Freestyle FYI

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

So I all day I was looking forward to going to Ohno's show and enjoying myself (since none of my friends wanted to/could come) soaking in some artistic genius.  I booked it straight to the station after work at 4:30, rode the train for an hour and made it to Omotesando at 6:15.  I navigated my way out of the subway station and found Omotesando Hills, and found a line up outside.  Alright, I thought.  This is fine.  It's only 6:30, it will probably take an hour to get in.  I brought a book.  I got in line, which started to move pretty quickly.  Then a staff guy came down the line, checking something.  He asked the girls in front of me if they had a ticket, which they didn't.  They had a little panic and he was only half-apologetic saying if you didn't have a ticket, you can't see the show.  Then he asked me, and of course I didn't have one.  What ticket?  No one mentioned tickets.  The girls behind me showed theirs and I asked where I could get one. 

He said you have to show up early in the morning and line up for tickets they distrubute between 8am and 10am before the show opens for the day.  He crushed my hopes, and I actually felt like crying, which I admit is extremely pathetic for a 23-year-old woman.  But I was oh-so-excited.  :(  I graciously got out of line and proceeded to call my friend in Nagoya and rant to her about the stupidity of Japanese bureaucracy and random stuff because I was so mad.  I didn't even take time to eat any dinner.  Then I turned around, got back on the train for an hour and came home.

So, I am waking up early and showing up at 7am tomorrow.  I'm assuming its the same spot outside Omotesando Hills (there's a staircase down to the B1 level shops from the outside).  That might be slightly overkill, but it's most likely a first-come-first-served basis so hopefully I'll get an early time so I don't have to fart around Tokyo all day.  I will come prepared with a new music selection, book, food, and maybe some crocheting. 

On the bright side: I did see people leaving with Ohno swag!  And copies of his book! 

On a positive note, I'm lucky my excitement got the best of me and I went today instead of waiting until Monday to be disappointed because I can't go during the week (damn work).  I wanted to avoid the weekend crowds (I'm anticipating a zoo) but shouganai ne?

This is a heads up to anyone else who is planning to go.  Hopefully you won't show up and be disappointed like I was!

Comments

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads up! ...figured it'd be too busy and they'd have to give out tickets.

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

I wish I had known. It was such a piss off. Though, they do the same thing for the Johnny's shop in Harajuku I remembered only too late. But my Japanese is not good enough to have called to find out. T___T

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

I hate waking up early in the morning XD;; Actually, I have no one who's interested in going - if possible do you want to meet at the gallery?

I've only had to do the tickets once for the JE shop in Harajuku, where I glared at the guy for a good few minutes...

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

That would be nice! I kind of want someone to talk art with. :D I'm planning on arriving at 7 tomorrow (no joke). We can so meet up! If we are near the front, we won't have to wait long and then we can go grab breakfast somewhere.

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. Sounds good. Wait outside the A2 exit on the street. There's a 24hr McDonald's there. I hate you. I'm coming all the way from Chiba! I'll send you keitai mail right now. :D

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

Well, if it makes you feel better...I'm going all the way out to chiba tomorrow night XD

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

For real?? Where? Depending on how the day pans out, we might catch the train back together. :P I'll be going back to Kashiwa~

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

I'm going to Kashiwa too xD hah fancy that~

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

That's too weird. XD It's like fate or something. What are you going there for, might I inquire?

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

I'll be switching to the local and going to kita-kashiwa. A friend of mine is playing at a live house...and he owes me one of my several...lost suica cards ^^;;

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

I'm going to take the Chiyoda line home, it turns into the Joban local after Ayase. :D No stupid transfer. Takes only 5 minutes longer than switching to the rapid at Kita-Senju to get to Kashiwa. Woo woo. If you are interested after, I'll be drinking at the Hub in Kashiwa. b^^d

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

I like the sounds of that xD~
Friending you I hope you don't mind...you're canadian too xD~

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

Totally. I need more LJ/Arashi friends. Hells yea I am. You too?? This is getting too weird... XD We will have much to talk about tomorrow.

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

lol, vancouver baby~
We will have much to talk about, to kill time...sounds like it's going to be very busy...do you think we should get there earlier 530am and ticket 400 on a friday is scary? I hate morning XD I think I'm just going to spend the next several hours studying so I don't sleep through my alarm clock

Ugh...

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

Part of me thinks yes, but I don't want to be one of those crazy fangirls that do that. My friend Andrew will never let me live it down. T_T I can take the first train from here at 430... but that means no sleep. And sleep is important. I think we should be alright at 7... Unless you want to go earlier and I'll meet you XD

Re: Ugh...

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

I'm...studying all night instead of sleep...because I know I will get no sleep tonight. Sleep is very important XD being a grouchy fangirl is no fun...good thing the weekends I'm use to no sleep =) I'll need some strong coffee tomorrow. I might be there at 630, check out the line. guh, thinking about that time makes me cringe...

Re: Ugh...

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

Ganbatte ne.
If you want to that's fine, I'll txt you when I arrive and see where you're at. I already have to get up at 5am so getting up earlier does not sit well with me. Esp since I probably won't sleep for another hr maybe since I'm buzzed on caffiene and excitement.

Re: Ugh...

[chiiae.livejournal.com]

Haha, I know evil for being so far away! Ganbatte! I don't think I could ever get up that early =/ even if it was for Ohno. I'll scoop out the crowd, and have several cups of coffee...if I can convince myself to leave the house early enough XD

Re: Ugh...

