which concert is it? i think it’ll depend on who you’re going to and what kind of ticket you have (seated or standing)

You’re going to have a blast! The experience will totally be worth it! ☺️☺️☺️ Be careful of the weather! If it’s inside/outside… you’ll most likely need a clear bag. Be ready to wait in line. Don’t let your friend drag you down! I went to a concert with a friend who literally was like wtf is this.. and after the show he was singing and dancing and asked me to make him a playlist lol

This question is asked fairly often, just put “concert” or “first concert” into the search bar if you want to look through all the comments that have been posted previously :) lots of good advice!

K-pop concerts are the best. No drunks. The merch lines are usually insane, but the crowd is nice and polite. Been to hundreds of music shows of all genres. K-pop crowds are the best!

Usually the ticketing website emails you info on what the rules are at your concert location or you can go to the stadiums website to find their rules. Usually it’s a small see through bag. I bring big pants with more pockets bc the bag process can take longer to get through security

Hydrate. Before, throughout, and after the concert.

Have some sugar sachets or candies. People do tend to go into hypoglycemia shocks sometimes, immediate sugar consumption helps.

Use a clear bag for concerts. Some venues do not allow opaque bags. Better to be safe, use clear pvc bags or something similar.

Have a hand fan (electric/non electric depending on your venue restrictions).

Research beforehand what items are allowed inside the venue. Usually venues have guidelines in their websites.

Research transport to and from the venue based on when concert starts and ends.

It will get hot inside stadiums/arenas etc if they are closed roof. Layer your clothes so you can take off/put on as needed.

Phones need to be charged, carry powerbanks if the venue allows.

Rest up - at least the day before the concert. If you are traveling to attend the concert, maybe book the return ticket later in the day because you will definitely be tired in the morning the next day.

Comfortable shoes. Regardless of whether you are sitting, standing, queueing for a long time. Comfortable shoes, soft soles are gonna be your best friend.

Hope this helped!

Ear plugs: always wear them because your hearing is important

Carry deodorant wipes/mini deodorant because when you start to sweat in pit, its gonna smell real bad. 

Sunscreen/hat: especially if youre queueing outdoors for hours, you dont want to get sunburned and people tend to forget about the top of the scalp.

Signal is super spotty sometimes, I made a text group with my friends in case I dont have data.

Layers too: I often travel to the bay area for concerts where its warm during the day but super cold at night, so I always carry a packable jacket so im not freezing.  When im in a super sunny area, long sleeves/pants to cover more skin in case I forget to reapply sunscreen.

Always carry a portable charger, I carry one thats about the size of my phone, just so if people near me are running out of battery, they'll at least can borrow the charger so their phones won't die.

People have been covering safety, so I'll cover some etiquette. Keep your phone and lightstick or poster (not a fan of those) at eye level. Singing at a reasonable level and screaming in short intervals at a reasonable level are fine. Screaming when they're talking is not polite. There seems to be an attitude lately (and especially in KPop) that since people pay, they can act however they want. It's not a private concert. Other people deserve to enjoy their concert too, and hear the singing and music and see the members. I've had my last concerts pretty much ruined by the people around me. One was screaming throughout the entire concert so loudly that I was flinching. The next, people had headbands on with long ears and kept putting pickets above their head. The next a girl was standing on her seat. Luckily I was able to flag security. I will tap people on their shoulder if they're blocking others with their phone. It's so selfish to not consider others in the fandom. We all want to have a great experience. Rant over. :) I hope you have a great time!

I’ve been going to concerts for 16 years and specifically kpop shows for 9 years. Honestly, the biggest things are to stay hydrated and dress comfortably.

You’ll have to double-check with venue rules if you’re allowed to bring a water bottle inside. I usually just bring a disposable one to drink while in line so I can toss it in the garbage before I get scanned in. Though usually venues are fine with empty reusable bottles as they tend to have water stations there. Hydrate throughout the day. Head to the washroom before the show starts. I’ve been to a couple venues that have essentially no AC and that’s where it starts to get risky. Being hydrated throughout the day will help.

Please note that even if you have assigned seating, you will be standing at least 95% of the time. Comfortable shoes are key. I’ve made the mistake of prioritizing fashion over comfort. You will feel miserable.

There’s really no reason to line up super early for a concert if you have an assigned seat. General Admission (GA) is a different story. If I have an assigned seat, I don’t really care to line up any earlier than an hour or two before the concert starts. I’ve shown up to a concert right at the start time and made it in before the show actually started. 2 hours is best if you need to pee before the show. Lineups will be long for both getting in and washrooms. If I have GA, how early I line up depends on if I care to be up front or not.

