Unfortunately I don't have much of a response to this post, but I did find it to be one of the more interesting things I have read. More then I like hearing about Japanese Music itself is hearing about things around it, like record shops and labels. So I was very refreshed with this article. I imagine how interesting it would have been if the neo underground did act on its words and the report you would have made for that event. I have noticed that even small bands have expensive shows in Tokyo and I have never thought that was fair. The drink thing I have never understood but thanks for enlightening me on the whole issue with standing and drinking. This whole time I never understood how that worked(a drink charge in a live venue makes me think of jazz bars or something.)
~Hideki~
Thanks for your comment Hideki. I've also heard that live houses always have one drink minimums because they are licensed as drinking establishments and therefore all customers need to drink something. That sounds a little strange, but it's what I've heard.
Some venues have different systems. Heaven's door in Sangenjaya lets you bring your own drinks in (some other venues do as well); Shinjuku JAM has a system where you can pay 500yen for one drink, then progressively better value options for more drinks, culminating in 1000yen for all you can drink until 10.30pm! Club Goodman has a strange system of "drink noruma" which means the ticket money you have to guarantee if you rent the place somehow includes money spent on drinks (although no one in Tokyo understands how this works). Koenji 20000V, where I sometimes do events, lets me sell my own drinks (as long as I don't sell beer) for whatever cost I want, as long as people pay for their one compulsory drink ticket.
Some smaller, non-central venues have cheaper tickets (Higashi-Koenji UFO Club, Musashi-Sakai Statto, the new Nishi-Ogikubo Flat, Koiwa eM-Seven). Also, the traditional way for bands to avoid expensive tickets and stage rental is to do events in rehearsal studios. Some studios allow bands to do this, but I've noticed that they're increasingly making it difficult these days, and it only really works for punk bands.
The bottom line is that shows are expensive, but perhaps they're not *that* expensive, really. The drinks are what kills your wallet, so lots of people smuggle in their own drinks. For example, Shibuya O-Nest sells cans of Suntory Malts, so just buy that brand beforehand. Shinjuku Red Cloth sells Kirin. Aoyama Tsukimiru~ has a vending machine selling Heineken, and Daikanyama Unit sells Sapporo. Plan ahead!
ian, Thanks, very good info. I've noticed that O-Nest sells Suntory Malts, but I never thought to buy cans beforehand!
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