So, You Want to Perform in China?!

Chinese New Year's Gala ShowThe Marlowsphere Blog (#102)

When China began opening to the west again following Mao’s demise in 1976, performers of all kinds began to travel China to entertain. Since the early 1990s, in particular, increasing numbers of entertainers have traveled to China to perform.

The decision to perform in China is not one to be taken lightly. For example, one of those who journeyed to China, specifically Shanghai, was horn player and bassist Willie Ruff in 1981. He was so enthusiastic about performing at the Shanghai Conservatory that he spent a good year learning how to speak Mandarin!

The 18-hour journey from New York City to Beijing or Shanghai, notwithstanding, or the usual 12+ hours of time it takes to cross the Pacific from anywhere in the United States to perform in China aside, the travelling and performing in the People’s Republic of China is merely the conclusion of a potentially laborious bureaucratic first step.

To quote directly from the United States Department of State web site with respect to American performers in China:

US Embassy & ChinaTo perform in China, foreign performing individuals or troupes first need to find a local art agency, company or government organization as their sponsor. When the two parties agree to a performance arrangement after initial discussions, they should sign a letter of intent to confirm the basic agreement that has been reached. After the two sides have worked out details (time and place of tour, number of visitors, and respective responsibilities of the two parties, etc.), they need to sign a contract.

The sponsor may then send a letter of invitation to the invitees, which they will need to apply for Chinese visas (the sponsor should pre-clear all performers’ names with the consulate where they will apply, and will need dates of birth and passport number, issue date and expiration date for all performers). In the meantime, the local sponsor will submit an application, including the signed contract, to the Ministry of Culture for official approval of the planned performing tour. The approval process may take a few weeks as the documents have to move from one department to another in the Ministry.

There are three categories of performing arts agencies/companies in China:

Three Categories of Performing Arts Agencies in ChinaCategory 1 has government authorization both to send Chinese performers abroad on performing tours and to sponsor foreign performing troupes in China. There are twenty-four such agencies/companies in Beijing.

Category 2 refers to those performing agencies/companies that do not have direct government authorization to sponsor performing tours by foreign troupes. Some of them are affiliated to a government institution and undertake mainly non-profit cultural exchange programs. They may still receive some institutional support in carrying out these activities, but they are allowed and encouraged to undertake profit-making projects. Many of the private performing arts companies belong to this category.

Category 3 refers to those agencies/companies that have no authorization to undertake performances by foreign individuals or troupes. They may sponsor performances by Chinese nationals in China only.

Category 1 performing arts agencies in Beijing include: the China Performing Arts Agency, China National Culture & Art Company, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China International Cultural Exchange Center, China Century Performance Corporation, and the Yidu Cultural Development Company (Known as Beijing Music Festival).

Category 2 lists only one organization: the Beijing Concert Hall. Category 3 also lists one organization: the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (Affiliated to Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

The Department of State web site adds:

All the above three categories of arts agencies/companies have interests in sponsoring performances by foreign performing artists. It is widely recognized, however, that most of the category 1 performing agencies/companies are stronger in terms of funds, human resources, experience and government support in sponsoring performing tours by bigger foreign troupes. In cases where these agencies take the initiative to invite a foreign art troupe to perform in China, government approval is almost pro forma. Performing arts agencies/companies of category two are still growing in number in China. Usually small, they are quite efficient and flexible. However, consideration should be given to the possibility of tour cancellation due to approval, financial or other administrative problems.

The Department of State also provides the following advice:

Planning of a performance tour of China by big troupes may take a full year or even longer. Usually, the Chinese sponsor covers local board, lodging and transport and provides nominal per diem instead of paying performance fees. In most cases, the Chinese sponsoring organization books the hotels and buses for group tours. It is often necessary for American performing companies, bigger ones in particular, to raise funds to cover their international airfare and performance fees. It is advised that terms for performing tours be set out clearly in the contract.

A few years ago Billboard, the music industry magazine, reflecting on the growing market for artists desirous of touring in China at major venues, offered the following six pieces of advice:

Billboard Magazine1. Understand the History: Live events in China have been government-controlled since the Communists took power in 1949. Until recently, “the government would select a state-run or related company to organize an event. . .The hangover from that culture means selling tickets to the public can be difficult, while local authorities and others may still expect free ones.

2. Get Your Technology Right: “Antiquated” is how Chinese industry insiders describe most domestic ticketing companies’ practices.

3. Understand Government Rules and Regulations: Promoters must acquire a Ministry of Culture permit before announcing or advertising a show or selling tickets.

4. Beware of Scalpers and Fakers: China has a major ticket-scalping problem, mainly because some venue operators and government officials demand “huge” numbers of free tickets in exchange for green-lighting events.

5. Don’t Bank on Advance Sales:  Advance sales are generally not as strong as door sales. Walk up sales compose at least 10-20% of total ticket sales on average.

6. Get Your Pricing Right: Most of the audience for large-scale events is students. 150 yuan (around $20) is not a cheap price for them. It’s the highest price Chinese fans will pay for an international act at one major venue in Beijing.

In others words, organizing a trip to China could prove a formidable bureaucratic task. Getting there and performing there is the easier side of the equation.

Please write to me at meiienterprises@aol.com if you have any comments on this or any other of my blogs.

Eugene Marlow, Ph.D.
June 30, 2014

Dr. Marlow has just finished re-drafting a book on jazz in China, entitled Jazz in the Land of the Dragon ©2014.

© Eugene Marlow 2014

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