A few things a bit different about Japanese gig going:
1) they can start crazy early… check times whatever you do.
2) on arrival at opening times, don’t head straight in. A person will come out and shout stuff in a very polite way. These are ticket numbers or groups of ticket numbers ie 21-30, etc. only attempt to enter once your ticket number has been called ( yes not so easy if you cannot understand them). This allows those who buy tickets earliest to get their spot at the front or wherever if it’s standing, or, if seated, to get to your seat without having to inconvenience those already seated. If you don’t have a ticket, you have to wait till last. There is also a reserved list where you will have contacted the band before hand to reserve a ticket which you then pay for at the advance price on the door. Useful for cash payers and those who cannot use the ticket machines in convenience stores- did I mention most tickets are bought at a machine in their equivalent of a Tesco Express?
3) you have to pay for a drink at the door…. This will be in addition to the ticket price so even if you have paid in advance, you usually need pay the + drink fee (or +D as it’s often billed on the poster/ flyer despite the word ‘drink’ in Japanese not starting with a ‘D’) in cash usually but bigger shows often take contactless cards and even transport cards such as Suica- imagine in London paying for drinks using your Oyster card! You will then be given a ticket or token to exchange at the bar for a certain drink off a list on display (ie you cannot exchange it for some expensive cocktail although I think you can pay the difference).
4) You will probably be asked which band you have come to see. It’s not a daft question as bands need to sell a quota of tickets and if they don’t, then they need to pay the difference to the venue. If the person on the door speaks your language, they may ask this question as “ who is your favourite band?” Just don’t answer Nirvana or The Beatles!
5) no cloakrooms but usually there are lockers to throw stuff in so no queuing up at end of show to get your bag- something I notice the trendy new venues in London are also doing now.
6) once in the venue expect it to be pretty much silent…. The crowd don’t chat or do so very quietly- even when a band isn’t playing. If you hear any anoying loud chatting it will be Gaijin (non Japanese people). It’s not a great atmosphere to be honest and even quiet moments during a bands set, like between songs or when they are tuning up, you could hear a pin drop.
7) often bands at smaller shows don’t have sound checks so sometimes the first song a band play will be a sound check, with band members jumping into the audience space (if not packed out) to hear what the rest of the band sound like, don’t get too much into it if so as it will end abruptly and the set proper will start soon after making you look daft for jumping around to the soundcheck.
8)if someone moves from their place to get a drink or whatever, don’t fill it, they will probably be back and don’t ram raid through a crowd to get a spot at the front…. They are more respectful here than at home.
9) have some respect for people behind if they cannot see past you. I always avoid standing with groups of other taller people otherwise we create a bit of an unpenatrable wall for those behind. If there is someone behind struggling to see, maybe invite them to stand in front of you?
10)enjoy it! The music will be great and likely plenty of time to eat and drink afterwards as it will all be over real early.
©️ Koenji Music
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