well, it isnt that bad actually… uglymen is a wonderful band (at least to me) and it is the place, the time, the act, which let me forget all of my problems, my work pressure, and also self-inflict death sentences. i am writing this post while my laptop this downloading over 70 songs, to be performed next week.

ok, to make things clearer, here's the story, as i said, teaching music in alor star wont earn you a good living, yes, you could survive by it, but only just. many friends kept on asking me about when to jump the ship since last year when i said i was cutting down students intake. my total number of students standns at 48 at present, compared to 62 same time last year, and the number will decrease further starting from 16th march 2008. i simply have to look for other options, and those options come with a price…. uglymen

since February 2003, i have been travelling to penang weekly from alor star to jam with uglymen, from just a hobby, to a vision, with an objective, took part in competitions, winnning several important titles down the road, releasing ugly CD, touring, going overseas, meeting so many wonderful musicians aroud the world. my passion of music, the fire burning within with uglymen is always in my soul. however, as i moved on, my objectives has slightly changed. my reason of playing with uglymen was simple: entertain the crowd, share our music, release tension, and get helluva fun on gigs and tours. at later stage, i started to focus more on music criticizm, judging music competitions, a music forum article contributer and speaker in music seminars. then, my biggest aim in band scene changed: to help new-comers, contestants to succeed in music or competitions, forming new bands (both students and non-students), create their own music and perform infront of the general public, from itosii, storm, uglyboyz, x-malaysia, eclipse to many other great bands… i found satisfaction when i see they feel confident, happy, and believe in what they can do with music, helping them to achieve their little dreams in the process. although the time and effort spent in developing new bands is really tiring and not justified (from income point of view), i see it as a very important milestone in my music career. organising music festivals such as the ghost show festival last year, and chinese new year carnival were also important experienced printed in my musical adventures.

last year, a very good friend / student of mine, recommended me to a local university and i have started lecturing in local u since. it was another big step for me in my career, although it does not relate to the music lessons i teach. it is a very tough job but when it is done, you can breathe huge relief and look back at what you have achieved. wow, talking about all the tough preparations, credits must go to my good friend ah leow, silverisle, yuna for help, and most importantly, to the person who recommended me to the university ~ pro dr pn zahyah.

ok, get back to the story… after engaging in the lecturing job, i already started kiss-goodbye to some students, at this point, i am not afraid to write here that, i do not treat all my students the same. there is NOT one teacher in the world who treats ALL of his / her students the same. let's face it, no matter how dedicated a teacher is (i consider myself one of the most dedicated, ok, you can say me si ai bin, but that's my song any way), there will be super nice, nice, neutral, so-so, waste-time, better-dont-come students, and the effort you put into each individual student will be different, bcos some students you know they will strive, best is better than me one day; and the other category, you will know his / her parents are just too rich by dropping him by for baby-sitting… so, the first ones to go are those who are in the lower category. for those who are good but unfortunately i still have to drop, i will recommend a VERY good teacher too, which i will also announce here when the time is right.

in penning the contract of my new job, not only i will be sacrificing uglymen, but also playing guitar, as i wil not play guitar anymore for the time being. the new jobs are, playing 6-day a week shows in a local pub, plus, probably an early evening music show in a local hotel. i will be playing piano and keyboard in both places.. as ah leow says…. my guitar era might just halted and the keys taking over. i still prefer playing guitar A LOT compared to piano….sigh…

meanwhile, i am also planning to venture into some non-music related stuff later this year, if i can over come time and financial constraints…

i've talked to tai suan and metal and suggest uglymen to bring in a new vocalist and guitarist to replace me, though i doubt they can find some one ugly and fat in size as me, so probably the next time you see uglymen perform, it might not be so ugly anymore liao… i am still writing uglymen's second album songs though….

the new jobs i will undertake also mean that i no longer can travel to penang weekly to teach one of my best friends in penang, ah meng, plus two really cool bros ah yu and ah pao, i wil miss them a lot.. sob sob… one thing for sure is good…to the folks at jelutong factory, finally they can stay-in-peace… hohoho, if you know what i mean.

to all friends, supporters, band scene co-warriors, musicians, everyone who likes uglymen, thank you very much for all these years' endless support.

p/s: the show taisuan mentioned on 22nd june is in kampar, perak, not in penang. and my work is 7-day per week, not 6 day la, thursday night has to teach too.

Zzzzzzzzzz….. i hope most songs are done downloaded by now.

5.28am,
in air-cond-off studio with heavy running nose and sneezings
mike