Hi, Chicago based Dj/Producer at your service

Welcome and Introductions
1
Hi everyone,

I am new to Switzerland, currently living in Basel.

I grew up in Chicago, finished Berklee College of Music in Boston, with Music Production as my major, and piano (jazz) as a principal instrument.

I love jazz and I LOVE all kinds of electronic music, which I compose and produce myself - from house, to downtempo, ambient etc.

I spent years making great tracks with all the big names in Chicago underground house scene, not sure if I'm allowed to link anything here, so I'll refrain for now.

Reason why I'm writing all this? It's pretty hard to get any real event info here, and my German is not good, so I feel kind of alone right now.

I really like how Swiss people meet, talk, take time for lunch and after work drinks, but I see NO place where live music or DJ's are performing... which to me is kind of weird. If you LIKE music, than why not HOST music?

I know there are license requirements, but man, every place is full with paying customers, but no live entertainment... or if there is, it kind of sucks.

SO, to make the long story short, I own a 500-people capable JBL PRO sound system, with 15kW of All-American Power, full DJ setup, and I play piano, bass and guitar.

I want to play the parties for people who are interested in the same, I'm not necessarily looking for a JOB here, but simply a place to have some fun with people who like good music we hear in the US, and some places in Europe (like Ibiza etc).

I also play jazz piano, and I asked around to play at bars/hotels, but everywhere I asked, I get a weird look and refusal, as if I asked to host a strip club anniversary party (which, ironically might actually be better received, haha)

It might seem weird to explain, but for a working musician and producer, being out of touch with playing out live is equal to quitting everything cold turkey, you feel empty and alone.

So, let me know if you guys have any advice on places which might want some US DJ's, some live music, some MUSIC in their life...

Thank you and I'll post any events I start putting together here, becase this forum has REALLY helped me a lot to get started with my life here in Switzerland.

ps. If you ask why I'm here, well, love makes a man do crazy stuff...

2

Nightlcubs are the only places that do music here as far as I know. Never seen any musicians in other places. Buskers of course, but you usually need a licence for that.

As for working as a musician? Not likely to happen if that’s your goal. Non-EUs are last in the hiring queue and artists are only given a permit for 8 months maximum.

Do you even have a permit to live here?

3
Hi, thanks for your reply!

I am actually a dual citizen, with another EU member country, but am anyway taking all the steps needed to finalize all the paperwork, especially because I have a company in that country and would like to be able to accept payments from potential clients in Switzerland.

From what I read on here, as an EU-member citizen, there is a three month period I need to finalize my intentions as far as staying here, but should I end up taking some work (in the field of music, events, production, tourism, etc.), I would like to have all the paperwork done ahead of time, this is the law and makes sense.

I do have the means to get by in the meantime, as a musician I'm well aware that there's no money waiting for us anywhere, I hate musicians looking for handouts, so I got a business down south in tourism which makes good money already.

I'm not really here to get rich, there;s always the good ol' USA for that, I'm here to meet new European talent, live with my gf (soon to be a mother of my child!), so if there's nothing going (as it might seem so far), I might just start my own nights and spread the Chitown beats as I go, from Basel, Zurich, Bern, then who knows.

Sooo, who over here likes house? Funky disco, soulful house, Latin house (ala Little Louie Vega), nasty Detroit techno and acid house?? Would you attend if there was a line up of veteran US-based DJ's, musicians and performers, and I'm not talking this EDM garbage, but REAL sounds that make the panties drop?

4

Nope, not my thing at all.

You need to check a few things before you think of starting a business here.

First, can you even get a bank account for a business since you’re an US national? Few banks will even consider you for a basic personal salary/checking account due to the US’s FATCA law - if you want to be the one handling the business finances you can probably forget it. To open any account here you’d need to sign a W-9 form to allow the bank to send the account info on to the IRS. Any foreign, i.e. outside of US, account/s has to also be reported on an FBAR form if the aggregate amount comes to more than $10,000 at any time of the year. And don’t even think of not telling them of your US connection. If you don’t and you’re found out, the account will be closed immediately and I doubt you’d ever get another one in Switzerland plus it would be reported to the IRS.

