Dj Looking For Work

[ChristopherWilliamsBKK]

As you see here Joe you have two groups.

1: Telling you to get out there and move about, make contacts and make what you want to happen happen.

2: Telling you that you are in grave danger of commiting multiple hellish sins for which you will fry.

The guys preaching No.1 are the sound (forgive me pun) geezers. Good knowledge of how things really work.

The guys preaching No.2 are the sort of fellows who get out of the shower if they need to pee, have always been dictated to, followed pointless rules all there life and are scared of everything.

You know who to listen to fella

Look forward to hearing your success story

What a pile of crap. Listen to you and he has every chance of doing his next gig in the IDC.

^ Ahh.. the smell of a number 2 (no pun intended)

[thaibeachlovers]

As you see here Joe you have two groups.

1: Telling you to get out there and move about, make contacts and make what you want to happen happen.

2: Telling you that you are in grave danger of commiting multiple hellish sins for which you will fry.

The guys preaching No.1 are the sound (forgive me pun) geezers. Good knowledge of how things really work.

The guys preaching No.2 are the sort of fellows who get out of the shower if they need to pee, have always been dictated to, followed pointless rules all there life and are scared of everything.

You know who to listen to fella

Look forward to hearing your success story

Would the musicians arrested in CM agree with you?

[kerryk]

2: Telling you that you are in grave danger of commiting multiple hellish sins for which you will fry.

The guys preaching No.2 are the sort of fellows who get out of the shower if they need to pee, have always been dictated to, followed pointless rules all there life and are scared of everything.

You know who to listen to fella

No one said any such thing. I simply said it was illegal --something he definitely needs to know, whether or not he decides to ignore the fact or not.

PS: I'm one of those people who don't consider DJ's to be either "musicians" or "performers"....

Richard although I don't really like the genre because I think they are mostly no talent guys looking to score a drugged up chic. I do have a grudging admiration for the drum and base culture. It is quite extensive and inventive (if you like repetitive sounds like four year olds drive their parents crazy with). They have computer programs that extract melody lines from recordings and they mix drum and base tracks with those songs. It is actually quite complicated. Since my circle of friends includes quite a few young women I have been exposed to a number of DJ types and some of them are musicians playing piano or other instruments in addition to mixing computer audio, video and light tracks. If you like an occasional whacked out yabba chic it is the place to be, and who doesn't like a whacked out yabba chick to break the boredom of teaching Thai grade school.

I would think the OP is cast in the same brand as the others who have come on TV asking for DJ advice and I doubt if we will hear from him again. I mean really! If I had a specialty of any kind, except blasphemy, TV would be the last place I would look for advice. Any person in the DJ business would know others involved in said business in Thailand and would query them for basic information. Too bad though because the DJ types who have started threads here have been fun in a, pulling legs off of flies, way kind of fun.

[meom]

PS: I'm one of those people who don't consider DJ's to be either "musicians" or "performers"....

Yes I don't get it either.

If he's any good all he has to do is plug in his memory stick with 12 hrs of premixed trance and the party continues.

Not much work really

[Richard4849]

i would really like to know does the guys from linkin park have work permits when they perform in bangkok...

please let me know if somebody has some information.

YES, of course they do.

[kerryk]

PS: I'm one of those people who don't consider DJ's to be either "musicians" or "performers"....

Yes I don't get it either.

If he's any good all he has to do is plug in his memory stick with 12 hrs of premixed trance and the party continues.

Not much work really

If he is from London he has to learn how to speak Ebonics and dance while standing still and it takes some talent to roll up a realistic sock to put in your pocket. Also there is the how to keep your pants from falling down when they are belted below your butt.

[ChristopherWilliamsBKK]

As you see here Joe you have two groups.

1: Telling you to get out there and move about, make contacts and make what you want to happen happen.

2: Telling you that you are in grave danger of commiting multiple hellish sins for which you will fry.

The guys preaching No.1 are the sound (forgive me pun) geezers. Good knowledge of how things really work.

The guys preaching No.2 are the sort of fellows who get out of the shower if they need to pee, have always been dictated to, followed pointless rules all there life and are scared of everything.

