10 extremely low-key hacks for smaller girls to hold the perfect spot at a live house (concert venue)

favorite_borderLast updated:2024/8/4

• createSatō Aya
  I write a blog called “Pull the dish rather than chase the cat.” I record the idle thoughts that cross my mind each day.

10 Subtly Brilliant Hacks to Keep the Best Spot at a Live House

I often go to live music venues.

About 50 per year on average.

I’ve been living like this for about 20 years, ever since my student days.

That's scary, isn't it?

And, well, I think this every single time.

I! can't! see!!

Height: 154 cm.

If it's a show with mostly girls, maybe, but if it's mostly guys, it's a complete no-go.

If it's sold out, I'm devastated.

Again, I can’t see today either.

Far from making eye contact, I can’t see anything at all.

Is the drummer really there?

A vocalist who stretches to their full height, juts out their chin, gapes their eyes, and is glimpsed between the gaps between heads.

If the person in front moves to the right, I go to the left.

If you move to the left, I move to the right—it's like that EXILE dance.

I mean, don’t ride that like that—the way you did before was super weird!

As someone like me, I’d like to write down the things I keep in mind before stepping into a live house, so that I can enjoy the stage even just a little.

That's scary, isn't it?

1.

Enter through the door on the opposite side of the entrance (ticket check)

In the case of a larger live music venue.

There are one or two entrances (ticket checks), a lobby where merchandise is sold, and multiple doors leading to the floor.

Since most people enter the floor through the door closest to the ticket check, that area definitely gets crowded.

As showtime approaches, the crowd swells even more as people think, “We’ve got to get inside quickly.”

So let's dare to enter through the farthest door.

2.

Try opening a door that hasn’t been opened

This is also a case of a larger live music venue.

Staff often keep the doors open until just before the performance starts so that guests can easily enter the floor.

However, if it doesn’t say “Deadline,” you may enter after opening the other doors.

Let's be bold and try opening another door.

See? It's totally empty.

You’re probably wondering, “Why doesn’t everyone come in from here?”

3.

If there's only one entrance, keep going straight ahead.

Small live houses have only one entrance to the floor.

In that case, proceed straight to the back without hesitation.

Without hesitation, make a quick “Excuse me!” with a hand chop and stride right on through.

The back is definitely available.

Aim for the diagonal end of the entrance.

4.

Don't choose right next to it just because it's close.

http://o-dan.net/ja/

I thought, “Hey, the front edge seat is open,” and chose it—what a disaster.

Huh? I can barely see anything but the side of your face.

No, it’s more like I can only see the ear, not really the profile.

Ear.

This isn't how it was supposed to be.

And besides, in a straight line it’s still far anyway, and the speakers are freaking loud!

5.

Aim for the vocalist’s opposite side

It’s especially pronounced with a three-piece band.

Since the vocalist is often positioned off-center, the opposite side tends to be open.

If it’s a twin-vocal setup, please determine which one is generally more popular.

If you’ve got a band with four or five members, it’s a good idea to consider whether the bassist or the guitarist generally has more fans.

It’s not to your taste.

It's only "in general."

6.

Try connecting Mike and myself

When I look at the stage that hasn't been lit yet, I see a microphone standing there.

Can you see the microphone from where you are now?

I was thinking, “Yeah, I should be able to see from here,” but once the live show started, I was like, “Huh? I can’t see!! There’s some really tall person in front…”—so that doesn’t happen.Confirm not whether the stage is visible, but whether the microphone is visible.Please do it.

Avoid places where there is a tall person in line with the microphone.

7.

pillar trap

I was all relaxed, thinking, “Looks pretty empty around here,” and then the house lights went down and I was speechless.

Dun-dun-dun! A gigantic pillar is towering before us, isn’t it?

It means death.

Among the well-known ones,Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO、Shibuya duo MUSIC EXCHANGE。

Look, if you're calculating capacity based on the square meters including the blind spots, then the visible areas are definitely going to get crowded. Grumble, grumble...

Take care.

8.

Serial numbers up to one-thirtieth of the capacity go to the front row.

http://o-dan.net/ja/

According to my own research, getting roughly this number is a fist-pump moment.

I'm going for the front row of my dreams.

Zepp TOKYOThen number 90.

Akasaka BLITZThen number 38.

Number 26 for Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO.

It mostly works.

Search for the venue capacity by looking up “(venue name) capacity.”

But that reference number is a real troublemaker.

If letters are attached to the number, you sometimes can’t enter using just that number.

Generally, people often enter in the order A → B (→ C), but there may be fan club tickets before that.

Also, there are cases where both A and B enter simultaneously in parallel, right?

With that said, I’d like to let you know not to get your hopes up too much.

In any case, if it looks like a good number, make sure to line up and wait by the opening time.

No matter how good your ticket number is, it’s meaningless if you arrive after entry has started.

9.

If you’re in the front row, avoid being directly in front.

Got a good number on the ticket, and while playing 'train' with the staff, headed to the floor.

Alright, now I can aim anywhere.

A common mistake you tend to make when you're that excited is taking position right in front of the microphone.

I understand the feeling of “I want to stay close all the time!”, but from there the microphone gets in the way and I can’t properly see your face.

This once-in-a-lifetime chance cannot be failed; failure is not an option.

So then, where would be good?

It is between the mic stand and the two monitors.

Because their facial expressions can be clearly seen without being obstructed by the mic stand.

And since there aren’t any mic stands or monitors, they’ll come right up to the very edge of the stage during crowd‑hype moments or guitar solos and such!! (≧∇≦)

If I lean over the fence and reach out my hand, I might be able to touch it. (≧∇≦)

A special ritual for those with excellent ticket numbers: groups of a few people are roped off and escorted to the floor—for safety, so no one trips while running.

*2: The black box that Kyosuke Himuro sings on with his foot up

10.

Use of steps

Sorry to bring this up after we got carried away with a pipe dream.

I’ll end with the one I do the most—the plainest yet most effective.

In large live music venues, the back area is slightly elevated, right?

In medium-sized live houses, the floor near the stage is slightly lower.

And there are two or three steps to get there, but since it’s a passageway, the cardinal rule is not to linger there during opening hours.

Yeah, I shouldn't cause trouble.

So, to avoid getting in the way as much as possible, you keep to the very edge of the step and place one foot on that step.

So, the moment the house lights go down, smoothly step up onto the platform.

How about it? A person’s head is like a sea of clouds.

The stage is completely visible.

It’s kind of embarrassing.

petty; underhanded; makeshift (depending on context).

How was it?

I hope this can be of even a little help to your live house life.

Maybe next time I’ll write about which live house has the most reasonably priced beer.

Well then.

Bonus

LIQUIDROOMThe curtain must open at the exact moment the performance begins.