BB Boys

Rookie popsters face their fans

By Suwitcha Chaiyong

Many music groups these days use social network websites to promote themselves, but few have made use of their online profiles as well as boy band newcomers Rookie BB. With their Facebook page, Rookie BB have built up a strong fan base by posting videos of their progress, development and general ups and downs since they started as trainee artists with RS.

The three members of Rookie BB - Sittha Sapanuchart (Iang), 20, Weerayut Chansook (Arm), 19 and Supasit Chinvinijkul (Pop), 17 - have been busy lately promoting their debut dance single, "Follow U, Follow Me," and their ballad "Ying Khai, Ying Khay (The Closer We Get, the More I Feel Far Away)."

Student Weekly recently met up with Rookie BB at the RS office. The bright young trio told us about their training days and showbiz adventures.

Student Weekly: Pop, what made you decide to become a singer after already working as an actor?

Pop: Somebody from the RS casting team asked me to be a trainee artist. I wanted to try something new, so I took classes to learn how to sing and dance. I soon realised that I love being a singer.

Student Weekly: Arm, did you plan to be a TV host before joining the group?

Arm: When I was a trainee with RS, I was still figuring out what I wanted to do. The casting team told me to audition for a job as a TV host, and I was interested because I used to be an MC at school. Now I'm a co-host with Pop on a show called Tonite Live.

Student Weekly: Does working as a TV host help you perform as a singer?

Arm: Yes. Being a TV host requires good communication skills. I had to learn how to speak more fluently. Now I can use that skill to entertain the audience when I'm performing on stage.

Student Weekly: Iang, is it true that your experience living in the US changed your life?

Iang: Yes. I was part of a student exchange programme called Youth for Understanding and I lived in Massachusetts for one year.

While I was there, I had to do everything for myself, right from making my own breakfast every morning. I was homesick during the first month, but the experience made me more mature and taught me how to stand on my own feet.

Student Weekly: How do you guys feel about using Facebook to show all your performances and training sessions?

Pop: I'm thrilled. It allows people to see all the good and bad experiences that we've gone through.

Arm: Everybody could see when we sang off-key or made mistakes in the dance routines. They also get to see us develop and improve. Hopefully the videos can inspire our fans to achieve their goals if they're determined like us.  

Iang: People can also learn about our personalities by watching the videos.

Student Weekly: How did you feel during your first performance at Siam Square?

Arm: We were very nervous because we had to perform after a professional band. But our fans gave us great support and our worries disappeared. They even sang along with our song. We felt so great!

Student Weekly: Do you guys think you could survive without using a social network site?

Iang: Of course. We only use social network sites when we have a lot of free time. I like to keep up to date with what our fans post on our page. But at the moment we're very busy, so we don't have time to log on very often.