It was a dream two years in the making for Boston University senior and BU Chinese Students Association president JR Wu Chang – to create “an event that would be heard around the East Coast.” Months of planning, fundraising, and contacting artists formed the dream into something more substantial – the BU CSA Takeout Goodwill Benefit Concert – and on March 4th, the dream finally played out into a successful reality.

The event featured a staggering amount of Asian-American talent, including Wong Fu Productions, David Choi, Joseph Vincent, Jason Chen, and Jason Yang. As the association worked towards checking off acts on this daunting list, they overcame doubts by constantly reminding themselves of the cause.  “We want to redefine culture in the 21st century,” said Wu Chang, “and by organizing a concert of this size, the Chinese Students Association has created a platform that we hope everyone can use to achieve whatever they are passionate about.”

The overwhelming performer turnout allowed a number of Asian American entertainers to make a powerful, united stance against the stereotypes placed upon the Asian community. It was also an opportunity to better understand the recent emergence of popular Asian and Asian American entertainers through YouTube directly from the mouths of those who’ve experienced the power of the medium.

“This is a time that’s very special for the Asian American community,” said Philip Wang, who along with Ted Fu and Wesley Chan makes up Wong Fu Productions. “I think we all realized that if we’re not helping each other, no one’s really going to get anywhere. I think you can see it in other ethnic communities, how there has to be that support in the beginning and that’s how it starts. And I think this is our time.”  The trio began making videos in 2003 and in many ways, set a precedent for the trend when they moved to YouTube after its creation in 2005. They currently rank 23rd as YouTube’s most subscribed-to directors and 74th as YouTube’s most subscribed-to users. But they are determined to remain levelheaded. BUCSA admitted in Takeout’s opening video that it was much easier to convince other artists to commit to the performance once the association had secured Wong Fu’s attendance – which Wang and Fu jokingly dismissed as just being considered, “the bait.” When asked about how they handle their popularity, Wang said simply, “Gratitude will always come first.”  “We just try to produce quality work,” Fu added, “and we’re grateful for the people that let us.”

For other performers, YouTube has also illustrated the power of jumpstarting a career overnight.

Joseph Vincent, a singer/songwriter from Southern California, had just watched his cover of Iyaz’s “Replay” hit a million views when he was asked to appear on DeGeneres’ “Wonderful Web of Wonderment” special, twice. Yet despite this success, he is also very quick to heap praise on his fellow performers and swiftly dismissed any notion that there is competition between any of the other artists.  “We’re artists, but another key thing not to forget is that we’re Asian American artists and Asian American artists aren’t really represented that well in mainstream media. So we’re all helping each other get up there. We’re all chasing the dream, and why step on each other when we could help each other? ”

Jason Yang, an accomplished electric violinist currently living in Los Angeles, credits some of this closeness to physical proximity. He said that many of the artists live within a half hour of one another in L.A., which makes it easier to interact and collaborate.  Yang’s career achievements include the Verizon Audience Choice Award at Kollaboration in 2010, an annual event that showcases talented, up-and-coming Asian and Pacific Islander entertainers. Today, he is well known for the videos demonstrating his diverse musical abilities, both alone and with fellow artists. “I love having YouTube as a vehicle for me to be creative and have for whoever wants to see [my work], see it,” Yang said. “And it’s free for everyone so it makes it easier to reach out to people.”

While YouTube empowers artists to have full control over their content, it becomes at times overwhelming to see the enormity of the fan bases YouTube has helped them gain David Choi, currently ranked #7 as the most subscribed-to musician on YouTube, said that he had no long-term expectations when he uploaded his first video of an original piece called “YouTube (A Love Song)” four years ago. But as a rapidly growing fan base began to emerge, Choi found himself thrust into popularity he wasn’t prepared for and, even more intimidating perhaps, a label as an Asian American inspiration.  “I never really saw myself that way,” he said, in regards to this label. “I just feel like I’m someone who’s putting their music out and sharing it with people to see if they’ll like it.”  But this isn’t to say that he isn’t proud of the progress Asian entertainers are making.  “It’s good to see that this is the generation where Asians will be able to go into things that aren’t just doctors and lawyers,” he continued. “If you want to do [those things], go for it, go full force. But I think it’s cool to see that Asians can show that we can do creative things as well.”

Part of the uniqueness of this group is the fact that even within the young community of successful entertainers, there is proof of the power of YouTube’s influence. Choi’s videos were among the first that inspired Jason Chen, another singer/songwriter out of Los Angeles. He claims to have only found success late in 2010 and is currently adjusting to the novelty of holding company with some of his former YouTube idols. He also has positive things to say about the site that helped bring him there.  “I think YouTube is a place where, if you’re talented and willing to put yourself out there and work hard, you will be able to be successful,” Chen said. “You have to have the look and the talent, but hard work is [even] more important than that. People can see you, so if they like you, they like you. You’re not trying to please one or two people who have all the power, so it’s a lot more fair.”

This concept of “celebrity” by popular vote is one that keeps all of the performers humble. Wang, despite being one of the veterans amongst the group, seemed to speak for everyone when he said simply, “It boggles my mind. Every time we have an event, it boggles my mind.” The feeling is mutual as far as Wu Chang is concerned, who shares nothing but pride when he reflects on everything the association has accomplished in the past few years.
“We went from being a typical cultural club to now a pioneering organization that can show people that if you have a dream and a passion, anything can happen,” he said. “I am very proud of how much we have grown […] to take CSA to a place no one thought a college club could go.” Other members of the association, who spent the past few months working through doubts, anxiety, and declining motivation in schoolwork, had nothing but positive things to say about the entire experience.

“It’s crazy because you see these people and it comes to life,” said Eric Go, a sophomore in the School of Management. “For me personally, it’s just inspiration to dream even bigger than I already have.”   For Mazy Yap, CSA’s senior representative, it was also about bringing wider exposure to inspirational role models.  “Asians tend to face a lot of stereotypes about just being smart in math or being good in academics, but not really exceeding or being successful artists,” she said. “Think about how many Asian artists make it to the charts or on TV – there aren’t that many. And we really look up to these [performers], because these people aren’t just doing it for the money. They’re doing it for the dreams.”

Jason Yih, CSA’s public relations chair, saw the experience as welcome validation for the association’s purpose as a whole.  “People have always seen Asian culture as fan dances and dragon dances and I mean, the things you saw today, it was just amazing,” he said. “And to see everyone support us, it was just great.”

CSA Takeout in Boston Recap