SCT-Novel Chapter 145: Album (8)
Chapter 145: Album (8)
When idols debut or make a comeback, it is often said that they hold a showcase. A showcase, simply put, can be seen as an introduction. It’s like saying, “This is our concept, this is our group, and these are the kinds of songs we can perform.”In other words, it is the very first time they present themselves to the public before a debut or comeback.
To use a rough analogy, it’s similar to the sample tasting corner in a large supermarket. The new product is cooked right there to let customers smell and taste it. An idol’s showcase is just the same. It’s about letting people get a whiff and a taste.
Typically, idol showcases come in two types: one for reporters and one for fans.
Like a movie premiere, they first show themselves to the reporters, and then they meet the fans. In short, two showcases are held in one day. Through this, they provide material for reporters and joy for fans.
Since it’s their first unveiling to the world, whether it’s a debut or a comeback, the idol’s agency pours a great deal of effort into the showcase process, concept, outfits, venue, promotion, and so on.
In addition, a showcase serves as a barometer to gauge the idol’s current recognition.
If the idol is not very popular, neither the reporters nor the public may even notice the showcase happened. But for idols who have built up considerable buzz before debut, it’s an uproar from the start. Of course, most rookie idols’ showcases are usually quiet. It’s rare for things to explode right from the beginning.
However, ‘Vanguard’ was a completely different story from ordinary idols.
They had already gained momentum through ‘Produce That 100!’ and various other things. Moreover, they had a considerable Japanese fanbase. This means they had built up tremendous buzz and controversy. That’s why manager Kim Ki-baek, said,
“And how about holding the ‘Vanguard’ showcase at Gocheok Dome?”
He proposed Gocheok Dome for the ‘Vanguard’ showcase. As soon as he finished speaking, CEO Ha Seo-hwan asked back with a strange expression,
“…Gocheok Dome?”
The surrounding executives and staff frowned slightly or showed slight bewilderment in their eyes.
“Go, Gocheok Dome.”
“Manager Kim, are you serious??”
“Manager-nim… suddenly Gocheok Dome? That’s quite sudden.”
It wasn’t a strange reaction. And for good reason.
“You know, right? Gocheok Dome has over 20,000 seats.”
Because Gocheok Dome has more than 20,000 seats. Gocheok Dome is literally a dome-style baseball stadium. But Gocheok Dome has also been used as a concert venue for famous singers or idols. Since its scale was quite large, articles like this were often seen.
《Gocheok Dome filled with 20,000 seats, a historic concert!/Photo》
In short, while Gocheok Dome has several precedents as a concert venue, it has never been used for a showcase. So it’s only natural that the executives and staff were taken aback.
“To hold a showcase… at Gocheok Dome honestly, I think it’s going to be difficult.”
When people are presented with something they’ve never experienced before, they unconsciously become afraid. Especially when the scale is overwhelming.
“Weren’t we originally looking into a mid-sized performance hall for the ‘Vanguard’ showcase??”
“Gocheok Dome… that’s way too much. Not only do we have to fill all the seats, but the stage construction alone will cost at least double no, probably triple.”
“I think it’s a bit too much, honestly.”
The staff had valid points. No matter how much buzz ‘Vanguard’ had, they were still rookies. Moreover, even a typical showcase costs a lot to hold. If it’s at Gocheok Dome, which has more than 20,000 seats, the budget will easily multiply several times over. That’s just the cost of building the stage, not even considering the operations and promotions. As the size grows, the number of people hired will also increase drastically.
Even with just a brief thought, it felt overwhelming, and several staff members held their foreheads. Especially the departments in charge of budget management.
At that moment,
-Swish.
CEO Ha Seo-hwan, who had his arms crossed, slowly raised his hand. The murmuring staff fell silent, and he locked eyes with Manager Kim Ki-baek.
“Explain in more detail.”
He was asking why he had considered Gocheok Dome. Kim Ki-baek let out a small breath and replied, as if he had prepared his answer.
“Twenty thousand seats at Gocheok Dome. I think we can fill them all, which is why I brought it up. Um- do you remember when the ‘Vanguard’ members held a mini concert while they were on ‘Produce That 100!’?”
“That’s right.”
