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Where got getai?

Irene

By Irene,
in Lite & EZ

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Irene

Irene

Neutral Newbie

I love watching getais... like many aunties do. Last night watched Ah nan at clementi central and it was a great show. He celebrated his 2nd year out from... u know where. Tonight where got getai to go? Preferably west side.

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Drumstick

Drumstick

Clutched

Aiyo....someone posted online le... [sly]

 

Chance wasted.... but then again....it may be fortune in disguise and u may never what you will see when u go there... [laugh][laugh][laugh]

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Irene

Irene

Neutral Newbie
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give me your address, i send it to you FOC

 

Aiya we stay soooo near.... walk can already. [sly]

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Maxus-MIFA9

Maxus-MIFA9

Supersonic
I love watching getais... like many aunties do. Last night watched Ah nan at clementi central and it was a great show. He celebrated his 2nd year out from... u know where. Tonight where got getai to go? Preferably west side.

 

 

This Friday at Rangoon Road, near to Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Tey.... host by Marcus Chin (Chen Jian Ping)..... [thumbsup][thumbsup]

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Ccssgm

Ccssgm

1st Gear

Most Expensive Getai - $20000 [thumbsup][thumbsup]

 

Getai prince to stage very pricey show

 

WHILE most getai organisers are lamenting that the cost of staging shows has gone up, Mr Aaron Tan is singing a chirpier tune.

 

On Thursday, he will be staging what is touted to be the most expensive getai for this year's Hungry Ghost Festival.

 

It will cost a cool $20,000 for just three hours of raucous entertainment.

 

That is four times the average cost of a getai.

 

And that sum is only for the grand finale of a three-night getai show, which will start on Tuesday. The first two nights together will cost another $20,000.

 

Mr Tan, 32, who remains the youngest getai organiser around, told The New Paper on Sunday: 'It'll be one big bang.

 

'That's why the cost is twice that of the first two nights.'

 

So far, he has been able to pass on the higher cost to clients, despite the inflation blues that have gripped other organisers.

 

The cost of staging shows is paid by the seventh-month committees made up usually of small businesses, hawkers, associations and even residents.

 

Up to 70 per cent of Mr Tan's clients have increased their budgets this year.

 

'They're aware that they have to pay extra if they want a good show,' said Mr Tan, who has 31 bookings.

 

'Those who have worked with me know that they can expect a good variety of performers and a high quality of production.'

 

As is the case with the seventh-month committee for the Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple Association. A different theme has been set aside for all three nights of the getai behind the temple on Arumugam Road.

 

The cast from Royston Tan's 12 Lotus will make an appearance on the first night, said Mr Tan, the getai consultant for both this film and last year's highly successful 881.

 

VETERAN'S DEBUT

 

And for the first time, veteran Taiwanese Hokkien crooner A-Chi (better known as Ah Ji Zai) will perform in a seventh-month getai in Singapore.

 

A-Chi, 52, who was born handicapped and gets around in a wheelchair, is famous for songs such as Life's Guitar and Rain, Night, Flower.

 

Mr Tan said: 'I always avoid having repeat performers, especially for shows that run on consecutive nights.'

 

He also promises more popular singers (Lin Xiaoting, Mai Hui, Ming Zhu Sisters and Bao Bei Sisters), better bands (Wei Le Si and Meng Zhe) and more experienced emcees (Lin Li, Lin Ruping and Wang Lei).

 

Veteran emcee-singer Lin Ruping said she enjoyed working with Mr Tan because of his professionalism.

 

She said: 'As Aaron sets very high standards for himself, his getais are always entertaining.'

 

To ensure that he gets the best emcees for the month, Mr Tan usually books them as soon as a contract is confirmed.

 

He said: 'The pool of good emcees is more limited than that of artistes.'

 

Mr Tan keeps foreign acts to a minimum.

 

'Nothing more than 20 per cent,' he said. 'And this is something our local artistes appreciate.'

 

But some organisers say they are left with little choice amidst rising costs and a competitive market.

 

They opt for foreign talent - from Malaysia, Taiwan and China - because of lower fees.

 

Organiser David Quek, 55, said: 'We can sometimes save up to 30 per cent on the costs of hiring talent.

 

'Some of them even volunteer to cut their fees by 20 per cent.'

 

But Mr Tan said he had another reason for his decision.

 

'Some of them will call only when the Hungry Ghost Festival is around the corner,' he said.

 

And that is something he can ill afford, as he stages getai shows all through the year.

 

Last year, Mr Tan organised 167 shows (of which, 28 were for the Hungry Ghost month) for 'all kinds of events and occasions'.

 

They included personal celebrations, community events and religious ceremonies.

 

Said Mr Tan: 'When I need performers at such times, the foreign artistes generally tend to find all kinds of excuses not to accept the job.'

 

The most important thing, Mr Tan added, is that: 'we must work hard to keep this culture alive'.

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