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For the love of music

By He Qi and Lin Shujuan | China Daily Europe | Updated: 2018-11-09 08:15

Yu Hanyi, 26, and his wife, Liu Liyuan, 29, have been particularly concerned about the weather in Shanghai the past few weekends.

Typhoon activity in the region has brought heavy rain to the city, and rain means that the couple has to drop their performances - one on Saturday afternoon, the other on Sunday night - in a corner of Jing'an Park downtown.

As two of the city's 123 licensed street performers, the couple, usually with Yu on the guitar and Liu on the drums, are allowed to perform at designated hours in the park, where they regularly draw crowds and a loyal following.

 For the love of music

Yu Hanyi and his wife Liu Liyuan are two of Shanghai's 123 licensed street performers. Photos Provided to China Daily

Neither of them are professionally trained artists, but performing music on the streets is more than a hobby; it is in fact part of Yu's full-time pursuit as a singer-songwriter. Yu, who holds a university degree in agriculture, once landed a job in the local government of his hometown but quit shortly afterward when he realized that his true calling in life was in music.

He currently sings popular songs, as well as his own creations, along with his wife, who performs only during the weekends. Liu, a real estate analyst, developed a passion for street performances during her university years in New York City.

For the love of music

They met in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, when both were invited to perform live shows at a friend's store. Because of their similar experiences and hobbies, they were attracted to each other and soon fell in love and got married. According to Liu, she and her husband can earn a combined 5,000 yuan ($731; 640 euros; £559) per month doing street performances.

The exposure they get on the streets has also created other income streams - from commercial gigs to songwriting commissions. The money they earn from all these sources, in addition to Liu's salary, allows the couple to lead "a life that is comfortable but far from being well-off".

"While we envy the salaries of our friends, they are also jealous of the fact that we're doing what we really enjoy," Liu said. "You don't choose to become a street artist because you want to make lots of money. You choose it because this is what you love."

Shanghai is well-known for its biting cold in winter and extreme humidity and heat in summer, and performing in such conditions has always been a challenge. Liu said she would seek shelter from the cold in a nearby convenience store so that her hands could stay warm enough for her to perform.

In summer, the couple often swelter with perspiration. The rainy season also poses worries because an unexpected cloudburst could damage their sound system.

But the couple said they have little to complain about, as being able to lead a life as street artists has always been what they desire and is the very reason they moved to Shanghai.

Most cities in China prohibit people from conducting commercial activities in public places. However, in 2014 Shanghai became the first city on the mainland to regulate street performances by issuing eight licenses to artists. The license is issued by the Shanghai Performance Trade Association, which is in charge of the regulation and management of street artists.

Authorities in Guangdong province's Shenzhen followed suit in 2015. This year, Chengdu, Sichuan province, did the same.

Changing perceptions

According to its director, Wei Zhi, the Shanghai Performance Trade Association consulted street art administrations in other countries and regions before it launched its licensing program in Shanghai.

Countries such as the United States, Australia and Spain have long regarded street performance as a legitimate occupation. In New York City, for example, street artists, whose livelihoods depend on performing, are required by the government to showcase their talent in specified places after getting their licenses.

For the love of music

It took Wei and her colleagues several months to evaluate the candidates for the first batch of licensed artists. The criteria included the level of talent and professionalism. Those who passed that round of evaluation had to undergo a second audition.

As information about the program spread, more street artists, including Yu and Liu, came forward to apply for a license.

"Getting the license was not the most difficult part of our artistic career. Being accepted and understood is much harder," Yu said.

Street performances are not novel in Chinese society but has a long history. It is documented in literary works that describe how people made a living by performing stunts in public places. Gradually, beggars adopted this method of income generation, usually playing the erhu (a traditional two-string bowed instrument) or flutes.

People have long associated street performances with begging. Yu and Liu recalled that they once met a man who expressed surprise that two young and well-educated individuals would resort to "selling arts on the street like beggars". There were even times when passers-by would leave steamed buns in their box of tips.

According to Luo Huaizhen, a playwright who spent 10 years leading efforts to legalize street performances in Shanghai, the artists are a distinctive sight in some American and European cities and are able to "color the city with a sense of humanity and vitality".

"It is what our cities lack," said Luo - who is also a political adviser to the Shanghai municipal government - in his first proposal to push for street performances as a recognized profession in 2004.

"With the introduction of certificates for street performers, the city will be able to attract high-level street artists for this purpose and make street performances a respectable profession in the city," the proposal said.

Four years after licensing took effect, street artists in Shanghai have higher education backgrounds and professional performance experience. Two-thirds of all licensed street performers are young artists between 25 and 35.

Wei said the 123 performers are showcasing their talent at 17 designated areas around the city.

"Authorized street performances have become a moving landscape and part of the Shanghai brand," Wei said. "We will look for more suitable places for them to show their talent to locals and tourists from all over the country and the world."

A matter of pride

For another performer, Cai Xiaoyuan, becoming a licensed street performer meant both dignity and responsibility.

An IT technician turned street musician, Cai started performing in public in 2012. After more than five years of cat-and-mouse games with urban management officers in downtown Shanghai, he eventually teamed up with a few like-minded street artists to form a band called Wuxian. Last year, it became the first band to receive a license in the city.

Despite being a seasoned performer on the streets and at commercial events, Cai recalled that he was so nervous before the audition that his hands trembled.

"I was so looking forward to getting the license," he said, explaining why he was a ball of nerves. "When we are certified, that means we represent more than just ourselves. We also represent the city."

For the love of music

For him, having a license also means having a responsibility to uphold the legal status of street artists. Cai has volunteered to manage the performance and rehearsal schedules for street artists at Jing'an Park, which was designated as the first official base for street performers in May. Performances and rehearsals are allowed at the park every day from 3 pm to 9 pm.

On days when his band is scheduled to perform, members would always arrive at least 20 minutes ahead of schedule to avoid keeping the audience waiting. The band's popularity has grown rapidly over the past year, in part thanks to the accessibility of online streaming services.

It has been offered deals by various streaming platforms that pay better than the street performances. The band once earned more than 30,000 yuan ($4,400; 3,800 euros; £3,300) performing a song that a fan ordered through a streaming service, Cai said.

However, after spending time in the recording studio for the streaming platforms, Cai realized that he preferred performing outdoors. For him, playing on the streets has become a lifestyle that allows him to find inspiration and make friends.

"I can't find a better stage than the streets where I feel so free and inspired. My music comes alive as I can interact with passers-by," he said.

Yu shared the same feelings. "The audience on the street has the most critical ear," said Yu. "They will leave if you play a wrong note. But they will stop for a song as long as it's well written, be it familiar-sounding or not."

Contact the writer at heqi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 11/09/2018 page16)

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