Goo Hara Photo shoot

From : Vogue Girl Sompi

Hangeng Pop Magazine 498

credit: t.sina.com.cn/huntergarden

Korean Music Festival Guide

This is a mega information package on the Korean Music Festival (KMF), commonly referred to as Hollywood Bowl (HB).  KMF is an annual concert of Korean artists held in Los Angeles.

Every year there are many questions, concerns, and confusion for those unfamiliar with KMF. This article is a information guide to the  concert. I will be covering the following topics:
Part 1: KMF 101 (who, what, when, where)
Part 2: Seating (different types, and pros/cons)
Part 3: Purchasing Tickets (how to, delivery options, forewarning)
Part 4: Artist lineup
Part 5: Transportation and parking
Part 6: Sponsor hotel
Part 7: Pre-concert festivities
Part 8: Concert
Part 9: Hollywood Bowl policies
Part 10: Miscellaneous tips (K-Pop merchandise, concert resources)

Sections 1-4 (text heavy) are on this page. Sectiosn 5-10 are found on Korean Music Festival 101 Guide (Part 2) (picture heavy).
Press "ctrl + f" to find a topic title.
Let's get started!
Part I: KMF 101 (Who, what, when, where)

KMF is an annual concert held at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.  The host Korea Times makes an official announcement of the concert in mid-January, and ticket sales begin in late January or early February. The concert duration is 6:30PM - 11:00PM on a Saturday in May, and holds an audience of 18,000. (Only exception was the 2004 KMF held in October).


There is a concert theme every year. Past examples include "Above & Beyond" (2009), "Old & New" (2008), and "We Are One!" (2007). You can find the full list on the official website. There is a DVD of the concert each year. It is free, but there's a $10 shipping/handling fee.


Note that Korea Times does not release any artist names before ticket sales. (The only exception was the announcement of SNSD prior to ticket sale in 2009)*. In other words, if you want the best seats, you must buy tickets before you know which artists are performing. Yes, it is a gamble and you will not know if your favorite artist is going initially, but Korea Times definitely does not disappoint with their lineup. See Part 4: Artists for more information.

Korea Times releases the artist lineup in batches in February through April. Each batch is a list of 3-4 artists, and is released every few weeks on their twitter. Typically  Korea Times will tweet a notice of when they will post a batch, and tweet the list shortly after. Only artists announced on Korea Times' twitter and Facebook are confirmed. Below is an example:

Part 2: Seating (different types, and pro/cons)

Tickets are priced according to seating section. There is Pool Circle, Garden Box, Terrace Box, Ramp Seat/Ramp Box, Section E/Section D, Super Seats, and assorted lettered sections. Ticket prices may increase this year, as they did from 2009 to 2010. To see what the view is like for a section or specific seat number, click here.

Korean Music Festival Guide (Part 1)

This is a mega information package on the Korean Music Festival (KMF), commonly referred to as Hollywood Bowl (HB).  KMF is an annual concert of Korean artists held in Los Angeles.

Every year there are many questions, concerns, and confusion for those unfamiliar with KMF. This article is a information guide to the  concert. I will be covering the following topics:
Part 1: KMF 101 (who, what, when, where)
Part 2: Seating (different types, and pros/cons)
Part 3: Purchasing Tickets (how to, delivery options, forewarning)
Part 4: Artist lineup
Part 5: Transportation and parking
Part 6: Sponsor hotel
Part 7: Pre-concert festivities
Part 8: Concert
Part 9: Hollywood Bowl policies
Part 10: Miscellaneous tips (K-Pop merchandise, concert resources)

Part I: KMF 101 (Who, what, when, where)

KMF is an annual concert held at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.  The host Korea Times makes an official announcement of the concert in mid-January, and ticket sales begin in late January or early February. The concert duration is 6:30PM - 11:00PM on a Saturday in May, and holds an audience of 18,000. (Only exception was the 2004 KMF held in October).


