5 More Musicians Jailed

[femi fan]

What to do?

In the main foreigners can do very little. But thais can. It's up to thais all involved in music and all arts to know about what's happening, and to then formulate a protest to the relevant media and authorities. Chiang Mai is an amazing centre for artistic and creative people, and it cannot be allowed to be ruined, even if temporarily, by some stupid idiot who is in the job that allows such ridiculous posturings to occur in a community.

The other thing that might help is for Pim at citylife to take up the issue with the relevant authorities. The only thing that can reign in an official is media coverage that paints them in the wrong light. This is universal, for officials and their petty behaviour is a universal trait. Only people via media can stop them. Unfortunately here that means only thai people. Can all concerned foreigners talk to their thai brethren about the problems currently facing chiang mai?

In the past we had the useful mai pen rai, and a relaxed attitude towards life from thais who can do damage by applying the letter of the law. Unfortunately these days thai officials are copying the developed world's attitudes to laws. It's a dam_n shame and a regression by thailand in the name of the happiness of a nation and her visitors.

[Ulysses G.]

Anyway, I didn't come to Thailand to hear foreigners singing badly when there are so many Thais that can do that.

[femi fan]

It is always a pity in life when miserable gits get into positions of authority. Unfortunately it seems almost to be an unwritten rule that miserable people are the only ones who want such jobs. And they then spend their lives trying to spread the disease of misery they suffer from onto everybody else.

Only citizens can stop this absurd action. And they have to do it through the media.

But either way, what a sorry tale of woe this is. Arresting musicians for making music. How low can human beings plummet?

[elektrified]

I think the law needs to be clearly defined. Boy, (Took's nephew, guitarist extraordinaire, and proprietor of Boy's Blues Bar) went to Immigration to find out exactly what the law was with respect to farang musicians playing in his bar. He was told that it was O.K. for farangs to jam as long as it was not a regular or weekly kind of gig.

Greenside is right. Artists should not be stopped from expressing themselves creatively.

Newbie 'LuckyLemon' is full of crap!

Edited April 20, 2011 by elektrified

[james24]

Anyway, I didn't come to Thailand to hear foreigners singing badly when there are so many Thais that can do that.

lol, nealry as bad as the Chinese when they start dancing

[Paagai]

Between the copyright police mafia and immigration it may not be long before the only music in Chiang Mai is that coming from the sound trucks advertising in the streets.... Or is that just noise

[mallmagician]

Simple solution. Charge everyone who wants a go at playing with the band, 10baht a go. Give them a receipt. Then they are a customer, not a volunteer......

Idea courtesy of tv member naboo who is drinking in a bar with me.

[Ulysses G.]

That does sound like a good idea!

[DavidOxon]

we've already thought of that one (and rejected it too )

[mallmagician]

Too logical?

[nevermore93]

Simple solution. Charge everyone who wants a go at playing with the band, 10baht a go. Give them a receipt. Then they are a customer, not a volunteer......

Idea courtesy of tv member naboo who is drinking in a bar with me.

Best idea I´ve heard so far!!!!

Beats the heck out of the monthly ¨tea money¨ charges to local authorities paid by some just to do something for free. I´m just getting tired of doing something I love and going to jail (been there done that). No wonder so many Falangs come here and go off the deep end because they have nothing rewarding to do.

Paying 10 Bht to get on a stage and play a few tunes is a small price to pay in comparison to 30,000 hush money or 50,000 Baht bail and pending criminal charges or deportation.

In my mind, it would be the same as paying 10 Baht for an amusement park carnival ride. Enjoyable, inexpensive and completely legal.

I´m sure the local authorities could come up with a few more permits for the venues, but in theory the idea holds water.

Buy ¨Naboo¨ a beer for me.....I´ll pay you back as soon as my bail money is refunded...LOL

[philw]

I actually agree with immigration

Foreign musicians should not be playing in bars as they are quite clearly taking money away from Thais

Either by

1) Replacing Thai musicians

or

2) Drawing customers away from other bars that pay Thai musicians

I understand that one of the previously arrested 'amateur musicians' played at a different venue every night and made his living from that playing.

