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KwardBound
Joined: 04 Jul 2010
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 Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 4:44 pm Post subject: Can I Live like this: Hobby Maintenance? |
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| I have a friend who lives in Tokyo and works as an English teacher. He makes music on the side though and occasionally has shows in bars/nightclubs around Tokyo. He is nowhere near famous, but he's doing what he likes and more importantly the city that he lives in makes it possible for him to find areas to exercise his passion. I am a similar kind of person. Will I be able to live a similar lifestlye in Korea, and if so, is it only Seoul that will be able to provide me with such an environment? |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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| I know who a few English teachers in Seoul who perform from time to time in small bars or clubs. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| The foreigner live music scene seems to be growing all the time. I'm sure you could get a chance to show what you could do. Definitely in Seoul......wouldn't be so sure about the rest of Korea. |
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KwardBound
Joined: 04 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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| So this is a yes and yes, right? Are the younger Koreans receptive to it? And btw, I'm sorry if these are really asinine questions but some of you guys really paint a harsh picture of Korea's friendliness levels. |
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Daniel1981
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| what kind of music do you play |
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Reise-ohne-Ende
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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Korean people are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. The problem is that they're often unaccustomed to foreigners and they don't know the proper/respectful way to treat people who are different than them. So people may be inadvertently rude or condescending, but it's just because they don't know any better. Most of them will be very interested in you and happy to help you if you ask the right way.
As far as local music scenes go, they're definitely there, but you might have to look a little harder than you would at home. In Busan, there are several Korean punk/rock bands that I know of, and plenty of foreigner bands. But it's not like you can just google them...you have to make connections, and seek them out a bit.
As far as performing, there's definitely plenty of opportunities to do that. Lots of bars, clubs, and open mics. But as for getting paid - I'm pretty sure that's illegal to do here unless you're on an F visa (i.e., ethnically Korean or married to one). So you either have to be willing to risk deportation to do it under the table, or just be satisfied with performing and no compensation (or you could trade your services for a free meal, for example).
ETA: As for the question of public perception, most people do not listen to or know anything about any music other than Kpop and trot. My middle schoolers don't know what "rock music" is, who Elvis is, or even Britney Spears. They do tend to listen to older American pop (Michael Jackson) and some contemporary soft rock (Jack Johnson) but you'd be hard pressed to find a music connoisseur among the general population. Again, like I said, you'll have to dig a little deeper and make connections. But personally I think the Koreans I've met who are interested in alt music are some of the coolest people to be around anyway. |
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goingtothecountry
Joined: 15 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I somehow doubt it unless you can speak Korean. Actually maybe you could in Hongdae. |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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If you play good music and you know how to make friends and market yourself, yes it is very possible to get gigs in Seoul.
Actually, the music doesn't even have to be good.
It helps to be in a band though, they get more gigs compared to solo acts. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:38 am Post subject: |
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| Reise-ohne-Ende wrote: |
| Korean people are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. The problem is that they're often unaccustomed to foreigners and they don't know the proper/respectful way to treat people who are different than them. So people may be inadvertently rude or condescending, but it's just because they don't know any better. Most of them will be very interested in you and happy to help you if you ask the right way. |
What? Most people can't even acknowledge you as a person. You walk down the street and they pretend not to see you. You must be doing drugs if you find average Koreans friendly. |
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Reise-ohne-Ende
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
| Reise-ohne-Ende wrote: |
| Korean people are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. The problem is that they're often unaccustomed to foreigners and they don't know the proper/respectful way to treat people who are different than them. So people may be inadvertently rude or condescending, but it's just because they don't know any better. Most of them will be very interested in you and happy to help you if you ask the right way. |
What? Most people can't even acknowledge you as a person. You walk down the street and they pretend not to see you. You must be doing drugs if you find average Koreans friendly. |
Lol, well, that's not been my experience. The whole 'ignoring people walking down the street thing' has nothing to do with you individually or as a foreigner. That's how they treat strangers here. I actually find it kind of nice. In a store, you don't have to feign interest in the other person when you're trying to reach over them, you just grab whatever you want and move on. It doesn't bother them, it doesn't bother you. Yes, I'm still getting used to it, but it has its benefits.
As far as them being friendly? They *so* are. I'd say about 95% of the time when I ask a question, ask for directions, make a comment about something that's happening, compliment someone, etc., I get a friendly smile and a response. And there are lots of sweet people that edge close to me and listen to my friends' and my conversations...if you invite them into the conversation, they positively beam. Old people grab your hands and compliment you. Etc. Of course there are nasty, rude people out there, but they're everywhere in the world.
I do think that making an effort to speak Korean to people has a huge effect on how they treat you. But that's true anywhere. If a Mexican immigrant in my hometown walked into a grocery store and just started speaking Spanish to a clerk, often they would be treated rudely...so what makes it any different here? But most people will try to understand and help you if they can.
I also think your attitude has a lot to do with it. People can read if you have friendly, approachable vibes. If you approach someone thinking they're going to treat you like crap, it will be off-putting to them. That's true anywhere.
And of course your location, appearance, situation, etc. will have an influence too. But I haven't had any problems other than the few wayward individuals (and trust me, I know enough Korean people to know that they have the same uncomfortable experiences as we do!) |
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fugitive chicken
Joined: 20 Apr 2010
Location: Bucheon
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:11 am Post subject: |
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OP, I have a friend who does a bit of rap/freestyling mostly in the foreign areas like Itaewon or Hongdae.
However, be careful about getting paid for it. If you make any money outside of your teaching job and get caught you will pay heavily. |
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anjucat
Joined: 26 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:14 am Post subject: |
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Who's Your Daddy?:
That's some fine inter-cultural understanding you're displaying there. Good job, buddy. |
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zeppelin
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:20 am Post subject: Re: Can I Live like this: Hobby Maintenance? |
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| KwardBound wrote: |
| I have a friend who lives in Tokyo and works as an English teacher. He makes music on the side though and occasionally has shows in bars/nightclubs around Tokyo. He is nowhere near famous, but he's doing what he likes and more importantly the city that he lives in makes it possible for him to find areas to exercise his passion. I am a similar kind of person. Will I be able to live a similar lifestlye in Korea, and if so, is it only Seoul that will be able to provide me with such an environment? |
I've done it for years. I'm based in CheongJu about an hour and a half south of Seoul. We play gigs all over the country... Seoul, Bucheon, CheongJu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan.
Lots of Seoul people never leave Seoul and will tell you it's the only place to play. It isn't. We just finished doing some festivals down south, great fun. |
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KwardBound
Joined: 04 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:29 am Post subject: |
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Hello Zeppelin, that sounds great, man. You or someone in your group must speak Korean though, right?
I'm actually in the Hip-Hop mindframe.
I don't think I mentioned paid gigs anywhere, but having a venue where you could show up and do your thing would be nice.
Fugitive Chicken, Who is your friend? Any links? |
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zeppelin
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:37 am Post subject: |
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| KwardBound wrote: |
| Hello Zeppelin, that sounds great, man. You or someone in your group must speak Korean though, right?? |
Not really, we can all get by. A lot of Seoul musicians only really speak to ex pat Seoul musicians. If you get some good Korean contacts you can open up a whole new world of gigs and festivals. |
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