A Guide to K-pop Tours (USA)
Tour terminology, visas, tickets, tiers, tips, etiquette, and common policies.
So your favorite group just announced a tour, and you’re unsure what to expect. “What’s a Hi-Touch? Do I bring a lightstick? What is freebie etiquette?” NC Kpop Hive is here to help.
K-pop Tours in the United States
K-pop concerts often reach the US once every few months, and about three times as many in the Summer and Fall months. You’ll mostly see stops like Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. To participate in a tour, K-pop Idols require a special Visa.
What’s the Difference: Concert, Fansign, Fanmeet and Fancall
Concerts are mainly performances where the artist(s) sing and dance on stage for a large crowd for 2-3 hours.
On the topic of concerts, you should probably also know about VR Concerts.
VR concerts are a live music performance experienced through virtual reality technology. Viewers wear VR headsets to enter a virtual world where they can see and interact with the performance, sometimes even from the artist's perspective. Check out the AMAZEVR website for an overview and upcoming tours.
Fansigns, on the other hand, are more personal events where fans can meet the artist, get their albums signed, and sometimes have a brief chat. These events are sometimes combined through concert VIP perks. Short performances can also be part of a fansign, but usually, concerts and fansigns are considered separate events in terms of terminology and origin.
Fanmeets are larger events, similar to concerts but with a focus on interactive activities like games, photo opportunities, Q&A sessions, and performances, giving fans a chance to engage with the idols in various ways. The words Fansign and Fanmeet are sometimes used interchangeably, but their origin and purpose can differ.
Fancalls are video calls between an idol and a fan, usually conducted via platforms like KakaoTalk or Line.
An Overview of Visas
For idols touring in the US, the main visa options are the O-1 and P visas. O-1A visas are for those with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, or athletics. O-1B visas cover the arts and TV, but require recognition for their ability or achievement. P visas include categories like P-1A for recognized athletes, P-1B for entertainment groups, P-2 for artists in exchange programs, and P-3 for culturally unique performances. These involve proving talent and participation in specific events. Less common options include B-1 for amateur and professional athletes, H-1B for specialty roles, and Q for cultural exchange programs.
For smaller agencies and groups, you will often see them announcing tours and selling tickets before visas are obtained. This is because the ticket sale numbers play a role in the visa process, especially for “nugu” groups.
Tickets
Tickets for tours (concert or fansign) are typically announced about a month before the first tour date. After the announcement, pre-sale tickets often start within 3-7 days of the announcement, so be sure to save ahead of time for your favorite group.
To prevent scalpers from purchasing tickets in bulk and reselling them, larger venues and events often limit ticket purchases to four per person. If you're attending with a group, this means you'll need to set up multiple accounts in advance to increase your chances of securing the desired number of tickets.
For Nugu artists, expect concert tickets to be around $50-$80. For mainstream artists, expect the cost to be approximately $80-$ 160 per ticket. For more prominent artists like BTS (including their solo tours), you’ll get closer to $200-300 per ticket, and $500-1,000 for the best seats. This does not include VIP perks or merchandise.
Obtaining tickets for high-demand tours, such as those for BTS or Stray Kids, can be a challenging experience. When tickets are released, fans rush to the website, joining long queues in hopes of securing a good seat at a reasonable price for their preferred date. Securing tickets can often take hours, depending on factors like the length of the queue, website performance, internet connection, and other variables.
If you need help with ticketing, reach out to a local K-pop shop a few days in advance. Sometimes there are “ticketing events” where you can bring your laptop or borrow one. You can hang out, trade photocards, and watch Music Videos with others as you wait in the queue.
To stay updated, it may prove helpful to follow some of the local organizations responsible for hosting concerts and events. Instagram or Twitter is usually the most frequently updated for tours in the United States.
Here are a few that have recently assisted with tours:
AEG Presents
ANKR Entertainment
ARAISE Shop
Dynamic Talent International
Hello Live TV
Hello82
Korus Entertainment
Leo Presents
Live Nation Kpop
My Music Taste
Studio PAV
If you prefer to have everything kept in one place, you can also check out the fan-made accounts (Instagram) thekpopverse_ or thedancingtiger. NC Kpop Hive also tries to keep all upcoming tours mentioned in our “On Tour” highlights on Instagram.
Concert & Fansign Tiers
Concerts and fansigns usually have multiple ticket tiers and price levels. These variations typically depend on benefits, seat or area quality, and specific event details.
