So if you’re on this blog than I’m pretty sure you already know what K-pop is and know some basic facts about it and you already have bias groups and what-not. So I don’t have to introduce K-pop to you because you’ve already covered it. Right? Good. So now after adoring your idols you want to be a K-pop idol yourself but, you don’t know where to start and that’s what this article is going to be about today.
Today I will be discussing how to get into or qualify to be in a Korean entertainment company.
There are 4 basic ways to get into a company.
1. AUDITIONS
a) This is the most common way of how many K-pop stars became trainees. Thousands of hopeful aspiring K-pop artist flock to auditions hoping they will one day be like their idols.
There are many ways to audition for Korean entertainment companies.
I. GLOBAL AUDITIONS
Global auditions are when companies host auditions world-wide. When companies host global auditions they usually host them in US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Korea. But sometimes out of the blue moon they may to unexpected places like China, UK, New Zealand, etc…
I have been to a couple of Global auditions. I went to YG entertainment 2012 Global Auditions in New York and SM entertainment 2013 Global Auditions in Washington D.C. So I know I think or two about what to expect.
The big three companies usually have a global audition yearly. I know SM host a global audition yearly.
II. WEEKLY/MONTHLY LIVE AUDITIONS
These are auditions that are host live auditions in strictly in one area. This is different from the Global auditions because with the global auditions the companies come to you whereas with a weekly/monthly audition you have to go where the companies are located.
Ex: SM entertainment’s 2013 global audition’s in the US were hosted in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Seattle. Their monthly audition is in LA on certain dates.
Also, another thing about the weekly/monthly auditions they are held year-round so you can go to each one if you want whereas, with the global auditions it’s like a only chance thing. Plus, I think with weekly/monthly auditions you have a better chance at getting in because there won’t be as many people at a weekly audition as at a global audition. So the judges will seem less irritated because they didn’t have to sit through hundreds of terrible auditions and plus because there’s not that many people than you will also get more time to showcase your talent.
III. POST/E-MAIL/ONLINE AUDITIONS
These are all auditions where you send the companies video clips of you showcasing your talent. This is an opposite method from the live auditions because the judges don’t get to see you in person. IF, you live far away live away like in Antarctica or Madagascar or any other place where Korean entertainment companies don’t host auditions or rarely host auditions than this is the second best way to get seen by a company than buying a plane ticket to Korea. Not everyone can go to live auditions so the companies have these ways of hopefuls sending their auditions to them.
The Post Audition is just when you send your audition video by mail. This one is going to cost a bit because you do have to pay for packaging and overseas shipping and handling. But I think it’s that best out of the three ways because you’re giving the companies something physical that they can see and hold; and to me it’s more personal. E-Mail/Online Auditions are where you send your audition video through the companies special e-mail address for auditions or go on their audition website and send it to them through there. This method is completely FREE! But, can be the hardest because thousands of people post their auditions everyday so there is a little chance that the judges will even get to your video. It’s competitive but, not impossible.
2. CONTEST
a) There are endless list of contest that aspiring trainees can participate in to get noticed by company. There are plenty K-pop idols that where picked up by companies just because they participated and the companies got to see their talent.
Ex: Cube solo artist, Roh Jihoon, was on Birth of a Star and got scouted. Kang Seung-hoon, Leader of new YG rookie group, WINNER, was on Superstar K2 and took 4th place and was contacted by YG staff. YG entertainment solo artist, Monster Rookie, Lee Hi, was a contestant
on K-pop Star Season 1. She didn’t win but was picked up by YG entertainment because of her amazing soulful voice. And there are many more.
There are all types of contest out there to become a trainee. They have TV programs, Dance cover contest, singing contest even beauty contest dedicated to finding new talent.
There are also Ulzzang(best face) Contest where the winner of the contest gets to become a trainee of the entertainment company that hosted it. Plenty of K-pop artist became trainees simply because they are good looking.
Ex: Eden, Rapper of LC9, became a trainee with Nega Networks after winning their Ulzzang Contest.
3. GETTING SCOUTED
a) Getting scouted is one of the one of the harder things to do but not impossible. Many K-pop stars were scouted by companies. Scouting is when the staff of the companies go on the prowl to find new talent. Scouting is the most random method of getting discovered because you never know when it’s going to happen, IT JUST HAPPENS. Usually the staff goes to open contest or they watch a lot of competition shows like K-pop Star and Superstar K and they watch the contestants and see which ones they like that really spark their interest or would fit the best in company. They also don’t just scout for talent, they also scout for looks as well. Ulzzang who are famous on social websites usually get scouted to become models or K-pop idols. Companies will also go up to random people who they think are good-looking and will ask them to audition for their company.
Ex: Nichkhun, vocalist/rapper of famous JYP boy-group, 2PM. Most of EXO members were scouted on the street doing normal things not even trying to be noticed.
4. CONNECTIONS
a) This is the music industry and also a BUSINESS so like any other the business the more people you know the better chance you have of getting your foot in the door. This can only be accomplished if you personally get to know not just the artist but, the staff, the managers, the trainers, the directors, EVERYBODY! This is the absolute hardest one to accomplish as it requires you to be a social person but not a stalker person, there’s a difference. You are going to have to make all the right friends in the right places. There are plenty of people who do this tho, why do you think most of the K-pop stars know each other and were friends before they debut or were even in a company? It’s about who you know not what you know.
Ex: Zico, leader/main rapper/producer/composer of boy-group, Block B was good friend with Park Kyung, rapper of Block-B, and when Zico got into a company he asked Kyung if he wanted to be in the company too and Kyung agreed and was also signed. GRAY, new rookie solo artist of, AOM (Jay Park’s entertainment company) was a composer for Jay and he got signed. Zion.T aka “Skinny Red” was signed to Amoeba Culture because artist, Jerry K., who knew Zion.T introduced him to Simon D, Korean Rapper.
Many K-pop artists were signed to companies because they had friends who were part of that company.
So, whew…that’s a lot of information in one day but I think you guys get the idea of it. There you have it all in a nutshell pretty much how to get into the industry if you really want to be in it.
There is also a blog where a lady has become friends with multiple staff, artists, trainers, etc…in Korea and she shares how to do this I will post link here à CLICK HERE
So, whew…that’s a lot of information in one day but I think you guys get the idea of it. There you have it all in a nutshell pretty much how to get into the industry if you really want to be in it.
If you really want to get into the industry and it is your dream…the way to get into the industry is to try and do all 4 of these ways. The more you expose yourself to the industry and the more exposure you get in Korea; you will get a better chance at becoming a K-pop idol. I can stress this enough, if you really want to do this and this is your dream, you MUST and HAVE to work it. Some people will just get lucky and get discovered and not be even trying to get discovered at all but the majority of us have to work at it. K-pop artist constantly worked hard to get where they are at now and if you want to be a K-pop idol you must be willing to forth the effort.
I hope this helped you guys get warmed up to the ideas and I will post more articles shortly so keep in touch!
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