“December is a crazy month because not only do we have to practice our own performances, but from other artists’ as well…” - T-ara’s Boram
In T-ara’s dressing room at the “2010 Melon Music Awards“, one would be able to see four big bags of clothes and a trunk lying on the ground, next to a vanity stuffed with various makeup tools.
Year-end ceremonies are known for their impressive performances from stars who have shined throughout the year. These artists also participate in special cover performances as well.
The reporters of DongA were able to follow the members of T-ara for nine hours as they went about their busy schedules. The aim was to shed some light on the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into preparing for year-end ceremony performances.
At 3:00 PM, the members are seen dozing off as their hair is being dried and styled. ”I was only able to sleep for exactly one hour. I feel like I’ll fall asleep on stage,” Jiyeon claims.
Hyomin adds, “I accidentally fell asleep while leaving the hair salon today, I almost fell down the stairs.”
The members then reconvene in the waiting room for their camera rehearsal, and are either seen fixing their makeup or checking their accessories. Having to sing two songs in one go, the girls are forced to change outfits and accessories in exactly 30 seconds.
The girls sometimes converse, talking about a mistake they made on stage, or about makeup; sometimes, they comment about the amount of sleep they got in the previous night.
At 5:00 PM, an accident occurs during their camera rehearsal. Right after performing “Why Are You Being Like This“, the girls get changed, only to discover that there’s a problem with their wardrobes.
Their tight outfits were created without thought for the mic and receiver placement, since those things must be fixed onto their backs. Unfortunately, Hyomin and Soyeon are forced to perform “Yayaya“ without being properly zipped up in the back. While the members rehearse on stage, the scene backstage was gloomy, as stylists were seen fussing over the outfit mishap.
Thankfully, it was just a rehearsal, and the members were wearing black shirts that covered their bras. As a last minute effort, the stylists take off the mic receivers from every member except lead vocalist Soyeon, and reposition the mics to the hips.
At 6:30 PM, the members begin eating takeout ordered from a family restaurant. Hyomin comments, “It tastes better than usual. Usually, we just eat kimbap or chips… It’s difficult to set aside time to eat like this.“ However, Hwa Young only finishes a third of her meal; she later explains, “I’m in the middle of a diet. My skin is light and I’m tall, so it makes me look chubbier on screen.”
In the time left over after eating, she rehearses in front of the mirror.
At around 9:00 PM, the girls get ready for their live performance. Seemingly nervous, they continue to down bottles of water. It must be a habit of other singers as well, as there are boxes and boxes of water bottles set up backstage.
T-ara performs their first song without any difficulties, but they meet a problem for their second. Soyeon’s zipper got caught in the mic/receiver, and she refuses to go up.
She is eventually forced to go on stage with her back exposed, but handles the malfuction like a pro, smiling and dancing as if nothing were wrong.
During the spinning part of their choreography, she walks to the side instead. Her facial expression hardens once she exits the stage, and her eyes brim with tears.
At around 6:30 – 6:33.
At 11:30 PM, the girls move to their rehearsal studio in order to practice for their joint performance withSECRET for the December 17th episode of KBS “Music Bank.” The members that were dozing off immediately started up once the music began to play.
Two days later, T-ara was seen performing SECRET’s “Magic” at “Music Bank.” Their hard work and determination reminded the reporters of something Soyeon once said: “If someone were to ask us to choose between standing on stage and sleeping for an hour more, I think all singers would respond the same way: ‘We’d rehearse to stand on stage’.”
And that was just 9 hours in the life of T-ara.
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