(1540) MUSIC AND ME (May 17, 2018) INSTALLMENT TIPS

 I have never had an experience of having tips by installment! The Japanese guy here gave me a total of $5.00 tips for requesting 3 American songs at the Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort on April 30, 2018. 


         TIPS BY INSTALLMENT

I've got a $10.00 tip at Waves Restaurant on the night of April 30, 2018. Then I proceed at Breeze Bar to play another 2 hours of keyboard music.

Two young Japanese ladies came and sit near the keyboard. Later they were joined by their father? and I started to play Japanese songs starting with Yume No Tochu.

THEN THE INSTALLMENT TIPS BEGUN...

The father gave me $3.00 tip to play "Yesterday" by the Beatles. I sang the song as I know it by heart and it's the most recorded songs in the world. Being recorded by different artists/singers around the world by about 2,000 versions!

His next request is "Let it Be", another Beatles song. I sang it as well. He gave me a dollar this time. Then "Imagine" by John Lennon follows without tip. Imagine is very popular among Japanese even though it is sung by John Lennon when the Beatles broke up.

 The two ladies sang with me to the songs by Southern All Stars "Tsunami" and "Itoshino Elly".

Then he requested again "Hotel California" by Eagles. I sang it as well with the key lowered by 3 steps to fit my range/key.
He gave me another dollar.

The last song of the ladies is "Nada Sou Sou", a very popular Japanese songs among middle aged generation.

Benny Billones wants to be in the photo also with the Japanese ladies so the last shot was a selfie.




Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- July 05, 2018

               Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
               The Beginning of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               Soon to be published as book

               Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
               April 25, 2013 -- July 05, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- July 05, 2018

(834) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 09, 2014) TWO JAPANESE LADIES WHO DIDN'T ORDER DRINKS

THE DAY AFTER
     These 2 Japanese ladies are having drinks this time the day after they come to Breeze Bar to enjoy my music without ordering something.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


    TWO JAPANESE LADIES WHO DIDN'T
                   ORDER DRINKS
RARELY did I experience Japanese guests who don't order drinks but enjoyed the night with my music.

It happened on Sept. 21, 2014 when 2 Japanese ladies come at Breeze Bar. They just stand by behind me and listened to my rendition of Japanese songs.

When all the other guests have left, they sit down at a table near me and the keyboard, about one meter.

They refused to order drinks when asked by the cashier/waitress. They appreciate my music especially my singing of "Oribia O Kikinagara".

When it's 11pm, I stopped playing and talked to them for a few minutes. I gave them my card and mentioned to them that I'm playing piano at Waves Restaurant from 7-9pm and keyboard at Breeze Bar from 9-11pm.

They gave me their names but I didn't wrote it on a paper so I forgot. THERE ARE 3 INDICATIONS TO KNOW IF A PERSON IS GETTING OLD --- 1. LOSS OF MEMORY  2. I FORGOT  3. I FORGOT.

I forgot also if they have given me tips (if so, not more than $3.00).

The next day, they have drinks at Coral Bar of Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort. 

They are still there when I'm about to go to Breeze Bar for another 2 hours more of playing music.

While sitting at Coral Bar, I took the opportunity to have a photo with them. 

When I'm about to go to Breeze Bar, the lady to my right in the photo is next to me so I get the Tia Belau Newspaper at the newspaper rack and showed her that I also write about chess on Palau first newspaper Tia Belau.

I didn't have second thought that they are not Japanese because of not ordering drinks unlike with my experience with these two Japanese ladies....
   

     
 https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2223213667651635496#editor/target=post;postID=1895347987359147481;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=173;src=link

     (717)   MUSIC AND ME (Dec. 26, 2013)    EXCEPTION TO THE RULE

MY MISTAKE
     They looked like Taiwanese to me. It was only in the latter part of my piano playing that I realized they are Japanese, not the typical one.
                                                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



         EXCEPTION TO THE RULE  

BEFORE playing piano from 7pm-9pm at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort, I always look at the guests as I have problem recognizing our Taiwanese and Japanese guests if I don't hear them talking.

From experience, I can tell if our guests are Taiwanese if there are NO DRINKS on their table. It's the common observation of the staff of PRR that Taiwanese are not spender like Japanese.

Most of the time, they use their dinner coupon to have complimentary dinner and keep the welcome drink coupon and not use it while dining. So most of the time, they have water only and no alcohol or juice on their table.