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

I'll txt you when I get on the train around 6. :P Maybe that'll give you a boost to get out the door.

[pizzicatolab.livejournal.com]

ahh i'm in love with your shohno icon. :)
is it a magazine scan?

Haha thanks!

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

It's from a calendar. The '06-'07 one, I think. Off the page with all the candid polaroids. Candid shots are pure gold.

[eve-aida.livejournal.com]

i know, i cant go..but poor you~ and hope you'll be able to go there tomorrow..good luck ^-^

[dreaming-nagi13.livejournal.com]

i was crushed when i found about it, too... i went to the first day and found out that you need that ticket to get in XD what sucks is that ohno was there during the first day!!! (>_<)

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

OH BURN! I thought about going on opening night, knowing from experience that's usually when the artist goes but I didn't want to fight the crowds. I am not going to lie, I dressed up because of the chance of seeing people. XD

[dreaming-nagi13.livejournal.com]

ahaha XDD i wasn't even dressed well... i came in my usual baggy attire XD

i guess since because it's free, they had to have some means of controlling the crowd, and this is what they came up with... (>_<) irritating, but i can see the point XD

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

Yea, so can I. That doesn't mean it doesn't irritate me beyond words! I didn't sit down and read (aka plug into babelfish translater) the entire event release, but I don't remember seeing this system mentioned anywhere. Would have been nice... but hopefully my gung-honess prevails tomorrow.

[dreaming-nagi13.livejournal.com]

good luck!! (>_<) as much as i want to see ohno's works, i have a feeling i won't be able to wake up early... and i am a person who loves to sleep XD enjoy it for all of us who won't be able to see it XD

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

I will! I am coming prepared with a camera as well, although I have a feeling photography is not allowed. But you never know. I'm going no matter what - as my birthday present to myself.

[dreaming-nagi13.livejournal.com]

ooohh!!! happy birthday, then!! (>_<) and if ever you were able to sneak in pictures... (>_<) *evil gleam* i'll see if i can get in next week... i just can't bring myself to wake up that early XD i still love you, though, riida!

[tinybluemarble.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Thanks for the heads up. I was planning on going on Monday (aka my birthday)~ That is way early. D| Technically, I could head over there, but my mom's in town, it'd be harder to get her going that early and that far. :|

I'll have to message my friend in the morning who was also going to go and let her know about that~ D|

It makes you wonder how those girls got the memo to show up between 8am and 10am. @___@ I'm about an hour away from the place. -weeps-

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

I'm an hour out too. I came from Chiba-ken only to turn around and go right back. Most of the people in line were 20-something and middle-aged women. They probably came in the morning because they don't have jobs to worry about. Or this is a typical thing that everyone apparently knows about.

[tinybluemarble.livejournal.com]

I'm in western Tokyo (Kodaira). But of course that's pretty far out as well~

But I vote the latter. XD

Now I'm kind of at a standstill for what to do. I really really want to go. :| I wonder if everyone would have to show up at the time to get the tickets? Probably.. But do you think you could check for me?

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

I'm going tomorrow and showing up at 7am. The guy said 8~10am, but I don't trust my Japanese ability so I'm going early to be safe. I bet the weekend will be crazier than a weekday, so you should be better off in that regard... But yes, I will report again on Sunday because I'm going to get stupidly drunk tomorrow night for my birthday (and possible a celebration of seeing Ohno's show if all goes well!).

[tinybluemarble.livejournal.com]

Oh, your birthday's that soon, too? Awesome. Have a happy birthday! :] I hope all goes well! ^^/ I'll wait for the report then. Hey, mind if I friend you?

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

It was actually on Tuesday - the big 23. O_< Feels the same as 22. LOL But thanks for the wishes! (That reminds me I should thank people...)
Sure, friend away! I need more of them anyway. Haha. I need to make more Arashi-fan friends in Japan because my friends don't understand me. ;_;

[tinybluemarble.livejournal.com]

Oh. Okay. XD I'll be the double 2. Not that far behind.!

Yeah, seriously. I quite agree with you. ;.; Friended. Yay, new friends! \^o^/

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

Yay new friends indeed!

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

Hear hear, that's what I said. I can't take a sick day (aka I'd feel guilty) so the weekend is my only option. Good luck!

[aida69.livejournal.com]

just another heads up, some girls reported that they were there at 5.30am today and their number for getting the tix for the exhibition was between 400 or 600, i forget which. but the good news is, their time on the tix was 12pm, so even if u go there at 7am, you'd prob get a decent time slot.
good luck tomorrow!! my friend is also going there tomorrow but she's planning on going at 5.30am too O_o

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

I want to go, but I'm not that crazy. That would mean zero sleep, and then Heather would be very cranky indeed. :P I am expecting to see a fair line by 7 tomorrow... But they were pretty orderly and such so I don't think I need to worry too much... *touchwood* Noon would be fine. I just don't want it to be 6 or something.

[nalanzu.livejournal.com]

Aaaaah, thank you for posting this! I'm going on Monday, and I would have just showed up around ten. With no ticket, because nowhere on any press release that I have seen have they mentioned that you need to get tickets. Seriously, THANK YOU.

[buttrflikissr.livejournal.com]

lol. i know that this is kinda late, but just to let you know, on busy days for the harajyuku johnnys shop, i had to get up at 5am to ensure a ticket to go in.... crazy JE fans... lol.