So of course like any fans, when booking this trip we checked to see if any concerts were happening and dun dun duuuun there were a crapton going on which was hella amazing >u> The first weekend we were in Seoul turned out to be one craaazy weekend of about 3 different concert events [but more on that later] and the one kicking things off was 2PM, AWWW YEAH!
I have a hate love relationship with 2pm as in I hate how much I love and enjoy them sometimes [often] and of course that meant we had to indulge in that relationship [we because my travel mate has the 2pm love stronger than I do ouo] Being in Seoul for the first time we had never attended an actual Korean concert before and lemme tell you: there are sooo many difference between them and USA Korean concerts. So lets discuss [and maybe scream and spazz a bit cough] on those differences.
#1 Merchandise
we went about 4 maybe 5 hours early to see if we could get merchandise and though the line was long it was so organized @_@
The line when we got there wrapped neatly around the area we were in. And they had a donation booth as well for a charity which I though was super cool.
To purchase merchandise you had to fill out a merchandise request sheet which had all the items and you wrote down how many of each you wanted [they had a limit of 5 per item I think]At different points in line they had these signs to show what merchandise was available for purchase and their price and as the afternoon ticked down they would update it letting fans know what was sold out which I thought was extremely smart.
In the US kpop concerts I’ve been to if you’re place is grand enough to actually get official merchandise [not those shady carts that try and sell you stuff] Most times they have like 3 items, they don’t tell you a set time on when the booth is opening, they sell out because they never bring enough merchandise [which is dumb because helllloooo we’re foreign fans, we buy that crap in bulk!] and the prices are out the butt. This experience was so much nicer!
At one point the mascot Okcat wandered from the beginning of the line to the very end taking pictures with fans in all his green glory. Though I’m generally not a fan of mascots I sucked it up in a ‘YOLO’ moment and took a picture [Look ma no tears!] because how many people can say they took a picture with Okcat?
#2 getting tickets + into the venue.
We were able to pick up our purchased tickets after we got merch and it was a fast easy process. Show your ID and ticket receipt and they gave you the tickets. Next up they told everyone the entrances where you could enter [separate for floor which had numbered wristbands and lower area seats and higher] and then everyone chilled until the doors opened. Now in the concerts i’ve been to, when the doors open even if you have seats there’s always a lot of pushing, shoving and you have to get your bags searched which takes up time and etc. Here we showed our tickets, were pointed in the direction we needed to go and then assisted in getting to said seats with an attendant when we reached our section. Again, very organized and nice.
#3 the stage and effects
I have only been to one concert where the stage wasn’t a set one and by set I mean the ones where the stage is at the front and that’s that. Most times I think this is due to the venues concerts book at being sort of small [Club nokia, Verizon etc] rather than a stadium [Big Bang had the Honda center in LA and a huge stage] like 2pm had. Their stage as you see in the picture extended across the back, down a long run way and then to both sides of the venue making it always easy to see your favorite member ^_^ Besides the nice stage there’s also the use of pyrotechnics that you can do in a stadium instead of a set venue. In this concert we saw fire, fireworks, glitter guns, confetti the whole nine yards and it was AWESOME! We were in the third floor and you could still feel everything! Again stadium concerts are like nooo other!
#4 the fans
So man, this has to be the biggest difference I’ve seen! In US kpop concerts I have not been to one where you didn’t stand pretty much the whole time [exception being in groups where they have ballad solos and you’re legs are like hell naw heffa sit down]. I’m used to the standing up for the whole concert and jumping and dancing around like a fool and I was expecting it to be like that at this concert and yet it wasn’t! Yes you had standing in the floor areas because hella thats what you paid for but in the stands fan sat, like the whole concert and yet the excitement, enthusiasm and of course the screaming wasn’t lacking in anyway. If anything it might have been even better because people weren’t tired. We shook our lightsticks, screamed, sang along and spazzed just the same as any concert I’ve been to and tbh, I like the fact that I got to sit in the seat I paid for without feeling like I’d be judged by the dedicated standers around me ;p and now
I SPAZ
THE CONCERT WAS FREAKIN AMAZING OH MY GOSH, THE LIGHTS, THE AIR, THE EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT!!!!!!!! EVERYONE WAS ON THEIR A GAME AND IT WAS EVERYTHING I IMAGINED AND THEN SOME!
A few of my not so super crappy cell phone pics. They did almost all the old hits [hate you, 10 points out of 10, again and again, heartbeat] and also a buttload of songs from the new album as well as remixes and so much more. The solo/joint stages were full of energy and fun and my goodness they know how to change clothes fast [or rip them off on stage even faster as they did quite a few times much to my hearts discontent x3]
Here is a shot of the merch I ended up buying
Official 2pm lightstick, go crazy tour bag [because who doesn’t want them on a bag for the world to see?] official go crazy tour shirt in white and gold [SO PRETTY] and unofficial merchandise is the pillow of Chansungs face because I needed that. I was also given a copy of the Japanese single from a sweet Japanese fan who was handing them out to people in line! Yay free stuff ❤
All in all it was a concert absolutely worth seeing and for those of you debating on seeing them when they come to the US
GO GOSH DARN IT OR ILL SMACK YOU Bl
Lots of love ❤
For my Soohyun lovers!
Isn’t he the cutest??
That right there is the majority of 23 days of clothing in one bag plus shoes and hand bags. I’m hella proud of that! If you have never heard of “compression sacks” Your life is literally incomplete if you’re a traveler! Makes packing so awesome!
The Second Star To The Right And Straight On To Seoul 