【Fan Activity Record】I recommend starting your idol live experience with a festival-style concert

Introduction

“Underground idol venues seem kind of scary...”

This note is for those of you who are interested in idols but feel this way.
First, let's align on the definition of terms.“Underground idol” is a term recognized by the general public, but in reality, they don't just perform in underground venues; they also perform in mainstream venues in terms of location. Also, while “underground” has become a prefix with a slightly derogatory nuance, when you actually visit the venues, you'll find that regardless of whether they are mainstream or underground, groups with high skill levels are truly excellent.
“Underground idols” are characterized by the fact that they perform live very frequently, so they are also called “live idols,” and since that feels more familiar to me, I will refer to them as “live idols” from here on.
I started my fan activities for live idols in January of this year, have attended at least 20 live shows, and have been writing live reports since the end of July. Since I started writing live reports, I have been posting them on the same day, so counting from January, I have definitely been to over 20 venues.

To those of you who are about to start your live idol fan activities, I recommend—to give you the conclusion right away—a “festival-style live concert.” Furthermore, I recommend a festival-style live concert held at a single venue.

Why do I recommend the “single-venue festival format”? First, I will explain the types of live formats in order.

Main types of live idol concerts

Live idol concert formats can be broadly divided into three types:“Solo concerts,” “Joint concerts (Taiban),” and “Festivals.”

1. Solo Concert (One-man)

Literally, a live concert performed by a single idol group.
What makes them slightly different from mainstream artists is that, unless it is a special performance like an “anniversary show,” they often end in about 30 to 40 minutes. Of course, major solo concerts can last over an hour, and unless the group has many songs, you might even get to hear their entire repertoire.
There are also “free solo concerts” where the ticket price is free and you only pay for a drink (around 600 to 700 yen).

2. Joint Concert Format (Taiban)

A live format where multiple idols, usually 2 to 5 groups, perform. Here, I define “Taiban” as a case where the organizer (the one inviting) is an idol group rather than an organization.

○ Organizer (The one inviting)

The one inviting the performing groups, in other words, the star of the day. Their performance time is often set 10 to 20 minutes longer than other groups, and because they perform last, their time slot tends to be late. Sometimes held monthly as a “regular performance,” it is a “home” space for that group. Since the groups they invite often have similar styles, there is the benefit of finding groups you like one after another.

○ Non-organizer (The one being invited)

The side invited by the organizer group. Their performance time is about 20 to 30 minutes, and they perform before the organizer group. For the invited side, it is a chance to have the organizer group's fans see their performance and expand their recognition. For a fan activity beginner who came to see their favorite group, it might feel a bit intimidating as there is a possibility of sensing an “away” atmosphere.

3. Festival Format

While a clear definition is difficult, it refers to large-scale live events characterized by features such as "featuring a large number of groups, usually 8 to 10 or more" and "being held for a long time, from morning or afternoon until night." They are often organized by "organizations" like event promoters or by the live house itself. (Sometimes they are organized by influential groups.)

Festival formats are further divided into two types.

〇 Single-venue format
This is a format held all day at a single large event hall, club, or live house. This was the type I first attended. The live space is spacious, and special events (like cheki sessions) are often held in a separate space within the venue, so once you enter the venue, moving around is easy.

〇Circuit format
This is a format held simultaneously across multiple venues in areas where live houses are concentrated, such as Shibuya or Shinjuku. Audience members receive a wristband at the reception and can freely move between multiple venues by showing it. However, it is more difficult for beginners for the following reasons:

・You need to keep track of a massive timetable
・It involves moving between venues
・The live venue and the location for special events can be completely different
・You are forced to make choices, such as prioritizing the live performance or the special event, while considering travel time

Beginner's "Live Difficulty" Ranking

I will now rank the formats introduced so far in "order of ease for beginners (by difficulty)" based on my own judgment and prejudice.my own judgment and prejudice order.

[Easy] Festival (Single-venue format)
[Somewhat Easy] Joint gig (Oshi group is the organizer)
[Normal] Solo concert
[Somewhat Difficult] Joint gig (Oshi group is invited)
[Difficult] Festival (Circuit format)

I will explain the reasons why it is in this order.

[Easy] Festival (Single-venue format)

This is the most recommended for beginners.

The reasons are as follows.

(1) Fans are easily dispersed
Because there are many performing groups, there are many audience members who just came to look around or are waiting for their favorite group's turn. Since there are quite a few people who "came to see multiple groups they like," you don't feel an overly intense atmosphere.

