Chapter 68: Business Etiquette Training (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: Business Etiquette Training (1)
Since the teaser dropped, mentions of Spark have been minimal, but they’ve risen enough to be noticeable.
The moment the teaser was blasted across the internet, my debut became an inescapable reality.
Along with that, all of us entered a period of hellish training.
You might ask, wasn't the company's atmosphere one that didn't force us to practice?
"Guys, you're tired, right?"
"Yes, Hyung..."
"I'm tired too. But our eyes are still opening, so let's try a little more, okay?"
Yeah, I was the one forcing it. They were already good, but since they got even better the more time we put in, I was currently squeezing them until their bones turned to dust.
After the Park Ju-woo incident, I began to whip them with more finesse, taking the members' conditions into account. At this point, it was practically VIP protocol.
My own cumulative fatigue was skyrocketing as well... but as long as my eyes still opened in the morning, I figured I’d be fine.
I was about to grab a drink of water to catch my breath when Park Ju-woo approached me.
"Hyung, we're practicing for the fan signing event tomorrow morning, right...?"
"Yeah."
Spark's 'practice' wasn't limited to just their debut stage.
I had created a separate, comprehensive onboarding program for Kim I-wol's debut.
As soon as the debut date was confirmed, I asked the company for understanding and had the members practice for the stage during the day, and for fan signings and fan meetings at night.
UA didn't provide much education regarding fan service, and the reason Spark had been caught up in minor controversies early in their debut was entirely due to their handling of fan events.
≫ Writing a review of how I unstanned after a fansign
Honestly, it’s not like I didn’t know my idol’s fan service was trash lol
When you’re a pure fan, you just stan with your eyes and ears closed, right?? I was the same
I just covered for them saying my babies were just shy and XX lol
But I spent hundreds of thousands of won to go to that fansign, and it wasn't just one person—all five of them just said, "Ah... thank you." I hit a wall of reality so hard XX
They’re the successors of the "Oh, really?" bugs XXX. I stayed up all night with my eyes wide open and unstanned the next day.
└ I agree with this... I put on full makeup, bought clothes, and got my nails done just to meet them, and even though the idols got all styled up at the shop and came in a car driven by a manager, they made it XX obvious they were tired. It makes me so mad.
└ OP, can't you at least give us the initials of who you stanned?
└ S-P-K
└ You're the one who spent the money, and now you're blaming the idols because you didn't get the fan service you wanted? lol. Did the idols owe you something?
└ I bought the albums with my own money and won the fansign slot, so can't I at least ask for that much? lol. I hope the commenter never complains even if they order a value meal and only get the sandwich. Just eat what you're given quietly, okay? lol.
Back then, the community boards were filled with nothing but terrifying words. Department Head Nam's daughter had even been fuming about whether she should collect PDFs for a lawsuit or not.
The reason Spark had botched their fan signings was later revealed through Jeong Seong-bin. It was because every single one of them had been extremely nervous.
They had seen senior idols get bashed for having dead fish eyes at fan signings, so they felt like they had to do something, but they simply had no idea what that something was.
Some people accepted this honestly, while others thought it was a pathetic excuse.
However, I understood Jeong Seong-bin's feelings to some extent.
At the time, Choi Je-ho—who never knew what he might say or when—was sitting right next to Jeong Seong-bin.
While Choi Je-ho had never made any out-of-line remarks at a fan signing, the members had mentioned several times that their feelings were hurt by his way of speaking during their trainee days, so I understood Seong-bin's worry.
I myself had walked into interviews with Department Head Nam and ended up with a soaked back more than once or twice.
Whether the oldest brother is someone you can rely on or not makes a huge difference. In that sense, Choi Je-ho was a good center, but he wasn't a good older brother.
Furthermore, Kang Gi-yeon back then was the type to lose all his strength whenever he got nervous. So, the only ones Jeong Seong-bin could rely on were Park Ju-woo, who was scraping together every bit of his non-existent social skills, and the younger Lee Cheong-hyeon.
So, how could they possibly focus on the event? It was a miracle they didn't say anything stupid.
That said, their insufficient fan service couldn't be justified. Those who receive money have an obligation to do the work they were paid for.
And so, we proceeded.
Spark's mock fan signing event.
Last weekend, I analyzed over 200 boy group fansign reviews and Post-it notes to create an FAQ list, which I shared in the group chat.
[★Notice★ 1. Last person out, check the gas stove. 2. Trash goes in the bin...]
Me:
[Think of three answers for each question by the day after tomorrow.]
[We're going to practice answering when random questions are thrown at you.]
Cute.P.Visually Lee Cheong-hyeon:
[The maknaes have confirmed~]
Mental Pillar Jeong Seong-bin:
[Seong-bin and Ju-woo have confirmed. :)]
Mental Pillar Jeong Seong-bin:
[I've informed Je-ho Hyung as well! :)]
Me:
[Je-ho-ya ^^ You didn't make your younger brother do it because you were too lazy to reply, right? ^^ You're not that kind of hopeless boomer, are you? ^^ I'd be so disappointed if you were ㅠㅠ ^^]
Center Emperor Choi Je-ho:
[Hey, I didn't make him do it.]
Whether Choi Je-ho felt wronged or not, the day to check their preparation arrived quickly.
To create a realistic atmosphere, I even brought a long desk and chairs into the practice room, recreating a scene straight out of the photos I’d seen in reviews.
Choi Je-ho, who was placing water bottles on the desk for each person according to my instructions from the opposite side, asked a question.
