I went to work today on my bicycle.
You know that route, from my house, all the way down the road towards Simei ITE road, the whole stretch. Along the way, there are a few danger spots which I know.
1, the Simei entrance to PIE, and another, naturally, the Tampines Exit from PIE.
At approximately 11.15pm, I almost got into an accident on the way back, on the hotspot of Tampines Exit from PIE.
On my bicycle, I looked out to the curved road, no cars, so ok I went on. Partly I'm a little arrogant in the sense I didn't like observe the road, I just glance, no lights whatsoever, and moved on.
And just nice, a scooter just zooming into the exit, and we're damn close to hitting each other had I pedal a second slower.
Both of us left unharmed. And well, I was pissed. At the same time he was pissed.
As I finished crossing the exit, I was so very sure it's his fault. But as usual, the opposition is so very sure it's my fault. My fault for not paying more attention to the road, his fault for driving so fast into the exit. As a driver I myself drove in that exit frequently, and I'm pretty sure that there is a warning and a speed limit at that exit. 50km Speed limit, makes you able to stop in time had you seen a pedestrian cross that road.
Take it this way, had I not been on a bicycle, instead, I'm on foot.
I would have been dead. Imagine this...
Takahina, dead. The Woon Han you know, died. Before anything he knew or imagined is achieved.
The fucker driving was driving at quite a speed from what I see.
So afterwards, we both stopped. He stopped at a road in front, very obviously signalling me to stop.
I was thinking, "For what?"
I was looking pissed naturally, and well, I have no idea why he's so pissed.
So I went up to him, fucker who's a standard 30+ guy borned from a freaking normal Singaporean background of idiot who plays Mahjong every week at least once or close to that and watches football every night ... (Wait, isn't that me?)
He confronted me, saying shit like, "What?! EH you wanna die issit? Don't see the road one ar! What is that face ar?! Angry issit? What you want ah? What must you do now ar?!"
In otherwords, Kao Pei Kao Bu to da maxxxxxx..
At this point of time I had 2 choices, 1, either to just apologize to him (God knows for what reason), or I confront him back with my reasoning. Cause from whatever shit knowledge I know about, it's not the first time I crossed that road and cars appearing after I crossed the road. However!!! It's the first time a car managed to zroom past so fast while I'M on the road. They normally stop before the zebra crossing.
I mean, what's the use of a zebra crossing, if I look, saw no cars, and crossed, but still kena knocked? So zebra crossings came about, because a car knocked a zebra down and it's pattern got imprinted onto the road?
So if I kena knocked down like that, it's called Woon Han Crossing?
So I look at him, with a pissed face, saying...
"Sorry. Ok?"
He continued, "Wah, not happy ar?! What you want?"
I followed up, "Ok, I apologized, I'm sorry. What more do you want?" After that, he drove off. I carried on my way back home.
Then it was here I figured...
"Why did I apologized to him? Sure I'm at fault for not being cautious enough. But isn't he at fault too for driving too fast?"
Why did I apologize to him? 1 thing I thought.
How timid can I be, to the extent I can't stand up and challenge my point to him. I don't expect an apology from him for almost hitting me, so why must he expect an apology from me for almost letting him hit me, and get away with it!?
Somehow, I bui lun. He can lecture me a bit, but not scold me.
Then I thought again, it may not be that I'm timid, just that I'm past caring to such apologizing, and stuff. I mean, so what if I apologized? So what if I didn't apologize? The insurance company can pursue the matter, and determine from the road marks of his bikes and how fast he was traveling, I'm pretty sure I can win the case, or at least make a settlement out of court.
So I'm indifferent.
Sometimes I can't figure out things. In which timidness and indifference tends to act in hands with each other. There have been apologies which I made that aren't true hearted. There have been apologies which I didn't dare to make, but still haunts me to this day. There have been issues when I just didn't care and went away.
I guess you can say I'm somewhat a bit of an "Atas" person, or at least that's how I like to think of myself. Like any average Singaporean guy in the past, the point is the lesser things you get yourself into, the better. So timid or indifference is a good thing. But now, not really. Somehow the culture has changed to a fact that people like to stand up for themselves with their own points and views, and aren't afraid to let it EXPLODE out.