“At that time, several thousand seats were sold out. Of course, that was while ‘Produce That 100!’ was still airing, so it made sense. But since then, ‘Vanguard’ has grown in size several times over. I think 20,000 seats would be no problem.”
“No problem?”
“And, I also considered Vanguard’s concept.”
“……”
CEO Ha Seo-hwan subtly shot a look as if telling him to keep going. Kim Ki-baek glanced around at the surrounding staff.
“‘Vanguard’. The first, the unique, the leading. That’s the concept. But if we go with the same format, similar scale, and familiar vibe as other idols, it’s kind of… dull, right? ‘Vanguard’ has to be different from the start, launching with an impact that makes jaws drop, something unheard of. That’s how it fits the concept.”
Gradually, a sense of agreement began to ripple through the staff.
“And even if we don’t fill all 20,000 seats, it’s not a huge problem. With a bit of media play, ‘Vanguard fills over half of Gocheok Dome’, we’d still get a reaction. The core of Vanguard’s showcase is.”
“A historic first.”
CEO Ha Seo-hwan cut in during Kim Ki-baek’s briefing, his face full of interest.
“Something no idol has ever attempted. ‘Vanguard’ goes first, and the rest follow.”
“Mm- though wording-wise, ‘crushes it’ might be better than ‘attempts’, but yes, that’s the vibe.”
Tap, tap, tap. CEO Ha Seo-hwan rhythmically tapped the desk with his index finger. Then came a smile.
“Not bad. No matter how many people show up, it’ll hold symbolic value.”
At this point, Kim Ki-baek thought,
‘Time to throw a jab.’
He judged it was the right moment to poke CEO Ha Seo-hwan just a bit.
“Of course, it’ll cost a lot. But since you said not to worry about budget, this is just a proposal. If the scale feels too big, we can scale down.”
CEO Ha Seo-hwan smirked at him.
‘He’s subtly provoking me, saying “unless we’re broke, we should go for it.”’
Perhaps the nearby executives noticed as well; two of them narrowed their eyes slightly. But CEO Ha Seo-hwan didn’t mind at all. He was truly planning to stake everything on ‘Vanguard’.
“Gocheok Dome it is.”
He made the decision on the spot.
“Let’s not worry about other entertainment companies or idol groups. ‘Vanguard’ quietly walks its own path. Even if there’s interference, it’s fine if we overpower them physically. And the showcase, Gocheok Dome.”
At that moment, the female team leader of the A&R team chimed in.
“But… renting a place like Gocheok Dome just for a showcase feels a bit lacking.”
She was asking whether the content would be too thin for such a grand backdrop. Kim Ki-baek answered without even a second of hesitation.
“We solve that by combining the debut showcase with a debut concert.”
“You’re combining it with a debut concert??”
“Yes. Of course, since the focus is the showcase, the concert quality may be a little diluted, but that shouldn’t be an issue.”
This, too, was a first.
“‘Vanguard’ debuts not through a music show, but with a concert. Sounds good, right? Impactful.”
A short while later.
After the meeting, where many things had been decided, Kim Ki-baek called the ‘Vanguard’ members to the practice room and informed them of what had just been finalized. Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung all widened their eyes in shock.
“W-Where did you say??!!”
“Gocheok Dome… Gocheok Dome?? You mean the Gocheok Dome I’m thinking of?!”
“For real??? We’re holding our showcase at Gocheok Dome?!”
While the members were losing their minds, Kim Ki-baek remained calm. Or rather, his energy felt still.
“Yes. That Gocheok Dome.”
Gocheok Dome? Kang Rojun was just as surprised. He didn’t know the details, but he had a rough idea that Gocheok Dome was a big baseball stadium.
‘We’re doing a showcase in a giant baseball stadium like that? Is that normal? Judging from the members’ reactions, it seems far from standard.’
Recently, the members and Kang Rojun had been talking a lot about the showcase and debut. Now that the debut songs had been decided, they were imagining the future. But suddenly, Gocheok Dome? Soon, Kim Ki-baek continued.
“As you all know, Gocheok Dome seats over 20,000. But I think ‘Vanguard’ can definitely fill it…”
Kang Rojun’s thoughts began to blur as Kim Ki-baek explained slowly. Damn, 20,000 seats? The sheer number startled him. He expected it to be big since it was a baseball stadium, but hearing 20,000 made his heart pound. For the record, Kang Rojun had never once been to a baseball stadium.
