At the rate they’re going, B2K may soon have to do all their public appearances via satellite. The young pop/R&B quartet’s current tour with IMX had to be moved from clubs to theaters because of the crowds they were attracting, and on Monday an in-store appearance in Concord, California, was cut short when some fans didn’t want to wait their turn in line.
B2K, who released their self-titled debut March 12, were signing autographs at the Sun Valley Mall Sam Goody store when some of the more than 1,000 fans waiting outside bumrushed to the front, according to a mall spokesperson.
Kim Eri Opacic, Sun Valley Mall’s marketing director, said the mall was told by B2K’s record label to expect a couple hundred people, so the mall’s staff was caught off guard. The event, scheduled to last two hours, got too hectic only 40 minutes in.
“They rushed the storefront. At that point we said, ‘No more,’ ” explained Opacic, who said she had never heard of B2K until last week. “Safety is more important. We temporarily cleared the center of everyone.”
The mall was closed for about 30 minutes until the fans left. Opacic said Sam Goody has held similar autograph signings for jazz musicians and has never had any kind of problem.
“They usually draw about 100 people,” she said.
Although neither B2K nor their representatives could be reached for comment Tuesday, last week the group said it may have found big enough venues to hold its fans. B2K are expecting to tour arenas with Lil’ Bow and IMX this summer.