Take the fucker driver that almost made the True Takahina a Dead Takahina, if I'm the driver I would have just drove off or lecture. But not scold.
So somehow, if anyone likes to overall explain to much of their point to the extent that its absurd, I will care less about them. In otherwords,
"Fuck off you pantyhose. I can't be bothered to listen to your shit man. Watching Vasamtham channel is better than watching you."
And in my mind, that very "high high up there Barbie" feel will appear.
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't listen to people, but I don't listen to threats, I don't listen to stupid opinions, points which can't convince me, although I do listen but it gets lost somewhere in the end.
I love listening to people's opinions, I listen to ideas, I listen to your whines and stuff. But, if it's shit regarding hokkien vocabulary towards me, I will be that Atas shit.
But the problem is not with me listening to you or not, the problem is why can't I get myself to express my own points when the opposition gets overly powerful?
Timidity, is a bad bad characteristic of mine. Or simply, indifference is just a characteristic which is negative in the current society, rather than it being neutral.
Whatever Takahina writes here, is fully affected by all the people around him. Whatever you don't agree, you are fully responsible for it.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Late Hours Takahina
Working in Singapore, sucks.
Why? Because unlike most rich people at the top, the middle and lower class people like us have to slog everyday, every night.
It's an endless circle.
This slogging doesn't occur only to low class, it happens to young people like you and I, young couples, just married, old couples, parents. ETC.
Who says Singapore doesn't have differentiation of class? We have, we have our own caste system that few knows about.
The Super High Tier, people who literally slack and like the lower down people work while their money and ideas work for them. Time for family is aplenty. You see the ginnas with Bentleys driving around at the age of 21? Either they're genius, or they have a rich pa. Their kids have manners, because their parents are there to guide and teach them manners. Normally very well-liked and envied. However when they grow up it's a different thing.
The Normal High Tier, people who literally work their heads off and control a whole bunch of middle and lower tier people at their work. Generally managers, but you don't own the company. You're a manager being managed to managed the people who needs to be managed. Time for family, none. You're too busy. Kids don't drive Bentleys, they drive Toyotas, Hyundais, Mitsubishi. Kids normally snobbish and arrogant, due to them having nothing, but money. However when they grow up it's a different thing.
The Normal Middle Tier, people who work their ass off, only control maybe a bunch of people under you and have tons of bosses above you. For the company you work like an ant. You have friends and relatives alike who go to pubs to drink your ass off. Time for family, some. Unlike those at top, you only need to mind your own business, so you have time. Kids, don't drive until they reach adulthood. Normally normal, and general, and generic. Always striving to earn money, getting laid and making networks and friends. However when they grow up it's a different thing.
The Lower Tier, people who work their guts out, always gets controlled by almost everyone above you. For the company you work like a bee, but somehow you always find the time to slack, and get scolded, but you don't really care. You have friends and relatives who go to kopitiams to eat your guts off and dig your nose everywhere. Unlike those above you, you don't need to even mind your business, others will take care of it for you. Time for family, none. Because your work hours of doing low responsibility work is normally damn long. However you always find time to call home and see what dishes are being prepared for dinner. Kids, drive Daytona and Initial D. Sometimes motorbikes. Normally very beng or lians and loiter around lanshops until the wee-hours of the night. Relationships are weirdly... committed. And full of crap. However when they grow up it's a different thing.
Corporations are killing us off, with long hours of work. This could be easily shared by employing more workers, but somehow, the company doesn't want to cause it saves cost. Well it saves cost, and creates more divorces, arguments, quarrels, and creates less productivity due to the "personal effects" it forms on it's employees. The Super High Tiers won't really know of such effects, because High Tiers are pushing the middle and lower tiers, while Super High Tiers just play golf.
And logically so, why? Because just like economics, Super High Tiers just want profits. They won't mind employing less workers despite increasing work load, cause it's cheaper that way. Also how you handle your family is your business, not mine, why in the blue hell would a shareholder of a company even bother about a middle tier-ed family's problem. They will just say,
"Yo, High Tier-ed Manager, go and settle this employee's problem. After settle le, we go drink."
