With the manager's vocal cue, theatre musicians first sang the song called 'Shikainami' and then the chief producer offered a drink to the zato (the leader of a troupe), then to the leading actor, which is known as 'sakagoto.'
式場では頭取の発声で囃子方の四海波の謡がはじまり、太夫元から座頭、書き出しの役者と順次盃事があった。