Chapter 379: 4th Competition (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 379: 4th Competition (1)
The day after I gave the order, Lee Cheong-hyeon and Kang Gi-yeon bundled up, covering their faces, and went on a tour of the department stores. To avoid leaking spoilers for Idol Dynasty Annals (A.Wang.Sil), I told them to pretend to take proof shots in front of brands Lee Cheong-hyeon modeled for. Consequently, sightings of them popped up all over the place.
I was worried they might forget their actual goal while performing the diversionary mission, but it was a needless concern.
"The sound is a bit low, but you can hear it. You don't notice it if you're not paying attention, but once you start focusing on it, it’s all you can hear."
"On the other hand, in this department store, the background music gets completely buried by the sound of conversation if even a small crowd gathers in the lobby. It’s not exactly chaotic, but we might lose track of the music."
"They said there’s an integrated broadcasting center that controls the music for the entire department store. There’s one location that uses an outside audio company, so if the venue is booked there, we’ll need to make inquiries early."
"I heard they can turn the volume up, but since some individual shops play their own music, they can't make it too loud."
They had conducted their research thoroughly. As a reward, I handed each of them a handmade "Jeong Seong-bin's One-Time Patience Nullification Ticket." Even as Jeong Seong-bin asked if it was okay to issue such things so recklessly, he kindly stamped the tickets for them.
"Are you really going to match the performance to just the background music?"
Choi Je-ho’s question was thick with skepticism.
"No matter if it's for a broadcast, making a racket in a place used by many people will only hurt our image. I have no intention of letting a 'Controversy' section be created on Spark's wiki page."
Furthermore, it’s basic protocol to prevent avoidable accidents before they happen. What if the recording cuts out or picks up too much noise while filming in a place with unstable acoustics?
However, if we secure the background music in advance, there’s no need to worry. We can just add a post-production touch-up when the video is uploaded. If it’s an issue with the filming equipment or the site itself, the broadcasting station will handle that much work.
"Once the branch is decided, let's get the playlist first. Seong-bin, work with Cheong-hyeon on the comments. Ju-woo, help Je-ho and Gi-yeon."
"We have to film the meeting scene the day after tomorrow. What are you going to say you're doing, Hyung?"
"I'll be the communications manager. From now on, all opinions must be relayed through me."
With that, all preparations for the televised meeting were complete.
Those spiteful broadcasting people. If they notify us that they've booked the department store with the worst facilities after all this, I’ll be praying for their viewership ratings to tank.
Spark's meetings always had a tendency to defy the production team's expectations.
"The important principles are as follows: providing a fresh stage experience that Spark hasn't shown before, securing immersion that can catch the eyes of passersby, and finally, refraining from causing noise."
The meeting ahead of the 4th Competition was no different. While everyone else was pouring out their romanticized visions of busking, Spark alone pursued a grueling realism.
"If we're on the first floor, they'll likely play particularly calm songs. We might have to set the concept to Swan Lake."
"That won't be easy..."
"I'd like to use the department store's own playlist if possible, but if it doesn't look like the stage will turn out beautifully, let's suggest other songs with a similar vibe."
Whether Jeong Seong-bin was flustered or not, Kim I-wol was dead serious. He even pushed his suggestions aggressively.
"We just dance and leave without anyone noticing. How about that?"
"What if we really just dance and leave, and no one even knows we were there?"
"The department store would love it. Since it won't be noisy..."
Then, Spark actually stepped forward, saying they would dance to instrumental music without a single lyric.
It was impossible not to think of it as a reckless challenge. However, everyone was fired up, saying they wouldn't get another chance to do something like this if not now. They were a group whose passion was always impressive to behold.
The junior writer recalled the meeting scene of Parte, which had a completely opposite atmosphere. There had been shouting matches over whose fault it was that the broadcast was failing and whether they were going to film like this. If Han Ga-un hadn't stepped in to settle things, a disaster might have occurred that day.
'Honestly, if this stage fails, it's our fault.'
The writer thought to herself, swallowing her tears. She finally realized why almost none of the writers who were there for Season 1 remained when she was hired. Because the broadcast was run in such a haphazard and biased manner, one couldn't help but quit out of sheer disgust.
She couldn't blame anyone but herself for not noticing the signs of a sinking ship sooner. Vowing never to make the same mistake again, the junior writer delayed her departure—in fact, she was slowly forgetting when her official clock-out time even was—and received and delivered the background music playlist for the filming location Spark had requested in real-time. There were many hurdles to cross just to receive a single file, but she wanted to do at least that much for them quickly.
Spark Lee Cheong-hyeon:
[We could only find lists up to last year's no matter how hard we looked. How did you get it so fast?!]
[Thank you! You're the best, Writer!]
Spark Kim I-wol:
[Thank you for working so hard until late. We will do our best to prepare so we can repay your kindness!
I hope you have a peaceful night. I'll see you on the day we film the practice scenes!]
She didn't know where these guys had managed to get the department store's background music list in the first place, but moved by their overflowing motivation, the junior writer pressed the 'Best' reaction on the last message from everyone who had sent one.