"But if we're practicing, who's going to play the fan?"
"Me."
"You?"
Choi Je-ho asked back skeptically.
But think about it.
Me, who will be signing for three months at most, or might not even get the chance to attend a fansign at all.
And you guys, who have to do fansigns for at least seven years.
Which of us needs to practice signing more seriously? Obviously, it's you punks.
"Is that a good casting choice? I don't think it'll be easy to meet a fan like you, Hyung."
"What kind of fan is a fan like me?"
"Do you really want to hear it?"
Even Kang Gi-yeon backed Choi Je-ho up.
It seemed everyone doubted my acting skills.
How ridiculous. I’ve watched fansign fancams so many times just to read your lip movements.
I’ve probably seen about 15,000 Sparklers through videos. Thanks to that, I could mimic the gestures of the fans sitting in front of them without even looking.
I guess I have no choice.
I’ll show you. The dignity of the first-place winner of the Hanpyeong Industry HR Team's Department Head Nam Vocal Mimicry Contest.
The first runner-up for the 1st Spark (Mock) Fan Signing Event was Jeong Seong-bin.
With his fists clenched tight, Jeong Seong-bin seemed a bit nervous.
Unlike the others, he seemed to be taking this situation somewhat seriously. As expected, he never fails to meet expectations.
Deeply moved, I handed the scheduler I’d prepared as a prop to Jeong Seong-bin.
Then, with a bright smile, I shouted:
"Seong-bin-ah, I've picked you as my bias!"
"...Huh?"
Jeong Seong-bin, who was about to pretend to sign, froze stiff and looked up at me with mechanical movements.
Why can't you let my pride in you last for even five seconds? I immediately wiped the smile off my face and spoke sternly.
"Seong-bin-ah, are you going to space out when a fan tells you you're their bias? Do you want to go from being a 'current bias' to an 'ex-bias' just in time for the fansign?"
"No, I was just so flustered for a moment... I'm sorry!"
"Being flustered happens when you haven't practiced enough. Let's keep that in mind."
After warning the other four sitting in a row next to Jeong Seong-bin, I sat back down in the chair.
Now, an atmosphere beyond mere tension—one of grim determination—swirled between the two of us.
"Post-it! Check the answer to the Post-it question!"
"Yes, yes!"
Get your heads in the game, you lot.
Because once this is over, we have to practice talent shows for the fan meeting too.
Up until Kim I-wol suggested practicing for the fan signing event, Kang Gi-yeon hadn't thought much of it.
It wasn't that he was indifferent. It just meant he didn't feel any particular emotion about doing what needed to be done.
He was surprised that I-wol even had time to consider such things. Kang Gi-yeon felt it every time—Kim I-wol's obsession with perfection was sometimes borderline manic.
However, he had already passed the stage of finding his eccentricities strange.
In fact, considering Kim I-wol's perfectionist personality, he had reached a point where he could understand this elder's bizarre behavior.
It even seemed natural to see Kim I-wol looking at photos on social media and arranging the table, water bottles, and chairs to match the photos exactly.
But...
"Gasp... Cheong-hyeon-ah, you're really handsome..."
Looking at Kim I-wol now, talking to the second member, Lee Cheong-hyeon, anyone could see he wasn't in his right mind. Or he was possessed by something.
His acting, covering his mouth with a moved expression, was top-notch. If Kang Gi-yeon believed in folk religions, he would have definitely thought the man was possessed by a ghost.
"Aw, if you keep complimenting me like that, what if I get spoiled!"
And his friend, who was playing along...
Well, he was always a weirdo.
Kang Gi-yeon gave up on thinking.
"It's okay. If power were determined by looks, our Cheong-hyeon would be the President."
"Really? You can't be like this to the other members later, okay?"
"Sorry, please pretend you didn't see that."
They were having the time of their lives.
Kang Gi-yeon started to shake his head but stopped himself. He didn't know what kind of disaster would strike if he arrogantly shook his head at a mock fan signing.
However, despite Kang Gi-yeon's efforts, Kim I-wol's head turned toward the remaining members.
Not a single spark of light could be found in Kim I-wol's dark, deep eyes.
"Guys."
"...Yes."
"Why are your smiles fading during a fan signing? Didn't I tell you to maintain a bright smile unless there's a valid reason? Do you want to hear people say, 'Spark's first fansign turns into a clearance sale for dead-eyed pollack pancakes'?"
"We just have to smile, right? Smile!"
"Yeah, Choi Je-ho, especially you. Why haven't you been smiling so far, making me repeat myself when it's that simple?"
"..."
"Let's understand things the first time I say them, okay?"
Kim I-wol radiated a murderous aura while his eyes alone smiled kindly. It was the smile Lee Cheong-hyeon had dubbed 'False Kindness.'
Kang Gi-yeon gulped. If he got on the wrong side of that clearly unhinged man, there was no way he’d be going home in one piece today.
At such a timing, the third member to step up was, of all people, Park Ju-woo.
Since Park Ju-woo was very shy and had received particularly many private lessons from Kim I-wol, everyone held their breath—while maintaining their smiles—and watched the two.
They prayed that their proud main vocal wouldn't be dragged off to the vocal practice room for more harsh private tutoring.
"Hi, Ju-woo!"
Kim I-wol's cheerful greeting came out once again, seemingly immortal.
Then, Park Ju-woo replied with a faint smile.
"Hello. Hyung, that ring really suits you."
What?
Park Ju-woo... to Kim I-wol?
In such a kind and sweet tone... he said what?