Sometimes they will use their welcome drink coupons at Breeze Bar where I play keyboard from 9-11pm.

OF COURSE, THERE SOME EXCEPTION TO THIS OBSERVATION.

Last year, we have 2 beautiful ladies dining near the piano. I played mostly Taiwanese songs because I thought they are Taiwanese because there are no drinks on their table. 

I can't hear their conversation because they talk softly.There's no applause even if I played already all my best Taiwanese songs.

Then I played "Oribia O Kikinagara" and I can see in their lips that they are singing the song although softly.

THAT'S THE TIME THAT I'M NOW SURE THAT THEY ARE JAPANESE.

I played all Japanese songs since then and before going home, they asked for a photo session.      




                     CONTINUATION OF
MY REPERTOIRE OF INTERNATIONAL SONGS

                              -H-

  

            HAF’A DAI (Chamorro Song)                                                                     

            H A G K A N   (Sharon  Cuneta)                                                                OPM195

            HAHABOL-HABOL (Freddie Aguilar) (Filipino Song)

            HALF AS MUCH                                                                                          R   178

            HALF CRAZY (Free Style) (Filipino Song)                                                    B   340

            H A N D O G   (Florante)                                                                           OPM127

1959    HANDY MAN (James Taylor)                                                                       DB267

            HANG ON SLOOPY                                                                                    G    67

1972    H A P P Y   (Jackson 5)                                                                                 DB268

            HAPPY BIRTHDAY

            HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HEARTACHE (Barbra Mandrell)                      DB269

            HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN                                                             R     69

            HAPPY MAN (Chicago)                                                                               DB270

196      HAPPY TOGETHER (Turtles)                                                                      B    77

1935    HARBOR LIGHTS (Platters)                                                                        V    36

1982    HARD TO SAY I’M SORRY (Chicago)                                                      G    32

1950    HATING GABI (Filipino Song)                                                                 OPM230

1977    HAVA NAGILA (Israeli Song)                                                                     DBI 26

            HAVE A GOOD TIME                                                                                B     99

1993    HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY (Rod Stewart)                                              DB  68

            HAVE YOU EVER REALLY LOVED A WOMAN (Bryan Adams)            DB  67

            HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN                                                        DB  41

            HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG                                                                 DB    7

            HAWAK-KAMAY (Yeng Constantino) (Filipino Song)                             OPM191

            HAYOP NA COMBO (Yoyoy Villame) (Filipino Song)                            OPM  99                        HEAL THE WORLD (Michael Jackson)

            HEARTACHE TONIGHT (Eagles)                                                              DB176

1972    HEART OF GOLD (Neil Young)                                                                  R    36

            H E A V E N   (Bryan Adams)                                                                      R   253

1992    HEAVEN KNOWS (                                                                                   B   274

1960    HE’LL HAVE TO GO (Jim Reeves)                                                             G    69

            H E L L O   (Lionel Richie)                                                                           V     6

1980    HELLO AGAIN (Neil Diamond)                                                                 DB271

1963    HELLO DOLLY                                                                                          DB125

1982    HELLO LOVE (Florence Warner)                                                               B   303

1967    HELLO GOODBYE (Beatles)                                                                     R   195

1965    H E L P   (Beatles) (John Farnham)                                                              R   233

1971    HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT (Sandy Smith)

                                         (Kris Kristofferson)                                                         B   229

            HERE COMES THE SUN (Beatles)                                                            R   222

1981    HERE I AM (Air Supply)                                                                             B   319

            HERE’S A HEART                                                                                     G     71

            HERE’S THAT RAINY DAY                                                                     R     35

1969    HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE (Beatles)                                         R   208

            H E R O   (Mariah Carey)                                                                            B    86

200      H E R O   (Enrique Iglesias)                                                                         B    87

            HER TOWN TOO (James Taylor)                                                             DB272

1984    H E Y   (Julio Iglesias)                                                                                DB147

1968    HEY JUDE (Beatles)                                                                                 R   197

1963    HEY PAULA (Paul and Paula)                                                                  G   125

1970    HEY THERE LONELY GIRL (Robert John) (Eddie Hollman)                   DB  81

1952    HI-LILI HI-LO                                                                                         DB  99

1991    HILLSIDE (Halley Erich) (Palauan Song)                                                  G P   3

            HINDI KITA MALILIMUTAN (Basil Valdez) (Filipino Song)                 

