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 Asia or know someone who is?

Thanks,

Mike S.

saint57 · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:36 pm Post subject:

My friend's friends did it in Taiwan. I think they became quite popular. How did they do it? I have no idea.

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

Hey man that�s awesome!

Can you give me your friends email address (PM of course) or I�ll PM you mine?

Thanks, Mike

HarryG · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject:

Hey-I'll be teaching in Hanoi (with a bit of luck) from the Summer and I'm a singer/songwriter/guitarist too. I play the open mike circuit in my home town and have been part of a few bigger projects. My style is like Ben Harper/Ray Lamontagne: mixing acoustic blues licks with simple chords. I'm hoping to play as many gigs as possible over there to keep in the habit. I will be working full time though and hopefully volunteering too so will be somewhat limited.

I'm really hoping to form a band too-I figure a lot of teachers must play/sing or do percussion or whatever.

If you might end up in that area let me know. It would only take a few acts to set up a little festival in a hostel or a school-or on a beach-those are always the best times. Or just to Jam.

Anyone else that plays anything or can let me/us know what the music scene is like over there-please speak up

PS-good luck and good on you Mike

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

Yeah, let me know how it goes in Nam!

Cheers, Mike

lmbeharry · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:05 am Post subject: Mongolia might be a gig

Salaries are lower here, and the winter nights are LOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG! Sunrise: 8:30 / Sunset 15:30.

But music is an acknowledged profession (although my wife has told me that many Mongolian musicians have drug habits). That being said, I have heard (and I don't get out much), that there are quite a few blues and jazz pubs around Ulaanbaatar - especially in the tourist season (which is now). Summer days are LLLOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNG! Sunrise: 5:15 / Sunset 22:30 (or later further north).

During wintertime there are still a few pubs that pay musicians (or you may have to play for free).

If you are a decent person, you may be able to make a life in Mongolia. But you should also know that the screening process if tough. Mongolia had problems a few years back with disreputable and nasty people coming here and staying. So now, Immigration is tough. (For me, it took about eighteen months to gain some recognition - and I've got a Johns Hopkins BA, and a George Mason MBA, and a year of Law at William & Mary). Credentials don't count for much here. The people will judge you and bureaucracy is really tough. Also, most Mongolian outfits grant preference to ex-Peace Corps volunteers. I don't hang with them, though. I did VISTA and gave up on U.S. when my VISTA project turned racist and U.S. VISTA-Peace Corps refused to pursue legal action on my behalf.

But that's pretty much more than you need to know. Must be the strong Mongolian beer that I'm drinking now.

Lyndon

surrealia · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 241 Location: Taiwan

If you are considering Taiwan, you might want to connect with the bloggers at The Real Taiwan website (www.therealtaiwan.com). Lots of information on the local rock scene there.

Also, I would recommend you read some of the articles at the EFL in Asia website to decide which country you are most interested in teaching in.

EFL in Asia - www.geocities.com/eflinasia