Anyway, I didn't come to Thailand to hear foreigners singing badly when there are so many Thais that can do that.

I make a point of never going to bars that have foreign musicians, there are plenty of really good bars with Thai bands around.

Perhaps you have not been here long enough to want to ( insert adjective ) the next Thai person who plays "hotel California" in the wrong key.......

3,000 renditions might change your opinion.

Edited April 20, 2011 by philw

[uptheos]

I guess busking with my harmonica at the bus station is out............don't want to become a convict doing hard labour.

[Jangot]

As Joe Cummins has been active in Chiang Mai jamming in bars, and Joe is quite influential in his capacity as a writer for Lonely Planet, I wonder if he is aware if the current "crackdown" and perhaps can give it some publicity to make the 'powers' aware of the damage they are doing to the reputation of Chiang Mai.

[naboo]

we've already thought of that one (and rejected it too )

Why? I know malmagician told me it was too sensible, but that can't be a reason to reject it..... oh yeah, TIT.

[uptheos]

Perhaps you have not been here long enough to want to ( insert adjective ) the next Thai person who plays "hotel California" in the wrong key.......

3,000 renditions might change your opinion.

Not much fun having a meal with 'Yellow Liver' being sung in the background either.

[Flatouthruthefog]

<br />Maybe there is an alternative govt. movement to propose Thailand as the "UNcreative City".  <img src='http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

It IS beginning to look that way.

In response to you and the long and EXCELLENT post above by Greenside, while I agree wholeheartedly with you and sympathise with all concerned, I don't think anything will change around here, until and unless:

a) the govt can be persuaded that music, as both an art AND an educational medium, should be as free as writing and painting (both more private and thus ignored so far - until I just STUPIDLY mentioned them here!)

a very very prominent and well connected THAI musician comes out in public to say that this is an international freedom which should be respected, as in any other nation I can think of.

But I am not holding my breath on either, sadly!

[DavidOxon]

we've already thought of that one (and rejected it too )

Why? I know malmagician told me it was too sensible, but that can't be a reason to reject it..... oh yeah, TIT.

I would still count as working as far as immigration are concerned....!

[uptheos]

we've already thought of that one (and rejected it too )

Why? I know malmagician told me it was too sensible, but that can't be a reason to reject it..... oh yeah, TIT.

I would still count as working as far as immigration are concerned....!

They'll soon be counting breathing as working.

[lannarebirth]

we've already thought of that one (and rejected it too )

Why? I know malmagician told me it was too sensible, but that can't be a reason to reject it..... oh yeah, TIT.

I would still count as working as far as immigration are concerned....!

Do those players involved in the Gymkhana "Cricket Sixes" need work permits? Was admission charged to watch them play? Were they selling food or beverages at the venue? I just don't see any difference in these kinds of activities.

Edited April 20, 2011 by lannarebirth

[lannarebirth]

Can you enter golf tounaments where prizes are awarded? How about Pub quiz nights. Is that work? Did those guys who organized the Chiang Mai Toy Ride, did they need work permits? Just asking.

Edited April 20, 2011 by lannarebirth

[heybruce]

I actually agree with immigration

Foreign musicians should not be playing in bars as they are quite clearly taking money away from Thais

Either by

1) Replacing Thai musicians

or

2) Drawing customers away from other bars that pay Thai musicians

Right. And you shouldn't give a ride to a friend because then your taking money away from tuk-tuk and songthaew drivers. And forget about helping those students that have an English assignment that requires them to interview a foreigner, those students should go to a licensed school and pay someone with a teaching certificate and work permit.

In fact I think the police should arrest any foreigner doing anything remotely useful or kind unless they have the correct visa stamp and permits. Just because this is the land of smiles doesn't entitle us to help out other people or try to make them happy!

