NONEY

Hello

So had my first chat on a forum the other day and rather liked it - friendly people giving advice and as it's anonymous, it allows you to be brutally honest! And i can just rabbit on too - Cool..

So here's the thing - i know loads of people want to move to the US from the UK and everywhere else in the world (grass greener and all that), they have no idea what it entails and have no chance of getting in. Living in a fantasy like me but hey i'd like to give it a go...


Here's some questions that you may be able to help me with cos it's just a vague idea at the moment..

For me and my partner, I gather if you can get a US employer to offer you a job or if you want to set up a business / invest then there's a possibility to get a working visa.


We'd like to create a music venue presenting an eclectic mixture of the best new and established British bands, DJ's and Dance club nights.
(It's my current career here, many years of experience, BA Hons etc etc)

Hoping they'd go for it at the visa office - specialist, add to the culture etc aahhh?
Not got the Million Dollar capital requirement so would need to find someone to work with / for out there though... any ideas?

What's the market really like for British music, is it basically underground? (Talking Indie bands not Leona Lewis).

Can anyone recommend venues / promoters / entrepreneurs already doing this or would like to start - it would be great to hook up with them.

Any suggestions for a nice warm music loving city to start my search with? ... might as well go for it and add by a beach preferably! Is NY really where it's at...


Anyhoo - it would be great to hear your advice - should i just wake up and smell the coffee !!

Bye for a bit x

Bob

Welcome to BE....good luck!

You've seen the wiki on the ways in and searched out the E2 investor visas to understand all the pitfalls and difficulty?

Got a huge stash of cash and you've a possibility, but if you don't already have contacts and know the scene, setting up the type of venture you're talking about is more than likely to be a massive struggle to not fail.

scrubbedexpat099

A million would be an EB5

Do you have US$250,000 to risk?

retzie

As someone into dance music, I have been very, very, very underwhelmed by what's on offer in the US. The cities I have been to with the strongest existing dance music/club culture have been San Francisco and Austin TX (though I haven't been to Detroit, so maybe techno is killing it there!)

ATX is probably best described as just being up for anything music-related - electronic draws a young, studenty crowd, who are trying to pretend it's underground (lol). It's also a very cool city (check out the festivals!) and not horrendously expensive, so maybe a good place to start? SF is bizarre - probably the oldest crowd I've seen at a gig! Also, the crowd with the least number of DJ's in it, which was weird. If I had to characterise, I'd say more about the strutting, less about the music. LA ain't bad, but I'm not sure they know they are meant to dance! Despite having spent plenty of time in NYC, I haven't been grabbed by the scene there. There is stuff happening, but it's not the mecca I was hoping - absolutely not even the tiniest patch on LDN. As in, there is more electronic music on Shoreditch High St than in all five boroughs of NYC!

So, um, yeah. Immigration issues aside, you would have your work cut out for you on the dance music front. I, personally, would LOVE to see some proper electronic music here, but you are not going to find much of an existing culture. Although, maybe you will see this as a huge untapped market?? If you want to come and check out what does exist, I would suggest visiting: ATX, SF, NYC and Miami, with outside bets on LA and maybe Seattle. By the way, there is more of a scene in Canada, so you may find better opportunities (and potentially easier immigration) up that way.

Oh, a heads-up: in most places, the US' fanatical liquor licensing closes most clubs very early (2am, or 4am at a pinch.) You would know this is totally at odds with normal dance music hours and I reckon it has an effect on the general culture. I have not found gigs here to be quite like those at home (Aus) or in the UK . If anyone out there can contradict me, PLEASE DO!! If I need to fly places for gigs, I will! It can be next to impossible to know what is going on where.

Disclaimer: This is only about dance music, which is kinda underground here (without the connotations of coolness and niche popularity.) I'd guess the indie scene is MUCH healthier.

penguinsix

The European Dance music culture is barely a blip on the radar in most US cities. One or two clubs in major places, and then a few towns with a more life like Miami. Guys like Tiesto and Armand Van Buren and other DJs will come over for "US Tours" but they are but a blip on the music calendar in most cities and playing at best middle sized clubs or even smaller. I cannot think of more than a dozen radio stations in the entire US that play UK/European dance music (if that many).

Honestly, opening a hamburger stand in Florida is likely an easier path to riches than a dance club in the US.

(and yes, I like electronic music but it's just not happening here in the US).

NONEY

Nice one - cheers for the replies guys.

It's not that dance music has been and gone over there then, just never caught on eh! Such a shame - where do the kids do all their dancing then? I consider this a challenge - so many ideas how to put that right!!!

I had mainly live bands in mind, only supported with DJ's and club nights. The 2 am could work. I know the UK scene very well and that's where my contacts are - it would be great to showcase the best British bands over there along with the loads of great US bands i'd love to put on a bill.