For fansigns and small concerts, ticket tiers differ based on access and perks. Common options include General Admission (GA), which offers basic entry, and VIP or VVIP tickets that provide preferred seating, early access, and meet-and-greet opportunities. Sometimes, selfie and group photo tickets are sold separately from VIP tickets for those only interested in that one perk.
Common Perks and Upgrades:
Concert Ticket: Separate from all VIP Perks and Add-Ons. Your concert ticket is usually purchased through Ticketmaster or Live Nation, while the VIP perks may differ by venue or location.
Early Entry: VIP always enters first. Sometimes, this means that when doors open, the VIP line will go in before the GA line. However, in most cases, VIP tickets include an exclusive hour or two before the show.
Skip The Line: This may be synonymous with Early Entry, but it often refers more exclusively to the merchandise tables.
Sound Check Party: Enter early to hear the final rehearsal.
Group Photo: A staff member will borrow your phone to take a photo of you with the whole group. If you’re seeing a soloist or smaller group, you may have other fans in the photo with you
Member Selfie: One of the group members will borrow your phone and take a selfie with you.
Hi-Touch: You will be able to high-five the members! This high-five is usually gentle and lets you keep your hand on theirs for an extra second, hence why it’s called a hi-touch instead of a high-five.
Fan Sign: Fans can say hi and have an album or poster (or other approved item) signed by the idols. Fan letters may be collected by the fan manager/staff, but no gifts are allowed (primarily due to the difficulty in transporting them home).
Meet and Greet: Usually used as an all-encompassing term to refer to hi-touch, photos, and fan-signing opportunities.
Q&A: In most cases, this is a group activity. You will often be given one sticky note to write a question, then give it to a staff member to be put with a collection of others. Idols will choose a few of the questions (usually at random) to answer.
Send-Off: Say goodbye and wave as the group leaves the venue.
Concert Tips
Do not keep batteries in your lightstick for more than 2-3 days at a time. Batteries in lightsticks degrade quickly and can cause damage to your lightstick.
Consider a rechargeable lightstick battery. Check out the ones by Mandu Deco!
Research the venue in advance. If you need help finding details about venues in NC, including parking, bag policies, local hotels, nearby fast food, and other useful information, don’t hesitate to ask NC Kpop Hive for assistance!
Make sure to wear comfortable shoes regardless of your outfit. Concerts involve a lot of standing. Even in seated venues, it is common for most people around you to be standing while idols are performing and only sitting during breaks and ments (speeches). You may also be standing while waiting to enter the venue, in merchandise or water lines, bathroom lines, etc. Be prepared. Fans, on average, stand for about 8 hours in total on concert day.
If your concert is general admission, standing-only, you will want to get in line as early as you possibly can.
If your venue is seated, it’s okay to take your time.
While you may not be able to bring the bottle inside, you can bring water to drink while you are in line outside, so please do! Especially for our GA baddies. Stay hydrated!
Set-lists are usually made available ahead of time so you can get familiar with the songs and fan-chants(unique sing-a-longs).
Concert Etiquette:
Make sure not to throw or pass anything on stage or at idols unless they explicitly signal to you / give you permission.
Don’t carry large signs that you plan to keep up during the entire concert. Be mindful of those around and behind you
Keep your lightstick in front of you instead of above you. The lightstick allows idols to see you, and allows you to participate in the special waves and light shows, but it is still important to be mindful of others.
Fanchants are a special part of K-pop concerts. While you’re not required to learn all of the lyrics or fanchants, it is encouraged to learn at least one as a fun way to participate in the songs!
Attempt to contain screams while idols are speaking to allow everyone better opportunities to hear what they may be saying.
Respect the ADA sections. If there are seats or areas that are designated for accessibility needs, please do not access or block this area if you are not in true need of it.
Common Concert Venue Policies
Use a clear bag when possible.
Water bottles are sometimes allowed, but often are not. You can still keep them while in line, stay hydrated. But know that you may be asked to throw it away before entering the actual venue.
Lightsticks are OK to bring. Refer to it as a lightstick or light-up merch and not any official names (especially limit the use of words like “bomb” or “bong”)
As of 2024, more companies are requiring that the only lightstick design allowed in the venue are of the group you’re seeing. You may be asked to take your other lightstick back to your car, store it in your bag and keep it there, or leave it outside of the venue.
Most hats are allowed but may be asked to be removed if too big.
Costumes are allowed as long as your face remains uncovered and is not excessively big or hazardous.
