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Black_Beer_Man
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 453
Location: Yokohama
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 Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:53 am Post subject: FUJI Rock Festival - Fun? Worth it? |
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There are some great bands in this year's line-up at the Fuji Rock Festival including Nine Inch Nails and The Cure. July 26th, 27th & 28th.
http://www.smash-uk.com/frf13/
Has anybody been to the festival in previous years? Was it fun or not? I imagine you have to brave the crowds, stand in the summer heat and use port-o-let toilets. Was it worth the discomfort?
Please share your opinions and experiences. |
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surendra
Joined: 09 Feb 2012
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 3:19 am Post subject: |
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I have not been but I've been to other open-stadium concerts. They are tons of fun. People in America go for either getting wasted, hooking up, or music. Here, I'd imagine it's mainly the music. I doubt I will go because I only prefer Japanese music and the price doesn't seem worth it to me.
But if you like a majority of bands, definitely go. |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 4:52 am Post subject: |
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I went a few years ago. It's a very safe, chill concert site. Garbage management means it is relatively clean because everyone is asked to help out.
The crowds are nice and respectful of space. You've got to stake out your place with a towel or tarp pretty early, though.
The only perils are sunburn and bugs.
I saw Gogol Bordello, Underworld, Asian Dub Foundation and Ian Brown there. |
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Black_Beer_Man
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 453
Location: Yokohama
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| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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I took out my calculator and decided it wasn't worth going. One day at the festival would cost me well over 30,000 yen ($300). A day pass is 17,800 plus about 13,000 yen for a round trip bullet train ticket from Tokyo. Food and drinks mean more money.
It's crazy how expensive this thing is. I mean, it's held on a field, so the operating costs are probably lower than at a stadium. But, they don't pass on that savings to the concert goers via cheaper ticket prices. |
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move
Joined: 30 May 2009
Posts: 132
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| Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| Just bought my ticket today. Hurts the wallet (I paid my residence tax today as well) but I'm sure it will be worth it. It's an issue of money and time, but mostly money for all my friends. I figure that the cost of a 3-day festival would be cheaper than seeing all of these bands on separate occasions. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:11 am Post subject: |
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I have heard good things about it but I must work on the Friday before and Monday after.
Getting there and coming back is tiring, but if you like the bands, why not? |
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Rooster.
Joined: 13 Mar 2012
Posts: 247
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:46 am Post subject: |
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| They have a really good line-up! I'm surprised that they managed to get so many big names to play all on one weekend! |
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Rob1209
Joined: 15 Jan 2012
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Black_Beer_Man wrote: |
It's crazy how expensive this thing is. I mean, it's held on a field, so the operating costs are probably lower than at a stadium. But, they don't pass on that savings to the concert goers via cheaper ticket prices. |
Eh? It's got numerous stages & tents, with about 50 different performances each day. How do you stage that in a stadium? The cost of paying for all the acts, equipment, stages and labour would be far higher than stadium hire, if that was even an option. |
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NihonBound
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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Looks good.
If I was in Japan I'd definitely go to this no matter what the cost (You only live once right?). Must be pretty cool to go to a music festival with decent bands and a backdrop of Mount Fuji. |
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move
Joined: 30 May 2009
Posts: 132
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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| It's actually in Niigata, so no breathtaking views of Fuji. The first one was there though. |
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Black_Beer_Man
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 453
Location: Yokohama
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| Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Rob1209 wrote: |
| Black_Beer_Man wrote: |
It's crazy how expensive this thing is. I mean, it's held on a field, so the operating costs are probably lower than at a stadium. But, they don't pass on that savings to the concert goers via cheaper ticket prices. |
Eh? It's got numerous stages & tents, with about 50 different performances each day. How do you stage that in a stadium? The cost of paying for all the acts, equipment, stages and labour would be far higher than stadium hire, if that was even an option. |
Yeah, but you have to really be into at least a few of these artists per day to get your money's worth. There are a lot of minor bands on the ticket. I imagine they play for very little money.
I was reading on Wikipedia that the capacity for the main stage where the headliners play is 50,000 people. Damn! Nine Inch Nails plays at hockey arenas back in North America and those places have capacities of about 18,000. Furthermore, you may even get to sit down if you take a seat in the stands. Plus, no worries about getting rained on or bitten by mosquitoes.
So, I think 17,800 for a single day is a bit much to pay. Most of those tents that you talk about pay rent, so there's no reason to add anything to ticket prices for those.
As for the 50+ acts argument, Toronto has its North By Northwest Music fest. You buy a wristband for $70 and you can see dozens of bands playing at various (actual buildings!) throughout the city. Headliners like Iggy Pop and The Flaming Lips have played for FREE on a closed-off street during this festival. |
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Rob1209
Joined: 15 Jan 2012
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Black_Beer_Man wrote: |
| Rob1209 wrote: |
| Black_Beer_Man wrote: |
It's crazy how expensive this thing is. I mean, it's held on a field, so the operating costs are probably lower than at a stadium. But, they don't pass on that savings to the concert goers via cheaper ticket prices. |
Eh? It's got numerous stages & tents, with about 50 different performances each day. How do you stage that in a stadium? The cost of paying for all the acts, equipment, stages and labour would be far higher than stadium hire, if that was even an option. |
Yeah, but you have to really be into at least a few of these artists per day to get your money's worth. There are a lot of minor bands on the ticket. I imagine they play for very little money.
I was reading on Wikipedia that the capacity for the main stage where the headliners play is 50,000 people. Damn! Nine Inch Nails plays at hockey arenas back in North America and those places have capacities of about 18,000. Furthermore, you may even get to sit down if you take a seat in the stands. Plus, no worries about getting rained on or bitten by mosquitoes.
So, I think 17,800 for a single day is a bit much to pay. Most of those tents that you talk about pay rent, so there's no reason to add anything to ticket prices for those.
As for the 50+ acts argument, Toronto has its North By Northwest Music fest. You buy a wristband for $70 and you can see dozens of bands playing at various (actual buildings!) throughout the city. Headliners like Iggy Pop and The Flaming Lips have played for FREE on a closed-off street during this festival. |
I totally agree with you that it's a very expensive festival. No arguments there, and I can understand why many are not willing to pay it - especially as the line-up of acts is (for me) inferior to all the big UK festivals and probably US/Canadian ones too.
I had to chip in on the overheads point though. As someone with a (tiny) bit of experience organising live music events, there's just no way I can see it being cheaper to host an open-air festival of this size than to do it indoors. Stadium hire isn't necessarily that expensive, as they make money through the bar (always) and ticket prices (sometimes). Most venues come with stage & in-house PA, staff paid by the venue, and the venue's own liability insurance. The costs of these three things alone make open-air festivals way more expensive to hold. |
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NihonBound
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| move wrote: |
| It's actually in Niigata, so no breathtaking views of Fuji. The first one was there though. |
Meh! 
Not worth it then  |
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move
Joined: 30 May 2009
Posts: 132
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| Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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| NihonBound wrote: |
| move wrote: |
| It's actually in Niigata, so no breathtaking views of Fuji. The first one was there though. |
Meh!
Not worth it then |
I don't see why a Mt. Fuji-less view would be a deal-breaker, most people go for the bands right? Besides, Niigata has its own pretty spectacular mountains. |
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