You know who to listen to fella

Look forward to hearing your success story

Would the musicians arrested in CM agree with you?

Would the thousands of musicians who have played here over the years agree with YOU?

[transam]

2: Telling you that you are in grave danger of commiting multiple hellish sins for which you will fry.

The guys preaching No.2 are the sort of fellows who get out of the shower if they need to pee, have always been dictated to, followed pointless rules all there life and are scared of everything.

You know who to listen to fella

No one said any such thing. I simply said it was illegal --something he definitely needs to know, whether or not he decides to ignore the fact or not.

PS: I'm one of those people who don't consider DJ's to be either "musicians" or "performers"....

I concur.

[thaibeachlovers]

As you see here Joe you have two groups.

1: Telling you to get out there and move about, make contacts and make what you want to happen happen.

2: Telling you that you are in grave danger of commiting multiple hellish sins for which you will fry.

The guys preaching No.1 are the sound (forgive me pun) geezers. Good knowledge of how things really work.

The guys preaching No.2 are the sort of fellows who get out of the shower if they need to pee, have always been dictated to, followed pointless rules all there life and are scared of everything.

You know who to listen to fella

Look forward to hearing your success story

Would the musicians arrested in CM agree with you?

Would the thousands of musicians who have played here over the years agree with YOU?

I wasn't asking about the ones that didn't get caught!

[thaibeachlovers]

PS: I'm one of those people who don't consider DJ's to be either "musicians" or "performers"....

Yes I don't get it either.

If he's any good all he has to do is plug in his memory stick with 12 hrs of premixed trance and the party continues.

Not much work really

If he is from London he has to learn how to speak Ebonics and dance while standing still and it takes some talent to roll up a realistic sock to put in your pocket. Also there is the how to keep your pants from falling down when they are belted below your butt.

I like your style!

[PoorSucker]

i would really like to know does the guys from linkin park have work permits when they perform in bangkok...

please let me know if somebody has some information.

There's a 14 day temporary work permit designed for visiting specialists.

[CockneyJoe]

Thanx for all the replys (i think!?)

Sounds like a working visa would be good, I dont speak 'Ebonics' either as my name suggests im a cockney and speak with that accent. Allso im aware that there is a lot of talentless dj's about! I am not one of these, i play the bass and guitar, produce and have promoted partys all round the world.

I posted on TH just to see what peoples views are etc and ofc have seen quiete a few differant ones!

When i say i dj all styles, pretty close to the truth...Funk and Soul all the way thru to electro house, i could teach any one to dj in a day. The differance between a good one and a bad one is massive tho!

Oh and what is putting a sock in your pocket all about??? Sounds like you know alot about it!

[JohnnyFeelIt]

You'll struggle if your not a big name, and since your posting on here, I guess your not.

100's of DJ's get off the plane every day, very very few manage to consistently earn a living locally.

[nocturn]

Work Permit , i woulnd worry to much about this , as the clubs will sponser you, also i think there is a clause somewhere that musicians dont need work permits? i stand corrected

VERY bad advice!

and please explain to me why this is bad advise..... so whn international DJ's and perfoming artisits paly in bangkok, do you think they all have work permits issued ? , i think not as no one would play here

i am wating for mario to comment as i did mention i would be standed corrected, but DJ's or perfoming artisits are excempt from normal

but lets see

generally speaking they do have permits

[scorecard]

Work Permit , i woulnd worry to much about this , as the clubs will sponser you, also i think there is a clause somewhere that musicians dont need work permits? i stand corrected

But, as an example, i noticed Likin Park are playing in Bangkok, do they need work permits, as in theory it is the same

To the OP/ Work permit is a serious matter, there are checks and the immigration police will not be swayed by "sorry, I didn't know I needed a work permit". Instant deportation is a possibility. "clubs will sponsor you" is not a work permit.

If you get caught, your in trouble but in most instances the employer doesn't get into trouble.

Suggest you search the Chiang Mai thread of Thaivisa, recently there have been numerous arrests of foreign musicians for playing without a work permit.

