How to buy Tickets for 2.5d Stages

I’ve had a lot of people ask me recently about how to buy tickets for stages in Japan, and so I decided rather than replying to everyone individually I would just make a post in the hope it could also help other people out. The details in this post apply to stage shows only. I’m not going to get into the minefield of other events because they vary so much that it’d be impossible to put something like this together. Also, even within stage plays there are differences (especially when it comes to very small productions) so this is far from being 100% perfect. Please always check the details for any stage you want to go to carefully.

If you have any questions about anything I have written here, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll reply as soon as I can.

5 reasons why live viewings are better than live stages

As a theatre fan, watching shows live is one of the best experiences, and very little can recreate that. However, I very rarely try and get tickets for a final show if it will have a live viewing at the theatre.

Instead, I choose to see it live on a different day, and then watch the final show from the comfort of a movie theatre. While seeing the show live is great, I also love the live viewing experience, so I’m here to bring you some reasons why you shouldn’t feel sad if you have to resort to this option.

5 ways to support your favourite actor (that won’t break the bank)

There are so many people around who talk about the importance of supporting stage plays by dropping money on tickets, merchandise and DVDs. Unfortunately, very few people have unlimited funds, and I personally know that it isn’t always possible to buy every single piece of merchandise or every super expensive special edition DVD from each show your favourite actor has appeared in. They have to keep working, and this comes with a never-ending supply of things you are pressured to spend money on in order to seem like a “good fan”.

But what if I said you can be a good fan without blowing your budget? No matter what anyone might say, it is very possible and not so difficult or time-consuming. Here are five ways you can support your favourite actor without breaking the bank.

10 2.5d Stage Shows you can watch legally through DMM (and how to watch internationally)

With many people off work right now and most choosing to stay at home, there is so much time and so little to do. I’ve seen many people comment that they are bored and don’t know what to do with their sudden free time, so what better way to spend it than watching some Japanese theatre?

People think it’s very expensive or difficult to watch 2.5d stage shows when you aren’t living in Japan or without buying the DVD, but the industry actually makes it quite easy for us to support our favourite shows for a fraction of the price of buying a BluRay or DVD or seeing the show in person.

I’ve put together a list of productions currently available for streaming and download on DMM. You may be surprised what you can find there. Some people think that it isn’t possible for people outside of Japan to access or pay for these downloads. It takes a little work, that’s for sure, but it is definitely accessible to people all over the world and can be paid for using Paypal.

To learn how to use DMM from overseas, please see this comprehensive how-to post written by sohmariku on Tumblr.

With that said, get your popcorn (and tissues and penlights) ready, because here is my list of ten recommended 2.5d stages you can find on DMM.

How to write to your favourite actor

This blog was originally posted a few years ago after many people began talking about appropriate and inappropriate ways to interact with actors on social media. A lot of people found it helpful at the time, so three years later I’m re-posting it again in the hope that it can help more people.

I interact with a lot of actors on social media, but I also write a lot of fan letters. Every time I see actors report that they have received a stack of letters, they always say how grateful they are and how much they enjoyed reading them. Actors do read the letters they receive from fans, and that’s why it’s a great thing to do, but also why you have to be careful. I feel like I’ve written enough of them to have a good idea of how and what to write, so here is my advice for sending fan letters to your favourite actors.

10 Tips on Buying Goods at Stages

I spend a lot of my time when I go to see shows standing in goods lines, and even more time than that planning in advance what I need and what time I should arrive in order to ensure I can get everything on my list. While you may think it’s as easy as just walking into the theatre and getting hold of those trading bromides or penlights that you want, there are many things you should consider in advance or you may find yourself disappointed and going home with nothing.

Here are my top ten tips for buying goods at stage shows. If you need help with a specific show, my contact box is always open to messages.