Take the pressure off Hong Kong's musicians
THE WILD BOYS
I have memories of travelling around in the back of an exhausted 10-year-old Bedford CF van with the band back in 1982. It was a cheap heap bought from a dodgy mate of our keyboardist, John. "Final Academy" was the name of the band, and with radio plays of our single, skinny ties and Carnaby Street outfits, armed with our Musicians' Union membership cards, we were definitely the next Duran Duran. Except, it turned out we weren't.
On the way back from a gig in Hereford on the English-Welsh border, the van's engine blew, and I had to tow the thing with my car through Central London in broad daylight dressed in red trousers, a rising sun t-shirt and orange bouffant hair. That was enough. My guitar obligations were transferred to Bryan the bassist's brother and with Colin, our vaguely aware singer, and Steve the drummer, Final Academy continued to live the dream for about three more gigs.
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.
REACH UP FOR THE SUNRISE
Those were the days. But now, professional musicians in Hong Kong are hurting badly and they urgently need to work again.
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF
With hotel performances banned, except for in the lobby, indoor performance clubs and pubs and restaurants closed, the Peel Street jazz clubs - Fresco, Foxglove, Iron Fairies - shuttered, and all the dance clubs and private events cancelled, how can these people possibly earn a living?
In Britain, the Musicians' Union stepped in immediately with support groups, help and advice. So where is the Hong Kong Musicians' Union in all of this?
ORDINARY WORLD
With about 32,000 members, the United Kingdom Musicians' Union in good times helps to set rates of pay for all kinds of musical engagements, from session musicians to teachers, and it has a substantial revenue stream and can offer support in bad times, like now.
Compared with the Musicians' Union in Britain, the one we've got here in Hong Kong, a trade association that was set up 70 years ago, appears to have been woefully ineffective. With only 80 members, the Hong Kong Musicians Union (HKMU) has no clout and the management appears to have fallen asleep at the keys. A change in leadership following new elections for the HKMU in mid-August hopefully will lead the association in a new direction.
This has led to a collection of non-governmental organisations setting up to represent musicians. But given that there is strength in numbers, perhaps someone should take the lead and get them working together.
IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW?
One could argue that the problem is a failure to realise the importance of music for the city. And the common attitude towards music in Hong Kong is that "it's just entertainment", non-essential, and is mostly performed by people who have "real jobs" during the daytime. That is simply ignorant.
The impact of music on Hong Kong life is important, not just from a morale or cultural point of view, but because the multiple events from the Fringe Club programme to live music shows throughout the year make Hong Kong special. Yet this seems wholly underappreciated.
SAVE A PRAYER
In the years I have been here, Hong Kong has offered all kinds of musicians many opportunities to play in numerous venues, but this scene has now totally collapsed. To the resident professional musicians that kept both locals and tourists dancing, singing and enjoying live music into the wee hours, I salute you and we need you back. And to musicians in all the other venues, large and small, that have delighted us with jazz, classical, ethnic and all kinds of music: you make Hong Kong special, and we should respect you more and the Government allow you to get back to work.
As they say, "it ain't all over till the fat lady sings". Well, let's just hope she doesn't get to climb the last stage in town.
Neil Newman is a thematic portfolio strategist focused on pan-Asian equity markets
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Copyright (c) 2021. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