It's dumb actually. I'm not blaming corporations for saving money, I'm blaming the government for not putting some sort of limit to this. Let's take South Korea for example, to counter falling birth rates, they are imposing a guideline to have the worker go home by this certain timing for their family and personal life.
Something which I think, is very efficient. If the worker wants to work extra, it's up to him to lose his own family, he can blame no one then.
The tradeoff between work, and personal life, is very delicate. Neither of it can be neglected, the balance must exist. This is something, which the government, or seemingly, Singapore itself, don't seem to understand. Singaporeans are borned workaholics, and the sense of "working for money and life" is infringed into us by our parents and the whole society. So corporations LOVE Singaporeans, why? Cause we're so hardworking.
Sure, society, family, government emphasis balance in life, but our action speaks otherwise.
Takahina likes working, because it gives him $, and he learns skills/information needed. But at the same time, he dislikes working for too long, because it deplores him of the freedom he needs. People who know me well enough, will know that freedom has and always will be one of the factors which I hold supremely precious in life. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate my job. I like its timing of 6pm-12mn. But ask me to work this for life even if the pay is good, I doubt I'll continue for that long.
We're hardworking... to the sense we're deplorable.
And at times like this, if the middle and low tier-ed employees don't help out together so they can all go home together in time, you can wait and be prepared to get ostracized among your own.
So, best thing is what? Invest. Use the money that you worked so hard for to work for you.....
(Bah, I'm not gonna go into investor/financial mode)
Once you have money, you won't feel the need to be so hardworking, you can slowly slack off... and go home watch World Cup, or have a baby with your wife I don't give a shit.
But then again, how many people can get rid of this life of working.
After all, Singaporeans love working. Hard.
Why? Because unlike most rich people at the top, the middle and lower class people like us have to slog everyday, every night.
It's an endless circle.
This slogging doesn't occur only to low class, it happens to young people like you and I, young couples, just married, old couples, parents. ETC.
Who says Singapore doesn't have differentiation of class? We have, we have our own caste system that few knows about.
The Super High Tier, people who literally slack and like the lower down people work while their money and ideas work for them. Time for family is aplenty. You see the ginnas with Bentleys driving around at the age of 21? Either they're genius, or they have a rich pa. Their kids have manners, because their parents are there to guide and teach them manners. Normally very well-liked and envied. However when they grow up it's a different thing.
The Normal High Tier, people who literally work their heads off and control a whole bunch of middle and lower tier people at their work. Generally managers, but you don't own the company. You're a manager being managed to managed the people who needs to be managed. Time for family, none. You're too busy. Kids don't drive Bentleys, they drive Toyotas, Hyundais, Mitsubishi. Kids normally snobbish and arrogant, due to them having nothing, but money. However when they grow up it's a different thing.
The Normal Middle Tier, people who work their ass off, only control maybe a bunch of people under you and have tons of bosses above you. For the company you work like an ant. You have friends and relatives alike who go to pubs to drink your ass off. Time for family, some. Unlike those at top, you only need to mind your own business, so you have time. Kids, don't drive until they reach adulthood. Normally normal, and general, and generic. Always striving to earn money, getting laid and making networks and friends. However when they grow up it's a different thing.
The Lower Tier, people who work their guts out, always gets controlled by almost everyone above you. For the company you work like a bee, but somehow you always find the time to slack, and get scolded, but you don't really care. You have friends and relatives who go to kopitiams to eat your guts off and dig your nose everywhere. Unlike those above you, you don't need to even mind your business, others will take care of it for you. Time for family, none. Because your work hours of doing low responsibility work is normally damn long. However you always find time to call home and see what dishes are being prepared for dinner. Kids, drive Daytona and Initial D. Sometimes motorbikes. Normally very beng or lians and loiter around lanshops until the wee-hours of the night. Relationships are weirdly... committed. And full of crap. However when they grow up it's a different thing.
Corporations are killing us off, with long hours of work. This could be easily shared by employing more workers, but somehow, the company doesn't want to cause it saves cost. Well it saves cost, and creates more divorces, arguments, quarrels, and creates less productivity due to the "personal effects" it forms on it's employees. The Super High Tiers won't really know of such effects, because High Tiers are pushing the middle and lower tiers, while Super High Tiers just play golf.