There is a concert theme every year. Past examples include "Above & Beyond" (2009), "Old & New" (2008), and "We Are One!" (2007). You can find the full list on the official website. There is a DVD of the concert each year. It is free, but there's a $10 shipping/handling fee.


Note that Korea Times does not release any artist names before ticket sales. (The only exception was the announcement of SNSD prior to ticket sale in 2009)*. In other words, if you want the best seats, you must buy tickets before you know which artists are performing. Yes, it is a gamble and you will not know if your favorite artist is going initially, but Korea Times definitely does not disappoint with their lineup. See Part 4: Artists for more information.

Korea Times releases the artist lineup in batches in February through April. Each batch is a list of 3-4 artists, and is released every few weeks on their twitter. Typically  Korea Times will tweet a notice of when they will post a batch, and tweet the list shortly after. Only artists announced on Korea Times' twitter and Facebook are confirmed. Below is an example:

Part 2: Seating (different types, and pro/cons)

Tickets are priced according to seating section. There is Pool Circle, Garden Box, Terrace Box, Ramp Seat/Ramp Box, Section E/Section D, Super Seats, and assorted lettered sections. Ticket prices may increase this year, as they did from 2009 to 2010. To see what the view is like for a section or specific seat number, click here.

(2009 seating chart is referenced because it is easier to see the layout).

Korean Music Festival 2010 ticket prices:

Pool Circle: $275

Garden seat: $175

Terrace seat: $150

Ramp seat: $150

Section E & D: $100

Super seat: $100

Assorted lettered seats: $20-$70

Pool Circle section is divided into left and right by the extended stage. Imagine Pool Circle section as a semi-circle. The extended stage is a strip that runs down the middle of that semi-circle, and along the circumference. The runway strip allows artists to walk through the Pool Circle and stand before the Garden Box section. Pool Circle uses metal fold-up chairs.

Pros: This is the front row section, and it is possible to touch the artists hand (yes it is that close!).  Pool Circle is gated off, and there are security guards to check tickets and hand stamp to ensure that no outsiders try to sneak in this area. Also in 2010, Pool Circle members received an "All the Reds" t-shirt which ran out during the preconcert freebies.
Cons:  It is extremely competitive to get a hold of these tickets. They (along with Garden) are the first sections to be sold-out just minutes after ticket sale begins. Pool Circle is also very expensive, so please keep a budget in mind.
[Pool seating chart] [Extended stage] [view 1] [view 2]

Garden Box is the second most expensive section. The important thing to know about Garden section is that tickets must be bought in sets of four. A Garden Box is actually a box with containing four seats inside. When purchasing a Garden box, you are buying four tickets, four seats, one box. You cannot purchase one or two seats, but must buy the whole box. Therefore at checkout, the total for one Garden Box will be $700 -- that is, $175 per seat. There are also several boxes that hold six people. If you look closely at the chart, larger boxes (like Box 141) hold six people, and normal boxes hold four.  Garden Box uses canvas chairs that resemble director chairs.
Pros: This section is close to the stage, and is a cheaper alternative to Pool Circle. If you want to order together and sit with friends or family, box sections are ideal. You can request a table from Hollywood Bowl staff for you to put drinks and food on. Boxes have a physical border, so people cannot step inside the area. This can provide more security for your belongings. Because of high demand for Garden seats, it is highly possible to purchase a box for you and a friend, and sell the remaining tickets to someone else.
Cons: Although people cannot step inside a box, they can crowd outside and in front of it. Sometimes security cannot hold back the initial excitement (e.g. Big Bang in 2007), and fans run down aisles and promenades to get closer. Garden section tends to be impacted the most as fans gather and stand in this area. Garden tickets are also expensive and difficult to get a hold of.

[Garden chart] [view 1]

Terrace Box is identical to Garden with differences in distance and price. Terrace section is farther from the stage. The format of the box and purchasing process are the same as Garden. Terrace also uses director chairs.

Pros: This is a cheaper alternative to Garden section, and it is more feasible to obtain these seats.  

