Will Hold a Solo Concert After 2 Decades of Work, Here Are 8 Photos of The Changcuters Remembering Their First Payment - Only Rp50 Thousand!

"The first time we performed, we had to pay. Because we auditioned. How much was it? Rp40 thousand for band registration," said Qibil, while laughing at Djavu Bar Lounge, South Jakarta, Tuesday (5/11/2014). 

Not just once, the experience of performing without payment turned out to be a common thing for them. They only received their first payment when they performed with a fee of Rp50 thousand. "In 2005, we got gocap, fifty thousand. That was the first fee, 2005, 50 thousand, equivalent to 50 million," said Qibil, then laughed.

Tria, the vocalist of The Changcuters, also shared the ups and downs they faced at the beginning of their career. At that time, The Changcuters often participated in auditions at various school events and other occasions. 

"Now it's called a registration band. We participated in the audition at a school event, paid, and fortunately, at that time the audition was at the mall, so many people came and watched," said Tria.

Although the early journey was full of challenges, fate eventually turned. The Changcuters began to be noticed and invited as a guest band. Their songs, which were spread on Bandung radio, started to be recognized, even reaching Jakarta. "Not long after, we were invited as a guest band. Until finally, we made our own songs, we put them on the radio in Bandung, they spread, many requested them, and it was bustling in Jakarta as well. Yeah, step by step," said Tria.

The rising popularity in Bandung led The Changcuters to eventually venture into the capital. They released an album independently before finally receiving an offer from a major label. "At first, we created our own label, still indie, but eventually, Sony noticed us and invited us to collaborate," Tria revealed.

Now, after a career spanning twenty years, The Changcuters' earnings are far from the Rp50 thousand they received at the beginning. Tria admits that the issue of honorarium is very different from before. 

"As for the honorarium, it's enough, negotiable, but the issue of honorarium is far from what it was at the start. Thank God, we really live from being a band," he explained. Keep following the latest updates about The Changcuters only on KapanLagi. If not now, when else?