I’ll let you know, this is not the venue/show review! More review on the things we witnessed that ruined the experience. Which factors into the question we are tackling. Was KCON 2025 better than the previous KCON? This is more of what the ghost of the KCON soundcheck review would be. We’ll keep this as a separate one because I don’t want you to waste your time on reading this if you are not up to it. Honestly, this is the most depressing part of the review. And will be one of the reasons why this year felt a lot different from the year’s previous KCON.

Many KCONers also felt this way. And unfortunately, I got the same experience. So that being said, many of us had to feel this. If you are used to our reviews, you know I really don’t like to write too much negative stuff, but honestly, it’s the only thing I remember when thinking about KCON 2025 minus the talented performers.

Disclaimer

The F10$$ Series is written in an informal tone meant to sound conversational. It includes a DIML (“Day in My Life”) style with opinion. This review is not sponsored by KCON, the Crypto. com Arena, or the Los Angeles Convention Center! Okay let’s get into the review and my experience! (pictures and edits coming soon!)

Okay let’s go back to the review! So, if you haven’t seen the first installment of this, you missed out a bit. Check it out to get the full day!

Crypto. com ARENA

Outside the arena

Since this is conversational, stick with my storytelling skills here. I am all over the place. I apologize in advance. I apologize for any errors. I am writing at the top of my head.

I should’ve called this article “the problems with KCON2025”, but this is a part of our journey this time. We finished eating at YARD HOUSE (check out that review if you have time! Recommend for vibes!), and went on ready for Soundcheck With time to spare by the way. We planned it out perfectly. ZEROBASEONE was crucial to see.

Before going in, you know there’s a bag check? OMG. They are genius in the most sinister way. Remember we have the Olive Young School and the bags are provided. Most people go into the convention and experience everything. Especially the bigger sections. Olive Young us literally one of the biggest sections and everyone wants to go there. Let’s be real. They all knew that. And everyone wants the bag. I certainly did. I love Olive Young.

Those Olive Young bags were more of a hassle than anything else. And KCON is slick about this because you had to know this would be a thing. Everyone had to rent out a locker. We should’ve got a discount since it was their bag that really got us stuck with one. Like some places have a bag check where they decide that the bags purchased (in this case, given to us), are included in bag check and can go in.

I know there are security elements, but check them? And I know safety hazards. Only pit should have to rent them out then since they don’t have a seat to put them in (more work to check, I understand). That being said…discount their sponsor. Even if you give us a physical coupon. And many people will lose them anyways so that can be the way you screw us over. Per usual, I am a perfect victim for that, I lose these kinds of things. But you make so much, why screw us over? It was so many people in that line, I was shocked. Usually, it’s not that many. I hope people don’t normalize this kind of thing. We’ll use the service when needed.

It was hot and most of the time we were stagnant. We asked a few people about where we are supposed to stand and they told us different things. Eventually, they told us that we were to stand in a specific line and we are in the right one. This is important because all the people assigned to manage us all, had no exact answers. Everything was different and many were just there. So, we got no reassuring answers.

Anyway, we waited, and waited, and waited. The bright side is that it is a bright day outside. And thank goodness we ate and hydrated.

Repeated Tip: Make sure to have a cool down moment. Drink some water! You’re going to need it. If you find some shade, even better. Take this time because we are in the peak of summer.

Repeated Tip: Make sure when cooling down you also eat something. That line will drain you and you’re going to want to have as much energy as you can get. Especially, if you are going to stand at the concert as well.

Still…Outside the arena

At some point, we started to feel something was wrong. Sure we heard music last time when we were at the line up for festival grounds…but why would they play it right before show time unless there was a tech emergency? It would feel like this is the purchased soundcheck, right?

We still waited and got a bit antsy. Someone in line said it didn’t seem right, and we should ask again as Soundcheck should have already been in a different line. One of the guests with us go and guess what??? Just guess. I end up getting up and out of the line because the security guy told us that we should already be in there. Do you understand how infuriating that was? I was still hopeful though.

One female security guard felt sympathy for us, and she really defended us. Another security guard lady who lacked any humanity told us “Well soundcheck is already over so they can go to the back of the line”. As aggressive as she could deliver it. Excuse me? Excuse me? Seriously. After that I was a bit turnt, but I stayed composed because who are you actually talking to? I wasn’t even in the back so why would i start over in a place I wasn’t in when I asked your fellow guards where I was supposed to go 3 times? Who are you to try to control a whole event?

