The 10 Rules of Fangirling Like a Pro

The 10 Rules of Fangirling Like a Pro…at first glance one may think “where do these chicks get off?” And that’s a valid thought. But let me say these rules — and honestly they’re more like guidelines, as those scallywags in Pirates of the Caribbean say– have been curated, tested, and implemented for by yours truly for years now.

Over the years throughout the successes and failures (boy, are there failures. And witnesses. And awkward photos), I learned from each occasion and started implementing these little nuggets of know-how at each event. These rules really crystallized in college. When I went to shows with my friends they became part of the routine too; I loved that I was helping to facilitate an experience they wouldn’t have without my tips and tricks.

Now as a professional in Los Angeles in the film industry I’ve seen this world from a new, closer, and behind-the scenes-perspective. I’ve had superfans of my boss’s work come into my office and I’ve played a role that I never imagined myself in – gatekeeper! This new position in the world of fandom and pulling the curtain back has further shaped these rules.

This is all to say that we hope you find these rules helpful, but don’t just take our word for it! Try these out for the next time you Just Can’t Even.

–Victoria

 

1. Hide your crazy at all costs.  Don’t scream and for the love of God don’t cry. Not saying that you shouldn’t be proud and celebrate being a fan and GET EXCITED, but when face-to-face with your fave, we’ve learned it’s best to Disguise Your Crazy Until a more Appropriate Time.
2. Don’t wear fangear of any sorts – dress like you’re on a date because you basically are. Dress for the occasion: Be mindful of your surroundings. If you’re heading into your business’s office on May the 4th, it’s probably a good idea to leave your all-out Stormtrooper uniform at home. But a Her Universe Princess Leia dress? Go for it!
3. Be on the barricade or go home. This is tough but true: your fave will rarely have enough time to talk to everyone (even if they want to), and there are times when they’re whisked away by powers you can’t control — mainly security. All I’m saying is your spot on the barricade is usually worth it!
4. If you want to be on the barricade or close at all, think of the most obnoxiously early time you could arrive, and then get there two hours before that. The meeting and selfie will be worth waking up at the ungodly hour, trust me.
5. Make friends with security. Panic at the Disco’s security guy Zach once took a picture of their tour bus for me after I made polite conversation with him. Also, security can kick you out so, you know, best to listen to them.
6. Don’t take the bait when the other fans start name-dropping. This was a kind of toxic behavior I started to observe at stage doors. There seemed to be a hierarchy as to who in the fandom was the most prestigious to meet and then people would go back and forth as to who met who and how many times and whose interaction was more personal. One of the most amazing aspects of fandom is it’s power to unite strangers in their love for something and this felt like it undermined the ability for our faves to do just that by assigning currency to them.
7. Mentally prepare yourself for them to be better looking in person. Believe me, I don’t know how it’s possible either.
8. Talk about their achievements as an artist and the more obscure a project you reference, the better. 
9. Selfie over an autograph. We live in a world of pics or it didn’t happen; that being said, if someone says no photos, you gotta respect it.
10. Be a fan of yourself first! The most important rule – This for me was the hardest to learn but it’s the most important. I got to really weird wonky place by not following this rule. I think when you’re a fan of yourself first, these rules are pretty easy to follow.