The last
time I wrote a blog about my Mnet Countdown experience back in 2015 it was fairly negative (half the line-up pre-recorded and didn’t show up for the live, security tried
to pull me out of the crowd for being “too tall”) but my 3 experiences in the
last month attending to see INFINITE have been fantastic, so I wanted to make
sure there was a positive post on my blog. Additionally, I also wanted to share
as much info with any people interested, that way you guys can all have an
amazing experience and see your faves one day too. I’ve done my best to include
questions I hear frequently along with some bonus tips.
How to get tickets:
Tickets are
for sale on the SM Town Global website, under the MCultour picture. You will
need to create an SM Town account (which is very easy) before you can actually
view the information. They are sold per month and the packages are updated
irregularly. So for example the tickets for October went up in late September
but only for the 1st week. Later shows were then added over the next
couples of days.
Scroll down
the information until you see the date listings (this can take a few seconds to
load). Select the show you want to go to and you will be taken to the payment
page (I paid with Paypal).
Tickets are
$83 USD and sell out insanely quickly (within the day of going up). Back in
2014 when I first discovered this package you could buy tickets like the day
before but now that this has taken off more, that is no longer the case. If you’re
serious about going keep your email alerts from SM on so you can be notified
when the tickets go up right away. If you do happen to miss out, it’s still
worth checking back and refreshing the page as they do upload cancelled
tickets.
Where to go:
The map of the route I take to Mnet
To get to
the Mnet studio location take the subway to Digital Media City and come out of
exit 2. Do not take exit 1, 4 or 5 as
that will put you on the completely opposite end of the rail tracks (a lesson I
learned the hard way) from there walk down the end of the street facing the
direction you come out of from exit 2, turn right, walk around 5 minutes and
the building will be on your right. Very hard to miss.
Once inside
the building head downstairs to the basement and find the information counter.
On tour days it will be set up with banners and very easy to find.
Before the show:
On the
basement level at the information counter there will be 3 sections; Chinese,
Japanese and English. This isn’t segregating by race but rather
from what websites the tickets were purchased (there are websites in Chinese
and Japanese also selling these tours).
Head to the
line for SM (or alternatively the other website if you booked from there). When
there you will be given a wristband with a ticket number and also an SM goodie
bag. The first 2 times I showed up early at 2pm (sign in doesn’t actually start until
3:30pm) and was like number 3. The last show however I came a bit later and was
number 27. So get there at a time reflecting how badly you want to get in first.
After the
initial check in groups are then split to go off and tour the studios. The
group leader generally gives a bit of information and you walk around the DMC
buildings for around 15-20 minutes. A nice touristy thing we were shown is the
handprint walk way.
My hand inside the print of INFINITE member Sunggyu's
If you don’t
feel like doing the tour it’s worth checking out the first floor. Many different
idols walk around, either to use the bathroom, buy snacks, or when travelling
between the waiting area and the stage upstairs. You likely won’t see major
groups such as BTS or INFINITE (their security is much tighter). But you will
likely see smaller and mid-tier groups (DIA and Monsta X today) who are much
more fun anyway because they’re way more likely to interact.
A picture of DIA member Chaeyeon I haven't had time to properly edit
After the tour
we meet back again in the basement to regroup and then someone from each of the
3 groups is picked as a representative. The representatives then play rock
paper scissors to decide the order we go inside. The first week the SM group
was last, the next week second and this week we were first! Just a side note on
this, make sure to thank your representative no matter what position you get
left with. No one wants to be responsible for the outcome of a game that is
mostly luck …unless one of the representatives studied human psychology well
enough to rig the game.
All the
groups will then be taken upstairs to then wait for an hour right out
front of the studio before they let us in. This sounds kind of excessively long
but when you think about it the staff have a lot to organise. First the Mnet
tour groups get in, we wait the longest but we also get the best positions.
Then the fandoms that have been waiting around all day with prerecording (or waiting since 4 if their group is only performing live) have
to have their order decided, and are then brought up one by one to line up and
wait. I think it’s way better to wait an hour and give them plenty of time to
do things right than be rushed around by people who have no idea what they’re
doing (the line at TRB in Sydney anybody?)
Waiting in
line is also a really great way to make friends with people who have similar interests.
I’ve met some awesome people in the line from different countries and fandoms
and am still in touch with many new friends as a result. But if socialising
just isn’t your thing pack your iPad and watch some movies, play on your phone,
listen to music, etc.
This week I made friends with a pink panda and we switched light sticks at one point. I took the photo without intending to upload it onto my blog so I've blurred faces for privacy (I wouldn't want to share without permission).
In the live studio:
Honestly the best spot you can get in the audience, trust me.
The last 3
shows I’ve been to the tour groups get first entry into the live, so even if
you’re in the third group (like I was in the first week) your spot will still
be awesome and there’s nothing to worry about.
This is the
best tip I can share on the experience, once you get inside, go for the far left
corner up the front. The idols come out to wait at the side of the stage before
it’s their performance and you can kind of talk to them. Pictures are strictly
banned so you won’t get to take any selfies with them, but it’s worth bringing a sign as you
can get your bias’ attention and they’ll
see you. Though after sharing this everyone else may start doing this
and this tip will be worthless, so go figure.
My
experience over the course of 3 weeks involved INFINITE and particularly my favourite
member Sungyeol (a blog named INFINITEly
inspirit SY stans Sungyeol of INFINITE? Shocking!)
