In Huayu, the career reward is spy

Chapter 203 The Gray Area of ​​the Entertainment Industry
In the quiet car, Ji Yu rolled down the window, letting in a gust of cold air.

Zhou Xun, sitting on the other side, shivered slightly.

She tugged at her collar and asked with a smile, "I heard you've been rehearsing for the Spring Festival Gala these past few days?"

"Yes, I'm quite tired. Having a few drinks with you guys tonight will help me relax."

Ji Yu was busy all year, doing many activities that even celebrities couldn't finish in several years.

The guy from that family held more than a dozen concerts in a year, and also released more than a dozen songs, two TV series, and a movie.

Not to mention all the other miscellaneous activities, such as racing, concerts, promotional events, and endorsement deals.
Ji Yu is simply a workaholic in the entertainment industry!
However, most celebrities in the entertainment industry are very busy. Big stars have their own ways of making money, and small stars have their own ways of making money.

Performing at commercial events and accompanying customers to meals and drinks is how minor celebrities survive.

Ji Yu rolled up the car window and looked at Zhou Xun, asking, "You've been quite busy this year, haven't you? I saw in the news that you've taken on quite a few dramas."

Zhou Xun nodded with a wry smile. If he didn't take advantage of his youth to film more dramas, would he wait until his fame declined before coming back to work?

She sighed and said, "Next year will be even busier. After releasing the album, I'll be doing more commercial performances and gigs."

Ji Yu nodded and asked curiously, "How much do you charge per gig now?"

"150,000 to 200,000, depending on the specific requirements." Zhou Xun paused, turned his head to look at him, and became curious about his gig prices.

Ji Yu shrugged and said, "They won't notify me if it's below eighty, but they'll report it to me if it's above eighty, and then I'll answer it depending on my mood."

Zhou Xun: "." Which company can afford to hire you for their events?
"Did the entertainment company quote you a price? It's a bit high, so it's not easy to get work."

Zhou Xun was telling the truth; very few companies are willing to spend 800,000 yuan to hire celebrities for their events.

"I didn't seek cooperation with any entertainment company because I felt it was unreliable."

Ji Yu was naturally aware that his price was high, but the key was that he was too popular. If he didn't quote a higher price, even more people would contact him.

If I signed with an entertainment company, they'd probably send me all sorts of random jobs.

Zhou Xun nodded and said, "It's good not to cooperate with entertainment companies. These days, entertainment companies are too chaotic, they seem to be able to schedule ten events a day."

That's how the entertainment company Zhou Xun works with is; they introduce her to all sorts of random jobs.

Some even had singing and performing jobs at township enterprises.

Ji Yu was quite curious about the ins and outs of the gig business and asked Zhou Xun for details.

Zhou Xun glanced out the car window and said, "We're almost at my house. Why don't you come up and sit for a bit? I'll tell you something."

Ji Yu glanced at his watch and politely declined, saying, "It's too late, maybe next time."

Zhou Xun didn't press the issue, but cautioned, "There are many intricacies involved in performing in entertainment venues. If you really want to collaborate with an entertainment company, you'd better be careful."

Ji Yu raised an eyebrow, his curiosity growing. After a moment's thought, he said, "Then let's go upstairs and have a cup of tea."

Zhou Xun chuckled and joked, "I'm not deliberately keeping you in suspense to lure you up."

"Tai Gong Jiang is fishing, and those who wish will take the bait."

Ji Yu followed Zhou Xun out of the car and upstairs.

Zhou Xun lives alone in a large house that isn't luxuriously decorated, but it looks quite comfortable.

There were just a lot of things lying around in many places.

For example, there's a sweater on the sofa that's been worn but not put away, with the sleeves still rolled up.

Zhou Xun smiled sheepishly, picked up the sweater, and invited Ji Yu to sit down.

While Zhou Xun went back to change clothes, Ji Yu stroked his chin, pondering the gray industry chain behind the entertainment industry.

From the moment he started being extorted for protection money during his concert tour, he knew that sooner or later these shady businesses would find him.

The conversation with producer Tsui in Hong Kong about embezzling Initial D production funds, and the business card handed to him by Cecilia Cheung, are all part of the gray market.

It's the end of 2002, the time when the dirty tricks in the entertainment industry are at their most rampant. Once you become famous, you can't avoid them no matter what.

Even if you don't touch it, someone will take the initiative to find you.

If you have the ability to avoid it, then you're capable; if you don't, then you can only participate.

These things haven't come knocking on my door yet because Ji Yu became famous too quickly, but that doesn't mean they won't come knocking on my door in the future.

Ji Yu was willing to come up and chat with Zhou Xun because he wanted to understand the specific situation.

To avoid getting involved in these things later.

Zhou Xun has been in the entertainment industry for seven or eight years, rising from a bar singer to a popular star, climbing up from the very bottom.

He definitely knows much more about this matter than Ji Yu.

