Chapter 294: Let’s Be the Gambling Gods (4K) (Monthly Votes Please)
A concert?
Well, yeah, it’s about time to hold one!
As the unchallenged number one in the sales of classical music albums in Tianchao, they’re now an undeniably super popular musical duo.
After only two months since their debut, “Moonlight and Cat” has reached a level of fame that can rival some second- and third-tier pop singers in the entertainment industry.
That’s right, the entertainment industry—pop music!
For classical musicians, pulling off this kind of recognition is practically a miracle.
Besides their outrageously good music quality and speed of releasing new tunes, their personal charm plays a huge role too.
Honestly, whether or not you can throw an epic concert is often more about personality than the quality of your works.
If your charisma is high enough and you can become everyone’s “idol,” you can throw a concert and cash in!
Musicians’ concerts and star singing performances are basically the same.
At their core, both are just “idols” finding a space to perform their music on stage, and fans pay for tickets to see their idols with their own eyes and hear their idols’ music with their own ears.
Now, if we talk about differences…
Concerts for classical musicians usually have a lower budget and don’t require too much of a team. The venues can only hold a small crowd, often not too many people attend, and there isn’t a strong demand for the performers to interact heavily with the audience.
On the flip side, the scale of pop concerts is a whole different ballpark.
Most large concerts need a complete team to organize, including directors and camera crews, and they usually pick venues like stadiums or cultural centers that can accommodate from thousands to tens of thousands of people.
Plus, as the stars of the show, they often need to sprinkle in lots of audience interaction during the concert.
Many well-known singers come up with all sorts of wacky ideas for audience interaction, like randomly picking fans to choose songs, broadcasting random couple photos, or selecting lucky fans to sing duets with them on stage.
And who could forget those hilarious on-stage mishaps that end up going viral online?
One of the classic blunders is when the camera randomly cuts to a couple in the audience, and they’re expected to kiss. Everyone’s all smiles, and then suddenly a couple is caught on camera, and the girl pretends to be shy and dodges her boyfriend’s kiss while he awkwardly scratches his head.
Talk about cringeworthy!
In an instant, phrases like “Instinctive reactions reveal true feelings,” “True love is obvious at first glance,” and “Boys pretend not to care but cry at night” spring to mind.
These kinds of classic moments grace short video platforms every year.
But can a concert—such a serious affair—really get this wild?
The level of buzz and debate surrounding pop concerts is far beyond what a classical concert can compare with.
And honestly,
Randomly selecting lucky audience members to join the stars on stage?
For Moonlight and Cat, that’s like sending someone to the guillotine—highly risky!
While others are giving fans a treat, they’re just grabbing fans and putting them in a dangerous spot!
Perhaps considering all this,
He Zhi Chen finally suggested they hold the concert on the scale of a pop concert.
Choose a large venue like a stadium, find a professional team to plan and manage it, and aim for a super-sized concert filled with surprises and fan interaction!
Making it a very meaningful “debut concert” for Moonlight and Cat.
In fact, it’s more like a big music carnival to celebrate their debut.
After all, with the heat surrounding Moonlight and Cat, a small concert simply won’t satisfy the fans.
Sure, the Qingzhou Music Hall can seat three thousand, but there are definitely more than ten thousand fans wanting to attend.
Regular performances can still be held in the music hall, but as a highly anticipated first concert, it’s got to be on a bigger scale!
This was He Zhi Chen’s train of thought.
This was a big deal that couldn’t be decided on a whim.
Lin Tian dialed the phone.
Once connected—
“I have a question.”
Lin Tian asked,
“Where are we holding this concert again?”
“Currently, we’re tentatively looking at the Qingjiang International Cultural Center.”
“Really? Are you sure??”
Lin Tian was quite taken aback.
Even a homebody like him had heard of the Qingjiang International Cultural Center.
As one of the most famous large venues in Qingjiang, it has a whopping twenty-eight thousand seats. Over the past twenty years since its establishment, numerous stars and idols have held concerts there.
Most annual large-scale official events are often held at this place too.
Over time, this venue has practically become synonymous with “prestige.”
Local people in Qingzhou have a sense that any star who can hold a concert at the Qingjiang International Cultural Center is undoubtedly a first-tier celebrity!