A Linkin Park concert for 2 nights or similar is a different category, don't try to see this as a guideline for working permanently / semi-permenantly.

There's a section at the very start of this Thaivisa site in English which gives clear details of the applicable laws and regulations, and you can easily find lists of professions which are banned to foreigners.

Good luck!

[KimoMax]

Joe, Great if you can get something going. Think most of the members here are just trying to let you know how you can do it legally and stay out of trouble with immigration and police.

Especially if Joe has had a hit or two recently and is a Known Name in those circles.

He just has to put his foot out there and see what happens and be prepared to ask sponsors about work permits, or get them himself. Foreign local DJ's and Musicians can inform the OP personally about the prevaling mood of a certain area.

But I would not suggest the OP to try to compete or enter the Thai DJ market.

They have thier own style and unless the OP is very knowledgable about local styles and music taste, he is better to stay with the International crowd.

Good luck and hope to hear some good news post from Joe in the future.

[kerryk]

Thanx for all the replys (i think!?)

Sounds like a working visa would be good, I dont speak 'Ebonics' either as my name suggests im a cockney and speak with that accent. Allso im aware that there is a lot of talentless dj's about! I am not one of these, i play the bass and guitar, produce and have promoted partys all round the world.

I posted on TH just to see what peoples views are etc and ofc have seen quiete a few differant ones!

When i say i dj all styles, pretty close to the truth...Funk and Soul all the way thru to electro house, i could teach any one to dj in a day. The differance between a good one and a bad one is massive tho!

Oh and what is putting a sock in your pocket all about??? Sounds like you know alot about it!

I am sure not you. I heard about it from DJ's in London South of the river who seem to have a problem when they try to deliver.

[DJ Spokerz]

Hi I am 23 year old DJ from Scotland looking for DJ work in Bangkok, have been around and about some clubs and bars, NANA plaza, LIquid NANA, Loft, and good few and not getting much any help out there?

[driedmango]

I will be honest, Thai Visa is a bad place to post this. Why ? To many old school people think DJ=Full Moon Parties scene or that is will some how lesson the art of a guns and roses cover band.

I would say there is a thousands of gigs to be had. I am a dj and last time I was in Thailand I was scouting and there is places where they laugh because everyone from teh west with a laptop shows up to ask them, or on the other hand little bar owners that are like, dude, why don't you start up a night here weekly and take a cut of drinks ?

People like to dance, Thais love to dance, backpackers love to dance, the guys from the beer bars, they don't like to dance as far as I know, so asking on Thai visa is looking for trouble.

I think Dub goes over well in Thailand. If you want to stay away from anything seedy or rave like... you might want to cut your own path, start your own night and consider that thailand is very much in love with live music, I don't think hiphop is going to bring out the mature artsy BKK crowd...

I been planning my electro swing debut in Thailand, I think know they will dig that kind of stuff, hoping to target high end live clubs that most times have jazzy thai style bands.. I am hoping they will dig that.

I do regular events in BC Canada, I am hoping to spend enough time in Thailand, and of course with proper permits, and some local support, throw some sort of festival one day... it is a dream.

[driedmango]

ps... don't forget, you can get a 2 week permit for thailand.

Being so close to Cambodia, Laos and other countries nearby that also have HUGE club and festival scenes (Bali...big list) you might find that it is just a couple hours by plane to land gigs in other countries too..

I want to point out one thing, I found Hip Hop clubs dead for the most part in Thailand, sure people spin tracks of top 40, same songs night after night, but pure hip-hip, I think that culture scares some of the conservative thais and attracts some of the wrong type of farang that you wonder how the hell even got to thailand...

No knocking your style... but give them world, Afro beat, Latian, Top 40, Classic Disco, Nu Disco...

Drum and Bass of course has a huge following, but all the local cats can do that with their eyes closed, they are good, the crowd is silly young and drunken...

All I am saying is you might want to picture what kind of people you will meet, if they are going to pay well... I say target the Mature and classy thai market that gets dressed up for a night out while they share food and stuff...

