2013 SERA00 Summer Concert: Part 1

Friday wasn't actually part of the concert. We only performed at the ACC on the weekend, but we usually do an introductory concert at the complex on the leading up to it. This time we set up an outdoor stage and had the audience stand on the grass. I think we can accommodate close to eight times the amount of people as opposed to them seated in the complex. 

Instead of the usually lottery for daily stage tickets, it was an everyone-welcome first-come-first-serve thing. Tickets were $20 each with all proceeds going to charity ;)

So at the concert, we basically stuck to the stages, instead of usual big concert repertoire (since we are at the complex after all). All four teams were there and we debuted our 5th stage. Strangely, only three teams had a new stage. I guess we should have guessed why, but Team Hope didn't debut a new stage, merely performing their 4th Stage. The new stages included Team Aurora 5th Stage "Pretty Harmony", Team Angel 5th Stage "Freedom", and Team Night 5th Stage "Dusk is Rising". More about the new stages another time, okay? :)

Let's fast forward. 2013 SERA00 Summer concert "Super Extravaganza", Day 1! New costumes, new songs, new changes. 

SATURDAY, JULY ２７, ２０１３

1 AM

We arrive at the ACC. The buses of idols pull up  with most of the B and C ranks, and the 00s. Most of the A ranks arrive separately due to scheduling conflict. Anyways, they're important events, so the concert takes scheduling priority over everything, including interview, photoshoots, meetings... I'm not sure about award ceremonies hmm we've never had that happen. Baaasically, what I'm trying to say is that most of the A ranks were here too. Except for Sassan, Fracken, Angel, River, and Geneviève. Okay, maybe not most. Sorry! ^_^"

11:30 AM

Scouting the place; backstage and onstage. They assign the dressing rooms to each team, and the crew unloads our costume. Each member knows what acts they're performing in, so their costumes were packed beforehand. Onstage, Luna and Harley are testing the mics and then we're all onstage. 

"Morning everyone," Harley drawls into the mic. "I guess...it works..."

"I'd never have guessed," Luna replies sarcastically. "We're starting out with the single SERA00, performers include our full force. So we need to line everyone up accordingly. How many members do we have currently?"

"Forty-seven official, sixty-one with the 00 ranks," one of the staff calls up to the stage. The stage itself is pretty boring. There's nothing special about the layout, it is merely a rectangular raised stage in the middle of the stadium. Although there is more seating facing the stage, there is seating behind and around it as well. 

Luna purses her lips as she studies the stage. "Okay, sorry girls, official members only." A couple of groans come from the 00s. I guess they'd be bummed out at not being able to participate in the first song. 

"WAAAHHHH!" voices screech through the speakers. Us girls on the stage look around in surprise. Angel and Sassan, each holding a mic, are running in from opposite side doors, down between the audience and towards the stage. Fracken is running next to Sassan. 

"So," Luna continues calmly, "We'll be using those entrances for some of the songs. Be sure to be ready for your act so the staff can take you to the entrance. Ask about where to be beforehand if you have some quick change acts. Which is, most of the A ranks, okay? Quick change room is next to the middle stage entrance. Angel?"

"Yes okay let's have all the SERA00 cast line up in four rows..." The captains walked among the rows, judging spacing and whether the people on the side would fall off the stage and stuff. You know what I mean.

"Okay let's get the Tea Party main cast up here," Sassan called through her mic. "Formation...First row take a step forwards...hmm maybe..."

"Squish in the second row?" Fracken suggested, gesturing. "Then it would look so systematical."

"Yeah," Sassan agreed. "Let's do that. Okay, we'll follow this template for the other songs for now, okay?"

12:30 PM

Lunch! The usual take-out hot lunches that the complex supplies are handed out in boxes, and we eat backstage. No, we don't get lobster and butter and creme brûlée. Just, a cookie. And rice. Chicken. Broccoli. Juice box. Whatever, we're all used to it by now. 

1:30 PM

Rehearsal! Angel picks up a mic as we clean up. "SERA00, we're going to go through the songs. We'll run the CDs, so pick up your mic and go through it but save your voice for the actual concert. We'll start from the beginning." Starting with our theme single, we go through the entire concert repertoire and are sweating ducks at the end. Actually, I'm not sure what that metaphor means o_O

4:00 PM

The rehearsal took about 2 and a half hours. This was the rehearsal time, not factoring in MCs, act change, encore calls and unforeseen incidents, medical issues, etc. In other words, we give lots of buffer time and it's worked in the past. 

Ms. Tallan takes over. "Miss Avery will arrive in time for formation check. One hour until the concert hall is open to audience, two to the first song. Go to costume and makeup now. Review where you're supposed to be and when, especially 00s and others who haven taken part in a SERA00 Summer concert before." Ms. Tallan says summer with reason. "Stay hydrated throughout. The actual concert will be much tougher than the rehearsal. Go get some rest and meet up in the central backstage area half an hour before the opening act."

End of Part 1

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