Cons:  Promenade 1 (a walkway) is between Garden and Terrace section. This means a substantial amount of people traffic moving along all four edges of Terrace section. Since Terrace covers a larger area, the distance of your box from the stage can vary greatly (ex: getting front row Terrace versus last row Terrace).

[Terrace chart] [view 1] [view 2]

Ramp section has two options: Ramp (side) Box and Ramp Seat. Ramps Seats can be bought individually and are in front of the Ramp Boxes. They are metal fold out chairs. Ramp (side) Box is like Terrace and Garden, and boxes are only available with four seats (no six-seater). These have director chairs.

Pros: This section is quite close to the stage. It is cornered by Pool Circle and Garden, but is substantially cheaper. When artists walk down the extended stage, they are several feet away from the front of the Ramp section.
Cons: The section is off-set to the sides. While you do get a closer view, it is not a direct front view, and you see the side of the artist for the most part. Also the position of the stage  lights tends to blind this area at times. Despite the cons, Ramp section tends to be sold out quickly because the seating isn't abundant compared to other sections.

[Ramp chart] [view 1] [view 2]

Section D & E: These sections are on the immediate left and right of Terrace. I personally have not walked through Section D & E, so I cannot provide much information. Judging by pictures, the experience is most similar to Ramp, except it is farther back. They use wooden benches.
Pros:  The distance and view is good for its cost.
Cons: The section is set off to the side, so the view is at a side angle

[Section E/D chart] [view 1]

Super Seats are located roughly directly in the center of the amphitheater.  Super Seats is composed of sections G1, H, and J1. This is the only section that uses green plastic chairs that open like those in movie theaters.
 

Pros: This is a cheaper alternative to Garden section, and it is more feasible to obtain these seats.  

Cons:  Promenade 1 (a walkway) is between Garden and Terrace section. This means a substantial amount of people traffic moving along all four edges of Terrace section. Since Terrace covers a larger area, the distance of your box from the stage can vary greatly (ex: getting front row Terrace versus last row Terrace).

[Terrace chart] [view 1] [view 2]

Ramp section has two options: Ramp (side) Box and Ramp Seat. Ramps Seats can be bought individually and are in front of the Ramp Boxes. They are metal fold out chairs. Ramp (side) Box is like Terrace and Garden, and boxes are only available with four seats (no six-seater). These have director chairs.

Pros: This section is quite close to the stage. It is cornered by Pool Circle and Garden, but is substantially cheaper. When artists walk down the extended stage, they are several feet away from the front of the Ramp section.
Cons: The section is off-set to the sides. While you do get a closer view, it is not a direct front view, and you see the side of the artist for the most part. Also the position of the stage  lights tends to blind this area at times. Despite the cons, Ramp section tends to be sold out quickly because the seating isn't abundant compared to other sections.

[Ramp chart] [view 1] [view 2]

Section D & E: These sections are on the immediate left and right of Terrace. I personally have not walked through Section D & E, so I cannot provide much information. Judging by pictures, the experience is most similar to Ramp, except it is farther back. They use wooden benches.
Pros:  The distance and view is good for its cost.
Cons: The section is set off to the side, so the view is at a side angle

[Section E/D chart] [view 1]

Super Seats are located roughly directly in the center of the amphitheater.  Super Seats is composed of sections G1, H, and J1. This is the only section that uses green plastic chairs that open like those in movie theaters.

Pros: A seat in the Super Seat section nearly guarantees a center view. If a front view matters more than a closer, side view, I suggest considering Super Seats.
Cons:  Those plastic chairs are definitely not ideal for hot weather! I had a Super Seat in 2008, and it was extremely uncomfortable to sit in those seats in 90+ degree weather in the direct sunlight. It is difficult entering and leaving the section because of the tighter space (imagine trying to get to a seat in a full movie theater).

[Super Seat chart] [view 1]

Lettered Sections range from letters F-X (no O). All of these sections use wooden benches.
Pros:  These are the cheapest seating options. If budget is a large factor for you, these choices will be ideal. Because of the large of amount of seats in this area, they will not be sold out immediately. However be advised that it is possible for the whole show, all 18,000 seats, to be sold out as it did in 2008 and 2010.
Cons: These sections are farthest from the stage, but there are side screens that film the stars. The farther up the bowl you are, the more sunlight you will sit in.

