Pretty much interesting V系 stuff to read.
PART 2
FURI VS. PARAPARAFURI VS. PARAPARA
A common mistake made by many overseas fans is they call the hand movements and dancing that they see at visual concerts "parapara." These moves are called "furi" not "parapara"! Since this is one of my biggest pet peeves, I feel the need to explain the difference.
Parapara is a style of solo dancing that is popular in clubs and even on the street (particularly in Harajuku). It is usually set to techno, eurobeat, pop or other similar music, and it generally uses the entire body except for the feet. Parapara dancing is done at J-Pop concerts, in particular those of idol groups such as AKB48. Parapara is also associated with ganguro, since they would do these dances on the street to garner attention from passersby.
The only visual band that I know of that ever used parapara was Psycho le Cemu, and that's probably because they were, for all intents and purposes, a J-Pop band. They were the only band to call their dancing "parapara" and even if other bands' choregraphed moves resemble parapara they are called "furi." Furi is short for "furitsuke" which is literally choreography, but furi is something done only at visual concerts.
Some bands have specialized furi for certain songs (for example there is special furi for "Kaisen Sengen" by girugamesh) and these usually need to be learned, otherwise you will fail miserably. Generally only the jouren know and can do these types of furi. But there are also general furi that any audience member can participate in. These are explained in the dictionary but they are things like "saku" and "teban."
In short, unless you want to conjur up images of a ganguro dancing by her lonesome in the street, don't call it parapara!Live-going 101: A Beginners Guide to Indies LivesLive-going 101: A Beginners Guide to Indies Lives
Before going to lives in Japan, I had never really been to local shows in America (only big ones), so my live-going experiences were based off lives in Japan. Once I did start going in America, though, I noticed extreme differences between the two scenes. Telling my friends about things unique to Japanese shows (like the fact that you get packets of fliers upon entering) leaves them amazed. If you'd never been to a concert anywhere before, going to your first show in Japan would indeed be an intimidating affair. Having gone to a wide variety of lives and currently following the scene, I'm writing this article to introduce beginners to the general experience of live-going, so you can enjoy it as much as possible.
I hope you find this to be helpful to some extent… If you have any further questions, or need help with translation or think I should change/add anything, feel free to email me.
Note that I am NOT familiar with going to major band lives, so the etiquette will be somewhat different.
First off: Finding shows to go to
Before planning a trip to Japan, keep an eye on bands’ homepages and general information sites (such as Visunavi.com) for live dates. Usually, bands book shows months in advance, so if you know the approximate time you’re going to be in Japan, two months before wouldn’t be too early to be on the lookout. Check band pages and live house pages, and keep a running list (a document file works well) of the dates, locations, and bands playing.
Step two: Tickets
As it gets closer to the scheduled time, you should start reserving tickets. ALWAYS reserve your tickets!! Even if there’s no chance of it selling out, ticket prices are always more expensive at the door. There are various ways to go about obtaining tickets, depending on the type of concert and the popularity of the bands playing.
Always check the bands' website or information site for ticket-buying methods ahead of time. Certain shows won't allow reserving, and other times you'll be let in earlier or later depending on where you bought your ticket.
For lesser-known indies bands playing at a "normal" live (i.e. not an event, or other special affair)
This is the easiest way: reserving, or "yoyaku". Bands' sites will often let you know the possible ways of buying tickets, if it doesn't say anything, yoyaku is usually the way to go. As soon as bands release their schedules, you can reserve through them. All you have to do is drop them an email. Most pages will have a list of information they ask you to include. Here is an example, taken from Bang-Doll’s page:
お名前、ライブの日付、ライブ会場名、チケットの枚数を書き
以下のメールアドレスへお送りください。
名前は匿名やニックネームでの予約はやめてください。必ず、フルネーム(本名
でお願いします。
Please send the following to the email address below: your name, day of the live, live house name, and number of tickets.
Please do not use your pseudonym or nickname when making reservations. Please use your full (real) name.