The entertainment industry in mainland China is very unique, even surpassing that of Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong's entertainment industry, triads engage in kidnapping, extortion, and pointing guns at people.

Is the mainland clean now?
There are even more outrageous things, but the mainland is too big, and many things have not been reported.

Ji Yu has already run into people involved in the shady dealings of the entertainment industry, so he needs to be prepared for all sorts of things.

A short while later, Zhou Xun came out wearing a different set of clothes.

After handing Ji Yu a bottle of water, he sat down and asked, "What do you want to know?"

Ji Yu thought for a moment and said, "Let's start with the freelance gigs."

Zhou Xun rested his chin on his hand and said, "Let me think about where to start."

She hesitated for a moment before speaking, "The entertainment industry is very chaotic, even more chaotic than the entertainment circle. There are at least a hundred entertainment companies nationwide, as well as many local thugs and individual intermediaries."

Ji Yu was aware of this, but he wasn't quite sure how chaotic it was or where the chaos lay.

Zhou Xun took a sip of water to moisten his throat and continued, "If you've ever held a concert, you should know that even Rolling Stones can't hold concerts in mainland China. Just think about how murky the waters are in these performance events."

Ji Yu frowned and said, "Rock Records invests too little in mainland China, that's probably why."

Zhou Xun couldn't help but laugh and asked in return, "If every record company can organize its own concerts, what about entertainment companies? What will they eat and drink?"

Seeing that Ji Yu didn't quite understand, she explained in detail what the entertainment company was all about.

On the surface, it appears to be a collaboration with celebrities, making it seem like an alternative talent agency, but in reality, it is not.

They are middlemen; they have good access to information and extensive connections.

The company collaborates with many celebrities and then provides them to clients who need them based on the quoted price.

These clients are often not large corporations, but rather local residents, such as advertising agencies or planning companies.

Entertainment companies guarantee the safety of celebrities and then take a cut of the profits.

Even celebrities have to search for work everywhere and live in fear of not being able to guarantee their personal safety.

Another crucial point is that the money earned from these gigs can be transferred directly between the cashier and the customer, bypassing the official accounting system.

Everyone will be exempt from paying taxes, which will save a lot of money.

There are many types of gigs performed by entertainment companies.

They offer everything: meals, drinks, sex, performances, and singing.

If the boss can afford the price, the entertainment company will help negotiate; or if the star is willing to go all out, the entertainment company will help her find clients.

Prices vary depending on the celebrity's popularity.

For dining and drinking, male celebrities are usually not sought out; female celebrities are more common.

A price list for female celebrities to accompany customers for drinks was leaked online some time ago.

Prices range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. Most well-known female celebrities in the industry are listed there.

Some are fabricated, some are true.

Female celebrities are also willing to accompany men for drinks, hoping to meet big bosses and perhaps rise to prominence.

Even if things don't go well, getting to know a big boss can expand your network.

Some acted voluntarily, but many more were passively and helplessly taken advantage of.

Ji Yu remembered that Kim Hee-sun almost got herself into trouble when she came to China to accompany people for drinks.

At this point, he couldn't help but interrupt, "Wait a minute, are you talking about a chicken head?"

Zhou Xun shrugged and said, "What else did you expect? We're all gangsters, why would we talk to you about civility?"

"But there are also many well-known entertainment companies, surely they wouldn't do the same thing, would they?"

Zhou Xun laughed and said, "You've hit the nail on the head. Big companies are definitely more formal, but they're not as clean as you think. There's a lot more dirty stuff going on inside."

"for example?"

"For example," Zhou Xun tapped his chin and thought for a moment before saying, "Do you remember that song and dance troupe?"

Ji Yu frowned and asked, "Are you referring to the matter of Li Guyi being threatened after exposing the group leader's corruption?"

Zhou Xun nodded and laughed, "Look, big companies won't even give you money; they choose to get something for free."

Ji Yu took a deep breath. This was truly a freebie!
Which company owns the performing arts company for the song and dance troupe?

"Many of them have their own entertainment companies, but their own companies are not effective outside of Beijing."

"Demarcating territory?"

"Yes, and it's been divided into many sections."

Zhou Xun started explaining to Ji Yu the power structure and hierarchy of mainland entertainment companies, counting on his fingers.

There are many entertainment companies of all sizes in mainland China, and many of them also define their own business scope and sphere of influence.

Performing at commercial events is a gray area, so choosing the right partners is very important.

However, in many cases, people have no choice but to select several options.

In Beijing, some of the stronger companies include Poly Performing Arts, Tianzhong Culture, and Century New Disc, among others.

These companies have their own artists, and they also sign artists from other companies.

Poly Performing Arts specializes in high-end commercial performances, including nationwide tours and large-scale galas.

