In less than a month, the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) will be held at the AsiaWorld Expo Arena in Hong Kong.
MAMA is the preeminent Asian pop event of the year, which never fails to deliver solid performances, special stages, along with award presentations from top K-Drama stars.
While many international fans would love to attend the event, which has become increasingly more accessible due to official live broadcasts from Mnet, planning the trip to Hong Kong can be a daunting task.
Here are five tips to aid international K-pop fans who are gearing up for a trip to the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
1. Purchase tickets through the official, English-language supported site.
Hong Kong Ticketing provides English language instructions for MAMA attendees. Standing room tickets range from approximately $269 USD (2000 HKD) to $282 USD (2188 HKD). Seated options are priced at approximately $114 USD (888 HKD), $166 USD (1288 HKD), $218 USD (1688 HKD), $244 USD (1888 HKD), and $269 USD (2088 HKD).
2. Prepare for a long flight if you are departing from the U.S.
Potential attendees who are traveling from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) should be prepared for one of the longest flights in the world. In 2012, the trip landed in eighth place in a list compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
3. Build in a layover in Seoul.
In addition to mainland Chinese cities like Beijing or Peking, Seoul's Incheon International Airport is a major transfer point for flights departing to Hong Kong. Plan your trip accordingly and maximum your Hallyu fix.
4. Trade out your light sticks and pack crafty, felt cheer banners.
While it is tempting to pack light sticks for every band that is on your top 10 list, felt cheer banners provide an opportunity for self-expression and will make international baggage check much easier.
5. Brush up on some of the awesome Cantopop and Mandopop artists who are Hong Kong natives.
G.E.M (Gem Tang) and past-MAMA awardee, Aaron Kwok, are artists who reside in Hong Kong, whose music represents some of the best pop from the region. Explore their latest releases or some of the other acts who call Hong Kong home.
The 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards will be held on December 2 at Hong Kong's Asia World-Expo Arena. More details, including online voting for fans, can be found on the website for MAMA.
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Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor at KDramaStars. She is also a contributing music writer at KpopStarz, MTV Iggy and other publications. When she is not listening to "Rhythm Ta," she can be found on Twitter. (@retrogirladdy).
