Short Show Disappoints Exo Fans

With tickets ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 yuan ($617-$1,500) on the secondary market, the fans felt they had a right to be mad, especially since the band performed only five songs (or six, depending on the media source). To make matters worse, only eight members performed, though pre-concert publicity promised all 12 members would be there, along with at least “10 hit songs” and “other events.”

Videos surfaced online showing fans venting their frustration at the close of the concert, and later many expressed more anger on China’s microblog Weibo, saying the concert had been poorly organized and the publicity misleading. Most demanded refunds, and Shanghai’s cultural administrator has told the organizer to provide them, according to the South China Post. K-pop website Soompi.com reported that one member, Lay, was unable to attend due to the fact that he was filming a movie, and Kai, who did attend, did so on crutches.

Moreover, organizers asked fans to donate things like mirrors, clothes hangers and irons that could be used backstage to help prepare for the show. One fan told the website, “It seems like the organizers did not prepare anything.” Later, the organizers explained to a local reporter, “We did not enter into a contract directly with [Exo’s management company] SM Entertainment. There was a Korean company as well as another Chinese advertising company involved, and the Chinese company was the one who breached the contract. On the day of the concert, representatives from the Chinese company did not appear, so we could not communicate with the other Korean company, nor did we know the details of the contract itself.”

The organizer claimed it “advertised the concert word for word” in accordance with instructions from the middle men. They said they would eventually release details of how fans could receive refunds. Other reports stated that Exo did not get paid for the concert, and found out at the last minute that the organizers did not have any money for the guarantee or insurance for the group. They also were not given the chance to rehearse, and as a result some of the routines were awkward. In the end, Exo performed free as a favor to its fans, although not as long as expected. As for the dressing room fiasco, apparently the group had to prepare for the performance in their hotel rooms.