So may not like a Roland 303 but i know they do guitars!!

Who gets your vote for best gig / indie venues? I could give them a shout.

Cheers for the heads up on cities - So funny Retzie, I'll be quoting you on Shoreditch is better than NYC...

Boiler - although this is a serious ambition, unfortunately, no don't have 250K to play with - my wealth is in my musical knowledge and talent spotting the next big thing - lol..

Yeah i know it would be hard but hey, a few right moves and bright ideas, a slice of luck and a willing musical conspirator, we could make it happen...right!!

Great chatting to you all - thanks!

scrubbedexpat099

So you are looking now to team up with a US based operator to whom you can supply the live bands, I guess the first step would be looking at what sort of visa's they would need to perform in the US.

Wouldn't these bands already have agents?

BadgerNaboo

I know little of starting a music scene here but we just moved to SF and some amazing British bands and playing people you have problems seeing in the UK so I would say there is a good market for it.

Bluegrass Lass

Well, don't forget the legal drinking age is 21 over here. So any kids under 21 in a club are there illegally. I know the only dancing I did pre-21 was at high school dances or dances sponsored by the university..or friends' houses. (I guess I wasn't cool enough to seek out any underground clubs, or get a fake id.)

I have heard of some teen clubs for those under 21, but there aren't any in my local area at this time. There used to be one here, and IIRC they didn't serve alcohol in that club because of the potential for under-age drinking.

When I did start going to clubs, most of the clubs I went to were all about the bump-n-grind music.

Good luck with your endeavors.

NONEY

Yeah that must be such a bummer having a 21 age restriction on drinking!! Blimey, their all on shots and alco pops and throwing up in the street here - there's a real network of fake ID's too...

I never do under age gigs here (18) as always a nightmare so would stick clear of them... Good security staff normally handle the age issue pretty well.

So, is the US only bumping-n-grinding eh? - you don't seem to get much choice then - clubs in the UK are a mixture of nights catering for all tastes really - R&B / Dance / Indie disco / Charts Party nights etc etc.. even 'school disco' nights - club full of 'grownups' dressed in school uniforms aka St. Trinians - sad but funny. Quite a lot of Rave Warehouse parties too. And the live music scene, well, it's always really happening - an absolute melting pot - it's great. Most cities have a Live circuit.

Are you sure there must be some really cool stuff going on somewhere over there!!

I'm getting a real feeling that you lot are missing out big style - I'm a little surprised - thought you guys invented the teenager and Rock n Roll..!

Well there defo seems to be a market alright - I reckon there's room to showcase some of the best new bands around, few beers and have a bit of a dance - you'd be up for that yeah? The sooner we get over there and sort out some good tunes the better...

So SF / ATX / NYC appear to be my best bet - will start there and see where that gets me...

Bolier - basically we're thinking of either replicating what we do here already. i.e work for a super cool venue as Events / Promotions Manager. Source live acts / DJ's / club nights and do in house nights or book external promoters. Create a dynamic image for the venue and bring it to the forefront of the Live circuit. (As our employer offering a job, they would hopefully enable us to get US working visas)

Or we hook up with a US investor / co-founder and create the venue from scratch. You must have some wicked good spaces to work with!! (As it's for the 'purpose of establishing a new commercial enterprise', this would hopefully also enable us to get US working visas)

I put on US bands all the time - I sort their work permits and their agents sort their visas - Same would apply, just do it in reverse going the other way.

Anyhoo - thanks for the advice and insight yo all - be great to hear any other thoughts yeah... x

scrubbedexpat099

So you are looking for an H1b

So what qualifications do you have, what qualifications would such a job require?

NONEY

Cheers Boiler - H1b it is then. Will look into it.
Would one of them cover both types of work - as an employee or investor establishing a new commercial enterprise?

Do we think the visa office would go for an application like this...ahhh!

As I'd like to try both routes in, has anyone got any info on US finance / venture capitalists - suggestions for good records online?

Or of course, if you know a smart cookie who would fancy getting on board...

Also, taking votes on the top 3 music venues - who's the daddy?

scrubbedexpat099

H1 as employees

E2 as Investors (thought you did not have the dosh?

Do we think the visa office would go for an application like this...ahhh!

If properly structured, Employers Lawyer does it for H1. Your Lawyer for E2.

It has to be your money for an Investment Visa.

Work you contacts, network, network, network

NONEY

Nice one Boiler - you've been a great help.

Feel my best route in is as an employee - gonna look for a suitable venue and take it from there.

Basically, feel there is a market so just need to get a venue owner onboard who'd like to take it in the direction i specialize in. Then with an employer supporting the application that the visa office may think it's a reasonable request. Hey presto! ... LOL

Will see if it's got legs cos it would be a brilliant new adventure...

Bob

Though a degree is a usual requirement to get a work sponsored visa.