[Beetlejuice]

As yet I still have not seen any official or media reports regarding this incident.

A lot of ho har over something that was mentioned on facebook.

Does the OP or anyone here have any solid facts besides someone told me, as to the fate of these musicians. Such as names, nationalities and what these guys were doing in Thailand. Tourists, living here or what?

Otherwise it is pointless in assuming anything about anybody about something that may not be fact.

I am sure if there were any substance to this story, then it would be in the Thailand news clipping threads and not just mentioned on the Chiang Mai forum.

The OP has titled this thread, 5 more musicians jailed, but that is an incorrect discription until this has been confirmed.

David Oxon on a previous thread which he started, quoted that he heard from a reliable source that these guys had been arrested.

So please enlighten us and tell the reliable source.

Edited April 20, 2011 by Beetlejuice

[TheWalkingMan]

"The amount of volunteer talent that is wasted here makes most people who know the extent of it very depressed and frustrated. People from all over the world have settled here with knowledge and experience that could be passed onto local people in a whole range of ways but mostly it's just ignored."

This piece from Greenside says exactly what I have been thinking for a long time. All the wasted talent who could make huge differences. Such a waste.

TheWalkingMan

[ChiangMaiKid]

The North Gate Jazz Co-Op is by far my favorite place to enjoy music in CM...I have to admit that I'm also wondering how playing at an open mic night here is any different than karaoke anywhere else. If it's a fee problem, then I see no reason that a 10 baht 'fee' to play with the band would be any different.

Keep on playing good music, the jails will be full of musicians soon and I'll just go hang out there...I'll even buy the first round for the jail-house band!

[DavidOxon]

As yet I still have not seen any official or media reports regarding this incident.

A lot of ho har over something that was mentioned on facebook.

Does the OP or anyone here have any solid facts besides someone told me, as to the fate of these musicians. Such as names, nationalities and what these guys were doing in Thailand. Tourists, living here or what?

Otherwise it is pointless in assuming anything about anybody about something that may not be fact.

I am sure if there were any substance to this story, then it would be in the Thailand news clipping threads and not just mentioned on the Chiang Mai forum.

The OP has titled this thread, 5 more musicians jailed, but that is an incorrect discription until this has been confirmed.

David Oxon on a previous thread which he started, quoted that he heard from a reliable source that these guys had been arrested.

So please enlighten us and tell the reliable source.

The musicians network here is quite small,

the general info passed around is accurate and reliable.

The details are, however, not always 100%!

David

[chiangmaiexpat]

The local police never ceases to disgust me. Several people die at the Downtown Inn under mysterious circumstances and not a single arrest is made. Several people play music at the Jazz Coop and they are swiftly jailed. The difference is that the owner of the former establishment is powerful and corrupt, whereas the owner of the latter is a just a regular guy who wants to enhance the musical culture of our city. I think the appropriate response to this is to make it as public as possible -as is happening now on the Internet- just don't count on the Thai media.

Cheers, CMX

[Dellboy218]

Just been talking to one of the organisers of the Chiang Mai Toyride and as far as he is aware all of the people involved including himself have work permits so they remain unaffected by any of these developments.

[uptheos]

The North Gate Jazz Co-Op is by far my favorite place to enjoy music in CM...I have to admit that I'm also wondering how playing at an open mic night here is any different than karaoke anywhere else. If it's a fee problem, then I see no reason that a 10 baht 'fee' to play with the band would be any different.

Keep on playing good music, the jails will be full of musicians soon and I'll just go hang out there...I'll even buy the first round for the jail-house band!

The warden threw a party in the county jail

The prison band was there and they began to wail

The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing

You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing

Do you need a WP to entertain other prisoners?

Edited April 21, 2011 by uptheos

[Paagai]

As yet I still have not seen any official or media reports regarding this incident.

I guess whether or not it gets reported depends on how the money was passed over, or under the table