Hormone fluctuations make you think and act differently (and no, I’m not talking about menopause). All sense goes out the window and K-pop driven emotions take over. When that happens. it’s time to just give into the fact that you are going to make some weird life decisions.
If you’ve ever read any of my previous Noona Chronicles, you’re WELL aware that I am a solidified ELF. Instead of telling you all about my day with the hotness of SM (specifically Super Junior), I’ll tell you my timeline of K-pop concert steps when I went to fangirl over U-KISS. I’m not saying you should do everything I do to get to your favorite idols, I’m just letting you know the lengths I have gone to being a dedicated noona fan with a job. I know others have done more, but hey, I do what I can with my resources and personal abilities.
Even if you aren’t a U.S. U-KISS fan, I am sure you can input your personal favorite K-pop band and current location in the following scenario. As a fan NOT currently living in the “Promised Land,” life gets a little bumpy when it comes to getting where I need to be to see who I wanna see.
Step 1: Getting Tickets and Time Off
U-KISS was coming and I knew damn well I was going to have to work when tickets went on sale; that’s just my life. How do I walk away from priorities so I can sit around and hit REFRESH for a few hours? Ugh, #EMPLOYEDNoonaProblems. I somehow managed to rearrange my schedule with a co-worker for ticket day. And if I hadn’t been able to get that day off, I would have considered taking some ME time. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and if there isn’t a way, at home I may have to stay.
It’s when the tickets actually went on sale that all hell broke loose and a busy noona was ready to throw her computer through the window. Tickets went up, servers went down. I hit refresh until it felt like the tip of my finger was numb, to no avail. A few times I got as far as the purchase check out screen only to have the damn site freeze up and lose my tickets. Damn you, server, damn you.
I counted the minutes go by. There went a few hours of my “adult” life
A few hours later…
OMG…I DID IT! I GOT TICKETS!
As soon as got my ticket confirmation email, I went to work requested time off in “the book,” the vacation bible. I walked out with my head high and mumbling that if I didn’t get my time off, some drastic measures would have to be made. Pretty sure I said that if I didn’t get my time off I would quit because K-pop is worth it! I know that is all nonsense, but sometimes, the will to work is low, and the need to fangirl is way too high. There’s no fun or use in going through Step 1 if I can’t even make it to the show.
Step 2: Pre-Show Anticipation and Travel
Alright, it’s a week or two before the concert. This is about the time I start getting the pre-show jitters. Work seems like a never-ending series of nuisance and boredom. Why can’t time go by faster? If you’re an undercover noona, you mark off the days in soul-killing silence. You can’t share your enthusiasm with anyone because you fear that typical “WTF is wrong with you?” glare.
I AM NOT THAT PERSON.
The day before the show was the day everything started to get stressful. I am a Midwest U.S. noona. I live near Chicago. So where did I decide to see U-KISS? SAN FRANCISCO. Yeah, this is because a lot of agencies don’t know of the existence of the land between California and New York. Psh, RUDE.
Thankfully I have a kindred spirit leaving near SF in the form of my friend Brie. No need for a hotel or rental car or getting lost in a new city? WHEW! A noona can breath and just take in the whole experience. K-pop is supposed to be my stress-free zone, my escape from the taxing norm. Noonas don’t get that often. We spend our days making the world go ’round. Not having to worry about things like transportation and shelter takes a load off your shoulders!
As the night before the big day approached, we told ourselves we were going to go to bed early, get a good night of deep sleep.
YEAH RIGHT.
It doesn’t work that way. I was hours away from the big day and my body knew it.
Step 3: Show Day
It’s SHOW DAY! We’re in front of the venue double digit hours prior to doors opening. We were surrounded by a lot of teenage hormones and at one point I started counting the minivans dropping loads of kids off in front of the venue. This is when I started to question if this was worth being KINDA broke, if it was worth the travel stress, and worth the effort as a whole. Why did I halt my entire life and and lose a week’s worth of money to take off across the country for A CONCERT?
Ok, yeah, it’s worth it. DUH. This is what I do. This is who I am. This is what makes me happy. I may be in my thirties, but that doesn’t mean I need to stop liking good music. Being over 30 isn’t a death sentence for your sense of excitement or curiosity OR for your musical taste.
Whatever. I don’t ca-a-a-a-a-a-are. I am sexy, free. and single and ready to show these kids that I still got what I had when I was 15 years old and losing my mind over Backstreet Boys.
WAIT! STOP THE PRESS! Time to adult freak out together because…
Surprise, surprise! We weren’t the oldest ones there! JOY! There were tons of women OLDER than us in line, and that seemed to rejuvenate my noona spirit even more. WE WEREN’T ALONE! There were women at least 10 years older than us that flew in from Japan just to see Kevin Woo in his hometown. Thank you, Japanese noonas, for allowing me to not be the oldest one in the room for once and reminding us we’re also NORMAL!
The hour before the show is when I start getting the most antsy. I just want to be inside. Not gonna lie, I just want to get in so I can sit my ass down for a few minutes, relax before the insanity begins. My damn feet and back hurt from hanging out on a hard, cold sidewalk all day.
“NO RUNNING!” security says. Psshh, ok, that’s fine. I am the master of the fast pace half walk/half run shuffle anyway. Main goal: STAY ON FEET and don’t humiliate self in front of U-KISS or the huge line of teens and pre-teens engulfing me.
Suddenly I am in. I’m really there. I made it to the inside and my heart is gushing like a burst pipe. It’s almost time…
[5 min pre-show]
COME ON. Why are they making me wait!? As an adult my body isn’t used to being out this long and I’m tired as hell. I work for a living and am not accustomed to this level of excitement for such a prolonged period of time. It takes a toll on a noona. I was lucky I didn’t fall asleep while waiting for the show to start. That would cement an old lady status and I refuse to let that happen!
FINALLY adrenaline kicked in and was ready to completely take over, but has yet to explode inside of every crevice of my body. It’s the calm before the feels storm.
[Showtime]
BOOM. The lights drop. Darkness. I have no concept of “calm” because I know what’s coming. IT’S TIME. The curtain opens and the spotlights hit the stage. There they are. OMG, U-KISS IS IN FRONT OF ME.
The next few hours are a blur of dancing, singing, thrusting, abs, and ear-piercing declarations of unrequited love, BUT NOT FROM ME. This is the time where age is literally just a number. This is where I enjoyed myself and gave no damns about what people thought. I got my cray on.
The finale came up and I feel my emotions start to take a turn. This is the when myself and the enitre crowd COMPLETELY lost it and rushed the barricade. It’s ON. No holds barred.
This is the end, this is it.
Step 4: Show After Effects
The lights are back on. The curtain is once again drawn shut. It’s over. It’s done.
I cried a little, it happens.
Good night, world. Sweet, idol-filled dreams to come. See you around noon when we finally wake up.
[1-4 weeks post-show]
I started feeling a little post show sadness disorder. Reality is again the norm. I was back at work, back to the everyday monotony. No more countdowns, no more anticipation, no more fun — back to that daily grind. BORING.
It was this way until I heard the BAP LOE 2014 US show announcements. GRRREAT… had to rebuild my bank account AGAIN—tickets aren’t cheap. I had to have that “emergency K-pop fund/gotta pay my real life bills” buffer. #AlwaysBeReady
As soon as those tickets went on sale, the whole process was on repeat. How do I explain to work I need a few more days off after only a three month gap between shows? Damn it, let me work on that sick voice.
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