Tuesday, November 09, 2010

To answer some questions

First of all, I am so lucky to have such awesome readers/friends as all y'all. Thanks for your comments.
The comments from my Japanese blog have been similarly touching, so thanks.

Oh, first of all, I am not leaving Japan. Stayin' right here.
Here's my visa sitch: I'm on a Humanities visa, which seems to be one of the broadest kinds of working visa. My work in music or TV hasn't netted me an income more than X amount (I forget what it is, but the ceiling is very high) to warrant any sort of funny business. It's side income and totally fine. How else would it be legal for people to teach private English lessons, I guess is a good way to look at it.
Anyway, it's up at the end of the year. I changed from "Instructor" to "Humanities" when I started working for private kindergartens after JET, and I've already notified the various govt's that I've moved, changed jobs, etc. I pay taxes on the money I make doing TV or PV's and all's good. Which isn't really even all that much, or often. Seriously; add up all I've done and it's pretty paltry.
The band is getting too big for me to continue. Visa's up at the end of the year. To continue, I need to be a viable wage-earner. Not possible while touring the country making 0 yen. So either go home and not do a band, or stay in Japan and not do a band. Bummer! D: :-P

EDIT: Oh, and to answer some other questions about work and stuff. I am working full-time. I have been since I set foot in the country. In fact, most, most, most musicians are working. Even on major labels. I think you'll find that bands who don't have to work are in the minority.
There was no option to approach our management because we don't have management (Speed Disk only financed and distributed our releases).

On to some of your comments:

Anonymous wrote:
"I paid 3800 yen to see you, and you played with six other bands; it was a relatively large venue, but still: I don't see how that makes enough money for food and rent for everyone involved, while still covering costs."
-It doesn't. :)

Ken said: "If you ever want to grab a beer or bounce song ideas off somebody after everything settles down, let me know, I don't see myself leaving Japan for quite awhile."
-Absolutely!!!

cryptomayhem said:
"Now it'll be way easier to visit you next time we come over. :P"
-I know, right?!

Silv said:
"I'm just glad I was able to see you guys live. That experience is easily in my top ten shows."
-You're silly. :-* Kidding, kidding; that is really cool to hear. I sincerely hope we get displaced, though! :D

another Anonymous wrote:
"I'd been pretty scared about going to see Tenten live, after some rumours in the English-speaking community about him being rude to white girls in the audience in some live. You definitely cleared that up for me, haha. I was excited to see you two on stage together."

-Haha, I wonder what that could have been about. His mom is a white girl so I really see no reason that he would have done something like that. Maybe he was trying to be fun and got misconstrued, or they were being annoying, or he really was a jerk. I find all three scenarios equally baffling, though. Maybe it's just some weird telephone game thing!

"Myself and the huge, scary Jimi fangirl I call a friend (she's too afraid to comment to you herself as well) are wishing you success and happiness in whatever your future endeavors are!"

-Thank you! And to your friend: DON'T BE SHY :|

"PS: Maybe those roleplayers will stop playing you now, haha."
-Hahahaha wait whaaaaaaaaaaat D:

9 comments:

Silv said...

I have a few hundred shows under my belt in every genre I can think of and the energy you guys put out in that tiny little basement blew away most of the competition. It was an awesome awesome experience.

I'm putting in my JET paperwork this week, so if all goes well I'll be over there myself next July.

Lala said...

Wow, the band getting too big-- oh the irony, I'm sorry man D: But mad props to you for going this far even if you were making 0 yen touring... that's so rock n roll \m/ (lol, I need a reality check).

By the way, about people in bands working, like how many hours a week? o___o (sorry, just curious, I'm having time management issues even doing just music + college).

Klisk said...

I have a feeling that you'll end up in another band once you got the visa/job situations fleshed out more concrete. ;)

As someone who has never, and will likely never visit Japan. (Being 26 now, I can say that confidently - I just don't have the resources at my disposal) I must admit you're living something I dreamed about since I was but a youngster. The possibilities fell through hard for me, so awesome to see you go so far - And that's without the music considered! Being able to relocated to another country is certainly intense. As I said before, I can't even visit!

Good luck, and don't abandon the blog now. ;)

Yomi Mashou! said...

これかよくがんばってや~

あの。。テンテンさんははっぱですか。
だって「てんてんのおかんは外人」って言うことで。いちいり?

うちはちょっと聞きたがるσ(^_^;)

ken said...

I'd actually been curious as to how the whole visa thing had worked out for you and what sort of troubles and limitations you'd encountered thus far. It's definitely not an easy process to understand.

I had never considered the possibility of a Humanities visa. Is that for advisory/translation work and the like?

Heather said...

A friend of mine has told me the horrors of her visa deal, and I can only cringe at your issue--they suuuuuuuck. In fact, I've been told on more than one occasion that the best way of getting a good visa is like playing Russian roulette.

So, good luck to you (and your ever-shrinking wallet) and make sure you actually eat, yes?

Patricia said...

Aw, this makes me kind of sad :(.I have been reading your blog once in a while since before you even joined Laverite, but I only listened to Chemical Pictures for the first time the other day.And I thought you guys were great!
But oh well, I wish you luck in whatever you do from now on.:D
And I was just wondering...how do the musicians manage to work and tour around the country?Wouldn't it be hard?And wow, even the musicians in major labels work?I never expected that, I assumed that bands that have been around for more than 2 or 3 years would manage to survive only on their music.It sucks you had to leave the band, but I'm sure there's more exciting stuff waiting for you in the future :).

Rei said...

I guess weighing the possibilities getting a stable life in Japan first is most important, but you can always go back to being in a band once your funds are stabilized and what not. I wish you the best of luck!

Unknown said...

wow i wouldn't have thought Tenchan is half though ö.ö
Nya but he definetly don't speak english or at leat not really well ._. But he's a great guy!

I wish you best luck for your future!
頑張ってね~