And logically so, why? Because just like economics, Super High Tiers just want profits. They won't mind employing less workers despite increasing work load, cause it's cheaper that way. Also how you handle your family is your business, not mine, why in the blue hell would a shareholder of a company even bother about a middle tier-ed family's problem. They will just say,
"Yo, High Tier-ed Manager, go and settle this employee's problem. After settle le, we go drink."
It's dumb actually. I'm not blaming corporations for saving money, I'm blaming the government for not putting some sort of limit to this. Let's take South Korea for example, to counter falling birth rates, they are imposing a guideline to have the worker go home by this certain timing for their family and personal life.
Something which I think, is very efficient. If the worker wants to work extra, it's up to him to lose his own family, he can blame no one then.
The tradeoff between work, and personal life, is very delicate. Neither of it can be neglected, the balance must exist. This is something, which the government, or seemingly, Singapore itself, don't seem to understand. Singaporeans are borned workaholics, and the sense of "working for money and life" is infringed into us by our parents and the whole society. So corporations LOVE Singaporeans, why? Cause we're so hardworking.
Sure, society, family, government emphasis balance in life, but our action speaks otherwise.
Takahina likes working, because it gives him $, and he learns skills/information needed. But at the same time, he dislikes working for too long, because it deplores him of the freedom he needs. People who know me well enough, will know that freedom has and always will be one of the factors which I hold supremely precious in life. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate my job. I like its timing of 6pm-12mn. But ask me to work this for life even if the pay is good, I doubt I'll continue for that long.
We're hardworking... to the sense we're deplorable.
And at times like this, if the middle and low tier-ed employees don't help out together so they can all go home together in time, you can wait and be prepared to get ostracized among your own.
So, best thing is what? Invest. Use the money that you worked so hard for to work for you.....
(Bah, I'm not gonna go into investor/financial mode)
Once you have money, you won't feel the need to be so hardworking, you can slowly slack off... and go home watch World Cup, or have a baby with your wife I don't give a shit.
But then again, how many people can get rid of this life of working.
After all, Singaporeans love working. Hard.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
The Jamming Takahina
No pictures today. Bet you guys have enough of Takahina flaunting his own dashing looks. Lucky people...
Anyways, Takahina has been in bands, bands that does originals, bands that does covers, even an instrumental band. To be frank, other than Child's Play, most other bands I've been with don't seen to have any possibilities of playing again, be it's because it's just me, or simply we don't keep in contact anymore. Not that Child's Play is the best band I've played with, it's just the feel and chemistry we have with each other, it makes it unforgettable.
I've played in a band whether I've done nothing at all, waiting for the keyboardist to forget out things to play. And what was the songlist? My Immortal from Evanescenes. So I, the drummer kinda just sat there, waiting for everything to proceed properly, before I can play like 16 bars of my stuff at the end of the song.
Anyways, here's the song if you wanna know what I'm talking about.
That band hasn't contact me anymore. The bassist Alex is quite good, and I played with him again in another band, kinda a faithful coincidence actually.
Also, right now I'm with another band, a chinese band which included another bassist that I've played with before in ANOTHER band. I don't know what's gonna happen to this band in the future, so I'll just sit and wait and open my eyes.
But anyways, what I wanna talk about in this topic is ALL BEYOND THAT.
No names to be stated, but recently I've heard about a few things about this certain guy who seems to "manipulate" young budding musicians, into bands and stuff, with promises of this and that and his vision of the band.
I've played with him before, he didn't really call me up after like 3 sessions. Don't know is it because of my skills or my character. I have a feeling it's both. My skill is too good for him, and my character is too sharp for him.
(ok la, I'm too boastful here, even at Takahinian level).
Anyways, not trying to be critical, but I've heard of some ridiculous things he has done.
1.
Some band fund policy thingy which he had. Like wanting band members to contribute money to the band fund and using it to buy stuff for the band like digital cameras etc etc, useful stuff for stage performance, demo recording and such.
He had several things up to it, like needing a 3 month contract with the band, if not no $$ back.
Whoa, so you mean to say the band is a contract now... why you got them to sign anything? Are they like protected by the band protection union?? Well workers... even freaking bangala foreign workers have them. You want me to apply NTUC protection for you? So they have like
"Band members insurance against defective band leaders."