On the day of the practice room filming, which she had approached with a racing heart, she felt herself looking forward to the actual recording day after seeing Spark bring a composition that exceeded anything she had imagined.
"Please step away from the glass. I'm asking nicely."
After learning what kind of stage the participants wanted to create, she wanted to help foster the atmosphere they desired as much as possible.
Even as she gave the same warning for the dozenth time to people who tried to cross the lines set up to organize the filming site or leaned against the high-floor glass railings, she did her best not to raise her voice.
"What are they filming here?"
"We'll be filming for about an hour."
"Why film in a crowded department store like this? It's so disruptive."
The voice was full of complaints, but the questioner's gaze was fixed on the stage over the writer's shoulder.
"We'll be careful not to be noisy. We ask for your understanding," the junior writer replied with a smile.
Spark's busking performance took place on a small stage set up on one wall of the department store's first floor. It was a place that usually hosted pop-up events or luxury brand makeup events.
The space was cramped, but since they didn't set up speakers or other equipment, they could use the area to its maximum. Just as people began to show interest in the widely spaced chairs, Spark appeared.
"Hello, we are Spark."
Unlike their usual boisterous greeting, Jeong Seong-bin alone spoke the words, while the other members substituted the slogan by bowing at the waist. After finishing their greeting, Spark sat side-by-side on simple, gold-colored metal chairs placed on the stage. A calm piano accompaniment began to flow.
The white t-shirts of slightly different designs and light beige pants gave a somewhat plain impression, but the elaborate makeup filled the void. With brown suede loafers on their feet, they looked less like idols who had come to busk and more like logoless clothing models targeting the younger generation.
After a short program, an introduction to the department store, the busking venue, followed. The gazes of passersby gathered one by one at the cluster of cameras and bright lights.
"But Gi-yeon, doesn't the music playing right now sound familiar?"
At Jeong Seong-bin's words, Kang Gi-yeon made a show of listening intently. The sound of smartphone camera flashes and the chatter of groups subsided for a moment.
"It's a familiar song. Where did I hear it?"
"Isn't it that song? The pop song that became famous for its music video filmed in a snowy field."
"That's right. To be precise, it's a piano arrangement of that song."
The talk, which felt like a cultural radio broadcast, wasn't particularly exciting.
Just as a few people who had shown interest in the event were about to turn away—
"They say some music makes customers stay in a store longer, while other music induces them to act faster."
Jeong Seong-bin's soft voice was delivered at a low volume.
"Then, how about the next piece of music?"
As soon as Jeong Seong-bin finished his line, the members began to take off their shoes one by one.
The atmosphere of something about to begin caught the people who were about to walk away. Once the members at both ends handed the chairs to the staff outside the stage to clear them away, only the barefoot members remained on the empty stage. The gracefully flowing piano accompaniment stopped.
"Let's listen together."
The noise that had inevitably grown as the crowd gathered vanished completely at Jeong Seong-bin's barely audible voice.
From afar, a new form of piano accompaniment and percussion slowly revealed their presence at a very low volume.
'How about jazz dance?'
Kang Gi-yeon had suggested it while staring intently at the department store's music list provided by the writer.
'I think it would look great if we mix contemporary jazz... with a lyrical jazz feel.'
'Hold on. Give me five minutes to search.'
'For example, it's something like this.'
Kang Gi-yeon played a famous pop song and showed off a remarkably artistic dance. It was significantly different in style from idol dancing.
'Compared to the dances we've been doing, the movements might look slower or have more empty space, but it looks cool when done as a group. It's also good for expressing things with just the body without lyrics.'
'No, Gi-yeon. You were cool enough dancing alone.'
'Does that mean you want me to go out there by myself?'
He misinterpreted my words, but Kang Gi-yeon collaborated with the "Roommatez," Choi Je-ho and Park Ju-woo—who I suspect enjoy b-boying whenever they're bored—to create a high-level dance that felt like a competition choreography. It was a task with a difficulty rating of 100 stars, requiring us to do splits, roll on the floor, and leap and fly across the stage.
'The organic connection between the dance and the music is high, so the audience's ears will naturally gravitate toward the music. The problem is...'
'If all six of us don't dance exactly the same, it'll look jarring.'
Choi Je-ho killed me with his words.
Two weeks since then. I sacrificed 280 hours of my life to the practice room of time and space...
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, you’re flying now, aren’t you? I guess you’re all better. What did I tell you? I knew that illness was just you slacking off.
[SYSTEM] ‘Party B’ is notified of an ‘Increase in Dance Proficiency.’
Performance Evaluation (100)
— Vocal Proficiency: 14(▲)/20
— Dance Proficiency: 12(▲)/20
— Self PR: 19(▲)/20
— Attendance Management: 19(▼)/20
— Organizational Adaptability: 18(▲)/20
— Cumulative Fatigue Level: 41%
+
...After painstaking effort, I was reborn as a Kim I-wol who, while not quite a dance master, had reached the level of a rising star.