Chapter 24

Deciding on Stage Names

When Manager Hyung left, the atmosphere in the practice room became chaotic. Even the usually calm Seohoon Hyung couldn't hide his excitement.

"Would 'Bakha' be better than my real name?"

"Bakha is easier to call than Bakha-jun. It sounds more familiar to you, doesn't it?"

"Ji-on Hyung, hmm, wouldn't a rapper name be better? It has recognition and gives off a rapper vibe."

"Z-on Jeton? How about that?"

Bakha and Ji-on were struggling to decide on their stage names. Although they needed to practice, the atmosphere was disrupted. They weren't sure if they could concentrate even while dancing. Their minds seemed to be elsewhere.

"Let's start with a song. If we play a song, we'll react instinctively."

Oran said this to Green Hyung, who was observing the situation. Oran believed in doing what needed to be done on time. Stage names, group names, and concepts weren't something that could be decided immediately.

"Alright, let's start practicing!"

* * *

When Manager Hyung came back to the practice room, we were exhausted. Fortunately, we were used to the member lineup, so we adapted quickly.

Manager Hyung patted our shoulders as if to encourage us, saying he had come to get us at dinner time to get closer to us.

He looked like a police officer or a soldier, with his appearance and stern tone. He had been in the military for a long time and could even handle security tasks.

Despite his appearance, he seemed meticulous and considerate. He asked and recorded whether we had any allergies, what foods we liked, and what our constitutions were.

There was a reason he was chosen as our manager. Not only did he have the experience, but his personality seemed suitable for taking care of and managing someone.

After dinner, Manager Hyung drove us to the dormitory. The car we rode in was a Carnival, not new but clean, as it had been used by another celebrity.

Even this was a luxurious means of transportation for us, who hadn't even debuted yet.

"Today's schedule is over. It's your first day in the dorm, so you'll be busy settling in. Clean up a bit and go to bed early. Namchul, Hamiwon, and Kim Ji-on, who still go to school, need to go early tomorrow."

Manager Hyung coolly said goodbye and quickly disappeared. He dropped us off in front of the dorm and only told us the password, implying that we should manage our lives inside on our own.

Living in the dorm basically meant showering and sleeping.

"Let's go in!"

The dorm we would be living in was on the third floor of a villa, located in a quiet residential area.

Inside, there were only basic furnishings, and unsorted luggage was piled up in the middle of the living room.

The rooms weren't assigned yet, so the luggage was left like that.

The members, including me, who were new to the dorm, wandered around to check it out. There were two large rooms with bunk beds, and two smaller rooms with single beds.

"Did you all check it out? We need to decide on the rooms, so come over here."

Green Hyung led the room assignment.

"We can change rooms every few months, but moving luggage is a hassle, so let's try to stick with the assigned rooms. If it really doesn't work out, let me know. I'll adjust it."

Why is the room draw so nerve-wracking? If we get along, a double room wouldn't be bad, and a single room would give us the freedom to be alone. I didn't have enough experience to decide which would be better.

"Everyone, open your papers. 1 and 2 are single rooms, and 3 and 4 are double rooms."

When I opened my paper, it said 3. Who will I be sharing with?

"Who got 3? I'll be sharing with you."

The other 3 was Seohoon Hyung. It seemed like a good outcome. Seohoon Hyung is considerate and not picky.

We confirmed each other's papers and smiled. Seohoon Hyung must think I'm not a bad roommate.

"Phew. Already a headache."

"Why is it a headache? I like being with Oran, roommate!"

Oran ended up in the same room as Ji-on. The free-spirited Ji-on and the rule-bound Oran were expected to face some challenges.

Moreover, Oran might not know, but Ji-on is quite a maximalist. I could already picture what their room would look like. Oran might request a room change soon.

Green Hyung and Bakha were in single rooms, so they didn't seem to have any complaints. Actually, Bakha said a double room would be more fun.

"Quickly organize your luggage in your rooms. After that, let's all think about the concept, group name, and stage names together."

"Wow! I'll be the first to organize."

As everyone started organizing their rooms, I went out to the front of the dorm to receive a call from my parents. They had come to deliver the luggage I had packed.

We decided to take only the urgent items and bring the rest of the clothes and items slowly.

"Iwon, will you be okay?"

"Don't worry. It's unfamiliar, but I'll adapt somehow."

"Right. I believe in you, Iwon. I'll find a practice room for you quickly."

In the morning, I had asked my parents if they could find a space for my practice room.

I needed to dispose of the practice room I used for violin and wanted to work on my music where my instruments were. I was eager to create music, and the habit of expressing myself through music remained.

"I'd like it to be close to the dorm so I can go there freely anytime."

"Right. We'll take care of that. Dad wants you to be careful about your health. Dreams are important, but you're more important to me."

After collapsing after the debut evaluation performance, my parents were particularly concerned about my health. I had to reassure them several times that it was due to overexertion.

* * *

How are idol stage names decided?

