Farang musicians can play out legally without a work permit

Post by **Arosolius** » March 12, 2014, 4:00 pm

I've found a 100% legal way that farang musicians can play in public in Thailand without the need for a work permit. It costs next to nothing and it's easy to do.

I'm hoping this will bring more farang musicians and singers out of the woodwork so I can play jazz with somebody but, nevertheless, I can now play with Thai bands.

For info Contact Peter 0855 721 452

Post by **mortiboy** » March 12, 2014, 5:38 pm

Thats good .I played at the Restaurant "NAAM" last night !
What a night too.! No problem But was a bit risky!
I guess now and then is oK.
Dave has his own Thai resident musicians . Ex Western Pub guys.
.

Post by **redwolf** » March 12, 2014, 10:06 pm

cmon Peter no need to keep it a secret, how's it done?

this old Tuba's been raring to go.

and for your listening & viewing pleasure, here's something from Chicago, Hall Russell, individual of Avant Garde Jazz, mocking the freshly minted "music video" craze of the 80's at it's onset:

At the height of the MTV-inspired music video craze of the 1980s, the Chicago-based Hal Russell NRG Ensemble, an avante-garde jazz band with a cult following, mocked the genre with this portrayal of the band making itself most unwelcome at a private cocktail party. The band that was often criticized as producing music akin to noise decided to embrace the characterization and take it one humorous step farther. The Hal Russell NRG Ensemble at that time consisted of its namesake, sax legend Hal Russell, as well as longtime Chicago musicians Steve Hunt, Brian Sandstrom, Curt Bley and Chuck Burdelik. The song "Pontiac" was by Brian Sandstrom. Produced by Mark Voigtmann. Photographed by Ron Prickel. Choreography by Ed Schwab. Concerned Man played by Ted Harling. Last Survivor played by Anne Voigtmann Hunt.

AND IF THIS THREAD GOES NOWHERE YOU CAN AT LEAST USE THE VIDEO/MUSIC ABOVE TO PLAY AT HIGHEST DECIBEL SETTING DURING THE NEXT MOR LAM OR SONGKRAN TO BUG THE BGZ' OUT OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.

and here's a little less chaotic version of Hal's stuff & what you'd expect if ol redwolf comes calling round with the sax:

Post by **mortiboy** » March 12, 2014, 10:15 pm

Geez! Rather listen to Morlam 2 chord crap!
Thats orrible!
AND IF THIS THREAD GOES NOWHERE YOU CAN AT LEAST USE THE VIDEO/MUSIC ABOVE TO PLAY AT HIGHEST DECIBEL SETTING DURING THE NEXT MOR LAM OR SONGKRAN TO BUG THE BGZ' OUT OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.

Post by **redwolf** » March 12, 2014, 11:19 pm

mortiboy wrote:Geez! Rather listen to Morlam 2 chord crap!
Thats orrible!

sorry morti here's your stuff

Post by **mortiboy** » March 12, 2014, 11:24 pm

Hey! Where you get my Video!

Actually The guy is not playing the banjo!
The real player is behind him! True!

Post by **Arosolius** » March 13, 2014, 8:26 am

Hi Redwolf

There's no secret at all - none whatsoever and I'd like to share it with everyone. Call me and I'll tell you all about it and I'll send a copy of the certificate I have which allows me to play out. There's just too much to sit and type here.

Post by **chickaboom** » March 13, 2014, 8:34 am

Guys

Maybe it's not a good idea write about your illegal playing experiences in this forum. You can implicate yourself and the bar owner whose place you played at and it could come back to bite both of you on the butt way down the track.

Post by **seagulls** » March 13, 2014, 10:38 am

It will certainly take away the trepidation that most foreign Musicians have had for the past few years .Well done Peter

Post by **mortiboy** » March 14, 2014, 11:35 am

But we still dont know the "secret".Why not disclose here?
Why need to PM? Must be illegal or would be here for all to see?

Post by **Dokya** » March 14, 2014, 11:42 am

I know Peter has put quite a lot of time and effort into this and knowing the details myself, as he says it is really too complicated to detail everything here. Also the individual circumstances of the expat wishing to obtain the WP determine the overall process. It is not illegal as you intimate, lawyers have been extensively consulted with, so instead of being negative, why don't you just call him and get the information. You can then make your own 'informed' decision on which direction you take.