Another example, from Panic Channel's page:
ﾁｹｯﾄ予約は名前、枚数、電話番号をご記入の上ﾒｰﾙ送信願います。記入漏れですと予約できない場合があります。
Please send your name, number of tickets, and phone number to the address above. If you leave out any information, the reservation won't be made.
If the page doesn’t say so, or your Japanese isn’t up to par, you should be safe including the following bits of information:
1) Your name
2) The date and venue
3) The number of tickets you want
If you’re ordering from a record company or live house, you should also include the name of the band you wish to reserve tickets for.
The email is fairly easy to write, even with little knowledge of Japanese. Say I want to go to Bang-Doll’s live on March 27th, at Meguro RockMayKan, and reserve two tickets.
You'd first start out with saying you are reserving tickets. Since it's impolite to ask things directly in Japanese, you would say "I'd like to reserve tickets, but..." This isn't completely necessary, but a formality. Following, you'd say the date and venue, and number of tickets. Use the kanji 枚 (mai, counter for tickets and other thin, flat items) after the number you want. Write your name, and if necessary, your phone number or other requested info. Close with the proper "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" (polite closing phrase, like "please").
チケットを予約したいんですが…
3月27日の目黒鹿鳴館、2枚お願いします。名前はクリスです。
よろしくお願いします。
Chiketto wo yoyaku shitain desu ga...
3-gatsu 27-nichi no Meguro Rokumeikan, 2-mai onegaishimasu. Namae wa Kurisu desu.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
I would like to reserve tickets, but...
2 tickets for the live at Meguro RockMayKan on March 27th, please. My name is Krys
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Feel free to use this as a template for your own yoyaku mail:
チケットを予約したいんですが…
[month]月[day]日の[livehouse name]、[number of tickets]枚お願いします。名前は[your name]です。
よろしくお願いします。
Some bands will email you back responding with a confirmation, and some don’t. Don’t worry if you don’t get a response, unless they say they do respond. Be aware though, that some email programs like Hotmail garble Japanese into unreadable characters, so it's best sending from a mail server with Unicode support, such as Gmail.
The day of the live, if you stop by the livehouse an hour before opening, you can go down to the staff tables and pay for your ticket. This isn't always necessary if there aren't many people there, but if you want a good number, it's the best thing to do.
You can also get tickets from the bands at a live. If you just found a great new band and want to see them again before you leave, you can go to the band’s table and buy or reserve tickets through them on the spot.
For indies bands playing at a “-man” live (i.e. one-man, two-man, three-man), or event.
For these and other events where the attendance will be a bit higher, it's definitely the best to reserve, and pick up your ticket before the show. If you don’t mind waiting at the back of a long, long line, then don’t worry about it. If not, physically having the ticket in your hands is the best thing to do. The earlier the better, as people are let in by the number on their ticket.
You might also be able to buy your ticket ahead of time at Pia, Lawson, or the CD store Like an Edison, if available there. The bands' sites will usually let you know if any of them are available. Make sure to buy these as soon as possible; sometimes they close sales a week before the live date.
For buying through Pia or Lawson, you need to find the proper convenience store. Pia has ticket machines at some Sunkus and other convenience stores, while Lawson is its own chain. Each has a machine that looks like an ATM. If you have little Japanese knowledge, it's best to come with the information on a piece of paper and ask an employee for help. The machines are fairly easy to get the hang of. At Lawson machines, press the red "concert" buttons. Hopefully, you know the L-code, in which all you have to do is type in the number and the show will pop up. If you don't have the code, you'll have to do a manual search based on the band, date, or venue.
Once the live information screen comes up, double-check the event name, date, and so on. Change the number to however many tickets you want, and press continue. If the event is sold out, you'll hit a dead end. If not, you'll then be asked for your name and phone number. Type it in, and the machine will print out a receipt. Bring this to the counter, pay, and the employee will give you your tickets.
If buying through Like an Edison, go to the 2nd floor of the store. All the events they're selling tickets for will be posted inside on the wall. Tickets are housed in a glass case by the register. Ask the staff person for the date and band you're looking for, and how many you want.
