VietNamNet Bridge – Many singers start their careers at nightclubs. For some, singing has become a job to earn a living while some others sees night clubs as “classes” to train themselves and wait for opportunities. Several singers have fans and become famous, but most of them remain nameless.

 

Singers of the Van Nghe night club, HCM City.

Nguyen T, a composer and singer, performed three days in a row. He was very nervous at a senior singer’s comments: “You sang very well. Your songs are also good. I think you are right to choose this road. But your songs seem to be quite local . . . Leave your phone number, I’ll contact you later.”

The young songwriter and singer later left the nightclub scene for Saigon and he wondered about the “localitis” in his music. Nguyen T is one of many nameless singers who have left the north to seek opportunities in the south. It seems that their talent and passion is not enough for them to break into showbiz in HCM City.

The glamour of Ho-chi-wood

Many young singers from other areas struggle to earn their living in HCM City, with small, irregular shows or even free shows at bars and nightclubs.

Some of them must change jobs or return home and forget their dreams of fame. Some choose to stay, running from one nightclub to another every night to earn 50,000 dong/show, just enough to pay for accommodations, transportation and telephone bills.

Singer Hung Jimmi explained that “The most difficult thing is costumes. You cannot wear 5-6 sets of clothes all the time. You have to change your outfits very often. They are not normal clothes, but special ones. The cheapest price for such an outfit is over 1 million dong. I have to live economically to buy clothes.”

Life is extremely hard for singers who sing for free at nightclubs hoping for opportunities. They want a day job, but they have to work very late at night as singers, so they cannot get up early to work in the day.

Phi H., a singer from Nam Dinh, observed: “I sing only three nights a week. It is lucky to have several wedding shows a month. My determination and dream is being eroded. Before I came here I knew that it would be very difficult, but the reality is much harder.”

H. stated he had to work as a xe om during the day and sing at night. “At the beginning, I was very afraid and felt ashamed. Once I carried a passenger who recognized me as a nightclub singer. He asked me if I had performed, but I didn’t dare to admitit. It tortures me sometimes; I’m so cowardly!”

Among the hundreds of nameless singers, there are also those from the southern and southwestern regions. Nam Khanh, a former member of the AC&M band, revealed that “HCM City’s music market is a delicious pie. Around ten years ago, this pie was held by some famous singers. Their glory and fame has urged young singers to dream of changing their life. The pie is still the same now, but it is divided among thousands of people. It is very difficult to become famous in HCM City, except when you have strong supporters and a launching pad.”

Sad fates

Singer Quang Vinh.

Without supporters or springboards, these singers have to entreat favors from show organizers or owners of night clubs.

K. Ngoc sings at a nightclub in District 6 and detailed how she “is paid 50,000 dong/night, not enough to live. I and others have to sing and talk with customers to earn tips. We only wear sexy clothes, talk, drink and dance with customers after we sing. Some singers also stay overnight with customers.”

Ngoc said she could earn from 50,000 to 300,000 dong in tips a night. She stated she couldn’t sing at other nightclubs because they have enough singers already. “We also don’t have time to run from bar to bar. I’m familiar with this place. If I leave, others will replace me immediately,” she added. Her job at this bar often finishes at 1:30am.

Ngoc also revealed that each month she buys two new skirts, around 1 million dong/skirt, to wear at her shows.

MH, who has performed at nightclubs for over ten years, acknowledged that “We only drink and talk with clients, but it is very risky. If something occurs, nobody would stand up for you. You have to be quick-witted to cope with any situation.” This kind of singer is called “dao.”

There are several types of “dao”: dao nha (singing and talking with clients every night at a certain bar), dao ruot (girlfriends of bar managers), dao chay (singing for free, only earning tips from clients), dao khach (singing and going overnight with clients), and dao nhay (singing, talking and dancing with clients).

Love for singing

Singer Ngan Quynh.

Some singers are in better positions. They are not famous, but they have won the trust of bar owners and have regular shows. Their names are listed on banners hung in front of nightclubs that promote “Dam Vinh Hung’s show” or “My Tam’s show.”

Singer Ngan Quynh, nearly 40, is still pretty and performs regularly at the Khong Ten nightclub (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) and Soi Da nightclub (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). For nearly 20 years, Ngan Quynh has been known by clients of nightclubs.

“Singing has become a significant part of my life,” she maintained. “My life is now quite stable, but I don’t want to quit singing. I’m so accustomed to stage lights and audience applause. I don’t have a chance to become famous, but I still feel happy!”

Quang Vinh is another famous singer at night clubs like Napoli and Serenata. His warm voice and romantic love songs are warmly welcomed by the audience at night clubs. Van Khanh, Thuy Long and Ba Thang are also very good singers an are content with singing at nightclubs.

Noisy and gaudy Saigon is still the land of dreams for young singers, despite its difficulties and challenges.

VietNamNet/DNSGCT