Dearest La Carmina,
I’m hoping to attend Dir en Grey’s concert in New York. Except…well…it will be my first actual concert! I’m very excited, yet I’m rather nervous, because my friends and relatives have told me horror stories of their experiences, which included violent pits in the audience, being stepped on by some crazy fangirl, and some blood-shedding fight on line even before the concert! Are these even true? Not to mention, I don’t know how to get good tickets to a concert, what to wear, how to prepare, and whether or not to come alone! And because you have done so many concert reviews, I’ve decided to turn to you, you oh-so-wonderful Victorian doll blogger, you. So… PLEASE HELP!

Sincerely, A VERY troubled Visual Kei freakazoid

It’s J-rock concert season, my North American friends: D’espairsRay, Dir en Grey, and X Japan are making the rounds. I encourage all of you to go — your scene needs your support. And I can guarantee you’ll be blown away by the performances; these are Visual Kei legends, after all. (PS: stay tuned to this blog for a Dir en Grey ticket giveaway…)

It’s funny: in Japan, the process of buying concert tickets and attending a Visual Kei show is (in most cases) completely different. There are the dreaded Lawson ticket machines, mandatory drink tickets and assigned “numbers” that determine the order for going inside (meaning there’s no benefit in arriving early). True to the Japan stereotype, the concerts always start on time. And people are nice; they’ll step aside to let you move closer to the stage.

In the States and Canada, it’s not quite the same. Since J-rockers rarely embark on world tours, North American fans will go to great lengths to see them up close. Some will drive or fly out for one or more shows. If the venue is general admission (unassigned seats), hardcore fans will line up — sometimes camping out for 2-3 days — and run to the stage as soon as the doors open.

But you don’t have do this to have an awesome time watching your favorite Visual shockers live. Since J-rock is a relatively small, niche scene in North America, the tickets often won’t sell out (so you can still buy them last minute). Check out the band’s website; the tour dates should link to Ticketmaster or some other site to purchase tickets. If no tickets remain, try Craigslist. When the venue is seated, try to buy tickets as soon as they’re released to get the best pick. If you’re prepared to pay big for a good one, search for a reputable ticket seller. The last resort is trying your luck with scalpers outside the concert, but I don’t recommend this since you could get ripped off.

Determine when the “doors open” and when the “show starts.” If the concert is seated, arrive any time before the start and locate your seat. (Although it’s fun to come early to see the tour merchandise and audience’s fashion.) General admission means everyone stands in a crowd before the stage, or seats are first-come-first-served. Ticket-holders line up outside, and when the “doors open” time arrives, they enter the venue in order. Since it’s your first concert and you’re not concerned about being right up against the stage, I’d suggest arriving an hour to 45 minutes before the “doors open.” (Be prepared for the weather, as you’ll usually be standing outside!) At most shows, even if you arrive right before it begins, you can still find a place to stand around the middle of the hall (which is just fine for seeing the performers).

The violent dancing and crowdsurfing typically happen at hardcore/punk concerts, not Jrock ones (so don’t be worried!). And the audience at these shows is not looking to pick a fight. Simply be respectful: don’t cut the line or try to squeeze in front of people who’ve waited outside all day. The potential for injury decreases the further away you are from center stage. Up there, you’ll certainly be jostled and squished, and a random arm gesture might hit you in the face. I personally am happy standing in the side-middle area, where I can still get an excellent view without getting roughed up. Bonus tips: wear comfortable but tall shoes, and stand behind people who are shorter than you. And bring earplugs, in case the bass boom is overwhelming.

As for preparations… a VK concert is a golden opportunity to dress up, so go for it! (But keep in mind that the venue will get hot, and your outfit can get smushed if you’re up front.) There’s no dress code: some people will wear tshirts and jeans; others will cosplay Mana-sama. If you dress vaguely Gothic or J-rock, you’ll feel right at home.

I usually meet up with friends before or at the show. But don’t worry about going alone — nobody’s judging or will even notice (it’s not like being seated at a table for one). Concerts are some of the best places to meet new friends who share your passions for J-rock music and fashion. So I encourage you to rise to the challenge and go! I promise it will be a night to remember.

Dear La Carmina,
I start college this fall and I’m hoping I can find a spooky posse on campus. Where did you collect all your friends anyways? They’re all so hardcore awesome! Anyways, how did you get into Lolita and viz-kei style and get to be a part of it? You get to host shows introducing the world to this awesome subculture, how did that happen?

-Sunny

Congrats on starting college — it’s an exciting time for making new friends. My “spooky pals” are wonderful, and they often appear in photos because they share my love of J-Goth culture, fashion and music (and that’s the focus of my blog). However, they’re only one devilish cross-section of my friend pool. You may not see their faces on this site, but some of my closest friends are from high school, elementary and even preschool. And they’re the ones I turn to for advice, since it’s easy to get caught up in your own scene and lifestyle. Never take for granted your friends who think Versailles is a palace rather than an epic band.

However, it is amazing to have a group of friends that live each day as if it’s Halloween. The typical advice is “go out and join activities and smile” — but honestly, I think the most important thing you can do is build something to show for yourself. It could be a cosplay blog, a Steampunk jewelry company, J-rock promotions… When others observe your passion and creative contribution, they’ll naturally want to say hi, exchange emails, meet up, collaborate. Perhaps you could start with your campus Japan Club, or organize outings to J-rock/Goth events. Put up flyers, make an announcement on stage. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, which leads to next answer…

I started this blog for fun, to express my love of Japan subcultures and style — and the whole thing snowballed to today. I have zero family connections to anyone in TV/media, and have never hired a publicist or promoter. Every TV hosting opportunity (NHK Japan, CNN International, Travel Channel, Canal Plus France) arose because a producer found my blog and sent me an email. The TV people looked at my writing work, press, bio, photos, videos etc, and that helped them decide if I was someone worth contacting.

My dear ones, do the best work you can — whether it’s writing, videos, art, music — and share it without qualms. Know and be proud of your abilities. The bottom line is, if I took the path of self-effacement, nobody would know what I could offer, and I wouldn’t have had these tremendous TV adventures in Tokyo.

Now let me ask the rest of you: what would you advise these two readers? Got tips for making it through your first rock concert, or ways to meet alternative-minded friends?

If you have a question for La Carmina, email me (gothiccarmina {at} gmail) and I’ll answer it in a blog post. You can read my previous responses to Reader Questions here. (All the above images are from the music store and magazine stand in Laforet Harajuku.)

PS: last chance to win Kanon Wakeshima autographed Gothic Lolita postcards! Spread the word and enter here.

Japanese Word of the Day: Tsutomeru = Industrious, diligent
Song of the Day: Edith Piaf – Non, Je ne regrette rien (Have you seen Inception yet? A magnificent film.)