Regular small-time karaoke singers can forget about ever performing there.
Let’s not even discuss the outrageous rental costs.
Just filling those twenty thousand seats is no easy feat for stars who aren’t at the top of their game.
What if, at the concert, someone asks, “What’s up? Is your place still in lockdown? Why do the audience have to sit two seats apart?” They’d surely be embarrassed!
So, everyone has these rose-tinted glasses when it comes to this venue.
It’s just like the Tokyo Dome.
To many aspiring folks in the industry,
If they ever get to hold a concert in the Dome, their idol careers would feel justified!
You gotta stand on that stage and proclaim, “Singing and dancing are the only things I’m good at. If I can’t get to the Tokyo Dome, I don’t know what the point of my life is!”
That’s the sentiment.
“This arrangement is certainly costly, but after my calculations, Lin Tian, I believe you two have the ability to pull it off!”
“Isn’t that not about ability?”
Lin Tian was well aware that despite the buzz he and Gan Yan Yu were generating online, the classical music scene is still quite niche.
Absolute, finally, it simply cannot compare in terms of heat and money-making potential with pop singers!
It’s that simple.
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu can still walk down the street freely, living like regular folks, without being recognized as “Moonlight and Cat,” with strangers asking for signatures or photos.
In this case,
Jumping straight into the Qingjiang International Cultural Center?
Isn’t that a bit over the top?
Will the audience even fill the seats?!
If the attendance isn’t up to snuff, embarrassment is the least of their worries—the losses would be the real nightmare.
“Right now, we might still be a bit short, but with the release of our new album and the buzz from the Pud Dairy ad, I think it’ll be completely fine.”
He Zhi Chen said seriously.
So, He Zhi Chen was working from the perspective of having these projections in place.
The reality is that the new album officially drops next week, and how well it sells is still a big question mark.
As for the Pud Dairy ad, it’s even crazier; they haven’t even started filming, but it’s already assumed they’ll ride the ad’s coattails and skyrocket once!
Lin Tian got the idea.
This was like “borrowing popularity,” using borrowed fame to choose the venue—plainly lacking finesse.
You can’t even call He Zhi Chen the “data god” anymore.
He’s a gambling god!
“If we pull off this concert, Lin Tian, you guys will be the first classical musicians to perform at the Qingjiang International!”
He Zhi Chen’s voice brimmed with excitement.
“.”
But Lin Tian remained calm, deep in thought.
And precisely because of this, he had to consider.
At the end of the day, a concert is just a tool to squeeze money from fans.
But to do so requires a leap of faith and “gambling” mentality.
Is it really necessary to go to such lengths?
The potential profits aren’t Lin Tian’s primary goal at this point.
Right now, he simply wants to make beautiful music with Gan Yan Yu and share it with the world!
To gamble just for the sake of money seems unnecessary.
Lin Tian spoke up,
“I think—”
“Lin Tian, actually, there’s something I haven’t mentioned yet, because I was worried that at this stage, it might be a bit premature to say this.”
“What?”
“If you and Gan Yan Yu manage to hold a spectacular concert at the Qingjiang International Cultural Center, undoubtedly, you’ll attract countless discussions from both inside and outside the industry.”
He Zhi Chen said seriously,
“At that point, as classical musicians, you two will be compared alongside pop stars. Just think about it, Lin Tian.”
“This would be a tremendous boost for breaking classical music’s niche and achieving sales comparable to pop music!”
Like a light bulb going off in Lin Tian’s head.
Yes!
He finally understood!
It all made perfect sense.
Look—these two classical musicians actually held a concert on a pop music legendary stage.
Doesn’t that indicate their music is unique and rivaling pop music?
Isn’t it possible that people’s stereotypical perception of classical music is just too ingrained?
Their music must have something special that resonates!
Perhaps, we should be more open and receptive to classical music, and give it a listen…
This is the significance of Moonlight and Cat performing at the Qingjiang International!
It’s about putting classical music on the grand stage to compete with pop music.
To truly be examined and compared by everyone!
While this may seem like a small matter,
What it reveals is the ultimate dream of Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu:
To make classical music once again beloved.
To be great again!
Dreaming of leading the aesthetics of an era is a far-off aspiration, to the point where they usually wouldn’t even bring it up.
But,
Lin Tian thought about it.