With all due respect (if any), you are not one of the shot callers for KCON. You think the minimum amount of power you have is to be used at any point. Well your role and pay are equivalent to many people that day. No need for all this negative energy wrapped in a power trip. Again we all work these jobs, we all have our days, but this was unnecessary aggression that felt like she was a second away from trying to physically touch us to stop us from getting in a line we were supposed to be in. I wish you were there to see this. Though, I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. I most likely paid more than you made that day so I need you to calm down, and make the experience (that your team failed to help make happen btw), I need you to make it worthwhile for the last bit that we have. But nope that wasn’t reality.

“…they can go to the back of the line” She says this as she lets in others for the floor where we rightfully were supposed to be first. It’s a tier thing. And even if I was in their shoes, I would understand. Though I would draw the same conclusion that they are extremely unorganized. We would have had a better experience, a better view. Though we would have still missed soundcheck, it would have been a better view of the stage. We paid for it, and we were owed this. Instead, she just continues to ignore us putting her hand up and let others in and then she goes “NO, NO. WAIT!” when the other lady tells us to go in the line. As if she was looking down upon us. This kind of non-chalet, controlling, negative attitude is what greeted us as we were already disappointed with missing a perk, we paid a lot of money for. I mean who talks to someone like that?

Then we go in get our wristbands and explain to the people at the table. And they were just like “oh.” I know that in a job like that you had no control over the situation, but not even trying to help out was shocking. But I expected nothing less. The attitudes of the contracted workers this time was so dismissive, I was appalled and hurt. This is not the KCON I went to last year.

Last year, it was only like 1 or 2 people who were rude. Which we could look past. This year it was only like 3 who were nice to us and being nice is just a basic thing. At least fake nice since you have to do customer service. No one signed you up for the job and you’re not getting paid to be rude. Again, I have worked customer service. Even to this point (most likely this was my only day off to enjoy an event I thought would be better).

There’s always bad apples, it’s inevitable. You should let it ruin your day, but it really does. But the nice ones went above and beyond to lighten the mood. This is an event we are paying for. We were not sent. We were not obligated to go. We were geniunely fans of it and just wanted to attend again. But look where that left us. With a bad taste in our mouth when we say the words “KCON 2025”. And that hurts.

I know it’s not everyone’s fault, but whoever was supposed to plan these things and really care about how the day will go for average fans, hardcore KCON goers, and newbies, they didn’t do well in my opinion. I think there were a lot of things that looked great and seemed great on the menu, but once the dishes came out, they weren’t plated correctly, and taste-wise, its bitter.

It wasn’t just one staff member. It was a handful of people who made KCON 2025 bad. And in crucial places to get us to the experiences we paid for. Of course most staff are Just doing their job the way it was stated on the paper. But that is okay! As long as we both are getting paid or getting what we paid for, fair trade! The extremely sweet ones really make the day for me. I love it as I feel more inclined to go out. And for my social awkwardness, I feel safe. KCON is somewhere we should feel safe.

I think they need better planners and a better game plan to restore the trust of their fans. There’s a lot to work on. I guess that’s why the surveys exists, but I don’t think they are applied. If anything negativity if not met with boundaries becomes noise. And the KCONers multiply so who cares about a few bad apples (in my mind). I won’t lie, I would be the same because you keep coming back, why complain? It’s like finishing your steak and complaining it was burnt.

Closing thoughts on this topic

KCON really needs to do better when training their staff. Indoors and Outdoors. To a certain extent we are all actors in Customer service. Even when we are not happy, we are still doing our best. Also, even if you have to pay them all to get extra training and quizzes like it’s school, let it. Because it’s ridiculous seriously.

Someone being so dismissive is wild after the people who paid so much just got screwed over. The fact that the act cannot be seen again makes it worse. ZEROBASEONE is not altogether anymore as they are separated into ZEROBASEONE and and2ble. Not only that, but it’s hurtful to hear “go to the back of the line”. The back of anything is diabolical to hear to my face.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER:

One thing to note, I don’t know about KCON’s customer service team as I have never asked them for anything. We did not contact them about this situation. That is on us. Please do not assume that they didn’t do anything because that wouldn’t have been our experience with them. We just wanted to report it to you all. And it is what it is. They can’t get the group back together. The security will also remain painted the way they painted themselves in my mind.

Okay, usually the questions here are better, but this time it’s our survey time. Is there anything that you think KCON should take into account next KCON? Remember they do their own survey thing. I just think the problems get overlooked a ton. We really want to know. Seriously. And secondly, if you want to see how it was when we finally made it in, please wait for the next article. F10$$ wise, not very productive and we got nothing done being out here.

Spoiler alert, way better than what we dealt with earlier. And with lots of amazing performers as well! 😉 You don’t have to wait long as these are coming out together, I would never want you to sit on something so plain.

Written by: A.P.