Poly Entertainment is relatively formal, but it only works with large-scale performances and big stars, which is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Tianzhong Culture, on the other hand, belongs to the low-to-mid-end market, and its collaborations are mostly with second- or third-tier celebrities. Its main resources are concentrated in third- and fourth-tier cities in the central and northern regions.

The new album for the Century was a bit weak, so they chose to go completely to the lower end of the spectrum, focusing on collaborations with local artists and the methods of collaboration became more chaotic.

There are many different styles, and many unexpected ways of performing at events, truly performing at events!
The most powerful company in Shanghai is the Shanghai Media Group Performing Arts Group, which usually undertakes large-scale commercial performances and collaborates with Hong Kong and Taiwan stars, covering most of the Yangtze River Delta region.

In the south, there are a few companies like Guangzhou New Era, whose influence is concentrated in the Pearl River Delta, but now they are focusing on commercial performances for their own artists.

As for the southwest and northwest, the situation is more complicated there. There are many local bullies, and celebrities' performance tours often only go as far as Chengdu or Chongqing before ending abruptly.

Going that way, few companies dare to guarantee the personal safety of celebrities.

After listening to Zhou Xun's explanation, Ji Yu couldn't help but click his tongue.

This isn't an entertainment company; it's more exciting than the Young and Dangerous movies.

They compete on resources and brand names, on ruthlessness and skirting the edges.

This is not a cultural industry; it's practically a money-sucking industrial chain run by landlords and local ruffians.

Seeing Ji Yu's surprised expression, Zhou Xun asked, "How many commercial performances have you done?"

"Four or five times, all in Shanghai," Ji Yu answered truthfully. He had become famous too quickly and had too many events to do commercial performances.

Zhou Xun said with a smile, "Do you know how many commercial performances there are in mainland China every year?"

Ji Yu shook his head. How would he know? Who would bother with such statistics?

Zhou Xun held up four fingers and said, "More than 40,000 matches!"

Ji Yu: "." Are there really that many celebrities and performance groups in mainland China?
Seeing that Ji Yu didn't believe him, Zhou Xun explained the situation of offline performances in mainland China in detail.

With the rapid economic development in mainland China, corporate celebrations, real estate openings, and other events in major cities all require performances by celebrities or acting troupes.

It's normal for the total number of performances nationwide to reach 40,000. Many celebrities can make hundreds of appearances a year!
It is precisely because of the huge commercial demand and the enormous profits behind it that these entertainment companies and chaotic phenomena have emerged.

What does 40,000 performances mean? Even if each performance only has a budget of 100,000, the total performance share for the whole year would be 4 billion!
Moreover, a single performance costs far more than 100,000!

No wonder entertainment companies are so fierce in their competition for talent and resources!

If they can't get the celebrities, they'll grab the market; if they can't grab the market, they'll resort to vandalism and looting.

If I can't do it, you shouldn't try either!
The demand for protection money during Ji Yu's concert tour is just the tip of the iceberg in these gray industry chains.

The entertainment industry is incredibly lucrative.

Movie box office revenue is nothing compared to the economic benefits of celebrities performing at various events!

Celebrities can earn tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a few minutes on stage.

By partnering with a few second- or third-tier celebrities, one can earn tens of millions a year just by performing at various events!

If you pair up with attractive female celebrities, and then add the act of accompanying them to drinks and meals, or even engaging in prostitution, this number will rise even further.

There are countless shady dealings behind these entertainment companies.

While Ji Yu was still in shock, Zhou Xun smiled and said, "Now you know why I advised you to be more cautious."

A big star like Ji Yu is highly sought after by many.

A single concert tour can generate hundreds of millions in box office revenue, while a short performance can earn hundreds of thousands in appearance fees. It's easy to imagine how many people are eyeing this lucrative opportunity.

Concerts can also be used for money laundering, which attracts even more people to take notice.

It's just that he hasn't been active in mainland China for most of the past two years, otherwise people would have come knocking on his door long ago.

Perhaps the extortion he suffered in Beijing last time was just a test by others. If he had given in and paid back then, there would have been even more trouble later.

Ji Yu finally realized one thing: Zang Tian's extortion of him was far from over.

The trouble caused by those thugs a couple of days ago was just an appetizer; there will definitely be more people coming after me!
Ji Yu believed that those people were capable of anything, provided the profits were large enough.

He suddenly felt very glad that he had refused Chen yesterday. If things had really gotten out of hand and the people around him had been exposed, those people who operate in the gray area might actually have been able to commit kidnapping.

As long as you can control Ji Yu, it means a continuous stream of wealth.

Who wouldn't be tempted?
Ji Yu suddenly felt restless; he really wanted to find the big brother behind Zang Tian.

Instead of trying to defend against thieves, why not just storm their door and kill them all!

He turned to Zhou Xun and asked, "Who is the boss behind Zangtian?"

Zhou Xun asked with a curious look, "Do you want to make peace, or..."

"I never make peace!"

"Then I won't tell you, so you don't get buried alive."

"."

(End of this chapter)