Don’t bring a bunch of stuff with you. Some venues have bag size restrictions and may even require clear bags only. Double-check their rules. In my experience, purses and very small backpacks have been fine.

General Etiquette: Don’t be one of those people that bring signs or film the entire time. It’s totally fine to record a couple songs you like. Everyone does it. But the worst thing is to consistently block someone’s view. I’m short, so the odds of a good view are usually against me. Even worse if some goof is holding a sign or filming the entire concert.

Edit: One more thing, ensure you have your plan set for how you’ll get to/from the venue. Whether it be a ride, public transit, or Uber/Lyft. Leaving a concert is always chaotic because literally thousands of people are leaving at the same time. If I’m taking an Uber, I just hang back for 30+ mins waiting for the crowd to die down. If I’m taking public transit, I ensure I have a few bus/subway/train times already researched. If I’m getting a ride, I ask them to meet me away from the venue, like a nearby coffee shop.

dont film the whole thing or watch the whole concert beforehand 💀 however this was ten years ago when i was 15

as someone that has also gone to a bunch of different concerts, here are some things that might be different about kpop concerts

there will be fans that will not budge on their spots in general admission. this is just something at all kpop concerts. there will be fans that will be queuing far in advance for the show just to stand as close to the stage as possible.

xikers has their own lightstick, so there’ll obviously be lightsticks that people will wave around during the concerts. international fans tend to sing along for the entire song (like normal concerts) but every now and then they might start singing a fanchant. you can find these online and they’re usually posted by the artist themselves.

at kpop concerts, artists will regularly go off stage (mostly to change outfits) every now and then (every 5 or so songs) and there would be a video on the main screen to fill the time. if you’re not super invested in whatever they’re showing you could just use this as a bathroom/bar break, that is if you don’t care a lot about your spot either

another thing from kpop artists is that every now and then they will also take a break between to introduce themselves or just talk about something, usually this’ll be in korean followed by a live translation.

the setlist is fairly rigid usually, they don’t switch up songs between shows. as for the performance of some songs, a lot of them will have choreography, but others will just be the group singing. usually the very last song they’ll sing along but they’ll just run around the stage, maybe doing some choreography but mostly grabbing gifts, filming videos on fans’ cameras, and interacting with the crowd.

one thing that might annoy you or the artists are fans that are desperate for interaction. usually they’re younger but there are older ones too. at a kpop concert this can be screeching whenever there’s a moment of quiet and the artists are on stage, or putting their hands up to gesture something that they hope the artist gestures back.

not a huge deal but fans will also usually wear outfits they think are iconic for whatever group they’re seeing.

and an extra thing is that as someone that lives in the netherlands, a country with taller people on average, i’ve noticed that the standing crowd at concerts seems to always be on the shorter side. this might not matter but thought i’d mention it just in case.

i didn’t realize how long this comment got. sorry! and i hope this can be of use when it comes to preparing for a kpop concert.

I'm in atl but will be missing the Xikers concert, but I do recommend small talk with people you're next to! Great way to make friends who also are interested in kpop. I went to NCT127 in atl (my first concert) however I talked to some people and had a good time. I was a little awkward at first thought 😅

Also to add usually at kpop shows there will be some fans that pass out fanmade gifts/freebies.

would you like to join my xikers concert gc on insta? :3

Same boat as you, and here’s what I can tell you after seeing them:

You know how most rock concerts there can be a stigma against wearing the band’s shirt? Like a, “Don’t be that dude, that’s lame” type of attitude? Complete opposite for K-pop!

Wear that BLACKPINK shirt! Wave that lightstick proudly! Get all the accessories. DANCE. Dress up as your favorite girl from your favorite music video (if you’re a girl ofc). Show off everything BLACKPINK about you! If not, that’s totally fine too!

The vibe is so much friendlier and more fun, and fans are beyond ecstatic about the girls. The moment they hit the stage was magic (even though we were climbing to our seats lol) and the cheers continued each time each girl was on screen. Just an ocean of pink lights across 70,000 fans. That was my experience in LA and I’ll never forget it.

Just have the most fun ever without a care in the world! No one judges, no one cares; they’re all there for the girls!

Also there’s no opening act, and merch lines can be lonnnng, so get there early!!!!

keep in mind the crowd will likely be younger than a metal show.

each of the girls will have a solo stage, please cheer for them equally!!

you might be in a section with some people more focused on recording the show for content rather than enjoying it. these people are buzzkills and you should just ignore them.

lastly, have fun and get a lightstick if your budget allows!!

