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Q: Are there any music industry jobs in China?
Hey hey ! I graduate from England next year in Music Industry Management. I want to work in China ! My spoken Mandarin is HSK 3. Are there any jobs in the Chinese music industry for a British person ??
Tom
8 years 49 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
It will be very difficult to get a working visa to work in music marketing. Unless you have loads of momey to invest of course.
Your best bet would be to get a job in your own country with a company that also deals in China. Then when you have the experience, you could apply to be sent over here.
If you try to do it the illegal way and come over to work on a tourist visa you stand a good chance of being taken advantage of, and being deported.
Its the same with any job. learn your trade first, then sell your skills in the place you want to be.
Hey hey! No!!!!
The "I want to be a DJ and introduce Chinese to music that I like" is dead. Dead as a door nail.
You can be a white hooker and be a representative (shill) for people, but you won't be taken seriously for anything else.
Do your research, go back to school and study something useful. And, hey hey! If you want to be taken seriously, try to sound professional and not, hey hey! Buddy buddy.
They are no jobs ready made for you, most likely. You best bet is to go in China, pick a 1st tiers city, keep yourself busy while discovering what the ground is in your business, get to know people and work you way in (hint : go to music related places and talk to people). It's slow and uncertain, but that's how things roll there.
Note that you can't work in China without a work visa, that you can get only once you get an employer. It's a bit of a catch 22, unless you are ok to start with a typical foreigner entry job (ie. teaching).
It will be very difficult to get a working visa to work in music marketing. Unless you have loads of momey to invest of course.
Your best bet would be to get a job in your own country with a company that also deals in China. Then when you have the experience, you could apply to be sent over here.
If you try to do it the illegal way and come over to work on a tourist visa you stand a good chance of being taken advantage of, and being deported.
Its the same with any job. learn your trade first, then sell your skills in the place you want to be.
Good luck! The other problem to consider for a work permit is you're supposed to have a minimum of 2 years post graduation experience. You're best bet might be to try & get an internship, anywhere, to get your foot in the door.
Or come over & study mandarin at a Chinese university, student visa. In Guangzhou lessons at one of the universities (Jinan?) is mornings only that leaves the afternoons/evenings to "teach English" on the side (though technically not legal) while you make contacts out here. Though for the music industry you might be better in Beijing.
Really appreciate the answers guys!! I will look for booking agents who deal with Chinese acts and see if I can network with some people. Does anybody have any links to Chinese record labels ? An internship sounds awesome
Sinobear:
Chinese record labels? Major acts sign with major labels. Stop dreaming and start researching.
ScotsAlan:
If you want to sing in a hotel lounge I can put you in touch with some filipinos. Apparently, bar singers get working visas, but they HAVE to use an agent. I dont think that particular method of exploitation would suit you.
See R side of the screen, tab 'Jobs'. After you open the site, enter 'music' in the last, empty tab, and......
http://jobs.echinacities.com/jobchapter/1354475016
http://jobs.echinacities.com/jobchapter/1354478831
http://jobs.echinacities.com/jobchapter/1354470855
You could also try Yahoo-gle search with title 'music industry jobs in China' for more.
My deepest apologies to the previous users who answered this question.
Mr musicbusinessguy, I think you should get off your mum's sofa, sell your xbox and get on the first plane to China. New graduates are welcomed and you will have no trouble finding a rewarding job with a working type resident permit.
Don't worry if they suggest that you come on a business visa initially, you are the musicbusinessguy, right. I am certain that with your qualifications and the 'relationships' the company is sure to have they can assure you there will be no problems. I'd believe them if I were you.
China needs young go-getters like you, especially the music industry.
musicbusinessguy:
Thanks for the advice bro! I've started getting lessons again and I'm booking my ticket
Seriously, I really doubt it. You could probably get a job as a music teacher, but in the music industry? I really doubt it.
White monkey gigs are the extent of it. What those are are when they hire people to sing and random fairs, promotions, ktvs, whatever. The draw is not talent, it is the white skin.
You could look for a Business Management lecturer position at a local university, although that probably doesn't pay what you are hoping. My advise might be to look in HK.
Iron12:
Even black skin singers or brown skin like filipinos. Not just white skin. As long as you are a foreigner it gives the place face. dont complicate this
Anyway, I am having a lazy afternoon, so I done some Binging.
Seems the guy you need to talk to is called Jonathan Smith. This article is a bit old:
http://www.chinasmack.com/2011/features/jonathan-smith-interview-of-chin...
I can't tell if his record label is still active:
I found this as well:
http://www.chinamusicbusiness.com/
Good luck.
Iron12:
This Jonathan Smith guy, has the answers to all musicbusnissguy's questions...I find the chinasmack article really enlightening
Really cool!
ScotsAlan:
A few more clicks leads to here.
http://outdustry.com/
Looks like a decent setup.
All sorts of people doing all sorts of things in China. But because the interweb is so tied up, it can be difficult to find them.
