Just recently, I have received some inquiries regarding how
to get into SM Entertainment. At first, I really thought it was just a random
question until I realized that it was a serious query that was indeed directed
to me. I gave my answer, expressing my honest thoughts. But the biggest reply
here is: how would I know?
I never really take pride in being an opinionated person
but there are some things going on in my mind right now and let me just share
it. Hopefully, it would be a justifiable and acceptable read.
SM ENTERTAINMENT: THE COMPANY OF DREAMS
But first of all, let me tell you my own perception about
SM Entertainment first.
I may sound biased but I am pretty confident when I say
that this company does produce world-class acts. There are several essential
factors why it happens; and personally, I believe that SME’s success is rooted
from three very vital groups of people: the management, the staff, and the
artists themselves.
Let me be more specific.
We all know – and it’s entirely obvious – that SM
Entertainment takes pride in the visuals of their artists. I might not share this
opinion with everyone else but I really think ALL their talents look good.
Maybe it’s just the SM Town-biased in me who’s speaking, but really! Whether
they’ve gone under the knife or not, we cannot easily discard the fact that their
artists really have pleasing appearances.
But contrary to what haters love to say, SM artists aren’t
just about good looks and sexy bodies. They wouldn’t get into where they are
right now if they don’t have the natural talents. Excuse me for saying this,
but I’ve always believed that for singing, dancing, acting and variety skills to
be developed fully, it has to be there. Think about it. What would you develop
if there’s nothing in the first place? So just please let us all put to rest
the issue about SM artists being talentless. It’s not true.
Moving on with the topic, the second essential factor for
SM’s success would be their staffs – and this includes the make-up artists,
designers, fashion consultants, choreographers, trainers, back-up dancers, even
the personal coordinators who had to run around with the artists’ items everywhere.
To be honest, I think they’re quite underrated; but they deserve much credit
for being the backbone of the company. Working behind the camera, most of what
we see on the artists came from their ideas – the clothes, the hairstyle, the
make-up, the dances. Artists justify and popularize what the staffs contribute;
and the staffs take pride in transforming the artists. It’s a win-win
situation, and that’s what basically comprises the accomplishments of the
company.
But if there would be one thing that’s beyond these two,
it’s going to be the management, of course. Artists and staffs won’t exist if
there’s no one to gather them together, right? That’s what SM Entertainment
specializes in. If the artists are the flesh, and the staffs are the backbone,
the management is the brain indeed. Everything happens because they will it.
Everything begins because they wanted it to start. They are the root of all.
And particularly, no one is above Lee Sooman.
Lee Sooman is one of the biggest players in the business
industry that is Korean entertainment. Obviously, he had managed to secure a
position in the society that cannot be seized by anyone. He had solidified his
name as perhaps the most successful company boss of all times. How did he do
that? He has the eye for possibilities; and that’s the main secret why SM
Entertainment is on top.
Who would have thought that funny names like Kangta, You
Know Yunho, Choikang Changmin, Lee Teuk and others would eventually be
household names in the Korean society? Who would have thought that splitting
groups into sub-units will eventually become a trend among the industry? Who
would have thought that releasing different versions of albums would mean more
money?
Seriously, Lee Sooman is a scary business tycoon because
he has this great instinct about what will be a hit. He knows his craft well,
and he knows what he’s doing. Forget the negative issues for a while, please.
I know I’ve mentioned the three already; but let me
mention one special group that holds a gigantic responsibility and plays an
immense role on the continuous success of the company: THE MARKETING TEAM.
Perhaps under the orders of LSM too, the marketing team is
like a group of psychics to me. How they come up with concepts, how they come
up with advertising techniques to sell the artists… it all astounds me to no
end. Their ideas incessantly develop and improve; setting the trend for all
others to follow. Remember how EXO and now SM The Rookies manage to get so much
attention even before they debut? Yeah, blame the marketing.
HOW TO GET INTO SM ENTERTAINMENT
Now that I have impressed my opinions on what SM
Entertainment is, I will now answer the most important question: HOW TO GET
INTO SM ENTERTAINMENT, based on my beliefs and observations.
It is indeed a fact that SM Entertainment is probably the
pickiest company of all. As far as I know, there are only two ways to get into
the company. First is by being scouted; second is by passing the auditions. Luhan of EXO was scouted. Same goes with Kibum of SJ and more others. But hey, that doesn't mean you should pack your bags and immediately fly to Korea in this very instance. Because most times, I think, one has to get through both. A scout approaches you,
inviting you the join the auditions. It’s still up to you on whether you’ll do
good or bad; and it’s all up to them whether they will accept you or not.
People say that getting into SM Entertainment is
expensive so I am thinking that maybe, it’s really just like a school where you’d
have to pay to receive lessons. If that’s the case, Kim Junmyun must really be
freaking rich. :p
Anyway, let me tell you what I think people should have
when at least trying to get into SM Entertainment. No, please forget Sunny and
her connection. She is a cute, talented and funny girl in my opinion and she
trained outside the company to be fair.
Okay. The first important thing to be an SM trainee is
you’ve got to have the looks. Whether we accept it or not, people judge
according to what they see first and so physical appearance matters A LOT. I
don’t think you’ll have to be skinny right away as diet could always come in
the latter part of your training years; but yeah, you need to have that X
Factor – the magnetic charm that would make people take a second good look at
you.
Confidence is another quality you should have. If you are
confident that you can achieve your dreams of becoming a KPOP artist, it will
reflect on what you are and what you do. Scouts tend to have the eyes for this
and sometimes, it’s what they’re looking for.
And of course, you’ve got to have the talent. You sing?
You dance? You act? GOOD! But one talent is never enough. SM artists are famed for
their versatility and you should come at par. I don’t think it matters whether
you haven’t mastered it all yet. That’s where training becomes important; but
as I’ve said you’ve got to display potential.
There is also a possibility that you will have to discard
some of your beliefs and principles to adapt fully to the environment of SM
Entertainment. So if you want to get into the company, you have to be ready to
turn your back against things you’ve been used to and accept things that are
against your ideas, if the situation requires. The most important thing in
succeeding is that you have to come up with the best decisions and be ready to
stand up for it, no matter what it takes. Many SM artists had gone through this
psychological challenge, and even when they’re on top already, they’re still
going through their own dilemmas. Why? Because it’s all part of it.
But you know what? All I’ve said above can be toppled by
one thing: DETERMINATION.
Every successful artist, not just from SM Entertainment,
had their determination tested during their trainee days. Some had to
repeatedly go through auditions because they were rejected during the first few
times they did. If SM Entertainment is your goal, then so be it! You know what
you want and all you have to do is to convince yourself that whether you get
accepted on your first try or not, you will reach your dream.
I have no dreams of becoming a KPOP artist, nor am I
experienced in this field. I have no connections with SM Entertainment and all my
statements are based on my own opinions. But you see, it doesn’t really require
experience for me to understand that the main secret to following the footsteps
of your favorite idols is to believe that you can. Everything started as dreams
for them too...
What makes you any different?
DISCLAIMER:
ALL STATEMENTS ABOVE ARE MERE OPINIONS. IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE STATEMENTS OF SM ENTERTAINMENT NOR ITS ARTISTS.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
This post may not be 100% accurate.
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