Episode 58. Corporate Promotional Video Shoot (1)
I generally don’t know how fandom names are decided. The only idol group I know is Spark.
Even so, I clearly remembered the occasion when Spark’s fandom name was decided.
If I remember correctly, it was during the live broadcast where they recruited the first generation of the fan club and unveiled the light stick…
While I was racking my brain, Yu Hansu passionately preached about how important the connection was—how Spark, their stage names, and the fandom became one.
Summing up all those words in one line, it was a suggestion to name the fan club “Yuilhan.”
“The sole existence that supports the group Spark, and that makes Spark into a singular being….”
Yeah, yeah. “Yuilhan” sounds nice.
It’s unique. A fandom name in our native language is pretty.
Combined with Spark, you could even call it “The Only Flame,” so I didn’t think it was bad.
If that were all, then fine. But he was so obsessed with the concept that now it just felt like we were being devoured.
It was also unpleasant how the first letter of the fandom name was forcibly matched to his own surname, “Yu.”
It was as if traces of his desperate attempts to leave his mark were plastered all over it. Was this his fandom or what?
The reactions when the fandom name was revealed were obvious without even looking.
\>\> Stop it, seriously.
You’ve gotta lay off the cringe.
\>\> Pushing the “becoming one” lore over and over while stubbornly releasing photocards in 12 types is ugly, you f\*\*\*ers.
└ Hard agree.
\>\> Changed my Bubble Pop nickname to Yuilhan ATM.
└ The second I changed it, I got a ping from Yeolttinseongwon.
(Yuilhan ATM, are you very busy right now?)
I thought they were asking me for money….
└ KEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKE
└ New type of smishing KEKEKEK
└ Paid messages are prohibited from being leaked. Please take down this post.
Lore and connection are all well and good.
But shouldn’t a fandom name, at least, focus more on the bond with the idol… that kind of thing?
“Wouldn’t emphasizing that fans are an indispensable element in Spark’s journey make the fandom even stronger? That’s what I think.”
It shouldn’t be forced to fit a unified lore like that.
The conference room fell silent at Yu Hansu’s lengthy speech.
This familiar atmosphere that permeated when business headed in a hopeless direction. It felt comforting yet uncomfortable.
Separate from the firmly sealed lips, the planning team’s hands moved busily.
They seemed to be brainstorming desperately to somehow decide on a different fandom name here.
Normally, I would also have racked my brain and tried to think of something, but there was no need this time.
Because the existing fandom name “Sparkler” had been coined not by the company, but by Spark themselves.
Meaning, even if I stayed still, those guys would offer their opinions on their own.
Since the group name had become “Spark,” just like before, the fandom name wouldn’t be much different either.
Sure enough, employees who had been throwing out this and that idea turned to look at our side and asked,
“What do you guys think?”
Offering an opinion contrary to his before the manager (special trait: high rank) who brought the proposal was an act worthy of universal condemnation, but what can you do. If we didn’t want to become the “only flame” in the idol market, we had to speak up actively.
I pretended to ponder seriously while gauging those guys’ movements. I was fully prepared to clap, calling it a brilliant idea the moment the name “Sparkler” came out.
That’s what I was thinking—*Fret over it, you bastards! And hurry up and talk about Sparkler so we can end this meeting!*
But something was strange.
Despite time flowing relentlessly, those guys’ mouths didn’t move.
“Producer. Since the fandom name is something to be used together with the group for a long time, taking time to think it over is also….”
Perhaps sensing that the idols themselves were flustered, the planning team leader stepped forward. But Yu Hansu was stubborn.
“No. I think spending too much time on something like this is rather a waste of resources. To efficiently use limited manpower, we must eliminate unnecessary tasks.”
You say you’re going to do an idol business but call a fandom name “something like this”? Do you even have a brain?
And if you were going to cut down on unnecessary work from the start, you should’ve prepared several names.
If the one example you have gets rejected, you have to come up with another example, and then have another meeting to decide whether to pass it or not. My chest felt tight.
*Well, I guess he never assumed his own proposal would be rejected from the start.*
You could tell just by that confident expression and attitude.
That bastard doesn’t doubt for a second that his idea will be chosen. That’s why he’s rattling on nonstop like that.
I don’t know how a person can be so shameless. At this point, I suspect he might have a spy planted in the company.
Meanwhile, our side was still filled with nothing but silence.
By now, someone needed to say something….
*What the hell. Why isn’t anyone giving an opinion?*
For a moment, I suspected whether the past interview where those guys said they had personally come up with the fandom name “Sparkler” was all a lie.
And then I realized.
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▷ If existing schedules are changed excessively, corresponding penalties may occur.
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That this, too, was the influence of the system.
For example, let’s say the Spark bastards needed about a week to worry over a fandom name.
By drastically adjusting the debut date, a person named Yu Hansu suddenly barged in, and everything that needed to be done in the meantime was pushed forward, causing the time they had to worry to disappear.
