ATTENDING CONCERTS AT HOME: WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WATCH AND MEET IDOLS DURING LOCKDOWN
I attended my last physical concert in February 2020. Face masks were a new necessity, and COVID-19 was something unknown and mystical, so I didn’t think much of it. We even had flights set in May, a plan to watch a show overseas to see our favorite artist achieve their stadium tour dreams. The Airbnb was booked, the itinerary already set in stone. It was a trip we’ve planned for years.
For me and my friends, concerts were safe havens. It was a space where we could meet people from all over the world, fans just like us who wanted a night where time didn’t seem to exist. I was an avid concertgoer.
If people liked to spend money on jewelry or clothes, concerts were what I saved all my salary for. I prepared weeks in advance, listened to my go-to playlists religiously, mapped out my outfits and coordinated with friends. It was simple, scheduled, something to look forward to even if I was tired and weary from my day-to-day life.
I know a lot of K-pop fans could relate to the feeling of loss when concerts were canceled left and right. When we realized the gravity of the pandemic and came to terms with the fact that live events were now farfetched dreams, it was, at first, a little hard to grasp. Fans were so used to holding events, from birthday celebrations for their idols to simple charity drives. It was always the togetherness that made the K-pop community special.
The pandemic made all that impossible. It meant that we couldn’t see each other for a long time, artists and fans alike. For me, it meant that I couldn’t enjoy the comforts of the community I’ve considered my home these past years.
But as with everything, we got used to it. Concerts became online affairs, where our presence could be felt by our idols halfway around the world. Even fan signs and fan meets, where you got to meet and talk with your favorite artists, transitioned to live video or one-on-one calls, something we wouldn’t even think was possible in 2019.
Game changer
So when I was asked to join KCON:TACT HI 5 live as an audience member, I was beyond excited. I didn’t know what to expect but finally, I had something to look forward to.
Since the pandemic, KCON:TACT has changed the game. KCON, as I knew it, was a buzzing affair, usually held overseas. It was a staple K-culture festival, where Hallyu idols and industry folk were invited to talk and perform. Fans looked forward to the stages, collaborations, insights and of course, the meet and greets.
Being an audience member for KCON meant that I got to be on camera along with other fans. I would get to experience these performances with people who liked the same music, dance and sing along, hoping that the artist would gain energy from my happiness, since they were going to see me in the (virtual) crowd.
Blowing the dust off my light sticks and markers, I got to work on a banner for KCON. I read up on all concert guidelines, set up my Zoom account, prayed for my internet connection and found a good camera angle. For the first time in a long time, I even planned my outfit. Now, I didn’t have to account for Manila traffic or break the bank to stay at an expensive café near the concert venue. I just had to sit there, a ball of emotions, waiting for the clock to strike at 8 p.m.
Same but different
It’s been two years since I last prepared for a show. Every step felt familiar, but it was still so different. The K-pop communal experience was what drove me to concerts. How was I going to feel that when I was stuck in my room, alone, and all the way in the Philippines?
But KCON cleared all these doubts. Much like in-person events, being an early bird still counted. Throughout the day, artists like ONF held “Breaking Lives” to amp up the anticipation. It was fun getting to see the other side of the boys as they played games, reading the excited tweets from Fuse, their fandom, just before showtime.
KCON week was always full of incredible artists, but for the finale on Sept. 26, the lineup was stellar. Getting two of the most popular K-pop acts like ITZY and The Boyz, together with the living legend Rain in one night was something only KCON could pull off.
INI, the much-awaited “Produce 101” Japan boy group was also set to debut a song for the first time in KCON. T1419, a rookie band that debuted in the middle of a pandemic, was thrilled to show fans the stages they prepared.
Even though the setup was a bit different, KCON went all out, taking fans around the globe. ONF brought us to Brazil, sharing the landscapes of Rio de Janeiro. The stage setups were still as dynamic as the usual arenas, sparing no expense while also making use of green screens and Zoom technology to show the live audience on screen.
When I saw my face right next to ONF, I was so stunned. The fan next to me was surprised so she scrambled to wave her banner for member E-Tion. We were just excited to let the boys know how loved they were, despite being miles away.
If fans were already used to seeing their idols on screen, how did artists adjust to the new normal of live events? What made KCON special was that it worked for both the fans and artists. KCON asked us to prepare message banners for ONF, a project to show how many fans all over the world supported them. The effort to show the boys how they comforted and made fans happy made the virtual setup more intimate, something we all longed for in this period of isolation.
Seeing acts like ITZY, who just made their comeback days before with “LOCO,” perform made the late hours worthwhile. The girls were known for their dazzling energy, their daunting style a trademark for every stage. It was easy to fall “Crazy in Love” with their vocals and powerful dance moves, making the night seem endless. A fellow MIDZY (their fandom name) from the Philippines even got a chance to talk to them on stage and show the girls her concert setup—a room full of ITZY photos and posters.
As I swayed to the final chorus of “Way to Go,” the show’s finale anthem sung by all the acts who performed, I realized that concerts really were about community, the spaces we create, may it be online or at an arena. I was there, with fans I didn’t know, just bopping our heads and showing off our moves in front of our webcams, laughing along like we were side by side at the stage barricade. Signs in Japanese, English and Korean littered the Zoom call, and we were all just smiling ear to ear as if we understood each other. It was a little calmer than what I was used to, but the excitement still transcended the screen.
The night was enough to fill me with nostalgia. It was hard not to compare the before and afters of the pandemic concert scene. Even though I was just made of pixels and flashed on screen for a few seconds, I still felt the presence of fellow fans. The concert itch was hard to scratch, but KCON:TACT managed to be the balm I never knew I needed.
So with concerts starting up again all over the globe, we look toward the future of live events here in the country as well. As we continue our fight against the pandemic, events like KCON provide a much-needed break from the realities of our everyday struggle. I’ll make sure not to miss the next one, so “let’s KCON together!”
KCON:TACT HI 5 was livestreamed exclusively for Filipino K-pop fans on Smart’s new GigaPlay App. Subscribers got first dibs to watch stars like Stray Kids, Mamamoo and ATEEZ throughout the week.