A Guide to SERA00 Meet&Greet Events!

A Guide to SERA00 Meet&Greet events!

So a lot of people new to the SERA00 fandom are usually shocked by the way things are done, basically. Based on the idols-you-can-meet and Asian pop culture, there are definitely things you won't find in Western music. Such as...Meet&Greets! Conforming with the idols-you-can-meet rule, each theatre version of a new single comes with an "event ticket", which may be a handshake ticket, an autograph ticket, photo ticket, or a combination, etc. 

Maybe you've heard from a SERA00 wota or read online, but yes, it's true that management is notoriously strict on the rules set out, so be sure you know them all before attending an event. Right now I'll give all the newbies a rundown!

GENERAL RULES

Usually what you will find in the theatre editions are you-get-what-you-get tickets, meaning that even if your favourite member is Sassan but you get a Luna ticket, you're shaking hands or taking a photo with Luna. Once in a while there'll be a you-choose, but it's not frequent. 

On the ticket there is a lane number (Lane 1, Lane 12, Lane 23, etc.). It's usually posted on the website which member will be in which lane. The popular members get their own lane, so people like Sassan, Angel, Luna, Luraland, Maya...the less popular members go two or three per lane. Rome and I usually are lumped together, Fawn, Poppy and Amity, etc. 

Don't do anything that isn't in the event description. In other words, if it's a handshake event don't ask for a photo, if it's a photo event don't ask for an autograph, if it's an autograph event don't ask for a handshake. The only thing you're allowed to do is give the members gifts and cards. But you don't give it to them directly, there are boxes lined up outside the Lane area with the member's name on them and you leave it in there. If you want to give it directly to the member you have to get it screened by security, who will put a sticker on it indicating its not like a bomb or something. Oh, and of course you can talk :)

Your first breach of rule will earn you a yellow card. So when you go sign up with your ticket, you will come up as yellow and your receipt to the event is yellow. They will know you are an "offender". You really can't trick the security in these events, they have eagle eyes. And your second breach of rule will earn you a red card. Is your receipt red? No. Guess what, you're today's VIP; you have your own bodyguard! Seriously. If you're a red card you have a security following you. It's not fun; everyone in the fandom knows what it means when someone has a security tagging along and they're not a member. It's kinda really very embarrassing so you really don't want to reoffend. And if you reoffend a third time...congratulations, you've earned yourself a lifetime ban to that event. Yay! If you get a yellow and don't reoffend, it dissolves after two years. 

Sooo overall it's a pretty popular event since it's affordable compared to usual Western singers' concerts. Now onto the specifics!

HANDSHAKE EVENTS 

APPROX. CONTACT TIME: 5 seconds

The area with the member, regardless of the event, is kind of fenced off to control flow of people, like rides at an amusement park. So once you get into the area, you have to put down all your stuff on the table so you have nothing in your hands. Then you wait until the staff motions you forward. The member(s) stand behind a long table and basically you just reach over and shake their hands. If there are more than one then you just move down accordingly and shake hands. Judging by experience, you probably have around 5 seconds to speak with the member. When you're done you pick up your stuff and leave. Or join another line if you have multiple tickets. You're not allowed to have someone save a spot for you. You register your ticket by name, and only you can hold it. Yes, bring photo ID and be prepared to show it of needed. You're probably thinking, OMG so many rulesssss D,:  but regardless hoards of fans show up so without these rules can you imagine the chaos?

AUTOGRAPH EVENTS

APPROX. CONTACT TIME: 20 seconds

It's basically the same but a little trickier as there are restrictions on what you can bring to be autographed. Members won't sign anything on you, like your palm or your shirt. It has to be something you can put on the table. You can bring the shirt to be signed, just don't wear it. It has to be relatively easy to sign. As in a flat surface; don't bring a doll of the member. If it has pictures (not neccessarily of the member), it can't be inappropriate. If the security thinks your item is inappropriate then you can't have it signed. Settle for an 8 by 11 poster of the member. You can get two things signed, including the poster if you choose it. I'd estimate about 10 seconds for a member to sign one item. 

PHOTO EVENTS

APPROX. CONTACT TIME: 30 seconds

Popular misconception; no, it is not like an attraction where you have to pay to get a copy of your photo! True, you're not allowed to bring your own device, but we have photographers with professional equipment. (btw might I add, who are all fans like any other, but more on this later). Basically when you register, you register your email too, so that when you get to the front and hand the photographer your receipt, the photo will automatically get sent to your email. You can also access it from your SERA00 Events account. 

So the photo event rules are probably the most strict, and yes, sexist, but it's mostly accepted by the fandom. What happens is, when you get to the photoshoot itself, there's a rectangular mat on the floor in front of the backdrop, and that's where you stand. You cannot move off of the mat when taking the photo. The member will chose herself how close to the mat to stand, or in other words, how close to you. If you are male, you are strictly forbidden to make any physical contact with the member other than hand-to-hand. If you're a girl, they don't really care, but SERA00 has a good deal of male fans and I have to say that what I mentioned above is the most strictly enforced rule out of all. It's kinda sad for you too,  cuz if you come to the photo event with a yellow card or a red warning, members tend to be more wary of you and keep their distance. You're allowed one retake, but to prevent fans from taking advantage of this, you can only choose one to keep. A lot of fans print out the photo and write a letter on the pack and then put it in the same member's gift box at the next event. I have to say, I don't think any member throws those away, not even Sassan who has a box of them ;)

This post is already really long so I'll put the photographer stuff on later. 

So there you have it folks! Please support SERA00!