Chapter 20

# Chapter 020

“What money am I supposed to receive? I’m not a day laborer.”

“Well, that’s...”

There is something called a ‘choreography proposal.’

It literally means a proposal for choreography, referring to the state before the details are completed.

In Korea, it is taken for granted that choreography fees are paid, but the issue is with this proposal fee.

This is because some management companies think, “Why should we pay for something we won’t use?”

Especially large companies sometimes receive over a dozen proposals to carefully choose the choreography, and if such companies don’t pay the proposal fee, it’s really frustrating.

“Haeum didn’t give you the proposal fee? What about the choreography fee?”

“I received the choreography fee. But the proposal fee is separate, and it also takes manpower to create a proposal. My team and I try out the movements, and it takes a lot of time...”

“Yeah, I get that.”

For example, if you create a choreography for 10 people, including backup dancers and idols, you need 10 dancers.

It’s natural to see the overall picture.

The proposal fee should include not only the choreographer’s pay but also the pay for the dancers who worked on the creation process.

“So, you only received the choreography fee and not the proposal fee?”

“Yeah. They asked me to prepare two proposals after their meeting, and I gave them, but there’s been no news...”

“Why can’t you just get angry and demand payment!”

Seong-pil was angry as if it were his own problem.

When he shouted, everyone in the restaurant turned to look.

Baek Min-jeong calmed him down.

“Did you tell them anything?”

“I sent a few messages...”

“What did they say?”

“Well, they all said the same thing. At first, they said to wait, but now they ignore me.”

“You should have gone there and made a scene.”

“What if they start spreading rumors about me?”

This industry is small.

It’s a place where everyone is connected through a few degrees.

If Baek Min-jeong keeps asking Yoo Haeum for money, Yoo Haeum might spread bad rumors.

‘That person has a bad character,’ such a casual rumor could harm Baek Min-jeong’s career.

“Does this happen often?”

“Yeah, it happens sometimes.”

“What about the dancers’ money if you don’t get paid?”

“What can I do? I have to take it out of my pay.”

“Huh...”

He felt even more frustrated, probably because of the alcohol.

It was indeed difficult for Baek Min-jeong to talk about it.

Even among family, money issues are hard to discuss, let alone with complete strangers.

‘That’s why Yoo Haeum pretended not to know Min-jeong.’

Seong-pil’s face grew hot at the thought of a friend doing such a thing.

“Did you talk about this with someone like Jo Ara?”

“No! Why would I tell a kid about this? There’s just a certain atmosphere in the dance school. Dancers coming and going, and the students in the school. Rumors spread around. So, I try to pay as quickly as possible... I’m also stressed.”

Baek Min-jeong seemed to have said everything she wanted to say and didn’t speak for a while. She occasionally glanced at Seong-pil, as if gauging his reaction.

‘That’s why Jo Ara said she didn’t like the management company.’

Jo Ara’s social circle is limited to the dance school.

The older people she meets are all dancers, and they are the only society she can interact with.

Imagine if these people constantly badmouth the management companies.

Is the Korean entertainment system flawed? Should the top executives of management companies change? Are the dancers’ rights too low?

It’s strange to think that anyone who views management companies favorably is the odd one out.

“No, that’s not it.”

After a long silence, Baek Min-jeong suddenly waved her hand and laughed loudly.

“I was just drunk and talking nonsense. Just forget it. It’s not easy to talk to a friend about this.”

“What do you mean? That’s why we’re friends.”

“Huh?”

“It’s worse to stay silent when a friend does something wrong.”

Baek Min-jeong watched as Seong-pil wrote down what she had just said in his phone’s notepad.

To make sure he wouldn’t forget it the next day.

“I’ll talk to them.”

“Really? Is that okay?”

“They probably have their reasons. Running a management company isn’t always about having a lot of capital. But not paying what they owe is still wrong.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s true!”

Just hearing that he would talk to them made Baek Min-jeong smile brightly.

She seemed to be envisioning a bright future, probably due to the alcohol.

“Let’s end this talk! Let’s drink!”

They clinked their glasses together forcefully.

* * *

Hong Gyu-hun arrived at the company early in the morning.

When he used the remote to pull back the curtains on the glass walls, the sunlight flooded in, blindingly bright.

It felt like the sun was rising.

Someday, when the company grows, he won’t be able to monopolize this view.

Even now, when Han Goo-gi comes in early, he takes it away.

“Ah, you scared me!”

Hong Gyu-hun was startled to see Seong-pil sitting up groggily.

“What’s wrong, Park? Did you sleep here? And what’s with the smell of alcohol?”

“Good morning, sir.”

“This isn’t a place to sleep, you know.”

“I ended up here after having a serious conversation with a colleague from the industry.”

“Open the windows for some fresh air.”

Seong-pil went to a convenience store to buy underwear and toiletries, then freshened up in the company’s bathroom.

Waking up at the company wasn’t so bad. Without a set work time, it felt like he had gained something.

‘Well, let’s start the day.’

He took a sip of coffee and picked up his phone.

‘Yoo Haeum’s group has three weeks left for their comeback activities, and today is the music show recording.’

He must be awake.

Seong-pil called him.

Sure enough, after a few seconds, he heard a “Hello.”

“Hey, Haeum. How’s it going?”

[Don’t even ask. I’m exhausted. I wake up at sunset and go to bed at sunrise. I’m tired, and so are the kids.]

“Are you at the studio now?”

[Yeah. Why are you calling? Do you want to substitute for someone?]

“No. Can we talk for a bit when you go to the broadcasting station today?”