Get a light stick if you can! The blackpink specific one. It's such a vibe at a k pop concert.

As someone who used to go to a lot of rock and metal shows, people at kpop shows are much nicer and less drunk haha.

Just have fun. Expect everyone to stand up during the show. There aren't any openers and the show will last 2-2.5 hours.

The cheering will be LOUD. Much more loud than any rock show ever will be lol.

Get a lightstick to remember the show by!

People are friendly, you'll be ok.

As a side note, if you're taking pics or recording, please remember that you'll block the view of the people behind you if you have your hands up with your phone/camera. So try to keep that to a minimum. Plenty of people don't respect that but it should be common sense.

Don’t worry - within 2 mins of the concert starting your smile will make you forget your nervousness.

The best thing about concerts is the energy of the crowd when everyone’s cheering as loud as they can and having a great time. You’ll love it.

Also, floor is always the best. Nothing like being in the middle of 5000 people all dancing to your favourite song!

I haven't been to a kpop concert, but I went to a lot of other types of concerts when I was in high school (so when I was underage). A few were at bigger venues, but most were at maybe medium venues. Others will have better answers for when to arrive and how long you should/would have to wait in line, as it's dependent on both the venue, and the artist's popularity. In my experience, venues will open doors before show with enough time to get everyone who's waiting there in well before the show actually starts. So if you have assigned seating, then it shouldn't matter a ton, as you will likely get to your seat before the show starts. If you have floor tickets, or otherwise a situation where the spot you get inside is more like "first come, first serve" then you'd want to get an earlier spot in line if you want to be closer to the stage, or if you want to be at barricade, or something like that.

Did you buy tickets already? How tickets work will depend on the venue. Check your purchase info to see if you can print them out at home, or if you need to pick them up at the venue (usually called "will call" I think). If you can print at home, great! Print at home, and bring them with you when you go to the show. If you have to pick them up at the venue, check if it has any info about when you can pick them up. Some venues will have them for pick up any time after they go on sale, other venues won't let you pick up until day of the concert. If the latter, then either you'd want to pick them up earlier that day, or get to the venue extra early for the show since you'll have the extra task of picking up tickets, and that itself could have it's own line you have to wait in, or if it's also in the merch area, it could be busy, etc.

Once you have your ticket, and you're entering the venue, there will be staff at the door checking tickets. Have your ID handy just in case too, sometimes they might ask for it. Depending on the venue, they might give you a wristband or a stamp on your hand. Though this is usually more common for something like a festival/multiple events or artists/major mainstream artist tour (wristband), or for venues (especially smaller ones) that serve alcohol, and either only minors will have a stamp, or they will have a different color one (hand stamp).

Check the venue's bag and items policies on their website. These days most venues will only allow you to bring in a clear bag up to a certain size. Some venues won't allow you to even bring unopened bottle of water, but some venues don't care about that. So it's always safe to check. Most venues won't allow DSLR style cameras. Depending on the artist or venue, they may also not allow smalelr point&shoot cameras. Double check on the website their rules for taking video and photos with your phone. Both are usually fine to do, as long as you are not obviously filming the entire show, or not streaming it. You can also look around during the concert and see what others around you are doing, and base what you do off of that. I'm sure plenty of people will be taking video clips and photos, people usually do at concerts. If you do bring something like a bottle of water, be prepared to potentially be asked to toss it when you're entering the venue, but hopefully they won't ask you to do that. If they do ask you to do that, you can still sometimes get a new one from snack vendor or from vending machine in some venues, or if it has a bar, you can still ask for just water there even if you're underage. Bars will have water and soda too lol.

Bring your phone for safety reasons, and for taking photos, and good to bring some money for merch or drinks/food you might want to buy there, but otherwise it's probably a good idea to not take anything you can't afford to lose, just in case. Bring whatever you'd usually bring when going out, and that will fit in the bag size the venue allows. (Like for me, this would be wallet and ID, chapstick, phone, water bottle, a baseball cap and/or beanie depending on the weather, maybe a light second layer like a flannel, and then maybe something like a book if I know I have a long train/bus journey I'll need to kill time on, or a long time to wait outside the venue.)