Why for all I know, you could just take the $$ and run off. Hah, if so then I'll be "band leader" a long time ago, and many people in the scene would hate me with such anger that even Satan would be worried of containing.
2.
Promises which sound fantastic and compels with your dream, but are often ridiculous after some logical thinking and time.
You know contacts in Japan, you promise this bunch of young musicians you found on some local music website and tell them dreams of the band. Going to Japan to perform, going for gigs, doing originals.
But seriously, if you gather a bunch of beginners, will you be willing to let them go overseas if their standard still isn't on par after like a year or 2 of band practices? Even Takahina doesn't have the confident to go overseas to perform, maybe Benji has, maybe Huimin has, I know Edwin definitely have, but nah, I don't. And I analyze players that I play with, I find it almost IMPOSSIBLE to nurture them up in a year. It takes time, like long term investments, bonds, share dividends, derivatives.
Next, you don't show people your contacts, you don't let your band members know exactly what is going on, you think they'll still trust you? Your status as a band leader will drop to a fucking common thug.
..........................................................................
Look, the thing about band funds, not that it's bad, I have been in bands that handle band funds, EvE for example. But that the way you're putting it up with all the rules and stuff on a freaking forum named after you (Why, you're very big ar? Immortal Lee also don't have his own forum, only his fanpage forum ruled by a bunch of Leenatics) , is a little too overwhelming. Firstly, you're not a fucking company, you're just a fucking person with contacts to Japan, and god knows (The song I jammed with him is God Knows by Aya Hirano btw) where in Japan. For all I know you could be just waiting to sell some innocent girls to Japan's porn industry and earn commission from it. And yes they'll be making music alright, "music" that makes guys have boners.
I could be writing a bit too aggressively, but to make my point through I have to be ridiculous. Being so overwhelming could harm both ways. Firstly you lose band members, people who trust in you, will feel cheated. They will feel as if you're out there to own their money. Even if you have the heart to nurture them, this is not the way.
So my advice to young musicians, on an unofficial Takahina's guide to music is as such:
Please take note, I go the Takahina way.
How Takahina progressed in his ways of drumming, to a current status whereby he's prolly intermediate at most at 22 years old.
I have been involves with bands, not a lot, but I learn from each band, in that I learn how to deal with politics, how to see things properly, how to see whether a band is promising or not.
.....................................................................
Advice number 1: Dream big is fine, but make it realistic.
Seriously, there are so many bands which I've been in, wanting to achieve this, achieve that. Currently the closest one I've seen and about to make it is Elyzia, with their appearnace in Audition, their persistent diligence in the local music scene. They have performed in many gigs and many locations even overseas. Countdown parties, Christmas party etc etc. To be frank, I was once skeptical, but now I think they could actually achieve their aim, which I believe is to make a mark in the local music scene.
How many bands I have been in, saying that want to go to Japan (mostly the Jrock bands actually), how many bands have I been in, saying that they want to gig this and that. Well not that you can't do it, 1 word direct, your standard isn't there yet. Not to fret though.
Takahina believes in a simple logic. 欲速则不达。 More haste less speed.
To achieve dreams, you need hardwork and time. Seriously it's much more difficult than just creating a guitar rift, and saying you have created an original, no. It's a band's effort, to increasing everyone's chemistry, everyone's skill level, everyone's commitment into the band. It could take from 1 year up to even your whole lifetime to achieve it. There's no use in setting irrational goals, like to create an album within a year, or to cover and gig in any gigs which you can grab. No.
To do all those, you need standard, you need time to propel the band through. 1 standard route I will use, is to constantly search for band members whereby everyone is comfortable with each other, everyone is happy with each other, everyone has the same attitude of willingness to learn, and willingness to commit. It could take a whole lifetime to search them out (and yes, probably you're dead before you can achieve your dream). To me, skill level doesn't matter, I can be damn shitty while you're as pro as god who can play 1000000 chords and keys in a bpm. Who cares.
Eventually, as long as you have the attitude, you can reach godly status.
You go for selected gigs, do selected objectives, like...
"Objectives: To jam in St fest 2010." Etc.
But your goal...
"Goal: To be able to perform in your own personal concert with at least 500 fans, in front of your family and friends."
