How to prepare for your next K-pop concert
Tour announced, tickets purchased… Now what's next as you countdown to the best night of your life?!
Image: Helena Sim for Cherry Chu Magazine.
So, your favourite K-pop artist has announced their upcoming concert tour, and you’ve been lucky enough to succeed in getting those all important tickets that you’ve been dying to get your hands on… now what do you do as you countdown to the best night of your life?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here’s a list of key things to do to make sure you’re ready for when the big day rolls around.
Keep your tickets safe
Make sure that you’ve read all the terms and conditions concerning your tickets. Different ticketing services have differing methods of distribution and acceptance of tickets on the day.
Sometimes you may be emailed an E-ticket, sometimes they will be available to download from an online account, and other times you may even need to download a specific app. Keep an eye on your emails for any updates regarding ticketing, and always read everything carefully to make sure you hit no hiccups on the day getting into the venue.
Plan travel & accommodation
No matter how far you’re travelling to the concert venue, make sure you’ve fully researched and booked any necessary travel tickets or accommodation. If you’re travelling far, the sooner you book your train tickets or flights, the more likely you are to get a deal or a discounted rate.
Similarly, if you’re planning on staying overnight nearby before or after the concert, then it’s a good idea to book this as soon as you’ve secured your tickets. Hotels and Airbnbs will book up quickly, or may even hike their prices up if they catch wind of a big concert happening in the area.
Map out getting to the venue
In terms of getting to and from the venue on the night, it’s incredibly useful to look up your routes so that you can get there at the time you wish and as hassle-free as possible.
Whether you want to get to the venue early to queue for that precious standing spot, or if you simply want to rock up on time to take your seat before the action begins, it’s a good idea to give yourself enough contingency time for any delays or issues on train lines or roads.
IU at the OVO Arena Wembley. Image: Chelsea Cheetham for Cherry Chu Magazine.
Likewise, it’s imperative to your safety to carefully plan your route home. Getting out of a concert, especially when it’s a large arena or stadium, can be very busy and hectic. As opposed to the staggered entrance that happens on the way to a concert, at the end every single person is leaving at the same time.
Make sure you know a couple of routes home, as train/tube/bus stations sometimes get shut late at night or when concerts are happening nearby. Apps, such as Citymapper or simply Google Maps (not sponsored), can be incredibly helpful in these situations. They give you very accurate information of multiple different types of routes to get to your destination.
Plan your outfit
K-pop fans are known for dressing incredibly well at concerts. Whether it be dressing up like your bias from your favourite group or simply taking inspiration from your artists’ colour palette, K-pop concerts are a fabulous place where you see outfits of all kinds.
The K-pop fans above show off their matching ‘angel/devil’-esque outfits. Image: Gabii Rayner of Cherry Chu.
Whether you want to be dressed for the gods or comfy in your favourite jeans and tour t-shirt, you do what feels right for you and look forward to seeing a plethora of outfits at the venue! If you’re looking for outfit idea inspiration, try checking out our article ‘How to dress for a K-pop concert’ for more ideas.
Make a concert playlist
In the run up to the concert, you’ll surely want to be getting in the mood to see your favourite artist. Why not make yourself a specific playlist geared towards hyping yourself and/or your friends for the concert? Pop all your favourite tracks in a playlist and have it on constant repeat. Or if the tour has already begun, find the set list from a different leg of the tour and make yourself a playlist so you can sing along to every track when concert day arrives. Whether you like to be surprised or know every song coming, having a concert playlist is a sure way to get you ready for the big day.
Now all the practical stuff is done, you’re dressed in style and hyped up to the max — all that’s left is to stay safe, have fun and live your best K-pop life for the night!
Edited by Isabel Miller.