[Lettered chart] [view 1]

Part 3: Purchasing Tickets (how to, delivery options, forewarning)

This year's ticket prices are TBA. Refer to Part 2: Seating to see ticket prices from 2010. Ticket sale starts before any artists are announced. Here is KMF's ticket policy.


Ticket sale opens on at 10:00AM PST on a Saturday in late January typically. There are no refunds and no holding tickets. There are three methods for purchasing tickets: walk-in, phone, and order online.
GROUP SALES

For Korea Times Music Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, group discount is applied to a group of 15 or more.
Please call (323) 692-2070 for special group rate.

1. Walk-in at the Korea Times Ticket Office. The address is 4525 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010. This process is not charge a convenience fee. Doors open at 9AM, and they start selling at 10AM.

The workers at Korea Times office will get you tickets online too using the same website, but their servers are much more stable and don't encounter the same issues as those trying to buy online at home. 

Korea Times Box Office hours:
Monday-Friday: 9am-6pm
Saturday: 9am-2pm
Sunday: Closed

2. Phone.  The numbers you can choose to call from are (323) 692-2055,  (323) 692-2070, (323) 692-2068 or (323) 692-2187. There is a convenience fee of $2.50 per ticket.

Example: (cr. DBSK_is_k00l)

When purchasing tickets over the phone the operator will ask which section you want. Once you tell them which section you want, they will go and get you the best ones they can get at the time and let you know the row and seat/box number. If the seats aren't to your liking and you are willing to risk loosing those tickets for worse or better tickets, you can ask them to check again. (This is what I often do if I order over the phone. They use the same method as the people who are ordering online but their servers seem to never crash, but good luck getting through to them because they only have about 4 phone lines.) Once you get seats you are content with, they will proceed with the billing/shipping information. It's all the basic stuff such as credit card info, name, number address, but make sure you have it all in front of you because the time limit applies to phone orders as well. You'll lose the tickets if you take longer than like 6 minutes to enter all the info in. A typical call like this once you get through will last probably 10-15 minutes. Personally, I kind of prefer ordering over the phone but its such a pain getting through.

First thing I suggest people do before purchasing tickets is to get familiar with the section that they want to purchase so they'll know what they are getting. For example if you wanted to purchase GB, there are detailed seating charts here in the web that show the rows and box numbers so when you are on the phone with the operator and they tell you the available seats you can see where they are located and if you want that particular one or not. There are detailed seating charts for pool circle, GB and TB. The seats farther back then those do not have detailed seating charts but you should get a pretty good sense of what you'll be getting.

3. Online at www.koreanmusicfestival.com or www.Ticket.KoreaTimes.com. An account is required to purchase tickets; it is recommended to create an account beforehand. You can register here. There is a convenience fee of $2.50 per ticket when ordering online.

Process: You select the section (Pool, Garden, Terrace, etc.) and row you want. Choose how many seats you want, and hit select. The page will then offer you a seat number for that section. The ticketing system sells the best available ticket for any selected level on a first come-first served basis. You can check the location of the offered seat on these charts: Pool Circle, Garden, Terrace, Ramp, Section E/D, General seating chart. At this point you can buy the tickets offered, or click "back" and try again.

Example: (cr. Findjunebug)
Pick seat options:


Receive offer:


Check location:


Proceed to pay, or try again.

There is two minute time limit for ordering online.  Once you select your seats, they "hold" your seats for 2 minutes while you fill out all of your information, credit card info, etc. and purchase. If you don't fill out all your information within those 2 minutes, then they release the seats you selected to go back to everyone else trying to purchase seats. So make sure you have all of the information ready to go (your address, credit card info, etc). I believe they do this to prevent people from selecting seats, and then holding onto them for an hour or so while their friends try to find better seats.  (cr. DreamOfYou)

Tickets Delivery Options:

You can receive the tickets by mail to your address, pick up at Korea Times, or will-call .