The first
week I went with a sign saying “I <3 Sungyeol” along with my lightstick.
When INFINITE came out before their stage and were on the left side I called
out Sungyeol’s name and he saw. He read the sign and looked really pleased. I
then called out “Oppa choigoda!” ("You're the best!") and he did like a little dance whilst nodding
his head like “yes, yes I am”.
The next
week I went I forgot my sign, INFINITE won (YAASSSS BITCH) and performed an
encore of The Eye. As Sungyeol walked off stage and towards the exit at the end
I called “Choigoda” again and he looked back, recognised me from the week
before and made a heart sign with his fingers… I’m actually dead and typing
this blog from beyond the grave.
Finally
this week I forgot my sign again, but made another one on my ipad (queen of improv).
Again Sungyeol saw it and recognised me from the previous weeks and waved.
My *amazing* iPad work of art
There was
also a bonus interaction when we went in to the studio at 5:45pm today (show
starts at 6pm) INFINITE were rehearsing for their live. When walking off the
stage after their practise Woohyun’s mic was still on and he spoke to my
friends and I in English.
Woohyun:
Where are you from?
My friend: Canada!
My friend: Canada!
Woohyun: Ah
Canada!
Me:
Australia!
Woohyun: Oh
Australia! Wow nice to meet you! I love you!
Again.
Dead. Typing this blog from the grave.
So if you
prefer being up close with a great view of the performances, go the the centre.
If you want
a chance to interact with your bias, go to the far left and bring a sign to
increase your chances… just make sure not to block the view of people behind
you with it.
On another
note from my experience today, if you go to an Mnet show when BTS are
performing be prepared to feel like you’re in the WWE Royal Rumble. I’ve dealt
with pushing in crowds before but that was on another level.
WWE main event or ARMYs trying to get closer to the stage?
You decide.
Security warning:
Like every
rent-a-cop profession, the security at Mnet has a chip on their shoulder and a
need to assert their dominance over the fans. My negative experience last year
came when one pulled me out of the middle section of crowd for being “too tall”
and tried to make me stand in the back (I complained to SM staff and was then
put at the front so ha). This year I generally experienced getting shouted at
to “STEP BACK!” when I was in the front row and being pushed forward by the
people behind me. So to try and stop being pushed I would bend down (I’m tall,
177cm or 5’10) so that smaller fans behind me could see without feeling the
need to shove. Except then security would come and yell at me to “STAND UP!” so
I can’t win.
Foreigners
have a bad reputation at music shows for ignoring rules and play dumb using the
“hangukmal jal mothaeyo!” (“I can’t speak Korean”) card when confronted, so I
actually can understand the negative view to an extent. Additionally, I’ve
witnessed foreign fansites that use these packages to buy tickets close to the
stage and sneak in their SLR cameras. This unfortunately leads to security at
events being extra strict. One of my friends in line today told me that at a
different SHINee prerecording someone had been thrown out for simply looking at her phone, no cameras or
anything.
What I
would suggest is to be VERY VERY
careful with your phone. I went to show Woohyun a picture of my limited edition
black album of his solo that I was lucky enough to find, as he was waiting in
the wing. My phone accidentally showed the camera running as a background app
and I was nearly thrown out by the security guard. Without focussing too much
on that (as everything else was so amazing I don’t want it to bring
the experience down) I was able to show the SM staff at the end I had no photos
on my phone in my gallery or on any of my SNS was let off. But be VERY careful because they will look for
any excuse to kick you out.
My
suggestion is to print any photos you would want to hold up on paper, or make a
sign, so any mishaps like that are totally avoided. Keep your phone in your bag
or pocket and just out of sight completely for the show, even if you’re not
using a camera it’s not worth the risk. Should I go back another time that’s
exactly what I’ll be doing.
After the show:
Photo credits to: Hoya VaVaVoom [fansite]
If you’re
interested in seeing your bias one last time there is an area fans will line up
after the show to watch their cars exit the building. Just follow where the
majority of people go when you get let out. The idols will often roll down the
car windows and wave/call out goodbye to fans.
Security
can be hit and miss with how they treat the fans. Some weeks they let you stand
there and don’t harass people and just let the fans take pictures. Other weeks
they’ll be yelling “MOVE ALONG! GET BACK! MOVE ALONG!”
This is
honestly confusing and I wish there could be some consistency. Like if people aren’t allowed to do this then please
make it clear: Put up a notice on the websites and make sure the idols no
longer wind down windows to speak to fans if we shouldn’t be here. If we are
allowed then maybe come up with a better system than just 2 security guards shouting
at over 100 people and set up some barriers (like Music Bank). I don’t know what to do exactly, but it’s a mess.
If waiting
fifteen minutes for your favourite group to drive out in three seconds sounds
like it’s not worth the effort (to be real unless you’re a fansite who’s going
to snap a quality picture, it really isn’t) then your best bet is to just head
home, or maybe go out and have dinner with new friends that you’ve made in your
tour group. The show ends at 7:30pm which always leaves me starving after hours
of waiting and standing.
TLDR:
- Book tickets on SM global
- Tickets sell out very fast now so best to stay subscribed to their mailing list
- Meet in the basement and get there early for the best spot in your group
- Master rock paper scissors for the best odds of getting in front row
- Front left corner is the best spot in the studio
- NO CAMERAS
- Security hates foreigners
And that’s
my amazing Mnet Coutndown experience for you all and hopefully you guys can
have one too.
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