1939    HINDI KITA MALIMOT                                                                      OPM  96

            HINDI KO KAYA (Richard Reynoso)                                                   OPM  26

            H I R A M   (Zsa Zsa Padilla) (Filipino Song)

            HISTORIA DE UN AMOR (Trio Los Panchos) (Spanish Song)               DBI   1

1967    HOLIDAY (Bee Gees)                                                                             B   198

1982    HOLIDAY (Scorpions)                                                                            B   199

            H O M E   (Kuh Ledesma)                                                                    OPM181

1960    HOMEWARD BOUND (Simon & Garfunkel)                                          R    38

1978    HONESTY (Billy Joel)                                                                             R    94

1968    H O N E Y   (Bobby Goldsborough)                                                        DB148

1969    HONKY TONK WOMEN (Rolling Stones)                                            B   148

            HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS (Hawaiian Song)                                       G     75

1978    HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU (Olivia Newton-John)                   R     97

1977    HOTEL CALIFORNIA (Eagles)                                                             V     42

1957    HOUND DOG (Elvis Presley)                                                                  B   160

            HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN (Animals)                                              B     36

1983    HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU (Michael Bolton)  DB273

            HOW CAN I TELL HER (Lobo)                                                             DB274

            HOW CAN I TELL YOU (Lani Hall)                                                      B   281

1971    HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART (Bee Gees)                  DB    8

1977    HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE (Bee Gees)                                             R     82

            HOW DO I LIVE (Trisha Yearwood)                                                     DB    3

1985    HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING (James Ingram)           B   263

1963    HOW INSENSITIVE (Shirley Bassey)                                                   R       1

1953    HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW (Patti Page)       DB275

            HOW SOON (Matt Monro)                                                                   R     83

196      HURTIN’ INSIDE (Dave Clark 5)                                                          B   120

Source: Chess And Music (Perfect Combination)

             The Beginning of Chess In Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             January 2014

             To be published as a book in the future 







Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
             The Beginning of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             October 2014
             To be published as a book in the future  

   

(643) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 31, 2013) A Week Of Good Tips From Int'l. Guests

MS. NORIKO HORIKIRI STARTED IT ON TUESDAY OCT. 22, 2013
         Breeze Bar has only one guest before 10pm -- a lone Japanese lady, who sits near the ocean by herself.                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



THE week of Oct. 22, 23, 24, 25 (my day off), 26 and 27 (my day off again, is really international to me in as far as tips are concerned.

On Oct. 22 at Breeze Bar, we are just watching TV because all guests left early. At about 10pm, a lone Japanese lady became our last guest.

But she sits at a place where we can't see her even the coming guests.

It comes to my mind that I should be playing all-Japanese songs and maybe she will transfer to a table near me to hear those songs more closely.

I started with instrumental "Yume No Tochu" and "Como Esta Akasaka". I sang "Oribia O Kikinagara" and I hear some applause from her. 

After more Japanese instrumentals and some songs sung by me, she transferred to a table next (in front) to me.

      

I gave her 2 song books (Japanese and American) and she chooses a lot from those especially Japanese songs. Sometimes I ask her, "Are you a singer in Japan?"

She said no and requested "Oribia O Kikinagara" once more. This time it's her key. After she sang it, I asked her again the same question. She just smiled.

When it's time for her to go, she gave me $5.00 tip. She don't have a camera with her so I used my cellphone to take 3 shots by bartender Jeff Daizmo.

I've got her name from the drink coupon that she used with the help of cashier/bartender Devie.

  


The next day, Oct. 23 (Wed.) there is a group of Taiwanese in front of the piano when I played at Waves Restaurant.

Upon knowing that they are all Taiwanese, I played all Taiwanese songs. They applauded after each and every Taiwanese songs I've played.

Thirty minutes before they go, an old Taiwanese lady from that table gave me $10.00.

While they are going out, I was able to take a quick shot of the old lady, which is not a good shot as she is moving...

On Thursday, I had a breakfast with my wife before teaching Mr. Yoshiharu Kurata, a senior JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) volunteer from 11:30am-12:30pm. He pays me after every session ($15.00).

