Gigs in Japan - your experiences and advice etc.?

[Nic.]

Hi guys, my band will be over in Japan for a band competition, and we figured that since our flight there is all already paid for and we have our gear with us, we might as well do a few gigs. So we're there for a week in December, and we've almost gotten two live house slots confirmed through a friend there, intend to play a few songs at an open mic and do an acoustic set at the hostel where we're staying.

I've been around Japan quite a few times so I more or less know the way around and have some friends there, but it's my first time gigging there so I need to ask advice from you guys:

1) As a foreigner who's not even in the country yet, how would you publicize your gig there? We really need to maximize the time we have there to get as much publicity as we can through our gigs, so we want to have as much attendees as possible. All I have are the following:

• Calling up as many friends as possible and trying to get them to bring their friends of friends
• My keyboardist found an app called Meetup and she's been posting in live music groups (in fact we got some of the gig info from there, so if you guys are looking for gigs in Japan this is a possibility)
• We're going to play an acoustic set at our hostel and have posters/flyers
• Targeted Facebook ads

In fact, perhaps not just Japan, but how would you publicize a gig in a different country before you even go there?

2) If you've gigged in a Japanese live house before, do you have any advice on what to do/what not to do/etc.? I'm pretty sure they do it slightly differently from here. My friend who helped us set up the gigs there says he'll be around to translate and make sure things are okay, but I'd like to get some ahead warning of possible pitfalls and traps. I've checked the full equipment list they have online (and wow they really have pretty good gear there), and am sending them a very detailed tech rider clearly stating what we have and what we need from them to avoid miscommunications, but I'd really want to be safe.

3) My guitarists are planning to buy a cheap secondhand acoustic at ochanomizu when we reach for the acoustic gig, and then sell it just before we go back. Do you have any experience doing that kind of thing and how easy is it to do so?

4) Any other general advice for music stuff in Japan? Or heck, just any advice you think might be useful in general!

 

[Photobassist]

I play a lot of cafe and small bar type gigs here in Japan. I got my first gig because I was friends with the bar owner (drummer) and we jammed a couple times together before he agreed to let me do my own set. Once that happen it opened doors to other venues.

I always go to the venue beforehand to check what gear they have because not every place has backline available.

I watch a lot of other bands at the venues I play and make sure my face is seen. *This isn't so hard since I'm usually the only foreigner at most places I play.

Also, which really helps A LOT... I speak enough Japanese that people feel comfortable talking with me.

I don't really know what to tell you about scoring gigs during a short visit here, but I wish you the best of luck.

If you're in Nagoya let me know, I'll check you guys out and buy you a beer (assuming you drink of course).

As far as your guitarist trying to sell his guitar before you guys leave. You have to show your Passport or Foreign Registration Card and if you have less than 90 days remaining they won't make the deal. With that said, I wouldn't bother with the music shops as they'll probably want to buy it through consignment. Try "Hard Off" they're located all over Japan and they'll give you a decent (not great) price for the guitar.

I hope this helps and if you have any other questions please feel free to PM me or just post here.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[phangtonpower]

Don't know if my advice is really solid since I live out in the country side.

Most things were I live is word of mouth, facebook, and maybe placing fliers at friend's business.

Most places that I've played are pretty standard as far as setting up and doing a gig. A lot of places are pay to play I think. Since a lot of places are small here, you usually don't have to get to many heads. Places where I live would be about 10. They usually ask at the door what band you're coming to see. It may be different for you depending on where you play and because you guys are coming from abroad. Live houses usually have amps for bass. Usually not very good. Haven't met too many bass players out here that own decent sized amps, or even their own amp.

I agree with going to a hard off/hobby off. You can usually find a cheap acoustic. Only problem is you'll get 30% at best when you want return it.

 

[Space Pickle]

i hope you become huge in japan

 

[Nic.]

I always go to the venue beforehand to check what gear they have because not every place has backline available.

Good idea. I looked up the venue's equipment list and it seemed okay but it'd be safer that way. The guy who helped me book the venue also mentioned that although the venue says it provides keyboard, usually the keyboard is in pretty bad condition so it's safer for my keyboardist to bring her own.

I watch a lot of other bands at the venues I play and make sure my face is seen. *This isn't so hard since I'm usually the only foreigner at most places I play.

