Chapter 90: Scope (3)
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung gave a simple introduction of himself and said he was able to come to HIT Entertainment thanks to Department Head Jo Anna, who was now the Department Head of the Planning and Operations Team.Visitt novelbin(.)co/m for the latest updates
Did Department Head Jo Anna scout him?
Do Wook thought to himself, but focused on the content of todays meeting for now.
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung introduced the project, saying it was his first project with HIT Entertainment so hed like a lot of help.
The project Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung was trying to start was a KK merchandise business.
Currently KK, like other singers, had basic goods prepared for sale each time an album was released.
The type of goods that were included in the fanclub kit and the cheering stick designs all based on Do Wooks ideas were produced in an unusual way, but it didnt feel like it was full-fledged.
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung, who had inherited the idea that Department Head Jo Anna had planned, was looking to increase profits by selling merchandise in earnest.
So, starting with this concert, were planning on starting a large-scale merchandise business.
The members nodded their heads as they listened to Team Leader Lee Dae Hyungs explanation.
First of all, well still sell the small goods that weve already been selling, like photocards, notepads, or hand fans, butwere thinking of turning the members into characters.
Character?
Ahn Hyung Seo, who enjoyed cartoons, reacted to the word character.
Yes. Well turn the members into characters while highlighting their individualities. I think we could commercialize it in a little more diverse way if we turn those characters into merchandise, starting with dolls.
Woah
The members nodded their heads. Honestly, if the goods did well it would be as good for the members as it would be for the company.
Compared to things like music files, broadcasts, and festivals, the money the members personally received from album sales or merchandise was significantly better. This was even more so when it came to personal merchandise that had their name or face plastered on it.
What style will the characters be in?
Do Wook, who had been listening quietly, asked.
For now were thinking of something simple like a cartoon or an animal character.
Actually, Ara Entertainment had already tried a character project with Sa Bang Shin Hwa previously.
However, compared to Sa Bang Shin Hwas fame, it ended up not being a very profitable business. It might have been different if it were a picture of the actual Sa Bang Shin Hwa, but the Sa Bang Shin Hwa-based characters didnt appeal much to the fans.
It was also a big issue that the characters had a negative vibe and not a positive vibe.
It was a memory he had from his time at Q Entertainment, where he studied it as one of the failed cases. He was sure Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung, who was a part of Ara Entertainment, was aware of that problem.
Do Wooks gaze became a little sharp.
I think the art style will be important.
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung nodded his head.
As it happens, there was a time at my last company where the character business failed. At that time, the feedback we received the most was its not pretty. Thats why this time, we plan on making it as cute as possible so it will appeal to the fans, who are the main target audience.
Oh, then I think animals would be good!
Ahn Hyung Seo yelled in response to what Lee Dae Hyung Team Leader said.
There are a lot of fans these days who say they want to do OrCo, so I think if we turned it into animals and made it not too noticeable
Jung Yoon Ki asked further,
OrCo? What is OrCo?
Ordinary cosplaylike pretending not to be a fan,
Suk Ji Hoon, who had been sitting next to him, calmly explained.
Lee Dae Hyung gave a thumbs up to Ahn Hyung Seos suggestion.
As expected, the members know the fans well. I also thought that going with animal characters would be good. Assistant Manager Ra Hee, you have the list of people who were picked to work on the project together, right?
Yes, we picked about three people and organized the data along with images.
Of course. Ah, but Im sad this was all the merchandise I was able to buy.
What did you buy?
Me? I bought a Do Wook badge and Hyung Seo photocard and hoodie.
Hurrrr. You bought a Do Wook badge? I didnt even get to see Do Wooks face.
I was in line since dawn. Do Wook merchandise sell out instantly.
Yeah. Ever since Do Wook did Get Ready 1999, auntie* fans were added to the mix, so its impossible to buy any Do Wook-related merchandise.
They said theyll open an online shop, so to buy it from there. Geez.
Ill have to. Do you see the character standing there? Its cute. They made all sorts of stuff to take all my savings.
Tell me about it. Man. But if they become even bigger superstars, would we even be able to get concert tickets? Its hard these days because Chinese fans are swarming here. If it werent for the fan club presales, I probably wouldnt have been able to see them.
Yeah. Ah, theyll probably be more popular by the next concert, huh?
It IS good that theyre gaining popularity, butwhat if we wont be able to see them anymore.
Tell me about it.
As they waited for the concert, the fans were easing their tension by frantically talking about various things.
The fact that it was their first concert was also making the members, who were getting ready, nervous, but it was the same for the fans who were waiting.
After waiting for a very long time, the concert hall doors opened and the endless lines of fans started to enter.
From the standing area to the 3rd floor audience area, the concert hall was jam-packed without even one open spot.
With their cheering sticks firmly in their hands, the fans waited for KK to make their appearance.
The lighting became dark and at the sound of the beat going boom boom the fans anticipation was at its peak.
Kyaaaaa to the sound of ear piercing cheers, KK came on stage.
On top of the darkened stage, the members saw the wave of shining cheer sticks cheering them on. The sound of their heart beating was getting louder.
They had encountered it already during the fan meeting, but the concert was something else.
Their first solo concert.
KK started by performing their debut song Sorry but I Love You, then Very Sorry, even LAST DANCE, and their latest song Howl.
Do Wook, along with Ahn Hyung Seo, even performed two of their songs from the hip hop unit album.
Additionally, album subtracks were turned into performances that had never been broadcasted before and performed for the first time for the fans.
Unlike during the fan meeting, the concert continued without many remarks.
The KK fans were completely engrossed into the performances that went on without a moment of rest.
KK was performing so well that it was hard to believe that it was the first solo concert.
Of course because they were so nervous, during time for remarks Jung Yoon Ki forgot his cues, or Suk Ji Hoon who wasnt used to the changed choreography briefly made a mistake, but it was such a small mistake that it was difficult to notice.
As the concert was coming to an end, not only the KK members but also fans who were enjoying the performance in the standing seats were drenched in sweat.
The concerts last song was an acapella version of Windy Day.
The members set up a standing microphone, stood in a line and started singing Windy Day. Paper pollen that were prepared in stage equipment began to blow.
The lyrical melody made their minds calm down.
As the members committed the sight of the fans to their memories, they recalled the hectic days they had endured until now. They still had a long road ahead of them.
At that moment, the VCR screen that had only been showing the KK members started showing unknown figures one after another.
The fans were buzzing. And the members, who had checked the VCR screen, started to cry.
Do Wook turned around while holding the microphone and stared blankly at the screen.