Last Updated on May 4, 2024 by Eden
If you’re going to a kpop concert, you might consider paying extra for VIP tickets so you can attend the send-off event. Kpop send off happens after the concert, when kpop artists come out to say goodbye to waiting fans before leaving the venue.
Send-off is sometimes controversial since it can create safety concerns for fans and artists and usually requires paying higher ticket prices to attend. We’ll walk you through how kpop send off works, what to expect in the send-off area, and how to get access.
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What Is Kpop Send Off?
A send-off is a special event at the concert venue that takes place after a kpop show ends.
Fans gather in a designated area and wait for their favorite artists to come out. Once the group members arrive, they’ll spend a few minutes interacting with fans while a staff member (or multiple staff members) observes.
Face masks may or may not be required, depending on the venue, and there’s usually a barrier separating you from the artists. Send off ends with the group departing while fans wave goodbye and cheer them on.
A kpop send-off event is similar to a meet and greet or hi touch. With hi-touch, fans line up and wave or briefly touch hands with members of the group as they walk by. Hi touch events can happen at kpop concerts but they’re also common at fansigns or events like KCON, which feature multiple groups and artists.
What Happens at a Kpop Send Off?
The kind of interaction you have at send off can depend on what the promoter, group, or venue allows. A typical concert experience with send-off benefits might have kpop artists:
- Waving
- Completing finger hearts
- Posing for selfie-style photos
- Shaking hands or offering hi-fives
Idols may also be allowed to accept gifts, like stuffed animals, flowers, or notes.
Send off happens almost immediately after the show, so fans often leave the venue before the concert ends to get into a good position. Unlike sound check or hi touch, where you might be assigned a queue number that determines where you stand, send off spots are usually first-come, first-served.
That can sometimes be an issue, as demonstrated by what happened to k-pop sensations Enhypen during their Fate world tour.
During the tour, send-off events were held in a smaller room. Limited space led to a lot of pushing and shoving, particularly at the Newark concert. Clips on social media show fans on the verge of trampling one another just to get a glimpse of the Enhypen members.
Related post: What to Expect at a Kpop Concert (10 Things You Should Know)
How Do You Get Into a Kpop Send Off Event?
Send off is one of several exclusive VIP perks you might be able to get when purchasing a top tier ticket to a kpop concert. VIP packages can vary by group and venue but typically, VIP benefits can include:
- Early check-in to the concert venue and the general admission area (which can help you secure a spot at the barricade)
- Soundcheck access
- Early access to official merch vendors
- Exclusive merch, such as commemorative VIP laminates/lanyards or a special group photo
- Meet & greet benefits
- Signed albums
- Hi touch
VIP ticket holders may get some of these benefits or all of them, depending on how concert tickets are packaged and sold. For example, here’s how Ateez packaged VIP benefits for 2024 tour dates.
If you’re buying VIP packages, your ticket details should explain exactly what benefits you’re getting. VIP tickets usually go on sale a few days before general admission tickets, and you might need a presale code to have a shot at buying them.
Is It Worth Buying VIP Tickets for Send Off?
VIP tickets can give you access to plenty of perks the general public doesn’t get. Those extras could make your concert experience more enjoyable or memorable, especially if it’s your first kpop concert.
The downside of buying VIP tickets is that they usually cost a lot more. Kpop groups sell VIP tickets to make money, knowing that their most avid fans will pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for them.
Whether it makes sense to buy premium tickets to a kpop concert usually comes down to how much you can afford to spend and how much you’re willing to spend to get a chance at seeing your faves up close.
A single VIP ticket can easily cost $400 or more. If you’re on a limited budget or planning to buy tickets for multiple shows, then dropping that kind of cash for send-off benefits might not be realistic.
Pro tip: It’s possible to find VIP resale tickets on ticketing sites like Live Nation, AXS, and Ticketmaster but the VIP benefits don’t always transfer. Check with the ticketing site to see if you’ll be able to get all of the VIP perks with a resale ticket before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does VIP at a kpop concert get you?
VIP benefits for a kpop concert can include sound check access, early access to merch, special fan experience events, limited edition merch, and a spot at the send-off. The venue usually determines where VIPs can sit or stand during the show. At larger venues, it’s not uncommon for VIPs to be standing-room only.
Do you need physical tickets for kpop send off?
Some venues require physical tickets for entry to a kpop concert and associated VIP events but others allow you to enter with digital tickets. You’ll have a ticket link that you can use to access a QR code on your phone. That code is what you’ll need to have scanned to gain entry into the venue.
How do you get a good spot at send off?
Send off spots usually aren’t assigned, so you may need to be early to get a good position. Checking the group’s setlist beforehand can give you a better idea of when the last song will play so you can time your exit from the show to head to the send-off area.
Can I get my kpop albums autographed at send off?
Kpop send off events may include autographs but it’s more common for that to happen at fan signs or meet and greets. If so, check with the venue or ticketing site to see if there’s a limit on the number of albums you can bring with you to have signed.
Can you touch kpop idols at send off?
Promoters, staff, and the members themselves usually decide what’s allowed and what’s not at send-off, hi-touch, meet and greet, and other events. Hi-fives, handshakes, or completing finger hearts may be okay but groups can draw the line at hugging or kissing. And of course, any unwanted groping or sexual touching is off-limits (and a good way to catch a criminal charge for assault).
Final Thoughts
Attending a kpop send off can feel like a dream come true if you’re able to share the same space with your favorite idols for a few minutes. But you don’t have to go VIP to have a great time. If you’re hoping to go to send off, consider how much you’ll pay for VIP tickets to decide if it’s worth it.
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