I'll definitely be watching the rest of the bands that night, but this sounds like a more long-term thing... unfortunately, we're only going to be there for a week. The foreigner thing might be a little difficult since we're all Asian and I often get mistaken for Japanese when I'm in Japan. Might be easier for my guitarists since they're Malay and have a more distinct look in Japan.

Also, which really helps A LOT... I speak enough Japanese that people feel comfortable talking with me.

Unfortunately, I don't. Our singer is trying to expand her Japanese repertoire in a hurry now. But anyway I'll have friends living there who'll be around so they'll help translate and stuff.

I don't really know what to tell you about scoring gigs during a short visit here, but I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you! I'm actually more worried about promotion and doing the actual gig itself than scoring though... seems like live house gigs are not difficult to get, and other gigs are way too difficult to get so we're just gonna do livehouses.

If you're in Nagoya let me know, I'll check you guys out and buy you a beer (assuming you drink of course).

That would be great! I really wish we were going Nagoya and Osaka instead of Tokyo, IMO the food is way better outside Tokyo than inside Tokyo. But who am I to complain =3=

As far as your guitarist trying to sell his guitar before you guys leave. You have to show your Passport or Foreign Registration Card and if you have less than 90 days remaining they won't make the deal. With that said, I wouldn't bother with the music shops as they'll probably want to buy it through consignment. Try "Hard Off" they're located all over Japan and they'll give you a decent (not great) price for the guitar.

This is wonderful advice. I've passed along this to them.

Do you know if it's possible to rent an acoustic for a few days instead?

I hope this helps and if you have any other questions please feel free to PM me or just post here.

Good luck and have fun!

Once again, thank you for your extensive advice!

Don't know if my advice is really solid since I live out in the country side.

Most things were I live is word of mouth, facebook, and maybe placing fliers at friend's business.

I imagine it can't be that different in Tokyo.

Regarding Facebook, do you know how people in Japan usually indicate their interest? I'm asking this so I can plan the facebook ad targeting. Locally, I just indicate in english (e.g. show this ad to people who are fans of 'rock', 'hard rock', 'metal', etc.), but I imagine in Japan I'll need to use Japanese translations?

Just curious, where do you stay? When you say out in the countryside do you mean like a town outside the city, or do you mean like one of those really small towns out in the mountains?

Most places that I've played are pretty standard as far as setting up and doing a gig. A lot of places are pay to play I think. Since a lot of places are small here, you usually don't have to get to many heads. Places where I live would be about 10. They usually ask at the door what band you're coming to see. It may be different for you depending on where you play and because you guys are coming from abroad. Live houses usually have amps for bass. Usually not very good. Haven't met too many bass players out here that own decent sized amps, or even their own amp.

Yeah, pay to play. The guy booking the gigs for us is trying to pull strings to reduce the number of tickets we need to sell on account of us being from overseas first time in Japan and all, but we're prepared to pay the full price (and treat it as marketing costs). But we're also going to try to get as many people to attend as possible anyway.

You mentioned you live out in the countryside, but looking at live houses in Tokyo, it looks like on weekday nights they're only looking for like 15-20 ticket sales so it's not that much more.

I mentioned in reply to the other post, I looked up the venues' equipment and the bass amps looked pretty decent..... but now I'm hoping they're in good condition. I'd expect them to be though, they need to be reliable. But if not, I'll just run direct to mixer with my Darkglass B7k and listen on the mons. I'll see during soundcheck.

I agree with going to a hard off/hobby off. You can usually find a cheap acoustic. Only problem is you'll get 30% at best when you want return it.

Do you mean we get 30% of the price we pay for it? E.g. if we get it for $100, we should expect to only be able to sell it at $30? ... and does that mean that we buy it for $100, we sell it back to them for $30, and then they sell it to someone else for $100 again? That's ridiculous.

I think we really need to look into rental instead or something.

i hope you become huge in japan

Thank you! We hope we do too. Lots of people locally have been telling me we need to look at the Japan market; the local market really favours pop and acoustic stuff instead.

 

[Photobassist]

I'm not sure about renting equipment here as I've never tried. You said you have friends here so maybe they could help you out.