Thailand has it rought for all night hot spots due to harsh drug laws and the fact these type of events attract drugs .. there isn't really the same scene as any western countries, not to say that not a bad thing, as they have a huge live music scene.

[HardenedSoul]

I have to agree; a guy punching the air to a 4/4 beat is NOT a performer or an artist but I grudgingly accept that modern youth/club culture touts them as such.

As for DJing in Thailand, good luck but remember that club culture here - if you can call it that - is incredibly unsophisticated.

These people are spoonfed cheesy K-Pop and popular crap like Pitbull and Katy Perry and that's what they want to hear when they go out.

There is little in the way of an underground scene to drive homegrown musical innovation. Just go to Insomnia, Climax, Spicy, Shock 39 or Mixx and you'll understand what I mean when I say that any efforts a DJ makes to educate his audience are pointless . These people are still going crazy to Black Eyed Peas' "I've got a feeling" years after it was a hit, <deleted>.

[driedmango]

There is little in the way of an underground scene to drive homegrown musical innovation. Just go to Insomnia, Climax, Spicy, Shock 39 or Mixx and you'll understand what I mean when I say that any efforts a DJ makes to educate his audience are pointless . These people are still going crazy to Black Eyed Peas' "I've got a feeling" years after it was a hit, <deleted>.

Maybe your looking for an underground scene in the mainstream places like you mentioned above. lol, if is underground, nobody here knows about it.

There sure is a lively bunch of Thais that appreciate the art of djing and know that Dj's are musicians.

I thought that whole argument was long dead, and most people understood being a good Dj takes tons of talent, years of hard work and is by every description in the dictionary, and artist making Music.

As someone who plays guitar at a professional level, I will tell you, it is so much easier to go strum 4 chord songs on a slow beat than it is to give people a musical journey for hours on end ...

Ya, don't listen to these kind of people that tell you there isn't interesting open minded Thais that are doing their own thing underground. The fact is they wouldn't let a single washed up farang in a beer Chang shirt threw the door, the women would scream and the music would stop.

Thailand has so many layers, and in many ways I have found them to be much more open minded than westerners. There is so many people that make their living creating their art here, they have influences from ALL over the world, they have long deep old soul thai music. Imagine friendly happy eastern versions of hipsters and hippies, if you can.

[scorecard]

Work Permit , i woulnd worry to much about this , as the clubs will sponser you, also i think there is a clause somewhere that musicians dont need work permits? i stand corrected

VERY bad advice!

Agree, bad / wrong advice.

- Any non-Thai who is working* (part-time / full time / night time / helping a friend, whatever, needs a work permit. Musicians / djs /toilet cleaners / doctors - whatever, are not exempt.

- Pop groups / shows* whatever who visit Thailand all get a temporary work permits, organized by the agent who organizes the gig (*meaning every person in the show)

- 'Clubs will sponsor you', therefore no need for a work permit, has no meaning. Under the Thai laws about this subject all work permits are issued to individual people, not issued to a company or a venue - just doesn't work like that.

- But it is true that your employer must provide you with a contract of employment (must state a job description and job title and must state the monthly salary etc., and there is a minimum monthly salary amount required for a work permit, work location, for a work permit to be consider to be considered.

Contract plus various company registration documents, plus a work permit application in your name, plus a health certificate with a blood analysis report from a recognized laboratory, which says (amongst other things) that you are free of syphillus, must be submitted to the Thai Labor dept.

- End result, if it's approved, you get a one year work permit which states your name, and also states the name of your employer, location, job title, etc.

- Put all of that another way - you cannot apply for a work permit to work anywhere (meaning different employers) - there is no such thing in Thailand.

- There have been several instances of musicians being arrested (many times in Chiang Mai) because they don't have work permits. "Just jamming for the personal enjoyment", "Just helping my friend for one night", etc, will not be accepted by the appropriate inspectors.

- But step by step - there is a specific list of occupataions which foreigners cannot do in Thailand, therefore a work permit simply not available. Look at the start of the whole Thaivisa website and you'll quickly find this information.

Good luck.