Also, don't be afraid to talk to others sitting near you if they look around your age! I sometimes met really cool people at concerts when I'd go alone. It was always nice to then have someone to wait with outside to meet the artist afterwards at smaller venues, so that I didn't feel awkward standing there alone while all others there were with friends. Usually I didn't gain any long term friends from hanging with others I met at the show, but I did once, and she became my concert buddy and we went to lots of concerts together.

A lot of people have asked this you're not alone!

You'll have a lot of luck if you use the search bar and type something like "first concert", there are a ton of in-depth answers for first time concert goers on this subreddit! A lot of awesome people took love and time to leave answers that will ensure you have the best time and have all your worries addressed. (: Have fun at the concert!

I don’t really follow Dreamcatcher, so I don’t know what their concerts are like exactly; I imagine they’re probably pretty similar to most of the other ones I’ve been to though. But in general, Concerts will be a little different depending on the group and the venue. Concerts that are in arenas/stadiums with assigned seats, you usually don’t have to arrive too early. You can go maybe an hour before (the start time) if you want to wait for merch, otherwise your seats will be waiting for you whenever you get there; whenever I have assigned seating tickets and I usually show up like maybe 30 minutes before the start time. For concerts that are general admission/standing only, I like to show up two or three hours before so I can get a better spot to stand; for someone really popular that I know is gonna be a huge crowd, then even earlier than that sometimes. Some people show up earlier in the morning, just depends how dedicated you are and how close of a spot you want.

As for what I bring with, bag size is usually limited, and I also like to bring as little as possible so I don’t lose anything or have anything stolen. I usually bring my back up battery and phone charger, some make up to do touchups, my ID and some cash or a credit card, and maybe some other random odds and ends, but that’s pretty much it. Oh, and a light stick if I have one for that group.

Keep in mind this is coming from someone who’s been to concerts in the US and Korea, but I don’t think it will be majorly different in the Netherlands.

Korean concert crowds are much less crazy than the west. You probably won’t have any issues, unless the band is actively encouraging it (and even then, it’s rare)

They're not as passionate as the West. They're more mild and less "enthusiastic." That may be good or bad for you, but I think they're doing it because they're trying to be respectful. My favorite concert crowd is from the Philippines. They are so passionate and energetic.

You should be fine. Concerts here are pretty chilled out. ‘Mosh pits’ if they happen are very relaxed. More like group jumping.

Anyway. You dont have to stand at the front. If it is too much for you … just move backwards to a calmer part of the crowd.

I attended some rock concert (다브다 band) and it was very calm (but not packed, so maybe that's why ?). I doubt the crowds are super crazy especially compared to the west..

Silly me made around half a year ago 10만원 reservation for a standing concert ticket of a rock band I really like and I had totally same feeling like you few hours before the concert (actually I was thinking to fully cancel my ticket). 😂

Korean fans are quite considerate at concerts. Just enjoy your time. 🔥

That's a fun write up, it's interesting to see the viewpoint of someone unfamiliar with Kpop. I myself went to their US tour, they had significantly less talking in their normal concert lol.

I actually think IVE is one of the more ideal first concerts for Kpop newbies. They're big enough that they're likely to get nice venues and be able to give a show that's more flashy than a standard American concert.

And at the same time, they're not too out there or weird. Their songs are friendly. And they put in great effort to put on a good show. When I attended they felt akin to watching Disneyland performers. They wanted to preserve the magic for fans.

Encores are also different from kpop concerts. Kpop groups act like they're going away so fans start chanting "Encore" only for the idols to come back with another song or two in different outfits.

a friend who's living in seoul always says that IVE is massively popular among younger/middle school kids. that photo of the parents waiting outside made me laugh so much hahaha, very cute!

this is a great article as reference for first-time fans who want to watch them in korea! but youre definitely lucky you got tickets that close to d-day!

IDK dude. This was well-written but I feel like you're trying to paint this entire Fanmeeting (which it was, and not a concert) - as something bizarre and odd. It felt more like you were trying to portray it as some sort of weird spectacle rather than giving it the same legitimacy of the concerts you've mentioned in your own article. I also didn't really like the way you kept referring to the ticketing experience as "designed to keep us outside", making it sound like non-Koreans aren't welcome.

It’s just how fanclub pre-sales and Korean ticketing apps work. Locals jump through hoops too. It is absolutely possible to purchase tickets as a foreigner via the global versions of their ticketing websites (usually, Global InterPark). Also, this was a FANMEET. This is meant for true fans of the band to attend so ticketing for these is usually much more difficult - not to keep foreigners out, but to prevent scalpers from snatching up all the tickets and selling them at five times the price (which is what keeps happening in the USA with Ticketmaster....).