‘Not just 20,000, but over 20,000?? Whoa- this is insane.’
The members froze. Rojun also felt a rise in tension. But Kim Ki-baek wasn’t finished yet. He went on to drop more information, like combining the debut showcase with a concert, a rough cue sheet for the day, and so on.
Lastly,
“From what I’ve researched, in the first half of this year, many rookie idols are debuting and, some big-name groups are making comebacks. In short, it’s going to be a real war zone. Sounds fun, right?”
He gave a faint smile.
After that.
The ‘Vanguard’ members gathered in the practice room were buzzing with conversation over what they had heard from Manager Kim Ki-baek. A whirlwind of emotions surged, excitement and fear, worries and concerns, anticipation and elation, and more.
“Gocheok Dome!! The dream stage of idols!”
“Crazy… Are we really doing our debut showcase at Gocheok Dome??”
“A showcase mixed with a concert, that’s seriously a first, right???”
“I honestly thought only the really huge idols went there.”
“Ugh, my hands are shaking. What if not many fans come?”
“Anyway, once this is announced, it’s gonna blow up!!”
“Of course it will. The press, our fans… this is gonna be a huge deal.”
In contrast, Rojun became unusually calm. He just watched the other members bounce around. Of course, he was a little nervous too, but not nearly as much as the others. Probably a difference in interests. Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung had probably seen many idols soaring on the Gocheok Dome stage, but Kang Rojun, honestly, had never seen it even once.
Right now, instead.
‘20,000 people, compared to the mini concert during ‘Produce That 100!’, it’s on a whole different scale, right?’
He found it kind of exciting. Though maybe he’d feel differently on the actual day.
The overly amped-up members soon threw themselves into training, while Kang Rojun moved to the studio. The moment he arrived, he had a lot on his plate.
But first, he picked up his phone.
He logged into YouTube.
To check out videos related to Gocheok Dome. But before that, he checked the ‘Vanguard’ channel first.
[Channel Name: Vanguard]
[Subscribers: 4.12 million]
[Videos: 8]
Before he knew it, ‘Vanguard’’s channel had surpassed 4 million subscribers. Compared to the initial spike at launch, the growth had slowed, but it was still increasing, so it wasn’t a problem.
“Manager said once we officially debut, the numbers will explode again.”
Rojun casually browsed through view counts and comments, then searched for ‘Gocheok Dome concert’. A flood of videos appeared. He immediately let out a small exclamation.
“Oh-”
The concert videos from top-tier singers and idols were awe-inspiring.
-♬♪
Tens of thousands of seats filled with fans, lighting shooting out from everywhere, a massive stage, and artists dominating that stage.
“…When tens of thousands of light sticks come together, it’s literally looks like field of stars.”
The sight of thousands of light sticks swaying in the dark Gocheok Dome was stunning even on video. He wondered what it would feel like to actually stand on that stage.
Goosebumps crept up Kang Rojun’s arm.
Just like that, Rojun watched Gocheok Dome videos for about an hour, imagining that one day, this would be his future. Then he lowered his phone.
‘Honestly, I can’t clearly picture myself at Gocheok Dome right now.’
But there was something he needed to do right now.
“First, work. Work.”
If he kept doing what he needed to now, one day he would stand on that Gocheok Dome stage. Filled with determination, Kang Rojun opened his laptop. He started with lyrics writing. The lyrics for the debut songs, ‘GreenBee’, ‘Windveil’, and ‘Flying Bell’, were already completed. He had also heard that they were officially confirmed in the morning meeting.
What remained now was.
“The Japanese versions.”
Writing Japanese lyrics for ‘GreenBee’, ‘Windveil’, and ‘Flying Bell’. Manager Kim Ki-baek had said it’d be good to have them ready, and Rojun also wanted to do it. As a review or study exercise.
-Swish.
Soon, Kang Rojun began scribbling Japanese quickly into his notebook.
And the next morning.
Leaving the dorm with the other members, Kang Rojun got into the waiting company van. Not long after, something made his eyes widen noticeably as he glanced down at his phone.
The reason was simple.
‘…A hundred million?’
There was a 100-million-won-level deposit in his bank account.