1. Mail: Your tickets will be mailed via USPS Priority mail with a tracking number. There is a shipping/handling charge of $7.50 for domestic and $12 for Canada.

2. Pick up at Korea Times:
When you order from KoreaTimes.com or KoreanMusicFestival.com, you may choose from three pick up locations they provide. Once you choose your ticket pick up location, Korea Times send the tickets down to the location. Tickets for are usually available for pickup from April at their three locations.

A. Los Angeles Box Office: 4524 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010
                                       Telephone: (323) 692-2055, 2068, 2070
                               
B. Orange County Office: 9562 Garden Grove Blvd., #A, Garden Grove, CA 92844
                                    Telephone: (714) 530-6001
                               
C. Rowland Heights Office: 18893 Colima Rd., Rowland Heights, CA 91748
                                       Telephone: (626) 810-4919
                   
3. Will Call
Will Call tickets are available for pick-up at the venue on the day of the show during the Pre-concert period.
Please bring your photo ID, the credit card used, or your confirmation receipt/number for verification.


Forewarning:
Yes it's important enough that the font must be bold and red!

I cannot press how difficult it is to purchase tickets. It's pure panic and stress because there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of people who are in the exact mindset. Everyone has their phones and multiple computers ready and waiting for 10:00AM to call and purchase their desired tickets. Please don't be discouraged, but take this warning to heart -- Pool Circle seats will sell immediately like hot cakes, and the same can be said about Garden Boxes. In the past, the website has not been able to handle the strain of traffic. As a result the site freezes for most people. While it may be possible to get tickets in your shopping cart, it may be difficult or impossible to proceed to pay and check out because traffic on the site. In the case that you reach the ticket offer page, but the site won't load to check out, it's more than likely that you'll lose the tickets. If you do proceed to check out after a delay but your shopping cart is empty, it means someone else snagged those tickets while the server choked up. Also phone lines will be busy, so it may take a while for someone to answer. Although purchasing tickets in person at the Korea Times office is not possible for everyone, it appears to be the safest method as the internet and phone options are difficult to manage.

Due to immediate server traffic and errors for KMF 2010, at 10:15AM Korea Times changed the ticket sale time to 11:00AM.
Part 4: Artist lineup
Korea Times opens ticket sale before they announce the artist lineup. Artist lineup is announced in groups of 3-4 names in February through April.


With the exception of 2009, there are always two MCs.  It is also important to know that the concert is not only geared to the youth, but also to the elder generation. Korea Times seeks to reflect all generations, and so each year's lineup has a generous amount of non-pop, trot singers for the older audience to enjoy. But don't underestimate these performers! They also know how to command the stage and hype up the crowd.

Past big acts include 2PM, Beast, Wonder Girls, Kara, SNSD, SHINee, SS501,DBSK,  Son Ho Young, Kim Tae Woo, Fly to the Sky, Super Junior, SG Wannabe, Chae Yeon, Minwoo, Se7en, BoA, Hyori, Bi, Epik High, JYP, Big Bang, and lots more! Here is a complete list of artists who have performed each year. (Click to enlarge).

Based on observation, it seems like many artists perform at the Bowl twice (ex: BoA, JYP, Bi, Se7en, Fly to the Sky, DBSK, Super Junior, SNSD, SS501, Shin Seung Hoon, SG Wannabe, Baek Ji Young, Wheesung, Lee Eun Mi, Chae Yeon, and some more).

Fun fact: Tae Jin Ah, a beloved trot singer and Eru's father, has performed five out of eight KMFs! He's a great entertainer, so let's hope he returns this year.


From Soompi

Part 5: Transportation and Parking
I have met people at KMF from many different states  stretching from West to East coast, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. I don't have much advice for non-Californians T_T sorry! For those who are flying in to LA, book flights early! Below I will discuss transportation methods for getting to Hollywood Bowl once you are in LA.