Slowly have objectives, which will lead up to your goal. And as you set out to achieve objectives, you level up. Seriously it's like play a RPG. As you progress along you level up. Unless you tio curse la, but seriously God Save The Queen.
................................................................
Advice number 2: Never stop learning.
This is something which Takahina is guilty of. In the past I refuse to do double bass, but now I'm starting to get the hang of it, Grottesca somehow helped me handle it.
So you see? I'm learning.
The fact is that in a band, in EVERY band you're in, you learn something. I learnt how to make originals in EvE, double bass ABC in Grottesca, my initial gig experience with Le Foret, my stint as a band leader in Child's Play, recapturing drumming basics when teaching Patricia and Karen and my uncle, even playing Drummania teaches me the many unique grooves and fills. It continues on.
You can also continue learning more, from teachers, seniors etc etc. Don't let things like NS cut you down, NS provides more free time than you think actually.
After finishing my driving lessons, I'll resume my drum lessons from Jimmy. I won't stop learning it, and no way I could ever stop. You think Steve Gadd, one of the world's best drummer and my grand-teacher (he taught Jimmy Lee) would have nothing to learn anymore, but no, he's still continuously producing new talents, producing new stuff on the drums which awe.
So whatever musicians out there, just a shout out to you, don't stop learning.
....................................................................
Advice number 3: Attitude. Raw is War.
If you have a rockstar attitude, I suggest you stop your music career right now and go be a summon auntie. At least you can rockstar them when you give them summon.
Good attitude attracts good talents, good attitudes enhances your speed in learning, good attitude makes a band more conducive and cohesive. Seriously nothing will go wrong with good attitude. If you are a miser, unwilling to share, unwilling to commit, always late, giving lame reasons to not jam, playing around during jamming and not being serious ALL THE TIME (occasional happiness in the band is fine, but if it's constant you're worse than Joker). I suggest you just stop music. It's not for you.
..........................................................................
Advice number 4: Band leaders.
They are important people. They direct the band's route, and sets the goals and objectives for the band. Normally how good a band leader is, dictates the route of the band into heaven or hell.
So if a band leader is unclear about what he wants from the band, unable to control the band, always playing around, losing confidence from his band mates, you need to do some self reflection.
Listen, and don't be overly selfish, the band is not made of you, you're not the fucking Hitler of the band.
And please be realistic. If the band sucks, it sucks. Don't force the band to perform. Seriously.
.....................................................................
Ok enough.
Anyways, hope musicians/band leaders/bands alike that do manage to read this, know what I feel about the whole situation.
... Even though I feel the situation won't change 1 freaking bit. >_>
And to that guy who didn't wanna use me after like 3 jam sessions, I gathered a bit of info, and from what I know, your current band is like... erm, I don't know what to say. Members keep changing, you get young... as in REAL YOUNG INEXPERIENCED PEOPLE to play with you, and you prompt the drummer to play fast play fast play fast, while in the meantime you awe him with your "metal" guitar skills... (Drummers take note, it's the timing and groove that is important, not to wank of the drums. You don't wank with drums, you wank with your dick.)
Heh heh heh.
Give any of my Gengers (Rurounis) a week on the guitar and he can play better than you I swear.
Anyways, Takahina has been in bands, bands that does originals, bands that does covers, even an instrumental band. To be frank, other than Child's Play, most other bands I've been with don't seen to have any possibilities of playing again, be it's because it's just me, or simply we don't keep in contact anymore. Not that Child's Play is the best band I've played with, it's just the feel and chemistry we have with each other, it makes it unforgettable.
I've played in a band whether I've done nothing at all, waiting for the keyboardist to forget out things to play. And what was the songlist? My Immortal from Evanescenes. So I, the drummer kinda just sat there, waiting for everything to proceed properly, before I can play like 16 bars of my stuff at the end of the song.
Anyways, here's the song if you wanna know what I'm talking about.
That band hasn't contact me anymore. The bassist Alex is quite good, and I played with him again in another band, kinda a faithful coincidence actually.
Also, right now I'm with another band, a chinese band which included another bassist that I've played with before in ANOTHER band. I don't know what's gonna happen to this band in the future, so I'll just sit and wait and open my eyes.
