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Making It in Shanghai: Foste the Bearded Bear

2017-08-26 ShanghaiWOWeng

The series “Making It in Shanghai” is a monthly feature that focuses on people who have found success and made a significant cultural impact in Shanghai.


Chris Foste is an unmistakable character, so much so that his appearance has also become his alter ego. Known as the Bearded Bear, which is also the name of his events company, Foste as he is most commonly called, is a thoroughly stand up guy.

 


When one thinks of a bear, you might imagine an American brown bear, the type that would tear you apart if you happened to stray onto it’s territory, but Foste is more the teddy bear type, all cuddly and warm. However, don’t let his bearded appearance and happy-go-lucky attitude fool you. Foste is a man with a clear vision to help the masses have plenty of fun, and to make it himself along the way.

 

Having met Foste around Shanghai and worked on a few pieces with him, the time came to do a feature on the man himself. At the first meeting I was surprised to learn that he’s only lived in Shanghai for just over three years. I wondered how he’s made such a contribution to the local scene during that time. “Learn Chinese!” he says. “That has helped me immensely.”



The first meeting I had with him I saw how important that was. We met at the Rooster, a bar he used to manage before he started consulting. He had a great rapport with the staff, joking and holding a conversation in Chinese.

 

We also discussed a couple of projects he was working on. The first was a double decker booze bus he had planned. He was communicating with the printer via WeChat in Chinese. Because he was using a Chinese service his costs were lower, as well as quicker. He was able to get the flyers hours after designing them himself, unlike the US he told me where it takes days to get something like this organized.

 

 

The second project was a pitch he was working on to use an unused space on Nanjing West Road. I don’t think the project ever took off, but to me it showed the mark of someone who will make it, someone who is always looking to create opportunities.

 

I wanted to see how Foste works during an event he’s organized so he invited me to the booze bus, an offer I was unable to refuse. On the day I asked how he got into doing these types of events? “My first job was managing a small beer bottle shop on Yongkang Lu. I learned real quick about Chinese culture, about managing bars, about managing Chinese government and regulations and stuff like that.”

 

So how did the bus party come about? “I have a start up events company, Bearded Bear Events. I've just been trying to do more and more things, more and more events, and trying to find more stuff. I messaged a bus driver who only speaks Chinese so that helped out a lot, me being able to speak and read Chinese and do all my business in Chinese.”

 

The bus party took around four weeks from conception, through planning to complete. This involved marketing the event, organizing the bus, choosing the route, getting sponsors on board and actually selling the tickets. I came to learn that people found out about the event from the various expat resources and Foste’s own WeChat moments as well.

 

With a maximum of 50 people, 10 cases of beer sponsored by Song Brewery, 30 bottles of assorted alcohol and eight bottles of Olmeca tequila, for cocktails before and during the party, this was sure to be a great time.

 


While I was on the bus I learned a lot that put into perspective who Foste’s target market is: Everyone in Shanghai that wants to have fun! I met a group of Italians who had some friends in town. They thought the bus would be a good way to show their friends around Shanghai and generally have some fun.

 

Another group came from Lichtenstein. Some of the group lived in Shanghai and had friends visiting. They thought the booze bus was a good way to hang out with their friends, rather than go to a club, as it’s more friendly.

 

A German girl had her friend’s little sister in Shanghai for a few months, so took her out for some fun. I also learned that she knew Foste in southern China before he moved to Shanghai. Small world.

 

Finally a girl from the UK was on the bus with her boyfriend. She was on the bus because last year she went to a Halloween warehouse rave and the bus journey was so much fun she thought it’d be cool to just do the bus part.

 

 

As the bus party started getting really crazy (I mean people getting their clothes off), I asked Foste if he thinks he’s made it in Shanghai. “Some people consider me a Shanghai icon, or something like that. I don't know if I've made that yet. But when I start making money and things start doing well, then that's when I know I've made it. I don't have to worry about it, I can take nice vacations, I can afford nice things, that's when I'll really think I've made it.”

 

This attitude is sure to help, as well as the hard work Foste puts in behind the scenes. It’s easy to notice the hairy beard and big personality, but it’s easy to forget the time people put into building relationships, and learning the language to help build something.

 


What I’ve certainly come to learn is that it doesn’t necessarily take lots of time to make a name for yourself. Some people make a big contribution during a short period of time. To make it takes honesty and integrity, and as Foste sagely says, “don't burn bridges.”


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