How to read a Japanese gig flyer: OPEN, START, 前売, 当日, 1D

Why are there two times and two prices?

Two times. Between OPEN and START, people go in by entry order, pay the drink fee and find a spot. OPEN tells you when you can go in. START tells you when the music begins.

Two prices. Tickets can be sold in advance (前売) and at the door on the day (当日), if there is space. A flyer may give a price for each.

A separate drink. The drink fee is not part of the ticket. 1D tells you to add it.

How do you read each term?

OPEN and START. OPEN (開場) is when staff start letting people in, usually by entry order. START (開演) is when the show begins. On JGIG show pages, these appear as Doors and Start. For when to arrive, see Doors or start: what time should you arrive?.

前売 and 当日. 前売 (maeuri) tickets are sold in advance, online or by the organizer. They often come with an entry number; see What does the ticket number mean?. 当日 (tojitsu) tickets are sold at the door if there is space, and their holders go in last. If the two prices differ, the 当日 price is what you pay at the door.

1D. 1D means one drink. It tells you that a drink fee is paid at the entrance, on top of the ticket price. Staff give you a drink ticket to swap at the bar, and soft drinks are fine. You may also see +1D, 1D別, D代別 or "+1drink ¥700" on venue schedules. They all mean a drink fee is paid separately at the door. For more, see How much is the drink fee at Japanese live houses?.

取り置き and 整理番号. 取り置き (torioki) is a reservation with the organizer, paid in cash at the door. 整理番号 (seiri bangō) is your place in the entry order.

What can catch you out?

• Details change. Promoters sometimes change times, prices or lineups at short notice. A flyer can be out of date, so check the official event page.
• Missing terms. If a flyer does not show a price or a drink fee, check the official event page or the JGIG show page.
• Other words. For the list of acts on a multi-band night, see How a Japanese live house night works.

How do you check a show from its flyer?

1. Find OPEN and START. If you have a numbered ticket, plan around OPEN.
2. Find 前売 and 当日, and decide which ticket you will use.
3. Look for 1D and add the drink fee to the ticket price.
4. Compare it with the total on the JGIG show page.
5. Check the official event page for changes before you go.

What if you are alone, have no Japanese or cash, or buy at the door?

• Going alone: Save a screenshot of the flyer and the venue map. Reception can be weak in basement venues.
• No Japanese: Learn to spot these words: 開場, 開演, 前売, 当日, 取り置き and 整理番号. To ask staff, use the ticket phrasebook.
• No cash: 当日 tickets and the 1D drink fee are paid at the door, so carry cash. See Do you need cash at Japanese live houses?.
• Door ticket: The 当日 price applies. Door tickets are sold only if there is space, and JGIG does not have door-ticket status for most shows yet. Check the official event page.

What to do next

What to do next