As for bringing in non-EU artists/musicians, talk to the cantonal migration and employment offices to see what the requirements are. Also read section 4.7.12 of the Foreign Nationals Act:

https://www.sem.admin.ch/content/dam…ngen-aug-f.pdf

5
Thanks again Medea, you are very helpful!

I see now that it;s not easy to make things happen here, so I'm thinking it might be actually easier to make my girlfriend (wife to be) come back to the US with me, than doing all this, unfortunately.

I'm all about being legal, doing things as they are supposed to be done, and I know of FATCA., but there are limits to my patience as well, not to mention - is it even worth it, since people don;t like what I offer... I've seen clubs in Zurich run for three days straight, looks more like a drug fest, rather than music event, and that;s not my thing at all.

Of course I would provide my US info to whoever (banks etc), I pay my taxes in the US (through my US company), but have not done anything here yet, so I'll just put everything on hold.

Too bad that things are made so difficult, time consuming and expensive, as if they were intentionally made this way, but it's not my job to change anything and I especially don;t need problems, especially when it comes to job-related (and therefore tax-related) issues.

Looks like it's best I just go skiing and forget about it all.

I thank you again for your help, cheers!!

6

Well it’s no more difficult than trying to get someone into the US. Both countries (and really all other countries in the world too) have regulations about who can and cannot enter easily.

Now is probably not the best time for music festivals anyway - there are many more in the summer of all types of music. If you can be here that long you might find things more to your taste.

But that will mean registering since you’ll be over your 90 days as an EU tourist. It’ll also mean having to sort Swiss health insurance out for yourself.

And I sincerely hope you won’t “make” your girlfriend go back to the States with you. Talk things over and ask her nicely please, but accept her decision to stay here if that’s what she wants to do. This is something you’ve got to work out between yourselves for the sake of your soon to be born child.

7
Thanks again for your kind and wise reply!

She has expressed a desire to live in the US before, but it was my decision to move to Switzerland and adjust, rather than expect her to move abroad.

I might have used the wrong word, I would not of course "make" her do anything she herself would not want to do anyway.

I do think that legal process of moving to the US is more streamlined, as well as easier in many ways, especially if you bring the "goods" to the table (meaning tax money, by working or coming up with a company of your own, which profits) since I consider the US an "immigration veteran", it is a country founded and built by immigrants after all.

Seems to me that double standards are applied in immigration here (country of origin etc), which in the US would be totally unacceptable and even illegal!

Individualism is more expected and cherished in the US, seems like, and I like that, as long as you actually DO something meaningful, which turns profit and pays taxes , you should have no problem obtaining a work permit (green card), and eventually your US citizenship.

Unfortunately, from what I have seen, I can not say the same for many EU countries, where even after obtaining your citizenship, you are still consider a foreigner on many levels... some even after being born in the country, because their name is "unusual".

This does not happen in the US, where we are ALL Americans, regardless of the name, skin color or nationality, as it should be.

I also have very little respect for institutions or entities which seem to sit and wait for you to miss something, so that you could be fined for it.

I'm not saying that does not happen in the US, but for the most part - the rules are pretty simple, easy to obtain and therefore - easy to follow.

Anyhow, I thank you for your kind response and advice, and I assure you that I will do my best to make my family happy and safe!

Cheers!

8

I’m an ex-American so yes in many ways the countries are different. But as for ALL being Americans - I personally find the terms African American, Native American, etc, offensive to a certain extent. Like you I consider all to be JUST Americans with no added designation needed.

And if the US was as welcoming as you suggest there would be no Green Card lottery, relatives, employers wouldn’t need to go through hoops to bring people into the country, etc. You may not see the rules, but they are there.

9
It was not really necessary for that whole negative work permit answer debacle, as I am sure you are aware of the legal issues of working. However there are lots of small music venues here in Zürich, you could just pop into them and ask to talk to the management about the possibilities of playing, take your demo or a link to your Soundcloud or whatever. Never hurt to ask. Although it was a bit painful for you to ask here on EF. Sorry.

10
Thanks guys, I see what you mean, and I did not mean to be negative about it, just expressing my view.

US green card lottery is something no other countries seem to be doing, and the term itself suggests random nature of the recipient selection - though I myself have pretty high doubts about that!