On top of that, I had even made Yu Hansu’s position precarious, fueling his drive.
Truly, it was like turning their already scarce time into ashes.
*Fuck, so it was true that they spent a lot of time worrying!*
I had thought they made it up in three minutes with a flash of wit and said that. I felt like crying at their sincerity.
Whether the fandom name was Sparkler, Yuilhan, or a third option, it was none of my business.
It was none of my business, but….
“You know that we exist because of Sparkler, right?”
\>\> It’s because we exist that they can shine.
Why do our babies speak so beautifully……
└ That’s why I like Sparkler so much TT I feel proud.
\>\> This is putting it nicely as Spark-Sparkler, but
aren’t they literally firework and sparkler?
It feels like something from a fireworks company.
It looks strong and I like it though, yeah yeah.
└ Rather good.
The reactions of Spark fans I had happened to learn crept up in my mind.
“Please write in the bottom right corner: *The Sparkler who will always make you shine~*! Thank you again for this!”
Even the email that Manager Nam’s daughter had sent.
I held back the sigh that threatened to escape reflexively and said,
“I have a name I thought of thanks to talking about the group name with the members recently.”
Mentioning the members as well so it wouldn’t become solely my credit.
“How about… Sparkler?”
I’m just hitching a ride, so this is the only thing I’ll help with, you bastards.
The meeting after that ended in the best possible direction, if not a satisfactory one.
Stage names were put on hold, and the fandom name was set to be “Sparkler.”
Yu Hansu glared at me as if he wanted to kill me, but it was none of my business.
Lee Cheonghyeon, who came out of the meeting room with an expression that said he had aged ten years, called out to me in a small voice.
“Hyung.”
“What?”
“Can’t you just take charge of planning our activities exclusively, hyung?”
“You’re telling me not to debut and switch to being a producer? Is our Cheonghyeon giving me props right now?”
“That won’t work though… Can’t you do both?”
I can’t. Would fans be happy if a member who withdrew did producing?
A non-expert clinging to producing wouldn’t do these guys a single bit of good.
“My mom said society is a meritocracy? But these days, that seems wrong.”
“It is a meritocracy, but age sits above talent, that’s why.”
“Aha.”
Lee Cheonghyeon accepted it easily. It was bitter, feeling like I had already shown the bitter taste of society to a guy who was still a high school student.
Jeong Seongbin, who had been following behind as if he had heard my conversation with Lee Cheonghyeon, spoke.
“Since you might be able to help in other areas, let’s not think too negatively.”
It was a sound remark that I always emphasized—one that wouldn’t be a problem no matter who overheard it where.
But this time, I needed to be a bit extreme.
In my opinion, he needs to be kicked out, that bastard.
There are people in this world who only create more work. Such personnel are better off gone.
“I’ll… have a lot of talks with the Producer.”
At my words, Jeong Seongbin and Lee Cheonghyeon looked at me.
Even if they didn’t bother expressing it in words, I could read their gazes well enough. Those were eyes looking at me pitifully.
Even if I suddenly withdraw later, I hope you guys will remember my efforts, at least a little.
* * *
While there was work being debated between the company and Yu Hansu, there was also work that was progressing smoothly.
The recording and music video filming, for which all planning had been decided, were like that.
So this is why the planning team fights tirelessly day and night. I sincerely salute them.
Among them, recording was especially smooth.
Everyone finished with miraculous one-take recordings without a single NG… but while that would have been cool and nice,
even if it wasn’t to that extent, everyone splendidly did their part.
Even Jeong Seongbin and Park Ju-u got the OK sign on the first try, yet they tried singing it several more times. It was a wonderful attitude.
How fortunate that I was included in this “everyone.”
It was heavenly luck that I didn’t suffer the mishap of being unable to leave the recording booth alone overnight.
And so, at the point when the sound source was completed, it arrived.
The day of Spark’s first music video shoot!
My condition was at its best too.
Thanks to Jeong Seongbin putting a concentrated mark on me to manage my dark circles, I had slept eight hours a day for the past few days.
Lee Cheonghyeon, who had been under similarly strict surveillance, said in an excited voice,
“Hyung, it’s my first time wearing such heavy makeup! How is it? Is it too much?”
“The lights will wash it all away anyway. And your face would be fine even if you smeared food on it, so don’t worry.”
“What the heck, I’m touched!”
“That doesn’t mean you should actually smear food on your face. Don’t put just anything on your face.”
“Of course. Skin troubles caused by neglecting care are one of the seven deadly sins of idols….”
Lee Cheonghyeon left with eyes that had suddenly become hollow. As expected, he was a guy who was good at memorization.
But now wasn’t the time to worry about Lee Cheonghyeon’s makeup state.
That might be the most important thing, but the staff probably poured their souls into Lee Cheonghyeon’s makeup, so I’m not too worried….
The real problem lay elsewhere.
Right on my face.