[Fan Acct] 2011 Dream Concert by Viktoriya

Because I Can: An International Kamilia's Account of the 2011 Dream Concert

This is a loose guide on attending the Dream Concert based on my experiences. But not really.

Step 1: Show up to the concert venue without a ticket. *

Step 2: Wander around until you find a Kamilia. Be sure to wear pearl peach merchandise so that they can easily recognize you. (I wore my WithKARA banner on my shoulder like a boss.)

Step 3: While lost, walk slowly so that a K-Kamilia can tap you on the shoulder and ask about your group affiliation. Once you confirm through limited Korean, broken English and body language that you are indeed a fan of the same group, rejoice as you just found your savior.

Step 4: Even though you don't understand a word of Korean, agree to whatever they say. Be rewarded with a spare ticket that was specifically reserved for reckless Kamilias. (Like me!)

Step 5: Personally call up the Korean Kamilia fan club manager multiple times because we're lost and we don't know what to do.

Step 6: Find said manager and proudly enter the venue with your head held high.

Step 7: Locate the KARA section and try to find a seat in the section closest to the stage.

Step 8: When you can't find an open seat, yell out loudly to disturb the people sitting around you. I like to complain how I came all the way from America for nothing.

Step 9: As you slowly stomp your way up the aisle, listen for anyone willing to speak up.

Step 10: Three to four stomps in, a kind English speaking Kamilia will yell out to you.

Step 11: Once you've had a shouting conversation to confirm nationalities and fan club allegiance, make your way to your new Kamilian buddy who's offered you a seat.

Step 12: Settle in your new seat and introduce yourself to your new best friends.

Step 13 (optional): You now have 3 hours until the concert starts. You may spend your time: doing nothing, eating junk food, chatting about your biases, doing KARA impersonations, planning future KARA related outings, listening to KARA songs, staring at people, spazzing at the banners and etc.

Step 14: Receive two pearl peach balloon from the Kamilia staff. Inflate them in your most dignified manner.

Step 15: Since you came unprepared, ask to borrow a marker so that you may write on your balloon. Here are some suggestions: 카라 대박, 카라 짱, names of the members and my personal favorite, best fcuking five.

Step 16: Learn the fan chants.

Step 17: When the concert starts and a member of KARA is one of the MCs, spazz every time she speaks or stands there while looking pretty.

Step 18: Feel free to shout whenever you see an artist you like. This warms up your voice for KARA. Also wave your balloon while you're at it.

Step 19: But save your best energy for KARA.

Step 20: When KARA comes up, get excited. Koreans like to express their passion through the volume of their voice while sitting down. I personally like to stand up and wave all my KARA merchandise at once towards the stage. (I mastered holding a balloon, a banner and a light stick at the same time.)

Step 21: When the music starts, realize you learned the wrong fan chant. Tricky tricky ninja girls.

Step 22: Yell your lungs out. Yell so hard and so loud that for the next 6 minutes, you have no idea what just happened except that it was one of the best moments of your life experiencing KARA's first performance since their contract dispute.

Step 23: Collapse back into your seat and try to contain your tears of joy.

Step 24: Get home safely and look up every fancam on what you missed since the sheer awesomeness of the performance has overwhelmed your senses turning your memory and everything else irrelevant.

Step 25: Repeat step 22.

In all seriousness, here are a few tips if you ever to do go to a Korean pop concert:

• Bring snacks and merchandise to share. Spread the love. It's what Nicole would do.
• Represent your pride with banners, light sticks, markers and even homemade placards. However don't bring your cds. Unless you really plan on listening to them, or getting them signed by some miracle. They're dead weight.
• Be nice to everyone. Don't be like this brash American shouting everywhere. Be respectful to everyone and uphold Kamilia's kind and polite reputation.

*Note: the Dream Concert is actually a free concert but tickets were given out on a lottery basis by participating gas stations. You either had to buy petrol or be a Korean student to get a raffle ticket. Don't worry about it because there are old men right outside selling concert tickets for 20,000 won if you so desperately want one.

For Photos: KH

All credits: Viktoriya @ Karaholic