PRC Minstrels Serenading Couples in Coffeeshops - Is This What We Call Talents?

[Kohliantye]

I was recently at a coffesshop in Potong Pasir enjoying my "kopi-si siu tye" with another "senior citizen", when two minstrels from PRC, both armed with a stringed instruments (believed to be er-hu") came in and went round the tables. They zeroed in on some "Ah Laus" seated with damsels from the PRC and started to serenade these grinning couples. The toothless old men were elated to be serenaded by these minstrels and ended up giving them red-notes ($10). Not to be outdone by the other "ah peks", the others did the same for their "chaperons" too. These minstrels went around the coffeeshop and did the same for others. Lot of money was seen being given to them. IRAS where are you????
Three policemen came into the coffeeshop to purchase their "nasi-bungkus" amidst all the din created by the strumming of the instrument and the noise generated by the drinking patrons. They did not pay any attention and then left in their patrol-car. Hey men in blue, why no action?????
Incidentally the minstrels did not come to our table. I assume that they could see that we as singles drinking kopi did not have money to give them and hence treated us as "good-for-nothing and hopeless beings".
An idea came to me. Maybe we should one day go to PRC and start playing some Asean instrument and earn some money these way too. But surely we would be caught by their police and thrown into a dark dungeon on a charge of "intruding into local affairs and thereby depriving them of a livelihood".
Modern-style begging is becoming common in a first-world Singapore. Look at tissue-paper sellers, local "singers" and others at MRT stations. Many foreigners are there too.
Why aren't the authorities coming down hard on these "unscrupulous" people?
Are they waiting for a day when we will have African dancers and Indian Bhangra groups performing here? Maybe, this is one way to make Singapore a Nation of Arts and Land of Opportunities.
Care to comment.........

 

[jw5]

Incidentally the minstrels did not come to our table. I assume that they could see that we as singles drinking kopi did not have money to give them and hence treated us as "good-for-nothing and hopeless beings".

They knew that they would not get the "face" money from you chaps.
Don't be surprised either if the prc damsels with the ah peks were in cahoots with the minstrels.
They are capable of anything just to make a buck.

U should have waited a little longer to see if those ah peks became drunk or dropped dead.
The prc damsels sitting with them would have scuttled to your table in a jiffy.

My suggestion to deal with these is that LHL and his family should have dinner with them.
Either LHL would be so disgusted and get them out, or they would be so disgusted at seeing u-know-who and leave of their own accord.

 

[uncleyap]

These are very common features of street folks' restaurants in China. I used to pay for their music & entertainments some are quite good. Actually there are huge varieties in China. You can find classic opera singing, 说书板，guitar, portrait on the spot, all sorts of musical instruments. Some artists are 9-12 years old.

If the customers like their services the restaurants will treat them kindly, however if the customers got annoyed the restaurant waiter will be very brutal towards them. I had seen a waitress yank a guitar girl (11 years approx) by her hair to throw her out, because she approach a table and the people there yelled her to fuck off.:(

One old man played flute with granddaughter played 阮 for me in a cold winter night at a semi-alfresco place, I treated them to share some of my Satay羊肉串. Waiters became nice with them as well.

I think for those who like it, life became a better quality with these performance. For those who found it nuisance, they know what they dislike and can be understood also. People who are engulfed in their conversations won't like the distractions. People who are free and lonely will appreciate some entertainment.

 

[scroobal]

It's known as the Irene Yeoh effect. One last attempt to impress females before they kick the bucket.