Achieving this future alongside Gan Yan Yu sounds extraordinarily wonderful!
With Brother Tong and the best musicians in the world by their side?
What’s to stop them from trying?
“Then we’ll go with your plan.” Lin Tian said.
“Great!”
He Zhi Chen smiled and said,
“I knew with your ambition, you’d definitely agree!”
He Zhi Chen wasn’t just making this suggestion lightly either.
As someone who holds data in the highest regard, he approaches everything with great caution. He would never take risks without thorough preparation!
But this time, he chose to gamble!
Why, you ask? Because the value of this gamble was too tempting.
With this concert, they declare war on the world of pop music!
New Year’s Eve, the 29th of the lunar calendar.
Every household is busy shopping for New Year’s goods.
The streets are filled with celebratory, lively scenes.
Holding a bubble tea in hand, Lin Tian stood in the corridor, gazing out.
Even the old, dingy complex he lived in, which had long been a gathering spot for old folks, had come alive.
There were cars parked outside that he had never seen before, presumably from folks returning home for the New Year.
It’s impossible not to feel something.
After all, seeing every household bustling like this does stir some emotions in Lin Tian.
Especially since after Grandpa Gan fell ill, there wouldn’t be anyone to invite him to the coffee shop for tea and Spring Festival galas anymore.
There’s a bit of nostalgia there…
After returning from Japan a few days ago, Lin Tian’s first stop was to visit Grandpa Gan in the hospital with Gan Yan Yu.
He was just as he always was, lying motionless in bed.
Like he might as well have been gone.
Lin Tian wasn’t sure if he’d wake up again.
On the visitation record provided by the nurse, Lin Tian noticed an interesting name—Tuoba Jianhui.
It must have been during the Parrot Zither Cup when he came to visit alone.
Checking the date.
It seemed to be the day of the semifinals.
That was the day Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu slapped him in the face with “Canon in D” backstage. Lin Tian even cheekily scolded him.
One wonders what kind of mood Tuoba, the old mischief-maker, was in when he stopped by.
Surely he didn’t get so mad at his granddaughter that he thought about yanking off his grandpa’s oxygen mask, right?
But seeing Grandpa Gan lying there just fine confirmed that Tuoba must have held back his fury.
“.”
In truth, even though Lin Tian looks like someone with a clear goal, full of energy, not caring about much, deep down, he carries a regret.
—Having a home.
You get it, right?
With childhood experiences involving relatives leaving one after another, even when he lived with his father, it was mostly neglectful parenting.
Since he could remember, Lin Tian has never felt the presence of “family” even for a single day.
This is also why Lin Tian cherishes the ritual of holidays.
Such an ambiance in the house gives Lin Tian at least a sense of living a good life at home.
At the same time, it’s also the reason why Lin Tian holds Grandpa Gan in such high regard.
The old man once really gave him a feeling of “home” during his solitary days.
Though upon reflection, it’s likely more a tale of a lonely old man and an abandoned child.
Today, Gan Yan Yu must be out with her family getting New Year’s supplies, right?
Lin Tian mused.
It’s the least expected, as those sorts of things are part of the festive spirit!
Lin Tian finished his bubble tea and was about to turn back when suddenly a voice came from the stairway:
“Lin Tian!”
Lin Tian turned around to see Gan Yan Yu in a bright, festive “Tianchao Red” qipao, her hair styled into two tiny buns adorned with red ribbons.
Lin Tian’s eyes widened as he saw Gan Yan Yu rush right up to him.
The young woman stood with her hands behind her back, swaying from side to side, showcasing her outfit with a smile that revealed her little dimples.
“Is it pretty?”
“.”
Lin Tian didn’t answer Gan Yan Yu’s question; instead, he pointed at the red sack behind her.
“What’s in there?”
“Oh.”
Gan Yan Yu dragged the sack in front of Lin Tian, pulling out various items—snacks, rice, peanut oil…
“Wait, you’re not trying to trick the old folks into buying health products, are you?” Lin Tian gasped.
“Of course not!”
Gan Yan Yu said earnestly,
“When we practiced at home, we must have disturbed many neighbors, right…?
I was thinking, since New Year is coming, let’s buy some things and together, we can go door to door to deliver them.”
(End of Chapter)