I have personally known people who had multiple friends who allegedly received the residency permit through lottery, though they were all very good at what they do (music), so it just seemed too much of a coincidence that friends of friends received this really hard to get, and limited in number permanent residence card.

I think that injuring and disrespecting the sanctuary of a sovereign country is a crime and those who are knowingly committing acts of illegal trespassing (by means of visa overstays, or night fence jumping or whatever), should be held accountable, anywhere in the world.

I disagree with many history events and their overall point, but many people died to protect the sovereignty of a nation, and many died simply cause they had no choice - they were drafted!

Someone forces their way over the border, you get called in to protect the country you are a citizen of... and you better do it, otherwise do not look at yourself in the mirror ever again, or expect any protection from the country that once needed your help!

It might sound old fashioned, and people seem to be jumping on the bandwagon against the US for having the (simple) rules of admittance, but I see every other country being much more serious about NOT allowing people in, so US has every right to do the same!

I once had a girlfriend who was Brazilian, she swore that I would never ever be eligible for the Brazilian passport, they just never give it away.

Or Japan for ex, good luck getting that citizenship...

Allowing people to just randomly keep trying to illegally obtain their legal status (by sending them back to try again, or allowing them to stay because they don't know what to do with them) is a slap in the face of those who respect the law and follow the rules, which are (as we all know), not that easy and take a lot of time.

I still stand by the fact that USA is more welcoming and easier to deal with when it comes to immigration, as everyone there was at some point an immigrant themselves (or their parents, grandparents etc.).

Anyway, we have decided to go back to the US, Los Angeles is where I have many contacts and a nice place to live, plus I'm doing a lot of film scoring... so, that;s that I know it might seem pretty sudden, to start the thread, then finish with another path, but I;ve done some research and been places, and I'm going to skip moving to Europe for now, just not worth it (for me) at the time...

We all have personal preferences and I am pretty fast at seeing if something works or not, and Europe at this time just does not seem right for my kind of work.

Though I'll be back for fun and games, that's for sure!!!

11
Really????????

12
yes, REALLY!

13
Must be all fake news then what I read.....

14
I'm no Trump fan, but don;t trust everything you read.

I hope you understand that it is totally possible that some press might have an insidious agenda, and will serve the news they want, while omitting the ones they don;t want.

They're not "lying", but simply cherry picking and trying to shape their point in misleading ways.

Being out there and seeing what happens in real life should be the guide, and being in Switzerland is not a place to learn what happens on the streets of Chicago, New York, LA or wherever.

I know what I've seen and experienced, raised by inner city, Chicago public school system was no joke, but we REALLY were all Americans in that hell we referred to as school.

Skin color and nationality was never the main problem, it was the fact that the system did not CARE about kids and purposely made them dependent on the system, by depriving them of knowledge and education... hence the ghettos, drugs, pimps and hoes.

This was, ans still is the main issue in America... but that's another topic for another time.

ltr

15

Well you could say that about many people all over the world. And believe me we don’t believe what the news agencies say, especially when they get it so wrong as Fox do so often.

The main thing is that you’re both on the same page which it sounds as if you are. So good luck back in the States and wish you a great life together with your little one when it arrives. Make sure the birth is registered with the various embassies/consulates and yeah, do the language/s thing at home too. It’ll never be wasted and could help your chiild in later life.

16
Must offer a contradict to this here.

In Basel there are plenty of places (bars) where you can hear live musicians (jazz, blues, unplugged sessions etc.) and DJs.

To name a few: Singer, Grenzwert, 8bar, Renee, Conto, Volkshaus...

Wohnzimmer at Markthalle - improvisation jams every tuesday, with local musicians - might be a good place to start too.

Cheers and good luck.

17
Really going to give up on staying in Switzerland because of what a stranger on a forum says about FATCA? At an absolute minimum a PostFinance account should be possible, and the information-sharing and FBARs are not bad at all, sounds like you are diligent in staying compliant.

18
You still in Zurich Wicked? Any luck finding music?

I'm from chicago and I am a fan of some of the stuff you're referring to. Let's get a beer and find some shows!