If Lawson or Pia is sold out, this doesn't necessarily mean the whole event is sold out. Sometimes Lawson and Pia only get a few tickets, while the majority goes to the band, livehouse, or other. Generally, if there is yoyaku allowed for a live, and you have made one, you'll still be able to get in.
Please note that you CANNOT use credit cards to buy tickets, no matter where you go.
For well-known indies bands, big events, and major bands
Usually, you'll only be able to buy these tickets at through Playguide methods (Pia, Lawson, e++, etc) or from Like an Edison. Check the band's website to make sure.
Three: What to wear and bring
So you’re in Japan, you got your tickets or reservations, and you’re ready to go. What do you bring with you? Here are some of my suggestions:
Money. If you haven’t paid for your ticket yet, you need it. If you have paid for your ticket, almost every venue charges a mandatory extra 500 or 600y at the door for a drink. Plus, there are always tables of merchandise tempting you afterwards…
Comfortable shoes! These are a must. As cute as those 4 inch Lolita heels look, I guarantee you will not find them cute after standing in them for 5 hours straight. Unless you have a high pain tolerance, I suggest wearing something less dramatic. However, at smaller shows, often the girls in the front will ask everyone to take their shoes off, so no one hurts one another in their stiletto heels and the like.
Appropriate dress. Now this is a judgment call. These days, most girls at shows DON'T dress in 'traditional' visual kei clothes; they wear casual clothes, or pretty-girl pink mini-dresses. So be aware that if you decide to go full-on goth/Lolita, you're probably going to stick out a lot. It's also not a good idea to wear such things if they're long-sleeved, velvet or heavy at all. Many bands have intense headbanging/moshing pits, and if you want to be in the front, there's a good chance you will be crushed up against a million sweaty fangirls. Also, be wary of clothes with things hanging off them, such as buckles or other deconstructed things. Getting caught on something/someone and having your outfit ruined is no fun. You really can wear whatever the heck you want, it's just a good idea to consider it beforehand.
Recording devices. This is also very dependant on the location and band. Some venues (like Takadanobaba AREA) say they strictly prohibit the use of cameras, some don’t care at all. Some bands forbid photography, some welcome it. Yet if you see a band who loves to be photographed at AREA, AREA staff usually won't stop you. It's safe to say that most bands on a record label (Under code, Loop Ash, Mission Music Factory, etc) will NOT allow live photography. If you're unsure, look around to see if anyone else has a camera. Most lives these days DON'T allow photography of any kind.
If they do allow photography, disposable or digital cameras are good, so you don’t have to worry about having to reload film mid-live. I personally think using a flash during lives is rude, so if I take photos, I'll only do so with the flash off. But you'll see some bands where every fan has their flash going off their entire set, so once again, it all depends. As for sound recording, MD players with mic attached can record the best quality… but if you’re really desperate, tape players work too. Most venues say they don't allow sound recording, but most don't check.
Be aware though, if bands or venues really don’t want you recording anything, there will be bag checks at the door. Be prepared to hand over your devices (they will be returned) if the people at the door say so.
Bags? If you’ve spent the day shopping beforehand and have an armload of bags, find yourself a coin locker. Some livehouses have them on the premises, but train stations always do. They’re inexpensive, and you’ll thank yourself later. If it's a small live, you can store your bags in the back or against the wall. Depending on the live house, you could easily put your purse, jacket, and other personal belongings on the floor or against the wall and not have to worry about it. Crime is low in Japan, so you don't have to worry about people stealing, but having your stuff kicked and/or stepped on is another drawback. At certain places (like Meguro RockMayKan, which has seats) you can keep your things close to you the whole time. At other larger venues (like Shibuya O-West), people will pile their bags in the back corner.
Venues I absolutely recommend getting a coin locker for: Shibuya O-East, Liquid Room Ebisu, Shibuya Club Quattro, and anything bigger than these.
If the venue doesn't have a coin locker and you're still worried about leaving your wallet unguarded, fanny packs (or “hip bags”) or small shoulder bags are a good idea. Put your wallet and other necessities in one, and you’re hands-free good to go. Just PLEASE don't go in the mosh pit clutching on to your giant purse!
