Raymond Yeo: CDs, Stories, and Thrifting | Ordinary People - video Dailymotion

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Known as the “CD guy”, Raymond Yeo sells pre-loved CDs outside casual poet library. His space is not just one for gathering fellow enthusiasts, it’s a place to slow down, connect and enjoy the pleasures of holding and listening to music.  Watch more: https://www.asiaone.com/video

Transcript

00:00I remember one person who has said something along the lines of

00:05I'm glad there's someone like you in Singapore.

00:08There are not many of such people in Singapore but I'm glad I've met someone like you.

00:13He's still staying with me.

00:19Hi, I'm Raymond and I sell stuff outside a library and sometimes I run my non-profit.

00:25The name of my social enterprise is OK Tiam So OK means OK and Tiam means shocked.

00:31I sell mostly pre-loved items unless stated otherwise.

00:35They include CDs and books.

00:37OK Compact This is actually my Instagram handle to promote my physical shock.

00:42I always had interest in music and I felt this could be my way in to experience more music.

00:48You don't necessarily have to buy things from Raymond, you can talk to him,

00:52to listen to music in CD format as well as to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea made by me.

01:05I'm just getting ready for business day.

01:09In the centre usually I put CDs so they are about to come out soon.

01:13People know me partly because they buy CDs or they've heard that I sell pre-loved CDs.

01:20So I'll continue to take this out.

01:22I'm just hoping today there will be at least one regular who will come and pick up a few and then come passerby.

01:44It doesn't mean rain and then people won't walk.

01:48And also of course quite hard to predict if people will actually stop and look and pick up something.

01:53And our neighbours, after this go down, I will extend in that direction.

01:57Partly because they are aware and they are our friends.

02:00I'm situated outside of the library.

02:05Opened 5th of August.

02:07A week later I was here selling CDs.

02:09So I actually do two days a week here from noon to night.

02:13So folks can come, look at stuff, buy don't buy, see me, talk don't talk, want to sit down, listen to music.

02:20That's fine.

02:21They see this and then they're like, hey this reminds me of this book Tuesdays with Maurice.

02:26So there's a connection.

02:28I also decided that the launch of OKTiam will be centered around Tuesdays with Raymond.

02:35The reference for Tuesdays with Raymond is actually Tuesdays with Maurice, the book.

02:43The themes of life and death resonate strongly with me.

02:47I am not a young person so I have experienced what I would call hardship and difficulties which includes my illness.

02:56I'm diabetic.

02:57Maurice passes on in the end so I felt, ah there's a connection.

03:02Life is not as long as you think it is.

03:05Try to make the best of it.

03:06And I wanted Tuesdays with Raymond to be a recurring event so that I will keep seeing the same people.

03:14If not, I will see them a few Tuesdays later.

03:17Telling them about my life, sharing what I have learned from life is something I like to do here.

03:23Having more safe spaces is a good development.

03:26It's also really a reflection of how we are increasingly more concerned about our mental health.

03:34Another two to three kilometers away, that's the CBD isn't it?

03:38That's like where people work for X hours.

03:41The library's motto is actually in no great hurry.

03:44So that has actually influenced what I do outside.

03:48It's more than just a store because of the people I meet here.

03:53I'm able to call some people I meet here regulars.

03:56I'm able to call some people here friends.

04:00So there was one, he knows I'm on duty the next day, right?

04:03Then he made the day before, then he put it in the fridge.

04:05Yeah, it's very nice.

04:06They are like librarian ninjas.

04:09He manages the back and part.

04:10The book is not catalogued properly.

04:12He will rectify all the things.

04:14Usually he don't know when a stage is to help out with the business.

04:17He's trying to do more days.

04:19So just want to give her an idea about sales here.

04:27There's a magic number in my mind.

04:29Fifteen.

04:30Two meals.

04:31So lunch, dinner, as well as a bus from Chupayu and back.

04:36But there are days I don't hit 15.

04:38If I can, would love to be 45 a day.

04:42Yeah, but sometimes single digits lah.

04:46Some people come in, they're like,

04:48how do you survive?

04:49What do you actually do for a living?

04:51So I'm like, this?

04:53I do this for a living?

04:54Advance my non-profit.

04:56So Touch and Take is my non-profit.

04:58I turn up at a comedy event run by

05:01Residence Committee or Residence Network

05:03and I lay them out.

05:05Queer of clothes, household goods.

05:07People who turn up for these events,

05:08they take away things.

05:09Literally touch and take.

05:12I would go as far as to say that

05:14the Kampong Spirit is truly alive

05:16during these events.

05:22I think he brings different people into the library

05:25to let them discover the library

05:27and introduce them to the library itself.

05:29His collection is quite varied.

05:31It goes from different languages

05:33to different music disciplines

05:35and different music styles.

05:36There's really something for everyone.

05:38It is very nostalgic for me.

05:40When I was young,

05:41when somebody in school has a

05:43this man for example,

05:44they would be the most popular person in class.

05:46So I think he brings those feelings back

05:48of the whole community of people

05:49who like to listen to CDs.

05:51I position myself as like someone who has lived X number of years

06:09and have quite a few milestone events.

06:12For example, I used to be married.

06:14For example, I have been fired.

06:16These are things that some people can resonate very strongly

06:19and I get a sense that they're comfortable

06:21so that's why they hang out or they stay on.

06:23I am here to make a difference in the lives of other people.

06:26I'm here to spend my time the best I can

06:29and currently this is how I've chosen to spend my life.

06:32So what I do here on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,

06:35I hope my family understands.

06:37They would say good job.

06:39You've done in your own way your part for society.

06:43I'll see you next time.

06:44See you next time.

06:45See you next time.

06:46Bye.

Raymond Yeo: CDs, Stories, and Thrifting | Ordinary People

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