Getting some R N' R... Reflection and Realization

It’s Sunday and I’m chilling at home after watching 6 hours of metal at the Gegey Fest 2013 yesterday which was freakin’ A(wesome). Passionate bands and passionate fans are always an amazing mix of euphoria.  Ok so I never show it, I’m such a control freak that it takes A LOT to move me to any emotion… I may not look excited but I am, I may not look like I care but I do…. I’m just too much of a realist that nothing much moves me outwardly. 

I reflect the last couple of years since moving on after a 15 year stint with the Akademi and Anugerah Industri Muzik… but everything happens for a reason.  The reason came along in various packages, first in the form of Versus which is now thankfully into it’s second season.  This program is built for bands to showcase their creative ability and thanks to TV, radio and online support, get their music heard, gain fans and have fun along the way.  The formula is easy… passion, belief and great performances build fanbase… you can’t go wrong.  It is watching magic seeing these bands dig deep, challenge each other and themselves to produce some of the most mind blowing music creativity EVER.

Also the past 2 years I have gone back to being involved in concerts which is actually my favourite-st thing because the fans get to interact with the artsites/bands, see them and hear them in an environment where they can truly enjoy the music. Nothing like watching LIVE music, LIVE. 

It’s also been a revelation getting back on the ground and watching the acts.  What this does for me is affirms my faith in the talent that we have in this country.  We have an abundance of talent that is so diverse and almost all the scenes; be it metal, hip-hop, dance, indie are being held together or moved forward by one person or a small group of people with a strong belief in their genre.  We have to admire them and be thankful for without them there would be none.

Open Mic Sessions, Indie Gigs, Rockaway, Rock The World, Future Music Festival, Raise The Bar Festival, MYMC, Gegey Fest, Concerts, Paying Tours (if not album promo tours) are important to our ecosystem.  We need to support these events.. Fans need to support these events.. no support no events/venues.. pure and simple.

I have NEVER liked politics.  I like the age old joke that says it comes from two words Poli which means many and tics which are blood sucking insects. You always find some self serving person wanting to own the action and then you have those that are truly doing the work on the ground… quietly and thanklessly… but still going.  

There are a small group of “vigilantes” who I have been watching, sometimes working with, sometimes talking to, exchanging ideas on how we can move and improve the scene and all I can say to everyone is hang in there… the time WILL come.  The change is slow but there is no stopping it, it will happen.  So TOGETHER we must continue to fight the small battles to win the war.

There are a couple things that I would like to point out through my personal observation.  We all need to learn and work together no matter what genre cause our problems are the same and together we can make more things happen.

Sometimes we become too complacent hoping for free help, radio airplay, TV time, stage time, sponsors but those things don’t just land in our lap.  We have to fight for it, prove ourselves and sometime get up and fight/prove some more.  This is a game of perseverance… success in life NEVER comes easy.

Instead of complaining we need to get up AND DO SOMETHING.  Start your own scene, use all your resources (fans, contacts, friends…), get your music out there, play like you mean it, promote like your life depends on it... you have to try everything and anything!  You cannot just hope for someone to help you out, why should they!  YOU have to GIVE THEM REASON.  The passion separates the men from the boys it drives you harder, makes you think out of the box and shows who is going to go the distance.

The next observation is that we need to remember support is a two way street… between us and the sponsors, promoters, TV/Radio stations, online… (P/S :  Support and NOT taking advantage) When you finally get the opportunity to work TOGETHER with one of them you need to help promote (and sometimes help others to promote).  It not only shows your commitment but it’s also beneficial to you to outreach your fans.  When you can drive traffic, win over hearts YOU are doing that not only for the people you’re working with but you’re DOING IT FOR YOURSELVES.

Last piece of observation, which I will say proudly that most of our acts do,  always try to be on time and when you have a chance to hit the stage PERFORM like you have 500,000 people watching you all the time.  I say this cause you NEVER know who is in the audience watching… could be a BIG promoter, a sponsor, an international talent scout…. Eating dinner, having a meeting, hanging out… Being in the RIGHT place at the RIGHT time is only part of the puzzle to complete it is to be doing the RIGHT thing.

Thank you to those who keep fighting the fight… 
 Confucius says… "The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."

Peace, Love and Respect

SHOW-ing OFF our talent

 

Anuar Zain 3 Dekad was how it felt to do shows in the 1980’s until the late 90’s.  Our artistes did public concerts,  sometime recorded for TV and audio releases too and people came and paid to see them.   Sudirman, M. Nasir, Ramli Sarip, Jamal Abdillah, Sharifah Aini, Ella, Ziana Zain, Awie, Slam, Search, Wings, Sheila Majid, Zainal Abidin and others.  During that time the technology may not have been as forward as now and we ourselves may not have had the exposure to international standards  but we started systems and now we are on par.

With shows like yesterday (Feb 16) people are moved to go and see the show cause they get the entertainment value.  I have learnt three things :

Those of us that have been exposed to working with internationals like Mac Chew, Jenny Chin, Steve Ho, Alvin Koh and myself  (Whether here or abroad) we have learnt systems and ways of working that we have applied in our careers.  That exposure has led to professionalism and a high regard for creative talent.  Therefore I disagree to not allowing foreigners into our country and competing openly.  We only learn what we want to… if you decided to close your eyes and your minds you will never learn anything… but when you go in with an open mind you can become as good, if not better, that is all up to you.

Secondly we will not get back to that “Golden era” if we continue to do free shows… apologies but this is the truth.  An artiste needs to have the right amount of exposure and the right amount of “exclusivity”.  We are not a big country, so every time an artiste does a FREE show even 3-4 songs they lose their public value unless they are a new artiste seeking to break ground.  When they do too many public show no one wants to pay cause they just saw them 3 months ago for free.  People need to pay for shows to show their appreciation for their favorite artiste.

To the Artiste themselves the commitment level is high. Practise, Practise, Practise and then practice some more.  Fitness level to be able to carry a 2 hour show all by yourselves.  Promote, promote, promote… no one can do promotion without you, the Artiste. You want people to come to YOUR show… YOU invite them.   Endless media interviews and angles, countless stations IDs, massive one on one interviews... THAT is the nature of engagement.

To the public you must understand that China and US can afford to do production shows ALL the time because cost is spread out over 100 shows (in their own country and then venturing our worldwide).   Musicians and Engineers are block booked for months at a time.  Not so here.  So when you ask why we can’t do like this or like that… it’s not that we can’t, we can, we have the knowledge and the ability but we don't have budgets or the kind of crowd turnouts that will qualify putting the amounts that internationals apply.

It is my hope that with the start of Anuar Zain and his team showing the way that others may do the same.  We have so many Artistes that are able to present shows like that.  The industry and fan buzz is phenomenal and for us it is a pleasure to be able to flex our wings once in a while and show Malaysia, what we got!  We have the best of the best… we just need to recognize it, support it and then it will grow.

Peace, Love and Respect

P/S :  Dear Government,  We are asking NOT for charity, we are asking you to open your eyes and recognize our creative talent before we lose it all.  We need those systems in place so that we may start something that will have a long lasting, meaningful effect for generations to come and not just handouts. Lastly and NOT LEAST this is not only for our cultural side but also our POP-CULTURE which has now existed for almost 50+ years... we have a history that matters.  Thank you for your kind attention.