Things to write on/with. If you’re like me and want to remember every little detail of the shows you go to, bring along a small notepad and pencil. Between bands you can write notes about their performance, appearance, songs, etc. Pencils/pens are also necessary for filling out comment sheets (enquette), if you so desire to do so.
Drinks? Most livehouses say they don't allow you to bring in food and drinks from outside. 99% of them have drink bars, so they don't want to take business away from that. However, I almost always come with a bottle of something to drink so I don't get dehydrated. If it's going to be a long live, I bring snacks too. Just don't leave a mess and they won't complain.
Number four: At the live house
Show up early, all the time. You have a better chance of getting nearer to the stage or getting a lower ticket number. When you enter, either up stairs or down stairs or down a hall, there is always a person behind a desk or ticket booth. If you have reservations but no ticket, and there is only one table, the staffer will usually ask you what band you have the reservation with. It's easiest to say "[band name] de [your name] desu" So I would say "Panikku de Krys desu." When they find your name, they'll confirm the number of tickets by saying "ichi-mai de?" or similar.
Many times the staffers seem unable to understand anything, so don't get offended if they ask you to repeat yourself a couple of times. Then hand over your money and all is good. At Takadanobaba AREA, sometimes each band will have their own list at their own table, and not all together. In this case, do the same thing, only find your band's table and ask there.
If you have no reservations or ticket at all, you can still buy tickets at the door. These are called "toujitsuken" (same-day tickets). Usually you have to wait until everyone with tickets has entered the livehouse.
Sometimes you'll have to line up by ticket number outside of the livehouse. Upon opening time, you'll file in the building and get to the desk. Hand over your ticket, and the staffer will ask you what band it is you came to see (this is so the money for your ticket goes directly to the band). Depending on the ticket distribution method, they sometimes won't ask this, but in most cases they do. They really don’t ask you anything else, so even if you don’t understand them (listen for the word “bando”, they'll usually say "donna bando wo mi ni kimashita ka?", or "donna bando?" for short), you’re pretty much safe by just stating the band name.
They'll rip your ticket, you'll pay the extra for a drink (sometimes there's a separate place to pay for this), and you will be handed a packet of papers. This (“chirashi”) packet contains flyers for upcoming band releases and live house events, and also flyers for all the bands playing, plus their enquette (written “ankeeto”), which are comment/review sheets.
5: Drinks
Most places require you to pay for a drink at the door. And yes, you HAVE to buy the drink, sorry. Different livehouses have different ways of going about it. At Ikebukuro Cyber and AREA, your ticket stub is your drink ticket. Other places, like Shinjuku Holiday and all the Shibuya O-'s, will give you a separate ticket to use. This drink fee on average is 500y, and goes to the maintenance of the livehouse. There will be a bar with a drink menu to use your ticket at. Most have both soft drinks and alcohol; some require an extra 100y for alcoholic drinks. You can also buy extra drinks (usually from a more extended menu, sometimes for less money) after you use your ticket too.
Some places close their bar before the last band, so get your drink early on as to not waste your money.
Venues with drinks for less than 500y: Machida Playhouse
Venues with drinks for 600y or more: Motoyawata Route 14, Ikebukuro Cyber, Roppongi Y2K, Akasaka L@N
Venues with no drink fee: Meguro RockMayKan
Section six: Fangirls and live etiquette
Okay, what I'm about to tell you is the most important and misunderstood thing related to lives: The fan hierarchy. There is a word "jouren" (regular customer), which is the circle of girls who go to every single one of the bands' lives. Most bands with more than 5 fans have jouren, and you CAN NOT mess with the jouren. These are the girls that sit outside livehouses or convenience stores at 8am waiting to get the best ticket. These are the girls that take the bullet train all across the country to see every show of a bands' tour. These girls own the front line.
I know a girl who lives in Gifu prefecture (2.5 hours and over $100 ONE WAY from Tokyo by the bullet train) who goes to every show of her favorite band, regardless of where it is. Even if you've come across the world to see a band, you've most likely not spent half as much money as these girls do on a weekly basis.