But anyways, what I wanna talk about in this topic is ALL BEYOND THAT.
No names to be stated, but recently I've heard about a few things about this certain guy who seems to "manipulate" young budding musicians, into bands and stuff, with promises of this and that and his vision of the band.
I've played with him before, he didn't really call me up after like 3 sessions. Don't know is it because of my skills or my character. I have a feeling it's both. My skill is too good for him, and my character is too sharp for him.
(ok la, I'm too boastful here, even at Takahinian level).
Anyways, not trying to be critical, but I've heard of some ridiculous things he has done.
1.
Some band fund policy thingy which he had. Like wanting band members to contribute money to the band fund and using it to buy stuff for the band like digital cameras etc etc, useful stuff for stage performance, demo recording and such.
He had several things up to it, like needing a 3 month contract with the band, if not no $$ back.
Whoa, so you mean to say the band is a contract now... why you got them to sign anything? Are they like protected by the band protection union?? Well workers... even freaking bangala foreign workers have them. You want me to apply NTUC protection for you? So they have like
"Band members insurance against defective band leaders."
Why for all I know, you could just take the $$ and run off. Hah, if so then I'll be "band leader" a long time ago, and many people in the scene would hate me with such anger that even Satan would be worried of containing.
2.
Promises which sound fantastic and compels with your dream, but are often ridiculous after some logical thinking and time.
You know contacts in Japan, you promise this bunch of young musicians you found on some local music website and tell them dreams of the band. Going to Japan to perform, going for gigs, doing originals.
But seriously, if you gather a bunch of beginners, will you be willing to let them go overseas if their standard still isn't on par after like a year or 2 of band practices? Even Takahina doesn't have the confident to go overseas to perform, maybe Benji has, maybe Huimin has, I know Edwin definitely have, but nah, I don't. And I analyze players that I play with, I find it almost IMPOSSIBLE to nurture them up in a year. It takes time, like long term investments, bonds, share dividends, derivatives.
Next, you don't show people your contacts, you don't let your band members know exactly what is going on, you think they'll still trust you? Your status as a band leader will drop to a fucking common thug.
..........................................................................
Look, the thing about band funds, not that it's bad, I have been in bands that handle band funds, EvE for example. But that the way you're putting it up with all the rules and stuff on a freaking forum named after you (Why, you're very big ar? Immortal Lee also don't have his own forum, only his fanpage forum ruled by a bunch of Leenatics) , is a little too overwhelming. Firstly, you're not a fucking company, you're just a fucking person with contacts to Japan, and god knows (The song I jammed with him is God Knows by Aya Hirano btw) where in Japan. For all I know you could be just waiting to sell some innocent girls to Japan's porn industry and earn commission from it. And yes they'll be making music alright, "music" that makes guys have boners.
I could be writing a bit too aggressively, but to make my point through I have to be ridiculous. Being so overwhelming could harm both ways. Firstly you lose band members, people who trust in you, will feel cheated. They will feel as if you're out there to own their money. Even if you have the heart to nurture them, this is not the way.
So my advice to young musicians, on an unofficial Takahina's guide to music is as such:
Please take note, I go the Takahina way.
How Takahina progressed in his ways of drumming, to a current status whereby he's prolly intermediate at most at 22 years old.
I have been involves with bands, not a lot, but I learn from each band, in that I learn how to deal with politics, how to see things properly, how to see whether a band is promising or not.
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Advice number 1: Dream big is fine, but make it realistic.
Seriously, there are so many bands which I've been in, wanting to achieve this, achieve that. Currently the closest one I've seen and about to make it is Elyzia, with their appearnace in Audition, their persistent diligence in the local music scene. They have performed in many gigs and many locations even overseas. Countdown parties, Christmas party etc etc. To be frank, I was once skeptical, but now I think they could actually achieve their aim, which I believe is to make a mark in the local music scene.
How many bands I have been in, saying that want to go to Japan (mostly the Jrock bands actually), how many bands have I been in, saying that they want to gig this and that. Well not that you can't do it, 1 word direct, your standard isn't there yet. Not to fret though.
Takahina believes in a simple logic. 欲速则不达。 More haste less speed.
