Best of luck to you Ian. I think I've come to know you well enough that you were trying to do the right thing and butted heads with your higher-ups. So good on ye' mate!

D

Thanks D. I kinda hope that is the case. It's the way I see it and so, for me, it was the right thing. The one thing that gives me peace of mind is that 2 of my customers have offered me jobs and 3 others are looking for a job for me

If a man doesn't stand on his principles, he'll fall face first into a pile of male Bovine droppings! The fact that your customers are standing with you is a testament to staying true to those principles. I have had to butt heads with people before over "doing the right thing". It's uncomfortable and sometimes very lonely... but I can sleep at night! I often wonder if they can?

D

Hi Again Bruffie:
 What tough news to hear and share..  I hope it's O.K.   for me to question this..  

I assume that you'll need/be forced or be required to leave the UAE.. Or Dubi or the Arab Emerates..  Or whatever it's called there..  Or...  Do you have any choice in the matter?  

Could you manage to get alternate employment there before your official departure date ?

     Bill..

Hey Ian - sorry to hear the news. But jesus (haysoos) isn't that area
like made of gold? It's not like in Michigan (US)- if
I were gonna have to tell my employer politely to go ESAD - Dubai's the place
to do it. New opportunity is calling. Teach those rich f's how to make some
good music - and charge em up the wazoo.

Thanks guys!  

Bill, you're right, you do need an employment visa to stay in the UAE, but I've been here 11 years, so I have enough local contacts to arrange a visa to stay if I need, but of course I need to earn   I've had a couple of offers so I figure I'll be ok. I have a solid offer in Qatar, so if I can't get anything in Dubai in the next 3 months, I'll go there.
Seven, you're correct! There are a lot worse places to be looking for a job. The company I worked for is a huge global corporation, but this area is one of the only one's making money this year.
Meanwhile.... 3 months in the house playing  

After 10-11 years there..  you're pretty much settled-in..

 There has been several musicians from this area that have been invited to preform in the hotel circuit over there.. I don't think you can work as a musician there, unless you're invited to do-so..   

They are on a pretty Short Leash while they are working there..  I don't think you want to step beyond your bounds while visiting there..  

There's a story circulating in the papers where a woman has been found in defiance for waring slacks, as opposed to proper woman's dress..  I don't know the details..  but, she has been convicted of a crime..  She's gonna get 40 lashes for the penalty..

Is that how the story has it ?

  Bill..

No! You're off-beam there Bill. That story is from Sudan, which is a very hardline muslim country. That would never happen in Dubai. There are a lot of Canadian musicians working in Hotels here, but if they're in Dubai the leash they're on is not that short. You can drink 'til 3am every night of the week (the only restriction is that if you get drunk in public, and cause a problem because of it, you will spend the night in jail) Also, drink-driving is a big NO here, you don't usually get stopped and tested but if you have an accident while drunk, you'll be in jail for a few months and longer if anyone is hurt. On the plus side...taxis are very cheap  
The only real restrictions for working here are that you can only work as what it says on your Visa. If you come into the country on a entertainers visa, that's the only work you can do and you cannot work part-time as anything else.
I'm not sure what visas the multitude of Chinese and Russian Hookers here enter the country on    

Hi Bruffie:
 Thanks for putting that in perspective..  Sorry..  I know very few of the customs in far-off countries..  When we read in our papers we find just what is in print is a view from the writer's view-point..  

Out on the strip here on Monday afternoon a woman got involved in not one..  but, two separate accidents..  One, a hit-and-run and the second causing death and seven injuries in a multi-car collision..  Here it is..  Wednesday morning and the cops have not laid any charges yet..  They can't decide if she was under the influence yet..  She had her Grand kids in the car with her..    Nannies aren't supposed to drink..  I think it's law number 29.5 C.....  

 Sorry..  

   Bill..

Don't be sorry Bill. It's nice to put things in perspective. The variety in the way Islamic laws are interpeted is huge in Middle East and North African countries is huge. Open countries like The UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar are easy to live in. Others like Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan are not easy to live in. fortunately I live in one of the good ones