Post by **Arosolius** » March 14, 2014, 1:34 pm

Morti
Why would you say a thing like that?
When I wrote it's 100% legal why would you assume that I'm lying?
I haven't the time to answer people's individual emails based on their individual circumstances.
If people want to know about it I'm more than happy to share the details.
I've put 2 weeks worth of work into this, about 50 emails and a couple of thousand baht on lawyers etc.

Post by **uluru** » March 14, 2014, 2:25 pm

So Mortiboy
You've already written about your illegal musical activity on Udon Map and now you're saying that someone who can show you how to play your music legally is not legal. Is that correct?
BTW Mort is a French word isn't it?

Post by **mortiboy** » March 14, 2014, 8:07 pm

Correct both counts

Post by **chickaboom** » March 17, 2014, 9:28 am

That was unkind of you Morti. In the title of Peter's post it says the musicians can play legally. In the body of his text he writes that it's 100% legal and then, based on absolutely nothing but your thoughts alone - or lack thereof - you write that it must be illegal. You didn't even contact Peter before you wrote that, and intimated that he was dishonest.

He'd already stated that there's no secret to it and that he was happy to share the results of his work with all and sundry and then you wrote "But we still don't know the secret". What secret for goodness sake? He already said there was no secret. He invited any musician to pick up the phone and call him. What's your problem with doing that instead of shooting negatively from the hip by saying it must be illegal?

I think most reasonably minded people would think you owe Peter an apology. How about you?
He was offering to help people who go out and play music illegally, write about it in a public forum and brazenly flaunt their illegal playing by putting videos of themselves making "music" in named Udon bars on YouTube.

BTW Uluru, Mort in French, get it.

Post by **mortiboy** » March 17, 2014, 10:46 am

I merely said "must be illegal" thinking Thai way of thinking.
I was not inferring he was dishonest. Just Seems surprising can get around Thai system.
In all the time been Thailand, there never seems a way around "Forbidden " law here.
Yes, I played a BAR the odd time years ago.
At that time it was not so apparent a risky problem.
As for Playing last week, Just did the one off.
I cant see a problem with that.
If Farangs do a stint on regular basis.
That would be asking for trouble.
So Dear Peter,sorry I upset you.
I cant see me ever Playing on a regular basis.
Just do my thing the odd time for enjoy
BTW "Mort" in french is " DEATH"
Am I on your death wish?

Uluru? nope dont get it

Post by **Udon Map** » March 17, 2014, 6:17 pm

OK, I'll assume that it's perfectly legal but that it's too complicated to go into all the details here. How 'bout giving us the Cliff Notes version so we can have some idea if this might be possible?

Post by **LilRed** » March 17, 2014, 7:04 pm

Morti:

[redacted]

I worked with Peter. By dent of perseverance, research, and, charm, he discovered what we(he) are advised by counsel, AND, relevant Thai Government office is a LEGAL way to work INTERMITTENTLY playin out downtown...

I'm gonna do it, me, myse'f. Say, Peter, what say u just not reveal "The Way"???

Morti, saw this and thought it applicable to this situation. From one of our GREATEST liberation theologists:

: TEABILLY ELEPHANT MALCOM X.jpg (23.38 KiB) Viewed 5520 times

R

Post by **bamboozle** » March 17, 2014, 7:09 pm

OK briefly it goes like this.

A work permit is for a permanent job.

Any farang, even on a tourist visa, can apply for a FREE taxpayer ID and get it on the same day.

The hotel/bar or whatever hires you as a casual worker for, say, 4 hours to do a job of work, deducts the 3 or 5% tax and pays it to the tax man.

There's nothing special about musicians. Same applies to carpenters, teachers, consultants, translators, baby sitters and any vocation you care to name.

You need a letter from immigration to confirm your status first.

Can be a tremendous amount of hassle for a non Thai speaker but somebody who specializes in these things can do the lot for 2,000 baht.

The farang has to accompany the person to the tax office so the man behind the desk can check that he/she is the person whose photo appears on the passport.

Tax man told me he's done hundreds of these certificates for farangs doing all kinds of casual employments but I'm the first musician who ever asked.

Nb. This only applies to legal work, NOT illegal work & you can read between the lines there.

There's more to it but not much.

Post by **Arosolius** » March 17, 2014, 7:16 pm

Thank you Bamboozle
You've encapsulated it better than I could have done myself
As we discussed privately you were actually the first and I was the second to apply.
Would you mind if people also contacted you for information?
Maybe your wife could guide them through it as she did for you? Or have the farang wives speak to yours?