Survival Strategies: Social Media and Collaboration
To remain relevant, Linkinfujin suggested that Japanese music cover bands actively promote themselves on social media. He also suggested that bands collaborate with other performers, such as idols, DJs, and content creators, to expand their reach. An attendee noted that bands should also adopt visually engaging stage gimmicks and interact with fans online (for example, holding Q&A sessions on social media).
One of the attendees from outside Surabaya discussed how TikTok influences the trend for events in smaller cities. In smaller cities like Malang, Japanese music cover bands still get the spotlight and perform on the stage. They often collaborate with idols. However, their presence on social media is weak. Organizers usually work with the performer who already has a strong presence on social media. In response, Masdhito suggested that performers should actively create social media content to build their fan base.
For some Japanese music cover bands, social media has become a key strategy for their marketing. Counter Attack ID and Kiseki, two bands from Surabaya, stated that they started to become active on social media after the pandemic by releasing cover videos and band performances. It helped to revive their popularity post-pandemic since they rarely got any gigs during the pandemic and it affected their popularity. However, Counter Attack ID also reminds you need to be consistent about this. You also need to be creative when it comes to the content.
When it comes to collaboration, it turns out that some Japanese music cover bands have started collaborating with idols or incorporating idol-style gimmicks during performances. For example, Kiseki’s vocalist started doing a jikoshoukai (self-introduction) segment during their performance to engage the audience. This is something that is normally done during idol performance. They also considered hosting a cheeki (fan photo) session called “kicheeki“, but they are not sure it would work. Cristian, an attendee, said that some Japanese bands actually hold cheeki sessions, so such gimmicks would not be out of place.
Bands Need To Be Prepared
Other than social media, Japanese music cover bands also need to be prepared. As a band, many requirements need to be fulfilled to make sure a performance goes well. Kiseki band revealed that they often bring their own equipment and sound system when event organizers lack proper setups, ensuring they can still perform at events.
On the other hand, some people criticized that Japanese music cover bands often play the same setlist repeatedly. Kevin Wilyan, Editor-in-Chief of KAORI Nusantara, pointed out that music trends also evolve. What may seem “new” to some could already feel “outdated” to the new generation of anime fans. From an attendee’s perspective, Kevin suggested the bands to perform songs that the audiences are familiar with, making the performances more enjoyable.
Counter Attack ID responded by stating that Japanese music cover bands do want to play varied setlists, but the lack of technical meeting sessions at some events means the invited bands can’t meet and discuss their setlist. It leads to situations where multiple bands play the same songs. This issue can impact audience reactions.
Back to the performance aspect, Hanif, a former Japanese music cover band member, stated that bands must also pay attention to technical aspects such as sound system quality. He emphasized the importance of having a dedicated crew to manage sound setups, similar to professional bands, for the best performance. Additionally, bands should communicate with event organizers regarding stage and sound layout.
Harun also reminded Japanese music cover bands not to focus solely on music but also on business and networking. While many bands have started selling merchandise, he suggested they increase their production.
Conclusion
For about three hours, the FGD session at ChibiCon 2024 provided valuable insights into the Japanese music cover band scene in East Java. These insights are given by people from various backgrounds, from the perspectives of event organizers, attendees, bands, and idol groups. Key takeaways from the discussion included:
- The shift in performer trends from bands to idols is influenced by the resurgence of idol culture in general. The audience also seems to prefer performers with engaging gimmicks.
- Event organizers often face budget constraints, making idol groups a more cost-effective option compared to bands. Idol groups are also able to draw large crowds.
- Bands can remain relevant by utilizing social media marketing, collaborating with other performers, and adopting engaging gimmicks inspired by idol groups.
- Social media is a crucial promotional tool, especially in the post-pandemic era. It could help to boost the band’s visibility. Event organizers also prefer performers who can attract crowds so having huge social media followers is a plus.
- Bands also need to be adaptable when they face challenges during performance. For example, bands could prepare backup music equipment and coordinate with other performers to avoid the same setlist.
- Bands should also focus on aspects like sound system quality, business strategies, and networking.
- Performers, whether it’s a band, cosplayer, VTuber, group idol, dance cover, or DJ, must avoid the “race to the bottom” phenomenon. It could make the organizers undervalue the performers by paying them cheaply below the usual standard. A middle ground needs to be reached so that the performers can be compensated appropriately while event organizers can still work within their budget.
The Indonesian Anime Times | Article by Tanto D. | Translation by Dany Muhammad | Special thanks to Japan Culture Daisuki for inviting us to host the Forum Group Discussion during the ChibiCon event.
