KPOPCHANNEL.TV introduces a new series of interviews with K-pop insiders, mostly tour promoters, producers or event organisers from around the world. You will get to know what usually happens behind the scenes as they spill some exclusive stories from their events. Please look forward to our next release. It can be a story from your country!
We have previously published our interview with a young K-pop concert organiser from Myanmar and some of you were perhaps, fascinated by her answers and the success metrics for the various aspects of an event. We will release more interviews so you may be able to see further similarities and differences among them.
For fans not only in Korea, but also from around the world; meeting their idols or witnessing their performances live is definitely a dream come true. This is why promoters, producers or organisers also become the new genies ready to grant the fans’ wishes!
Most people think that the entertainment agencies are the ones who arrange their artists’ tours, but it is actually up to the promoters to invite and arrange for the artists to come to their area or country. These tour promoters or producers bear most of the burdens before, during and after K-pop events, especially if it is a concert. They are mainly responsible for financial risks and all other risks that come to mind.
This is why we think that the fans should know more about what these hardworking people behind the scenes go through just to make their K-pop dreams come true.
This time, we had the opportunity to talk with a well-known producer from one of South Korea’s closest friends, the Philippines.
The Philippines is a country where you can easily bump into either a K-drama or a K-pop fan. Many South Koreans including your favourite Hallyu and K-pop stars often visit this country for vacation, studies, shoots or concerts! The strong friendship between the two countries can easily be seen in many ways, and that certainly includes the entertainment industry. The Korean wave, also known as “Hallyu” has been embraced by millions of Filipino fans from Korean films to music.
The Filipino fans are also very vocal of their love for Korean entertainment. The Philippines, followed by Brazil and Argentina are the top three social media users according to the ‘Digital in 2017 Report’ despite being notorious for having one of the slowest Internet connections in Asia, so don’t be surprised if you always see them participating on posts or broadcasts of Korean stars.
This is probably why companies find it easier to promote and produce both small and large-scale Hallyu events in this country.
Or is it?
Let’s find out from Mr. Doc of All Access Production! He has taken his precious time to answer our questions which aim to help build a better understanding between the K-pop fans, especially the international fans and their promoters or producers.
Name: Alfredo “Doc” Delos Santos
Company: All Access Production (Philippines)
Website: allaccessproduction.ph
A. ORGANISING EVENTS
1. When did you start being a promoter or producer?
I started promoting shows early 2001 with local shows like Side A, Barbie’s Cradle and Passage Band.
2. What types of events do you usually plan? Do you have a specialty? Why did you choose it?
We do festival type events. Western shows, Kpop shows, Sporting events, Kids shows, Motoring events and others. We choose events whom nobody is doing or less promoters are doing it.
3. What do you look for in a client or a star of your show and how would you persuade a client of the value of your services?
We usually look for popularity, marketability and of course availability of artist that we will be organising. Normally, we have to make a good monetary offer aside from promise to follow and give all the show and artist requirements plus more.
5. How do you choose the location or venue for an event? What are your priorities after choosing a venue?
Venue will depend on suitability based on artist requirements, logistic considerations, local tax implementation, etc.
6. Have you ever had to plan more than one event simultaneously? How did you do it? What was the result?
Yes, we plan a whole year of shows. Basically, we can’t choose timelines coz everything will be based on the Tour schedule of artists. We just divide the staffs running the shows and fill in freelance staff to help out.
7. How many events do you plan per year?
We normally plan 16 to 24 shows a year. Our own production and other partners / clients events.
8. Describe a time when you went over budget. What went wrong and what did you do to fix it?
We never went over budget. If you plan it right and make provisions for contingencies, you will not go over budget.
9. How would you manage stress as the date of an event draws near?
We don’t get stress out anymore since we have been doing this for more than 15 years already.
10. What are the most common or serious problems you have encountered during an event and what did you do about them?
The most common or serious problem is not getting what you expect, especially when you expect the sales to be good when it’s not doing well enough.
11. Describe a time when you provided a creative solution to a problem. What was the result?
There is no creative solution to any production problem, only real and basic ones. Creativity should be utilised on planning and marketing aspects only.
12. Describe your most successful event planning experience. What did you do that made it so successful?
Peaceful. When you say successful event planning, it means you will not hear anything from the artist management, production team and other people concerned since everything is taken care of.
13. Describe an event management experience that didn’t have the results you aimed for. What happened and what did you learn?
When fans are not happy in anything you give them even when it is free. I learned that a lot of fans will not be happy even though you give them everything since they would want more.
14. How would you describe and rate the music scene of the country you are currently operating in and how much does it get featured in your programming?
The music scene is growing and we do a lot on genre from Pop, Kpop, EDM, Indie Rock to Local scene.
15. What do you like most about your job? How do you stay motivated when things don’t go as planned?
The feeling of fulfilment that we made a lot of people happy. Sense of responsibility. That is all the motivation that we need.
B. K-POP
1) Why did you decide to promote and produce K-pop events?
Coz there is a opportunity.
2) When and what was the first K-pop event that you have organised and who were there?
B-Boy in Baguio., SS501 shoot in Malaysia.
3) What do you think about K-pop? What do you think is the future of K-pop in your country?
Kpop is growing and here to stay for a long time. But we have to work hard to cross over to mainstream market.
4) What are the pros and cons of organising K-pop events?
Pros – Kpop market is alive, vocal and supportive.
Cons – Fans may never be contented and would not be truly happy. Coz they wanted to take home their Oppa.
5) What do you think about the K-pop artists as you work with them in person?
Kpop artists are generally nice. Good role models.
6) Who is your most favourite K-pop artist today? Who is your most favourite pop artist in your country today?
Gugudan. Coldplay.
7) What do you think are the differences between most K-pop artists and the pop artists in your country?
Kpop artists are manufactured and can’t do what they really wanted. Pop artists will do anything they want at one point.
8) Who is the most memorable K-pop artist that you have worked with so far? Why?
EXO, coz they are nice and they do what’s needed to make the show better. Make the fans happy.
9) Can you pick and describe a very memorable happening during your event with a K-pop artist or company?
When the Kpop artist wanted to burn all the magazines since he didn’t like the outcome of the layout.
10) Do you have an upcoming K-pop event this year? Can you give us a hint about it?
Yes, we will have a festival this Oct 28 featuring two artists from S.M. Entertainment: Maybe one girl group and a boy band, plus guests. We also have the biggest Kpop event in PH history happening on January 2018.
11) What would you like to say to all the K-pop fans in your country?
ALWAYS BE READY!
Get ready as one of the biggest K-pop festival comes your way! October 28 is going to be a memorable event filled with…
Posted by All Access Production on Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Thank you so much Mr. Alfredo “Doc” Delos Santos for answering our questions! We would also like the fans to send their own questions which we may include for our next interviewee. Chat with us or send an email to [email protected]
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