If a name is considered too rural, common, or if more impact is desired, a stage name is created. Of course, many idols use their real names. In such cases, the surname is often removed to create a stage name. Otherwise, the company can give a stage name, or the idol can create one themselves.

We were on edge in the unfamiliar atmosphere of the meeting with the staff.

All eyes were on us as we sat in a row. It felt like we were the main characters. I wanted to make a good impression but also felt the urge to freely express my opinions.

The first topic of the meeting was deciding on stage names.

"Instead of Namchul, 'Chul' sounds better. The surname is strong, and the name 'Chul' is unique."

"I agree. Chul sounds good."

Chul's stage name was decided relatively easily, probably because the name was unique. There were no overlapping celebrities, and it was an easy name to remember.

"For Hong Oran, hmm. Oran is better, right?"

"Hongran, Oran. 'Ran' is also good, isn't it?"

"Ran might be mistaken for a woman. Oran is a bit like that too…."

"Should we create a new name? But these days, even if a stage name is created, fans often call the idol by their real name."

"Let's decide on Oran for now and leave room for changes. What do you think, Oran? Oh!"

The new talent development team leader raised his voice, realizing he had used an honorific.

"Oran? Isn't this okay? It sounds like a product name! It's a name, but…."

"But, isn't that how names are supposed to be?"

The other employees also noticed and murmured. This was a new situation, and they were confused.

A name that could be used as a product advertisement? Various thoughts crossed my mind about whether this was ethically acceptable.

After the representative calmed the confusion, he asked:

"The most important thing is your opinion. What do you think, Hong Oran?"

"I'm satisfied. I see it as a way to imprint my name. The product's recognition could help me. I might even get a chance to use it in advertising."

"Hmm. Is that so? Then I'll look into it and handle it."

He meant to review and prepare for any potential issues. I felt a sense of reliability, knowing that the representative would take care of anything.

"Seohoon. A foreign name sounds cool, but one character might be hard to call."

"Seohoon. Seohoon. Hmm…. The latter is better, right?"

"Seohoon. Seohoon. Yes, the latter is better. It's a unique name, so I don't feel the need to create a new one. Are you satisfied with it?"

"Yes. I want to use my real name. I used it even when I was a child actor."

His name was not common, and it sounded like a cool name from a novel or drama. It seemed easy for fans to remember.

"However, we need to be careful with pronunciation. The name 'Seohoon' is unique, so it might be misheard as 'Seohun,' which is not special."

"Yes. I'll be careful when introducing myself."

It was interesting to analyze names from various perspectives. I heard diverse opinions and unexpected views.

"I like 'Bakha'! I want my stage name to be Bakha!"

"Right. Bakha is better than Bakha-jun, isn't it?"

"But, Bakha, the pronunciation… You know, right?"

"Baka, similar to 'fool' in Japanese?"

"Right. Still, do you want to be Bakha? I recommend creating a completely different stage name."

Bakha was hesitant. It sounded like a joke, but if they ever worked in Japan, they might be called 'fool.'

Bakha felt so familiar that it seemed like a real name, but with a new option, Bakha couldn't decide easily.

"Um… Still, I want to be Bakha! If we go to Japan, I'll use 'Hajun.'"

"Think about it more and decide. There's still time."

"…Yes."

They gave Bakha some time to decide. But, in the end, wouldn't Bakha stick to their decision?

"What about Kim Ji-on? Both Ji-on and Jeton are good."

"I like both."

"Shouldn't we use the recognition from Show Me the Money? I vote for Jeton."

"Even if we do, the hip-hop scene might not like it…."

Rappers often looked down on rappers in idol groups. In the past, many rappers in idol groups couldn't sing well and learned rap during their debut process, so they were often criticized for lacking skills. Some even said they couldn't be called rappers because they performed raps written by others.

Since then, the skills of idol rappers have improved, and more of them write their own raps, but most still strictly distinguish between idol rappers and rappers.

Jeton, who had participated in Show Me the Money and performed well, became an idol? From a rapper to an idol rapper? It was hard to predict how the hip-hop scene would react. The possibility of a positive reaction seemed low.

On the other hand, fans could be attracted by the fact that Jeton was a rapper with verified skills.

"The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I like Jeton."

"Then let's go with Jeton."

Ji-on reacted nonchalantly. They don't care if the hip-hop scene dislikes it? So what. That's what it seemed like. With a self-centered personality, Ji-on would likely stick to their path despite negative comments.

"Lastly, Hamiwon. Do you have any preferences?"

"No."

I only had a vague idea of using my real name. Everyone in the meeting room muttered my name. Hamiwon, Iwon, Won, Hamwon… A series of pronunciations related to my name came out.

"The surname 'Ham' is unique, so it's better to use it. Iwon isn't bad, but it doesn't stick in the mind."

"Right? Hamiwon. This is good as it is."

The new talent development team leader said that if I had any good ideas, I could come anytime to discuss changes.

"Before moving on to the next topic, we should touch on the world view."

World view?