Getting to LA from Norcal:

I am from Norcal so I can give more details on transportation for those in the area. Some travel options are by Amtrak, Greyhound, plane, or car.

Greyhound and Amtrak have similar prices and trip duration. A round trip will cost roughly $80-$120 depending on your specific location. The trip ranges from 7-12 hours depending on the schedule. You can make reservations on the Greyhound and Amtrak websites.

I have taken a plane and car for KMF from the Bay area. Depending on when you book your flight, where you're flying from, and the airline, a round trip will cost roughly $100-$150. Flying is nice because it only takes about 1.5 hours to arrive at LAX, but it can the be most expensive option.  Personally I find driving to be the best option in terms of time and cost. Cost varies depending on the fuel efficiency of the car, the number of passengers, and gas price. From my experience, driving a roundtrip from the Bay to LA with two or three people in the car costs ~$35-$50 per person, which easily makes it the cheapest option! It's also a definite plus to have access to a car in the city, and not have to rely on public transportation or taxis.

Getting to the Bowl:
I. Parking at Hollywood Bowl
II. Park & Ride
III. Bowl Shuttle
IV. Metro
V. Taxi

I. Parking at Hollywood Bowl
Parking is limited at the venue, so it's advisable to get there early to ensure a parking spot. When the concert ends, well… imagine trying to get out of a parking lot with 18,000 people leaving ^^; Prepare yourself for some car and people traffic at that point.


Parking fees at the Hollywood Bowl will run:
General Parking $19.00-$35.00 per car
Motorcycles $8.00 each
Limos and buses at $35.00 each
   

II. Park & Ride
This is an alternative to driving and parking at Hollywood Bowl. You can park your car at designated lots listed below. There are buses at these stops to take you to the Bowl.

Cost per person roundtrip:
$5 advance purchase at the Korea Times Main Box Office
$8 at the bus lot (CASH ONLY, EXACT CHANGE REQUIRED)

Passengers with pre-purchased Park & Ride tickets will be given boarding preference, provided they arrive no later than five minutes prior to their ticketed departure time. All Park & Ride buses are wheelchair accessible.

Park & Ride Locations

Rowland Heights (Line 665)
Schabarum Regional Park, 17250 E. Colima Road and Azusa Ave. (Parking off Colima Rd.). Bus stop on Colima Road. Departures will be at 3:30 & 4:00.

Chatsworth (Line 653)
Chatsworth Metrolink Station, 21510 Devonshire St. (one block west of Canoga Ave.), and bus stop is in lot. Departure times will be 3:30 & 4:30.

Torrance (Line 657)
Wilson Community Park, 2000 North Crenshaw Blvd. (between Carson St. and Sepulveda Blvd.) and entrance to parking lot is off Jefferson St. Departure times will be 3:45, 4:00, 4:15 & 4:30.

Lakewood (Line 660)
Lakewood Center Mall (Lakewood Blvd. and Candlewood St.) and parking area is off Candlewood St. and Graywood Ave. Bus departs across from Hometown Buffet. Departure times will be 3:30 & 4:00.

Koreatown (Line 650)
Farmers Insurance Parking Lot, 4620 Wilshire Blvd (Between S Muirfield Rd & S Mullen Ave). Departure times will be 3:35PM, 3:40PM, 4:00PM, 4:30PM & 5:00PM.

III. Bowl Shuttle
This the same concept as Park & Ride, but shuttles come a lot more frequently.

Cost per person roundtrip is $4.00
(plus parking fee if using Hollywood & Highland Shuttle Lot)



Ventura Lot (Line 668)
10801 Ventura Blvd. (near Lankershim Blvd.). From the Hollywood Freeway (101) exit Lankershim Blvd. to Ventura Blvd., turn right into lot. Departures will begin at 3:00 and run every 10 minutes up to show start time.

Ventura Annex Lot (Line 668A)
10601 Ventura Blvd. Parking lot is at corner of Ventura Blvd. and Lankershim Blvd. Departures will begin at 3:00 and run every 15 minutes.