[What the hell. That’s scary. What do you want to talk about?]

“I’ll bring coffee on my way.”

[Then come now. I was just about to get some coffee.]

Seong-pil timed his arrival to match when Yoo Haeum would be at the broadcasting station.

He bought as many coffees as there were staff members working with Yoo Haeum’s team, and his arms ached from carrying them.

When he entered the waiting room, the group ‘Waipercent,’ managed by Yoo Haeum, bowed deeply and greeted him.

“Two, three, hello! We are Waipercent!”

Their reaction was completely different from when he had substituted as a manager for them before.

Back then, they thought he was a new road manager, so it was natural.

“It’s good to see you again. I brought coffee for the staff.”

“Thank you, sir!”

The youngest member, who had been particularly rude before, now showed a completely changed attitude and expressed his gratitude again.

He carefully examined the multiple cups of coffee.

“Here’s yours. It’s an 8-calorie iced Americano. Good luck.”

“...Thank you.”

Was he expecting a caramel macchiato?

A shadow fell over the youngest member’s face.

It reminded Seong-pil of Rica, making him feel a bit sorry.

“Thanks for the coffee. Let’s go outside.”

Yoo Haeum sipped his frappuccino and left the waiting room.

Seong-pil playfully nudged his side.

“I thought you’d be really awkward. Why did you make them greet me so formally?”

“No, it’s because you substituted as a road manager last time. They were preparing to greet the manager again.”

Waipercent wasn’t yet a big name.

They were at a stage where they couldn’t afford to be lazy with greetings.

Even Seong-pil, who had been a road manager for almost 8 years, knew that in the interconnected entertainment industry, maintaining good relationships was key to a long career.

“By the way, does your team use the waiting room exclusively? You’ve grown, Yoo Haeum.”

“It’s not me who grew, it’s the company. Honestly, it’s not just for our group. Our company recently got a famous actor, and that helped.”

“Stop being modest. I saw the album sales.”

“It’s all thanks to the fans.”

They walked to the smoking area.

Naturally, they lit their cigarettes and looked up at the sky.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Do you know Yoo No Dance Academy? The place that did the choreography for your group recently.”

Yoo Haeum exhaled a long breath through his nose.

“Oh, that. I’ve been on edge, thinking I did something wrong.”

“Why didn’t you pay Baek Min-jeong, the choreographer?”

“Hey, I paid. I gave the choreography fee. What other money are you talking about?”

“You should have also paid the proposal fee. You received two proposals, right?”

Yoo Haeum looked around for a moment, checking if anyone was listening.

He knew it wasn’t good for anyone to hear this conversation.

“Our company put all its efforts into this album. We don’t have enough money to spare. What can we do?”

“Will you pay it later?”

“...Hey, let’s be honest. Paying proposal fees is something they do in the U.S. Dancers submit proposals regularly, right? Not paying proposal fees is already a part of the industry culture. Why pretend to be good and ignore it?”

Seong-pil inhaled the cigarette deeply.

His lungs and heart were filled with smoke.

“If we do that, we’ll get criticized by other management companies. Isn’t the choreography fee supposed to include the proposal fee? It’s like an advertisement.”

“Haeum, you know you’re saying something strange, right?”

“No, I’m just trying to be balanced. There’s no one-sided view in this.”

“So, you’re not going to pay the proposal fee?”

“...”

Yoo Haeum didn’t answer, leaning on the railing and smoking.

“Why did you ignore Baek Min-jeong’s messages?”

“Ha, I ignored them because I felt guilty. What I said just now is from the company’s perspective. I, who meets choreographers directly, am in a difficult position.”

A company exists to make money.

It means that the organization will save wherever it can.

If the culture of not paying proposal fees is widely known, even if it’s wrong, a company won’t change it.

“I know it’s wrong. But I’m just an employee. To earn a living, I have to do what the boss wants. The company has survived without paying proposal fees, and I’ll look bad if I say anything.”

“Still, you should pay.”

“...Damn. I thought you’d give up if I ignored you this much.”

Yoo Haeum pretended to be annoyed but took out his phone and started typing.

“What are you doing?”

“Texting Baek Min-jeong to send her bank account number.”

“Are you going to pay right away?”

“No. I’ll talk to the manager first.”

“You should have done this earlier.”

“I’m just an employee. It’s natural to follow the company culture.”

Seong-pil gave his shoulder a strong massage.

It was a way of praising him for making the right decision.

While it’s uncertain if Baek Min-jeong will receive the money, it’s something that Yoo Haeum is willing to try.

“Honestly, I’ve never seen anything get easier by getting involved with you. Have you still not changed your habit of being rude to staff?”

“That was when I was young... But is it really okay? You won’t get fired or anything?”

“Of course, if Baek Min-jeong had come to the company and made a scene, they would have paid. But if you made a scene, it would be different. Seeing you make this request, I can tell she was about to break down the door and come in.”

“Why did you decide so easily...”

“That’s just how it is.”

A choreographer can’t be too harsh with a management company for fear of damaging their reputation.

Conversely, a management company, while trying to save money, worries about negative vibes among choreographers. So, if a choreographer takes a hard stance, the company will agree to their demands.

In this uncomfortable industry atmosphere, bad practices are maintained by the silence of both sides.

If just one person from each side had said, “This is wrong,” it would have disappeared long ago.

* * *

Jo Ara was in a good mood.

A dancer who often visited the school had finally received the overdue payment and bought her a meal.

Jo Ara, who usually had to eat out, was running low on pocket money.

Getting a free meal