BTS have always gone above and beyond for their fans, shining on stage and giving their best so fans always get the best experience possible.
But unfortunately, despite how much effort BTS put into their performances, many aspects of performances and tours are beyond the artists’ control. Such was the case with BTS’s 2015 Highlight tour.
BTS’s Highlight tour was held in North America and organized by TGM Events and the streetwear label Community 54. But although fans were beyond excited to see BTS performing live, there were issues with how the tour was planned almost from the beginning.
The tour went from California to Texas, Georgia, and Canada over the the course of five days. Unlike most tours, fans had to purchase a promotional t-shirt to gain admittance to attend the Highlight tour. Buying a t-shirt that costs $70 USD would include both admission to the concert and a hi-touch event. And buying a $50 USD t-shirt would grant you admission to the concert.
At the first stop of the tour, in California, there was an issue with how fans filed into the venue. The VIP ticket holders weren’t given a specific time to enter the venue, which led to non-VIP ticket holders filling in the seats “reserved” for VIP ticket holders. Fan accounts also claimed that some fans who didn’t pay for hi-touch were given the opportunity to have hi-touch, which led to extra-long wait times for those who had paid for the opportunity.
And then, in Texas, the venue ran out of posters for BTS to sign, leaving the group to sign pieces of paper for fans instead. There was even an issue with BTS’s microphones.
One fan account even shared what was reportedly one of the staff members flipping fans off.
So if you look to the far right there. You see one of the #TGM STAFF FLIP US OFF #HighlightInToronto #HighlightinATL pic.twitter.com/BI29B4aIjk
— daniella marmol (@jaejoongluver) September 27, 2015
Another issue with the shows was the number of tickets sold versus the venue size. At the Georgia concert, around 100 fans were left outside in the rain since they could not enter the venue. Initially, these fans were told to keep waiting so they could still participate in the hi-touch event…
@tgm_events needs to get it together. 100 people were left out in the rain because they oversold the show. pic.twitter.com/wV94Xqb7NV
— Ladee Danger (@Brttnymchlle) September 27, 2015
How did u have time to print out all these denial notes? @tgm_events Hmm seems like u already knew before u over sold pic.twitter.com/u4Dl5HBugy
— Cortney Anna (@ontaekey_) September 27, 2015
But before they could enter the venue, after waiting two and a half hours, they were told that BTS had already left. Later it was revealed that BTS and Big Hit Entertainment weren’t informed about the fans waiting in the rain.
[Highlight – ATL] pic.twitter.com/amM77WqEo1
— TGM Events (@tgm_events) September 27, 2015
Given all the difficulties during the previous stops of the tour, fans tried to make sure everything was organized for the last stop of the tour. While security was helpful in their efforts, other staff kept fans waiting outside for a long time with no explanation.
HUGE shoutout to this security guard. The most nicest, funniest, and organized security guard. #HighlightInToronto pic.twitter.com/oHUhxbA4b7
— fueledbykay (@kpmore_) September 27, 2015
apparently tgm isn’t even at the venue yet & it’s the venue staff themselves doing the check ins#HighlightInToronto pic.twitter.com/GBDLG43BH6
— jane doe. (@graysama__) September 27, 2015
Ppl from the VENUE!! just had to ask THE FANS who the organizer of this event is because no one is there WTAF #HighlightInToronto #sueTGM
— ina | baizhu will be mine (@RapEomma) September 27, 2015
After multiple fans’ accounts of the tour went viral, netizens voiced their shock at how poorly arranged the entire tour was.
Of course, BTS gave their all to every stop on the Highlight tour, and the issues were in no way their fault, but fortunately, their other tours have gone much smoother since.
