Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 184



Only Krnovel

Episode 184. run up (3)

Misari, also known as Misari Riverside City, was a place with many twists and turns.

Originally, Misari was a floating island in the middle of the river. As is the case with most islands, you had to take a boat to get there, so it was not a place that people could easily reach. In the 1980s, a rowing stadium was built, a bridge was built, and it began to transform as it was connected to the mainland.

Although it was part of the development plan for the Asian Games at the Olympics, people started coming to the island that was just floating on the river.

As bridges were built, stadiums were built, and parks were created, people naturally gathered.

For these people to rest, live cafes began to open one by one.

The ambiguous distance from Seoul was also an advantage for those visiting this place.

I want to enjoy my leisure time away from people’s eyes.

There was no distance more suitable for a day trip.

The transportation characteristics that make it difficult to get there without a car also played a big role.

In any case, these characteristics combined to give Misari the stigma of being a mecca for adultery, but in the end, its ambiguous distance from Seoul was its downfall.

Perhaps the biggest reason is that we have entered an era of open media where you don’t necessarily have to go to a live cafe to enjoy it.

If I had to find another reason, there were many.

Just like Audio Star was usurped by Video Star with the emergence of Mnet.

With the emergence of open media, performance began to be emphasized more than the importance of live performance.

The number of live cafes that had sprung up like mushrooms also decreased along with the decline of Misari, dropping to around four or five.

One of them is the office of a place called Raven or Rehaven.

“Should I close up shop… … .”

Taehee Lim let out a small sigh after checking the sales figures.

Continued decline in sales.

However, due to the nature of live cafes, hiring an appropriate number of employees is unavoidable.

The largest portion of fixed costs is labor costs, and it is difficult to reduce them.

All the places that had been cutting labor costs like that went bankrupt and packed up.

It’s simple logic.

People who visit the live cafes here in Misari spend money and time.

Then, you have to pay appropriate service so that the customers are satisfied and come back. After all, the people who come here are old-timers.

Their standards are strict, and if labor costs are reduced, service quality declines, which ultimately leads to a vicious cycle of even fewer customers.

“There is no answer, there is no answer… … .”

All that comes out is a sigh.

There are no sharp points.

If you don’t reduce labor costs, the longer you operate, the more you lose.

However, if labor costs are reduced, it is certain that even the few customers who were coming will stop coming.

“Jimmy. The fact that I’m sighing after seeing the sales figures means that I’m out of taste… … .”

A cigarette was stuck in the mouth of Lim Tae-hee, who spoke as if talking to himself.

When I raised my head, it was Oh Gyu-bo, the manager who had been with me for over 20 years.

Taehee Lim grumbled in embarrassment for no reason.

“Why did you come in? Aren’t you ready for business?”

“I’m ready to start the business. How much is the price?”

After saying that, Oh Gyu-bo lit a lighter and lit the cigarette in Im Tae-hee’s mouth.

Im Tae-hee opened her mouth naturally and exhaled a long puff of cigarette smoke.

“Whew… … . They say that if cigarettes taste good, life is bitter. It tastes good. Especially.”

“The place where Blue Porcelain performed when they were unknown. Why don’t you do marketing like this? I told you to do something like that.”

“You rotten thing. You talk nonsense.”

“Even if we do something like that, it’s viral? We do that kind of marketing and promote through SNS. That’s how we make money. Other people promote by putting all sorts of things on there, so why don’t we? It’s frustrating.”

Im Tae-hee smiled bitterly at Oh Gyu-bo’s words.

If Im Tae-hee was a musician who listened to the voices of the contemporary singers, Oh Gyu-bo was also a folk song musician who once knocked on the professional scene.

What was unfortunate for Ogyubo was that he appeared at a time when the era of fork was coming to an end.

The point was that he was swept away by the wave of folk music decline without being able to develop his talents.

That’s why I felt sorry as a senior. That’s how I started by hiring the guy who was just rolling around helplessly as a live cafe employee.

I’ve explained it at length, but to summarize, this guy is not a person who is well-versed in foreign affairs. What I’m saying is that the situation is not good enough to have such thoughts.

“We didn’t do anything for them when they were here. They didn’t even do much, so what’s the point of using their name? What difference would it make if we made some money by making young people come and go like that? Even if we fail, let’s protect our pride, Gyu-bo.”

“Huh… … Oh my, senior. We’re no longer musicians who care about our pride. We’re just trying to make a living.”

“What about the livelihood type? I can still live.”

Oh Gyu-bo also sighed at Im Tae-hee’s words.

This is who Im Tae-hee is after all. So the one who was rescued by Im Tae-hee was Oh Gyu-bo.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

It’s you who has to say that.

Finally, Ogyubo began to recite a verse telling us to face reality.

“Actually, we have to lay off more than half of our staff. The kids are feeling embarrassed because they don’t have anything to do these days. Since we can’t lay off our staff, the quality of our performances has dropped, right? You ignore us, but the singers who used to come don’t come because we can’t meet the guarantee. Loyalty? That’s good. But the person you’ve kept your loyalty to isn’t keeping it. Why do you keep talking about loyalty?”

“I have never talked about loyalty.”

“Do you really have to say that out loud? Loyalty, pride. This is what happened because you kept those things. Or, you could just close up the store and at least take care of your old age.”

“Okay. Go away. It’s noisy.”

Taehee Lim waved his hand, his cigarette half-lit.

It’s a curse, but it’s not that I don’t want to listen to it… … I’m afraid that I’ll fall for it.

When I made money, I gave it away, got scammed, and that was okay.

Although Im Tae-hee herself never said so, it is clear that she was a contemporary singer recognized by everyone.