Good luck on your shows in Tokyo! Stay out of trouble in Roppongi! Most importantly, have fun while you're here!

 

[Nic.]

I'm not sure about renting equipment here as I've never tried. You said you have friends here so maybe they could help you out.

Good luck on your shows in Tokyo! Stay out of trouble in Roppongi! Most importantly, have fun while you're here!

I've just found one acoustic guitar, looking for another! Friends haven't heard of anywhere to rent from, but I found someone who had one to lend us. Might need to buy the other. Or use an electric into a speaker for the acoustic gig.

Yeah definitely gonna have fun! Japan means a lot to us since we started off covering Japanese metal before writing our own material.

We just confirmed two gigs, at ikebukuro and shibuya... the guy booking for us managed to negotiate really good terms so we're pretty happy about it.

Oh do you happen to be familiar with open mics? We're thinking of playing our songs at the Ruby Room.

 

[Photobassist]

Oh do you happen to be familiar with open mics? We're thinking of playing our songs at the Ruby Room.

Yeah sorry, I'm not familiar with the Ruby Room. I don't really frequent Tokyo that much nowadays, I mostly stay around the Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka side of the house.

 

[Nic.]

Yeah sorry, I'm not familiar with the Ruby Room. I don't really frequent Tokyo that much nowadays, I mostly stay around the Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka side of the house.

No worries, and thank you for all the advice you've given us so far!

If we ever manage to get to go kansai, I'll drop you a message. I'd really love to tour that area instead of Tokyo haha.

 

[Photobassist]

Glad I could help. Definitely post a gig report once you get back. Photos, videos, etc.

BTW, when is the competition?

 

[Nic.]

Glad I could help. Definitely post a gig report once you get back. Photos, videos, etc.

BTW, when is the competition?

Yup, will do! I'll probably be posting stuff on a regular basis also, and I think my guitarist plans to do a daily vlog.

It's on 4th December!

 

[Photobassist]

I'll keep an eye out

Again, good luck Nic!

 

[phangtonpower]

Sorry for the late reply...

I imagine it can't be that different in Tokyo.

Maybe. Haven't really been out there yet.

Regarding Facebook, do you know how people in Japan usually indicate their interest? I'm asking this so I can plan the facebook ad targeting. Locally, I just indicate in english (e.g. show this ad to people who are fans of 'rock', 'hard rock', 'metal', etc.), but I imagine in Japan I'll need to use Japanese translations?

Even over facebook most shows are word of mouth through facebook. I know it's your first show here, and people who come to see you maynot be many. Make friends and friend them on facebook. When you guys come next time, hopefully you'll have a bigger network.

Just curious, where do you stay? When you say out in the countryside do you mean like a town outside the city, or do you mean like one of those really small towns out in the mountains?

I live out in Fukui Prefecture. Not even many Japanese know where it's at. I live in the city part of it, but go east or west a few miles and it's all rice fields.

Do you mean we get 30% of the price we pay for it? E.g. if we get it for $100, we should expect to only be able to sell it at $30? ... and does that mean that we buy it for $100, we sell it back to them for $30, and then they sell it to someone else for $100 again? That's ridiculous.

Yup. No way to see how things work out for you. They want you to test everything in the shop, so if a bass is not setup, you have no way in seeing if it can be setup to the way you like. A lot of return policies are a pain here.

 

[Nic.]

Sorry for the late reply...

No worries, thank you for replying!

Even over facebook most shows are word of mouth through facebook. I know it's your first show here, and people who come to see you maynot be many. Make friends and friend them on facebook. When you guys come next time, hopefully you'll have a bigger network.

That's true, yes. We don't plan to make any major profit or anything, just trying to maximise publicity.

I live out in Fukui Prefecture. Not even many Japanese know where it's at. I live in the city part of it, but go east or west a few miles and it's all rice fields.

Ah! It sounds like the kind of place you see on long bus/train rides...

Yup. No way to see how things work out for you. They want you to test everything in the shop, so if a bass is not setup, you have no way in seeing if it can be setup to the way you like. A lot of return policies are a pain here.

That's a pity. Thanks for the advice...

 

[Nic.]

@phangtonpower and @Photobassist I've posted a gig report in this thread here - Japan mini-tour report, 3-11 Dec! Competition, gigs and craziness.