One thing I noticed was that you barely touched on their actual performance — the live vocals, the intense choreography, and the high production value. That’s what makes a lot of people love K-Pop so much, and it felt like you sidelined their talent to focus on how odd the format seemed to you.

Finally, that "Lightsticks pair well with a Labubu" comment… it read less like an observation and more like “lol these kids and their silly toys.” It added to the dismissive vibe. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m more amazed you didn’t get scammed, OP 😂 But if it’s any comfort the global site wouldn’t have helped you anyway, this fanmeeting sold out immediately.

(Also the site you found about fan concerts was downplaying the difference a bit. Kpop concerts in Seoul are often 25+ songs and run 3+ hours, but I’ve been to fanmeetings with as few as 7 songs before.)

I'll first say this was an interesting read! It is actually quite fascinating to see how kpop norms are perceived by non kpop fans (or muggles as we like to call them haha). But I do think it's a bit naive to think just because concerts are done one way in one country means they're done the same in another, or even another genre of music. For example if I go to a metal concert for the first time I'm sure there will be things I'll be culture shocked by as someone who has no exposure to that genre or fan community. But also while it's completely up to you to choose how you spend it, reading that you spent a good time on your phone going down irrelevant rabbit holes during the actual concert didn't really give me the best impression...

For some extra context, yea you did stumble into a fan concert not a regular concert; had it been a regular concert you probably wouldn't be so perplexed by everything. For example the "finding the camera" activity is a really popular thing that groups do at fan meetings these days, especially girl groups. Fan concerts place a lot of emphasis on interacting with the crowd through activities, games, talking and just having fun.

Second, IVE is huuuge with younger girls in Korea, typically primary to middle school aged, so you were in their home ground with their main demographic.

With the ticket buying, Korea also has their own ticketing platforms (usually interpark) where foreigners typically have to use the global version of the service. Maybe you were trying to look for the Korean version instead I'm not sure, but it is still completely possible to buy tickets in Korea as a foreigner. Buying resale tickets on the other hand is more complicated because as you experienced tickets are tied to the buyer's ID as an attempt to prevent scalping.

All in all yes if you stumble into a genre/industry of a country that you are not familiar with of course there will be things you will be shocked by. That's not just for kpop, but the thousands of other genres out there. It was definitely interesting to see you guys give it a go despite all the obstacles, while IVE may not necessarily be for you I hope it doesn't deter you both from exploring other kpop groups.

I thought this was well written and captured a unique experience for you. But I seriously could not understand or relate to the urge to get out of there. Okay so you realize that the concert was not for you, but since you had already been watching the whole thing with the detachment of an alien observer, why was it so urgent to get out of there and not observe and document the final bits of the foreign ritual? Or was that more of a construct to complete the climax of your fish-out-of-water narrative framework?

some general stuff:

• bring a phone charger + battery

• if you have a lightstick bring some extra batteries

• always make sure to have your wallet (with cash, cards, and ESPECIALLY your id if you have one)

• be prepared to stand for a long time

• wear comfortable shoes (a life saver)

• any items like phones, lightsticks, posters, make sure you don’t hold them up in the air extremely high, shoulder height is the go to!

If you have anymore questions I’ll try my best to answer!

Don’t be afraid to make friends in line because you will be standing for a very long time

Make sure to have the ticket

powerbank and earplugs. a must

Review the rules of the venue beforehand. Some have strict rules about types of bag you bring (some need a see-through bag, some just have a size limit). Food and drink may be prohibited, so only bring what will help you get through the potentially long line up, especially if you have to wait out in the heat. They may not allow a reusable water bottle inside the venue, so again, check those rules out

Comfy shoes are super important. I’ve only been to 3 kpop shows where I didn’t have to stand the whole time. Standing is typically required even if you have seats. Your feet will definitely hurt after. Also, venues can be hot. I’ve been to a couple small venues that people were nearly passing out (including myself). Usually it’s not that bad. Just depends on the venue

I’ve been to many kpop shows solo. People in line and people at your seat are great to chat with while waiting for the show. I’ve even made friends that way! Sometimes fans even make their own freebies to hand out to people in line

If you have a lightstick, put new batteries in it before the show and test that it works. Fully charge your phone beforehand as well. Never leave your phone in your back pocket. Only front pocket or purse that you will wear throughout the show

Bring ID if you have it. Bring cash with you. Merch is always sold at shows, but it’s usually expensive so be prepared for that if you want any