KATSEYE’s Sophia Exposes How Much Time Idols Take To Prepare For Award Show Performances… And It’s Not What You’d Expect 

KATSEYE recently made headlines and quickly went viral among K-Pop fans with their stunning performance at the 2024 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA Awards).

| Mnet

The rookie girl group didn’t look so new to the scene after they impressed all those tuned in to MAMA with their intricate choreography, live vocals, and striking cheerleader-themed concept.

The performance featured brand-new dance breaks and routines, adding to their already challenging repertoire. But behind the glamorous display, how much effort and preparation went into making it happen?

In a recently released behind-the-scenes video, the members shared a glimpse into their journey leading up to the big night. One standout moment was when Sophia revealed just how limited their preparation time was, shedding light on the demanding schedule idols face.

| KATSEYE/YouTube

According to Sophia, the group had less than a month to prepare for their performance — a surprisingly short timeline given her past experience preparing for album releases. But the star also shared an eye-opening conversation with another idol about their usual timeline when preparing for award shows, whose response left her stunned.

We have less than a month to prepare for this [their MAMA performance]. I messaged another idol and asked her how long they usually prepare for award shows. When they said we had less than a month, I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s so little time,’ and it’s a time crunch based on our experience preparing for the album.

— Sophia

| KATSEYE/YouTube

Sophia opted not to name the idol she spoke to, but she did reveal how much the other star spent preparing for similar performances. In fact, she said the exact number of days.

She said that sometimes they take five days and I was like… [jawdropped]

When she said that to me, I was like, ‘Okay, okay, we can do this.

— Sophia

| KATSEYE/YouTube

Taking only 5 days to learn and perform intricate choreographies, dance breaks, or interactions with numerous stage props is crazy! And it truly highlights the intense schedules idols must navigate to deliver show-stopping performances. Despite the time crunch, KATSEYE’s MAMA stage was nothing short of spectacular, demonstrating their hard work and professionalism.

You can watch KATSEYE’s full behind-the-scenes look at MAMA 2024 below: