Making a living as a guitarist in Korea is an exercise in futility.
And if the music you're playing happens to be Rock? That's basically announcing your intention to live day-to-day on nothing but 950-won packets of Shin Ramyun, barely scrounging for survival for the rest of your life.
That was the first thing I heard when I picked up the guitar in middle school, obsessed with a band called Oasis.
"Sir, are you only a musician?"
"Me? No. My primary occupation is working part-time at a convenience store."
"Eh? You're that good at guitar and you work at a convenience store?"
"Yeah. This guitar stuff is just a side gig."
A convenience store clerk as his main job...? Usually, isn't it the other way around?
As a naive kid, I took his words as some kind of weird joke. But now that I've grown older, I realize that my teacher was speaking the absolute gospel truth.
"Ah... Failed again..."
A mere 1,000 views. That was the pathetic result of a video where I swallowed my pride as an artist seeking pure Rock 'n' Roll to cover a popular 'weeb' song.
"I should've known..."
Exactly. I was just another dime-a-dozen unemployed guitarist in Korea who had majored in the arts. Specifically, a college dropout.
As someone who considers the guitar my life's calling, I can confidently say it is the single sexiest instrument in the world. An electric guitar is capable of manifesting every sound in existence.
Furthermore, it is indispensable to Rock. Since it's the part that commands the most attention after the vocals, it's a fantastic instrument for attracting the opposite sex. The only problem is that it doesn't pay.
A select few make a killing, but the vast majority merely survive. Even after playing a show, the leftovers barely cover a single meal, and you have to dump a fortune into the instruments that are more precious than your own life.
And then there's the weight of the gear. Carrying all of it means you end up trudging across crosswalks like a turtle.
And that day was no different. I was on my way to earn my daily pittance.
"Ah... I can't be late..."
In South Korea, what happens when a low-tier E-class session guitarist, who spends his days scouring job boards, shows up late? His livelihood gets cut off instantly.
"No CCTV... If I just jaywalk here, it should be fine, right?"
If forced to choose between a shred of conscience and my meal ticket, I'm the kind of badass who picks the meal ticket every time. Because that's Rock 'n' Roll...
I checked the traffic, ignored the red glare of the signal, and began to bolt across the street. It was a low-traffic area, and I was built sturdy enough. Even if a car clipped me, I wouldn't die. As long as it wasn't something massive, like a truck.
But life rarely goes according to plan.
"Wait...?"
My body felt weightless. I was launched, quite literally, into the air.
It was only after spinning several times in mid-air after being thrown by a massive truck that I finally grasped the situation.
"A truck...? Not a truck..."
I had been hit by a truck. And just like that, I died.
How many times had I imagined it? Standing in a packed dome stadium, playing the guitar, feeling the electric shiver of a crowd singing along in unison... Touring the world, drowned in the cheers of fans from every corner of the globe...
Well, I was a Buddhist, so they'd probably reincarnate me, right? As the cacophony of countless YouTube notifications rang in my ears, my consciousness faded into black.
['To think someone like this was still hidden in the shadows?!']
['I've never heard an "Idol (アイドル)" cover like this! He needs to blow up right now.']
['With this skill level, this should be interesting. Hmm... the face is decent too. You give it a shot. Happy Ending.']