So don't even try to stand in the front line for a semi-popular band. You'll be seen as rude, or stupid, and you'll get asked to move, or get beat up during the moshing. I don't mean to sound crass, but it's the truth. Unless you're invited in the front, stand in the second row, and you can see just as well. If there are openings in the front row, feel free to ask one of the girls standing there if you can, but don't get mad if she tells you no.
Because of this jouren mentality, the vast majority of fans will attend a live for one band and one band only. Sometimes they'll sit in the bathroom or hallway the entire show, and just go out for their band. Unless I'm really busy or know I don't like them, I generally like to watch all the bands, as I assume most people just visiting would do the same. If you want to stand in the front for all the bands, all the more power to you. Pick a spot (outside of the front row of course) and don’t let anyone impose. Because they will. Japan, being one of the most polite countries, has some of the most impolite fangirls you could ever imagine.
Part seven: Furi and other ways of interaction.
An interesting thing about visual kei lives is that it's interactive. You don’t just stand there and pump your fist into the air like at traditional rock shows. Visual kei interaction is given the feminine twist: furi. Furi, short for "furitsuke", means choreography. Often wrongly dubbed "parapara" by the overseas fans, furi is the hand dancing done by the fans and sometimes the band to go along with the music. Most jouren will choreograph dances if the band hasn't done so already. These usually consist of overly-complicated, drawn-out dances to every one of the songs, done by a handful of girls in the front. If the band choreographs it, most of the audience will try to copy it too. It can be as simple as peace-signs to the beat, or a ten-step dance. Do your best to follow along when the band does it; if it's a fan-creation, don't worry too much (sometimes you'll even see clashing fan circles doing different dances to the same song!)
Live moshing is a unique experience too. Unless you're seeing a big, major band like Dir en grey or MUCC, the moshing you'll see isn't the typical Western moshing and crowd surfing. It's often a bumper-car-like jumping around and playfully running into people, or a well-timed stage rush, where everyone lunges forward with their elbows out. Depending on the band, there will be either, or both. Even the happiest bands tend to have at least one rush song. If you are standing in the front, watch out during the rush parts because you will be expected to jump around too. If you don't, you'll get knocked over or pushed out of the way. Really.
Often, the vocalist of the band will give commands or instructions for dances, moshing, etc, during or before songs. Here's a list of popular sayings, the meaning in Japanese, and what they want you to do.
-Atama – "head" – headbang
-Ue – "up" – jump up
-Tonde – command form of "jump" – Jump! [Variations: ue ni tonde (kudasai), tobe]
-Saite – command form of "bloom" – the motion of blooming your arms in the air to show your love for the band (if you don't understand, just look around at any live and you'll see what I mean) [Variations: saite kudasai, sake]
-Tonde koi – "come here by jumping" – stage rush
-Gyakudai – literally "backwards dive" – a form of rushing where girls jump backwards onto the people in front of them
-Mawatte – "turn" – jump in a circle
-Tebyoushi – "clap" – clap to the beat
-Hakushuu – "applause" – applause please!
Finally, eight: Afterwards
Unless the band is really really minor, or is about to break up, they will most likely have a merchandise table. Some are in the backs of live houses, others are in the hallways outside, or up the stairs. Depending on their popularity, they’ll be selling anything from photosets (the #1 sold item) to CDs to stickers to t-shirts. Support the lesser-known bands you like by buying their photosets; it's how they make their money. Usually the tables are manned by chipper staff girls, but occasionally the band members themselves will hang around afterward and give you a chance to say hey. (If you do run into a bandman, tell them "otsukaresama deshita", which means "good work") This is also where you can hand over presents or letters you've brought for the band. Please don't try to throw things to them on stage.
My last suggestion: fill out the enquette. Most enquette will ask you what you thought of the show, message to the members, and info about yourself. Even if it’s just your name and a short message saying you had fun, bands are extremely grateful for returned enquettes. And sometimes they’ll even give you some bonus thing (like a demo CD or Polaroid photo) as a favor. And hey, who can resist free stuff?to be continued...