To achieve dreams, you need hardwork and time. Seriously it's much more difficult than just creating a guitar rift, and saying you have created an original, no. It's a band's effort, to increasing everyone's chemistry, everyone's skill level, everyone's commitment into the band. It could take from 1 year up to even your whole lifetime to achieve it. There's no use in setting irrational goals, like to create an album within a year, or to cover and gig in any gigs which you can grab. No.
To do all those, you need standard, you need time to propel the band through. 1 standard route I will use, is to constantly search for band members whereby everyone is comfortable with each other, everyone is happy with each other, everyone has the same attitude of willingness to learn, and willingness to commit. It could take a whole lifetime to search them out (and yes, probably you're dead before you can achieve your dream). To me, skill level doesn't matter, I can be damn shitty while you're as pro as god who can play 1000000 chords and keys in a bpm. Who cares.
Eventually, as long as you have the attitude, you can reach godly status.
You go for selected gigs, do selected objectives, like...
"Objectives: To jam in St fest 2010." Etc.
But your goal...
"Goal: To be able to perform in your own personal concert with at least 500 fans, in front of your family and friends."
Slowly have objectives, which will lead up to your goal. And as you set out to achieve objectives, you level up. Seriously it's like play a RPG. As you progress along you level up. Unless you tio curse la, but seriously God Save The Queen.
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Advice number 2: Never stop learning.
This is something which Takahina is guilty of. In the past I refuse to do double bass, but now I'm starting to get the hang of it, Grottesca somehow helped me handle it.
So you see? I'm learning.
The fact is that in a band, in EVERY band you're in, you learn something. I learnt how to make originals in EvE, double bass ABC in Grottesca, my initial gig experience with Le Foret, my stint as a band leader in Child's Play, recapturing drumming basics when teaching Patricia and Karen and my uncle, even playing Drummania teaches me the many unique grooves and fills. It continues on.
You can also continue learning more, from teachers, seniors etc etc. Don't let things like NS cut you down, NS provides more free time than you think actually.
After finishing my driving lessons, I'll resume my drum lessons from Jimmy. I won't stop learning it, and no way I could ever stop. You think Steve Gadd, one of the world's best drummer and my grand-teacher (he taught Jimmy Lee) would have nothing to learn anymore, but no, he's still continuously producing new talents, producing new stuff on the drums which awe.
So whatever musicians out there, just a shout out to you, don't stop learning.
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Advice number 3: Attitude. Raw is War.
If you have a rockstar attitude, I suggest you stop your music career right now and go be a summon auntie. At least you can rockstar them when you give them summon.
Good attitude attracts good talents, good attitudes enhances your speed in learning, good attitude makes a band more conducive and cohesive. Seriously nothing will go wrong with good attitude. If you are a miser, unwilling to share, unwilling to commit, always late, giving lame reasons to not jam, playing around during jamming and not being serious ALL THE TIME (occasional happiness in the band is fine, but if it's constant you're worse than Joker). I suggest you just stop music. It's not for you.
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Advice number 4: Band leaders.
They are important people. They direct the band's route, and sets the goals and objectives for the band. Normally how good a band leader is, dictates the route of the band into heaven or hell.
So if a band leader is unclear about what he wants from the band, unable to control the band, always playing around, losing confidence from his band mates, you need to do some self reflection.
Listen, and don't be overly selfish, the band is not made of you, you're not the fucking Hitler of the band.
And please be realistic. If the band sucks, it sucks. Don't force the band to perform. Seriously.
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Ok enough.
Anyways, hope musicians/band leaders/bands alike that do manage to read this, know what I feel about the whole situation.
... Even though I feel the situation won't change 1 freaking bit. >_>
And to that guy who didn't wanna use me after like 3 jam sessions, I gathered a bit of info, and from what I know, your current band is like... erm, I don't know what to say. Members keep changing, you get young... as in REAL YOUNG INEXPERIENCED PEOPLE to play with you, and you prompt the drummer to play fast play fast play fast, while in the meantime you awe him with your "metal" guitar skills... (Drummers take note, it's the timing and groove that is important, not to wank of the drums. You don't wank with drums, you wank with your dick.)
Heh heh heh.
Give any of my Gengers (Rurounis) a week on the guitar and he can play better than you I swear.
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