Edited September 30, 2012 by scorecard

[jcw]

Work Permit , i woulnd worry to much about this , as the clubs will sponser you, also i think there is a clause somewhere that musicians dont need work permits? i stand correcte

)This is so wrong advice, but there is a easy short time (yeah short time is 14 days for a musician - Lucky You ) work permit for a small fee.

[Mike West]

You should approach the staff or part owners at I Bar Pattaya, they need a good DJ there, as their current one just plays the latest top 10 singles and has no idea about old school music, or how to mix tracks.

[Mike West]

Do you have a work permit? You need one!

Are you the work permit Nazi? since when do any of these DJs have "work permits" anyway? I've met quite a few, and none had permits, so get a life and stop being a party pooper!

[missionrat]

I will be honest, Thai Visa is a bad place to post this. Why ? To many old school people think DJ=Full Moon Parties scene or that is will some how lesson the art of a guns and roses cover band.

I would say there is a thousands of gigs to be had. I am a dj and last time I was in Thailand I was scouting and there is places where they laugh because everyone from teh west with a laptop shows up to ask them, or on the other hand little bar owners that are like, dude, why don't you start up a night here weekly and take a cut of drinks ?

People like to dance, Thais love to dance, backpackers love to dance, the guys from the beer bars, they don't like to dance as far as I know, so asking on Thai visa is looking for trouble.

I think Dub goes over well in Thailand. If you want to stay away from anything seedy or rave like... you might want to cut your own path, start your own night and consider that thailand is very much in love with live music, I don't think hiphop is going to bring out the mature artsy BKK crowd...

I been planning my electro swing debut in Thailand, I think know they will dig that kind of stuff, hoping to target high end live clubs that most times have jazzy thai style bands.. I am hoping they will dig that.

I do regular events in BC Canada, I am hoping to spend enough time in Thailand, and of course with proper permits, and some local support, throw some sort of festival one day... it is a dream.

Hah, this is the best response I've seen and the mot practical advice. You are unlikely to find lots of people on ThaiVisa that are into dance music or dance culture so barking up the wrong tree here.

But if you want advice on how to marry a Thai woman half your age and lose all your savings buying a farm for her in-laws, this is the best website! Or if you want to learn all the ways that Thailand is and the Thais are corrupt, incompetent,awful,dangerous, etc. you are at the right place!

[bangkockney]

No talent? Not performers?

Tell that to DJ Craze, The Scratch Perverts, Marky etc

If it's so easy I look forward to videos from the TV membership of double drops whilst phase mixing a ragga acapella on top. And don't forget the transformer scratch. Let's see you do the drumming technique too.

Anyone who thinks turntablism isn't a performance must be blind. Go watch some DMC World Championships.

[missionrat]

No talent? Not performers?

Tell that to DJ Craze, The Scratch Perverts, Marky etc

If it's so easy I look forward to videos from the TV membership of double drops whilst phase mixing a ragga acapella on top. And don't forget the transformer scratch. Let's see you do the drumming technique too.

Anyone who thinks turntablism isn't a performance must be blind. Go watch some DMC World Championships.

The problem is 90% of people who self identify as DJs are glorified iTunes button pushers. The problem with DJing is that there is zero barrier to entry and therefore no quality control. Literally any 10 year old kid can download Traktor and start "DJing" in 2 minutes... Many do. As for the serious performers, they artists of some sort. They ability to get a crowd dancing for hours and taking them on a musical joyride and crafting a thematically unified multi-hour sound journey is undoubtedly an art form and a difficult one to master at that. There are many skilled DJs out the doing interesting things but they are not the majority.

Same goes for producer/DJs. These guys are composing and performing their own music. Super impressive but a tiny percentage of "DJs" write their own music. I give tremendous respect to those artists who write their own music and play multi hour sets of all original material, sometimes remixing it on the fly. I don't give respect to any random dude playing oth people's music on their laptop unless they have mad skills... Most do not.

[meom]

Came across this set which was played at the Parkbridge.

You guys don't happen to have a tracklist?

http://soundcloud.com/jfk/ifr-progressivemixx-parkbridge-afterhours-bangkok-12-14-09

Edited October 1, 2012 by meom