Hollywood and Highland (Line 671)
Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Entrances to parking structure off Highland Ave. or Orange Drive. Bus stop in Orange Court. Please note: Parking Fee Required. Departures will begin at 3:00 and run every 15 minutes.


L.A. Zoo Lot (Line 672)
5333 Zoo Drive, Section C of L.A. Zoo Parking Lot. Departures will begin at 3:00 and run every 20 minutes.

IV. Metro
I only found information for taking the Metro from Wilshire/Sheraton Hotel (they're only three blocks apart).

For people that want an easy way to get to HB from Sheraton but cannot drive this is what you do:
Exit Sheraton and take a left, walk across the street and enter metro station 7th St Metro Center. Take the red line (This is very important otherwise you'll end up on the purple line headed to ktown. Anyone else feeling the DBSK irony?) Anyhow ride that until you get to Hollywood/Highland. You should be really close to Grauman's Chinese Theater on the Hollywood walk of fame. There is a bus stop at Highland & Hollywood (which is where you will be. I think it's to the left once you exit the metro station.) You can either hop on the bus which comes every 15-30 minutes or if you want you can walk. I think it's like a mile. Last year there were about 40-50 people walking with me and my friends so you won't be alone. Also on the way back, I would suggest walking. The buses that are across the street were blocked by the hundreds of people exiting the stadium. There are tons of people that walk back to the metro, it'll be around 12a but with all the people headed the same direction as you, you will be fine. It's not hard to get there at all and if you get lost there will be a lot of people wearing kpop shirts so just ask around and they will get you to the right place. (cr. Mandyyy)

Metro map
Metro fare

V. Taxi
This is a bit more self-explanatory ^^ there are taxis all over the city. You can typically find taxi cabs lined up at hotels, though they can be an expensive option. Plan ahead and have the number to a taxi company just in case.

Here is a site that estimates taxi fare.

Part 6: Sponsor Hotel
There is a sponsor hotel each year in which the performing artists stay at. The Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel was the sponsor hotel in 2008 and 2010. The Wilshire Grand Hotel was the sponsor in 2009. Both are located in Downtown LA, and are about three blocks apart.

You can read reviews on Sheraton and Wilshire. As chain hotels, both are relatively expensive compared to cheaper options.

Despite the cost, many fans opt to stay at the sponsor hotel in hopes to catch the artists around the area. Some fans do not book rooms but stay in the hotel lounge area. The accumulation of fans (both those who have booked rooms and those who have not) causes hotel staff to bump up security and police presence to flush out people who aren't staying at the hotel and enforce restrictions.

Part 7: Pre-concert Festivities

Pre-concert activity begins roughly at 3:00PM and continues up to the 6:00PM when the ticket gates open. If you are picking up tickets via will-call, there is a booth in the pre-concert area for you to get them.


There are many booths with freebies from KMF sponsors such as fans, pens, glow sticks, light sticks, snacks, bam bam sticks <3, raffle prizes, and sometimes shirts. It's a time for fans to congregate and get in the concert mood :)

 

   

Some fan groups organize meets to pass out support packages such as glow sticks, shirts, and balloons. Fan projects I have seen in the past are Cassiopeia, Soshified, and SHINee International. If you are interested, be on the lookout for international fan forums of artists who are attending because they usually require pre-orders.

     

   

Part 8: Concert!

KMF opens its gates at 6:00PM. People start moving towards the ticket gates around 5:30PM. The Hollywood Bowl staff will check your ticket and bags. There are more freebies past the gate :D!

   

Once you enter the bowl there are directions for finding seating sections. You can also ask HB staff attendants for help. There are programs for KMF that you can pick up on the promenade, though Pool, Garden, and Terrace have programs prepared on the seats

   

The show starts with an opening act, followed by the Korean and American national anthem. Performances alternate between idol groups and older generation artists. There are two or three 15-minute intermissions (restroom break!). At the end all the artists gather on stage for the closing performance and  fireworks to wrap up the show at 11:00PM. It gets hectic  when everyone is trying to leave the Bowl at once.

