was contracted to teach
english......but,...as I prepare to enter Taiwan, I, of course am
reading more and attempting to bone up as they
say on day to day life there....in doing so, I'm getting a little nervous.........
..in more than a couple places where advice on what constitutes
"work" is given,I keep seeing references to " unpaid musical
performances" as being unlawful and grounds for deportation....
as we speak there is a gentleman in Taiwan named Scott Ezell
( I believe the last name is spelled correctly ) who is waiting
under an appeal ( which I hear he is definitely going to lose)
of a deportation order. He received that deportation order
because he graciously agreed to stand up and strum his
guitar and sing a song for a charitable organization. No money
was involved.
Now....when I go to the park on sunday with my guitar, or lightly
crank up my equipment on the back porch, or at a party, etc,.....
trust me, I always draw listeners who are nice enough to
throw a little praise my way and then a request for a favorite
Beatle song or whatever.....it is what I live for........
.....................with what I'm reading on the internet, my
fears are leading me into believing that I'm not headed
for a nice time, but instead, a situation where if I feel
the need to play a few tunes, I'd better close the windows
and sit on the edge of my bed with my acoustic.
Say it ain't so, joe......from the newspapers and weekend
ads, one would think that Taiwan is highly progressive
with lots of strummers, rockers, and weekend bar bands.....
...what's the real lowdown on the street for an aging artist
like myself?.......
and thanks,
eddy100

[BigWally]

i know of one guy who was a teacher at my school, and had a regular Friday night sessions at one of the local pubs, i dont think he ever played for money, but i'm pretty sure his bar tab was covered for the night...

around Kaohsiung, there seems to be a pretty decent indie music scene, so if you're looking to play for locals, foreigners or just anyone, then you can easily find your niche....i've never heard of anyone being deported for playing some music in a bar!!

unless of course, you'll be singing pro-Mainland China tunes...then you may have some issues with the locals...

hope that helps you out a bit