(2) The venue is large and there is no feeling of confinement
They are often held in large event halls, so there is no "narrowness" or "oppressive feeling" typical of live houses. You can enjoy yourself at your own pace in the back or on the sides.

(3) You can encounter various groups at once
This is the biggest advantage. It is genuinely fun as a festival, and you can have "unexpected encounters" where you see the performance of a group you didn't know and think, "This group is good!"

I myself first went to a single-venue festival for a group called "iLife!", but I was captivated by "MyDearDarlin'" whom I happened to see there, and shortly after, I ended up participating in their solo concert at Zepp Shinjuku. Being able to have this kind of experience is the real thrill of the festival format.

[Somewhat Easy] Joint gig (Oshi group is the organizer)

If you have decided on a group you want to see, a joint gig organized by that group is also recommended. As mentioned above, since it is the "home" of the organizing group, there is a sense of psychological security even for beginners. After I got hooked on a group called "selfish," I participated in their regular organized performances consecutively, and seeing more fans I recognized as I kept going also led to a sense of security.
*I recommend going after you have grasped the fan base and atmosphere to some extent from the festival format. It is possible that you might go suddenly and find the fans to be extremely intense and scary. Lol

[Normal] Solo concert

Since there are only fans of that group, the vibe and atmosphere are unified, and it is basically a space that is easy to fit into. The timetable is also simple and easy to understand, with "Doors open -> Performance starts -> Special event." However, I categorized it as "Normal" because you might have resistance to jumping into a "fans-only space" all of a sudden. Of course, there is no problem at all if you enjoy it leisurely in the back. I discovered "SAISON," which I participated in just the other day, at a festival format, and 6 days later I participated in their solo concert, which was an ideal flow.

[Moderately Difficult] Joint Concerts (where your favorite group is a guest)

Since you are entering the "home turf" of other groups, it is easy to feel like an outsider. You might feel confused about how to enjoy the time when your favorite group isn't performing, so I don't really recommend this for beginners. (However, joint concerts with many performing groups can sometimes have an ambiguous "host," creating an atmosphere closer to a festival.)

[Difficult] Festivals (Circuit style)

It is incredibly busy and requires both physical stamina and information processing skills. Moving between venues, checking the timetable, finding the meet-and-greet area... It is safer to try this after you have multiple favorite groups or have become fully accustomed to the flow of live performances and meet-and-greets.
Once you get used to it, you might feel a sense of accomplishment from navigating it well. For my first time at TIF, which is an outdoor circuit-style festival, I was anxious about how to manage my time, so I used Gemini to create a custom schedule management app to handle it.

Conclusion

“Spend a long time from early in the day at a ‘single-venue festival-style’ live concert held on a weekend or holiday” is the way to go!

These are also held on weekdays, but there are fewer people during the day, so you might not feel the excitement you were hoping for. I recommend weekends and holidays when it is lively.

Introduction to Idol Groups

“I understand that much. So, which idol's live concert should I actually go to?”

If you thought that, please take a look at this note as well.

The idols introduced in this article are groups that I can confidently say are of a high level. You are sure to find a group that touches your heart.
First, try to pick out about five groups from this list that catch your eye. Then, if you check the social media (like X) of the groups you are interested in, at least one of them will likely be performing at some kind of "festival (single-venue style)" within the next month.

Live Package Introduction

There is a perfect group and live concert coming up soon.

Idol Group: selfish
This is a group I support.
For details on what kind of group they are, check this note.

There is a live concert on Sunday, October 26th, at a "festival (circuit style)" event.
I labeled it as "difficult" in the note, but since there are only two venues and almost no travel required, it is a "circuit style" event with a low difficulty level.
Also, regarding the performing groups, the ones introduced in the idol note above, “Ame nochi, Halation,” “Kasumiso to Stella,” “Comiquon!,” “Dramatic Record,” “Nornir,” “Halnysion,” and “Ringwanderung” will be performing.

Furthermore, on the following Tuesday, October 28th, there will be a joint concert hosted by selfish! Since this is a special day for selfish's second anniversary, they have invited many groups. It is closer to a festival-style joint concert hosted by selfish.

Closing

I ended up introducing an irregular format right away. lol
Starting with selfish, there is a lineup of groups you can't go wrong with, so if you're interested, please check it out!!

My colleague's first live event was a selfish solo concert, but they told me they enjoyed it and will be coming again on October 28th!!

[Reference: Oshikatsu Log Magazine]
There are also notes about special events and cheki (instant photos).