Because there were so many hit songs and so many fans, it wasn’t difficult to make a comeback.

But now the fans are getting older and their butts are getting heavy.

Loyalty?

That was when it happened, now that it’s going to end.

Those he helped just turned away from him.

It’s a situation that I have to handle all by myself.

It’s reassuring to have O Gyu-bo by my side. But that’s only a comforting feeling. It’s not helpful at all in overcoming the situation.

It’s hard to recover.

‘It’s the end.’

Lim Tae-hee decided to choose a beautiful breakup instead of a miserable struggle.

I think that’s the last thing I can do to preserve my pride.

at that time.

A number I’ve never seen before appears on the screen of my phone.

For older people, this is a rare occurrence.

Im Tae-hee picked up her cell phone as she confirmed that Oh Gyu-bo was leaving.

“I’m Im Tae-hee.”

-How have you been?

It’s a young voice, but it’s a voice that’s clear and powerful.

This is the singer’s voice.

But a young singer?

Im Tae-hee’s head rolled faster than expected, but no one came to mind.

The man on the other end of the phone quickly added his own introduction.

– Oh, we haven’t talked directly, have we? It’s Dong-ha. Are you healthy? I was a little worried because you’re a grandfather.

“who?”

-Let’s move. How many times will you set up our stage?

Im Tae-hee’s bent back straightened.

* * *

The reason why Blue Porcelain, which briefly shook up South Korea, was invited to Misari’s live cafe stage.

So, it started like this.

“Your hands are itchy. Aren’t they?”

My brothers laugh at my words.

“That’s right. I didn’t realize it when I was resting because I was just resting, but when I caught up again, all I wanted to do was run quickly.”

Dongsik was surprisingly the first to respond.

It’s telepathy.

Pouring light.

The camera chasing me.

The eyes of the fans.

If you haven’t experienced it, you wouldn’t know, but everyone who has experienced it experiences withdrawal symptoms.

Same for us.

The schedule for the second album came out and the album release date was also released, but that was a month later.

Given the speed at which I’m finishing the English version of the lyrics.

The time it takes for recording to be finished and post-processing to begin.

The company takes care of everything from the production of the album cover to its promotion and publicity schedule.

If you consider the time, a month isn’t that long.

I finished the English version of the lyrics sooner than I expected.

The recording has also been finished.

The problem, if there was one, was that the album was finished too quickly due to the collaboration between me and Jo In-chang, two of the best producers.

Time has flown by.

“Practice, practice, practice. That’s all you have to do.”

Although Taeju hyung tried to restrain himself, telling him not to get carried away with unnecessary talk.

Even Tae-joo hyung gets bored just like that.

Maybe I shifted gears too quickly into action.

The harsh recording set my brothers’ hands on fire.

Even just looking at Tae-joo hyung now, it’s like that.

Unlike his mouth that says he’s going to practice, his fingers are continuously strumming the bass guitar he’s holding in his arms.

At first glance, he looks like he’s practicing even when he’s resting, but that’s not true. His hands just can’t stay still.

Because I’m full of energy.

At that moment, Youngpil, who was full of affection, handed me his cell phone.

“what?”

“Knight. Take a look.”

[Misari Live Cafe disappearing along with memories. What about now?]

Quite the provocative headline, and the gist of the article that I read down to the end was that.

Misari is ruined. There is a live cafe that is still holding on to its ruined edge, but even that is only a matter of time.

Something like that.

“Is Grandpa Im Tae-hee going to fail?”

“… … That’s right. It’s unfortunate, but… … There’s no other way because of the trend of the times. It’s not like we’ll go and perform either.”

When I showed the article to Youngpil, he seemed to be quite empathetic. He is definitely a warm-hearted person. He is the warmest among us.

But then it rang out in my ear.

We are in a situation where we secretly want to let go.

It’s going to be a mess there.

This is a situation where supply and demand meet in a clear manner, right?

“Why do you think we can’t perform there?”

At my words, Youngpil tilted his head as if to say something obvious.

“The album will be released soon, so how can we perform there? And even though I say it myself, we’re not in the class to perform there, right? I’m not being arrogant, but that’s the reality.”

“You didn’t just have a sense of love for the people, you also had a sense of being chosen, didn’t you, Youngpil hyung?”

“No. You know that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying that it’s unrealistic.”

I shook my head firmly at Youngpil, who was feeling embarrassed.

“There’s nothing you can’t do. Just perform. What’s the point of judging weight classes?”

I stood up from my seat with my fist clenched and a determined look on my face… … .

Is it my imagination that Youngpil hyung’s lips are raised?

Somehow… … I feel like I’ve stepped onto a designed board… … .

What does it matter?

The elders who gave us a stage when we needed it are all dying. We need to lend a helping hand.

I picked up my phone and called Manseok.

“Brother. What are you doing?”

-Uh… …um. Go ahead.

“Oh, this guy is doing this again. Are you still scared of me?”

―It’s not that… … you’re scary… … but rather… … the fear of the unknown… … that everyone has… … .

“Okay. Just give me Grandpa Im Tae-hee’s contact information.”

This guy’s condition is getting worse and worse.

When I cut him off, he hung up the phone as if he was relieved and immediately sent me a contact number.

That was the beginning.

autumn.

And the eve of Blue Porcelain’s second album.

A revival meeting that will revive the dying Misari.

The beginning of a festival that will encompass all of this.

“But can we do whatever we want?”

Youngpil, who was acting like that again after lighting a fire, smiled and responded to him.

“Originally, everything started spontaneously.”

Rockstar Again Episode 185