Many fans like to make their own shirts and fan gear. Get ready for a night full of screaming fans and sharing fandom :)!

Part 9: Food and Camera Policy

Food and drinks policy
Unopened drinks are allowed into the Bowl. Food is also allowed, so I highly recommend bringing some because it'll be a long concert! There is a market café inside the Bowl where you can buy food but it's really expensive. If you have a box seat, you can ask a staff member to set up a table to have food and drinks on.



Camera policy
Digital cameras are allowed. There should be no problems with regular point-and-shoot cameras. The rule is that camcorders and DSLRs are not allowed, but some people bring them anyway. It depends on security staff. Some HB staff don't thoroughly check bags so it is possible to sneak one in if you can hide it well in a bag. Inside the Bowl, it also depends on how stingy security and staff are. If security sees people camcorders or DSLRs, they may get warnings to get it taken away, or nothing may happen at all. It's very much dependent on the HB staff and luck.

Part 10: Miscellaneous tips

I. Merchandise in Koreatown

If you want to purchase K-Pop CDs and posters, be sure to make the trip to Koreatown! There is a store called Music Plaza in Koreatown Plaza and another music store in Koreatown Galleria that have a really good selection of Korean music. They'll definitely have music from idols and recent hits. However they usually sell out of posters early on in the concert weekend so be sure to visit these stores before the concert if you want posters. You can find transportation to Koreatown by the Metro.

     

II. Weather
The weather can be on the mild-hot side. The temperature in 2008 was 90-95 degrees, definitely hot. 2009 and 2010 were more mild and comfortable. It will get cold after the sun sets so a light jacket will be useful. Sometimes KMF offers free blankets during pre-concert, but they run out quickly.

III. Resources
- Follow Korea Times twitter and facebook for official announcements and updates.
- KMF's official website
- KHYPE website and twitter (they help organize and provide information for Soompi KMF goers!)
- Soompi KMF 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006 threads. Check out previous threads for lots of pictures, fancams, and fan accounts!

IV. Buying/Selling/Trading KMF tickets
As ticket sale starts, Soompi will open a thread to members to buy, sell, and trade tickets. The thread will be created in the selling & trading section. Here's an example of how the thread works. Be careful when buying and selling online.

V. General concert and travel preparation
- Keep a budget! There's KMF ticket, transportation, hotel, food, and other expenditure costs.
- Check the weather for the area and pack appropriate clothing and shoes
- Visualize your trip and make a list of everything that you will need: toiletries, clothing, electronics, chargers, money, IDs, necessary confirmation paperwork
- Have transportation plans worked out beforehand. Have public transit schedules ready if you are using them.
- Research to find available parking lot structures. Be aware of in/out privileges because some will charge you if you leave and return the car to the lot.
- Book hotel rooms early for cheaper rates. Also know what time they allow you to check in and out.
- Work out sleeping arrangements beforehand.
- If your budget permits, don't be afraid to spend money on food! You're somewhere different so it'd be nice to not eat Carl's Jr., McDonalds, or Subway.
- With KMF aside, you're still on a trip! Explore the city and make friends!

VI. Personal tips

- Check twitter and the Soompi KMF thread for news and star sightings. Last year there was a KMF tag so those with twitter could get quick updates
- Bring enough memory cards and batteries! I ran out of battery life in 2008, and ran out of memory in both 2009 and 2010 T_T
- If you are sharing a room with many people, bring surge protectors!!! That way everyone can charge their cameras, phones, and laptops
- I bring a laptop on my trip so I can dump out all the concert pictures and videos in there since my memory cards fill up 100%. That way I can take more pictures and videos the next day! It still is a trip anyway ^^
- Staying at the sponsor hotel? You will most likely see a celebrity at some point. Have a sharpie and something to sign handy. Bring more than one sharpie and a silver one in case they sign something that is predominantly black. However know that not every artist will give an autograph; it depends on their manager and management.
- SM artists have a no picture policy