Back to PRR for lunch and teach Moded Whipps from 3:30-5:30pm. Her mom, Valerie, talked to me about the possibility of teaching her 5-year-old daughter Ngederong piano, after teaching Ultei guitar on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Valerie wants also to resume the 30 minutes piano and 30 minutes guitar for Ultei because she becomes bored with 1 hour guitar lessons.

While playing piano on that night, I noticed 2 American couples, some Japanese and Taiwanese guests.

So I played songs from those 3 countries. There are 2 birthday celebrants that night, one is a Japanese lady and the other is the American lady --her husband has white hair and the most appreciative among other guests when I'm playing American songs.

His wife was given flowers after the staff sings Happy Birthday song to her.

I played the most popular American songs in my repertoire --Mona Lisa, Misty, Somewhere My Love, Those Were The Days, Somethin' Stupid, Moon River, Too Young, etc...

While on their way to pay their bill, I saw him getting something from his wife's bag.

He comes to me and put down $20.00 on top of the piano. I don't have time to take pictures with them so I just fold the $20.00 lengthwise and put it in my empty water goblet and took a photo of them while they are going out of the restaurant.

      

When I proceed at Breeze Bar to play for another 2 hours 
of keyboard music, there is a long table of Russian guests.

There is another long table of Korean guests with a girl, and some Japanese couples.

I played a variety of songs --Japanese, American, Spanish, Italian and one Russian song --Those Were The Days, which is actually an original American song but it's the most popular Russian song that I know.

The Russian appreciated every song I've played. After more than an hour, I saw somebody collecting money from everybody.

When he finished collecting, I'm playing at that time the Italian song "Volare".

The Russian guy who collected the money comes to me, dancing to the tune of "Volare", and gave me what he has collected from the group -- $13.00.

The song is almost finish and when I ended it, I come to him and asked him, "Are you Russian?" He said yes and I proceed to their table and introduced myself.

I told them that I've been to Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia in 2010 and represented Palau in the World Chess Olympiad. They are surprised to see a man from Palau, which is a hot country, come to Russia which is very cold at that time,September 18-October 04, 2010.

One of the lady is sure that I played only one Russian song. The conversation goes on till I told them that I also represented Palau again in last year's World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

And that I'm no. 2 chess player in Palau now and that we will participate again in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.

I was about to give my card to the guy who brings the tip but the lady beside him took it and I told her that my name  is written there in Russian and she said, "Ah, Roberto".

The guy beside him said, "Italian name".

I go back to play again to finish my schedule when a Korean girl and her father come to me and ask me if the girl can play the keyboard? I set the keyboard to the piano sound and the girl plays really good.

The father requested "My Way" and "Way Back Into Love", an original Korean song with English lyrics.

He gave me $2.00 tip. I forgot the melody of "Way Back Into Love" because I haven't played it for about 3 months.

I asked the mother of the girl to take picture of us with my camera...

  
They request to let the girl play for the 2nd time. She can play "The Entertainer" faster than me!

    

 When they request for the 3rd time, I refused because it's already 11pm and some guests are sleeping already.



At 6:30, Oct. 25, me and Mr. Kurata are preparing our equipments for the performance at Kramer's.

On our way up the stairs, I saw the same Russians that were my guests at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort.

It takes us more than an hour to set the instruments and other musical things.

Our first song is "Donna, Donna, Donna", followed by "Besame Mucho". It was an hour of musical showcase of Mr. Kurata. He can play saxophone, ocarina, flute, keyboard, guitar, vocals and quena, Palauan record/bamboo flute.

At 8:45, I left to attend prayer meeting at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ 4th Watch (Palau Locale).

I'm late already but was able to participate in the corporate prayer of 30 minutes.

At 8:00 pm on Oct. 26, as I'm playing piano at Waves Restaurant, Mrs. Satoko Uehara came to me before going to Mandara Spa. She gave me $20.00 as she used to do every time they come. 

Before 11:00 pm at Breeze Bar, she came again to me and ask if I will be working tomorrow. I said it's my day off and I asked them, "When did you come to Palau?" What I mean to say is "when will they come back to Palau?" and asked for Mr. Uehara. They said there are only two of them who come.

They also said that they went to Dragon Tei on Tuesday night but were unable to talk to my wife Flor as she is busy taking care of bento boxes. 


Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
               The Beginning of Chess In Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               October 2013
               To be published as a book in the future