Chito Miranda turns eye on business

Chito Miranda, Wikipedia Photo.

MANILA – Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda turns his eye from the local music industry to investing and running the 12 Monkeys Music Hall & Pub at Century City, Makati.

After over 20 years of leading the band scene, Miranda, who has been an expert in writing Filipino music, is now running his new business with his colleagues.

With a group of 12 friends, the 38-year-old Miranda set up 12 monkeys aiming to make it the best entertainment place in the city.

Miranda’s group wanted their place to be a unique venue where established artists can perform.

In an interview for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Miranda confessed that running their business was not easy.

“You need to hold it with both hands. You can’t have Parokya ni Edgar on one hand and then work on 12 Monkeys with the other. You have to sacrifice something,” says Miranda.

Miranda handles the role of scheduling the entertainment line-up every night. He personally communicates with managers of bands, soloists and other performers to confirm their performance date and time.

“I am familiar with the bands so I know their market and also what their demands are, including those that my other partners who are purely on the business side are not familiar with. I am more like the mediator between the business people and the artists,” says Miranda.

After almost six months since its opening, 12 monkeys had been a venue for performances of artists including Pinoy rock legend Pepe Smith, bands including Pupil, Kjwan, Razorback, Up Dharma Down and other famous personalities in the music industry.

Owing partly to Miranda’s extensive connections in the band and music industry, 12 monkeys has been chosen for high-profile events this year including the launch of Pupil’s “Out of Control” music video, Kjwan’s new album and the 24th anniversary of Razorback.