Stanning comes in many forms and it doesn’t make you any less of a fan if you can’t afford everything your fave releases.
Related: 6 Red Flags Every Stan Should Avoid
If you’ve been on Pinoy stan Twitter recently, then you’ve probably seen the discourse regarding BINI and what it means to be a real fan when it comes to buying their merch. Admittedly, there is a point to be made about consuming pirated material about your fave, especially when it comes to depriving income from the right people. This mindset though ignores a common fact in all forms of fandom—that being a fan today is not cheap. Money makes the world go round, including being a fan. But your income status is not the determiner of what makes a real fan.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE (RICH)
Pop quiz: name at least three things every fan does. If you said things like buy albums, attend events, go to concerts, or watch movies, then you aren’t alone. The basic tenets of being a fan means consuming anything related to whatever your object of admiration is. Often, these activities are fun and enjoyable. You’re a fan, after all. But these activities and pillars of what it means to be a fan also revolve around the fact that they cost money. You see it all the time with how fans, for example, save up money for a concert ticket to their fave or their newest album drop.
From concert and movie tickets to lightsticks, albums, streaming services, merch, and more, the barrier to entry for any fandom is usually money. These material products are what many associate with what it means to be a fan and money is what helps you access those things.
This is why it’s not uncommon to find people saying that you have to be rich to be a fan, or at least, have a lot of disposable income. And when you don’t have the newest album or haven’t seen the latest movie, the FOMO sets in with the lack of physical access. Keeping up the spectacle of fandom is not easy, especially in this economy where everything is more expensive. The price associated with being a fan adds up.
Rising costs mean being a fan becomes less attainable for many. Not only does this limit accessibility, but it also views fandom through a consumer mindset that is based on what you spend and not your passion.
NO GATEKEEPING HERE
Obviously, as fans, we want to support our faves in what they do. But the reality is that not everyone has that kind of income to buy every single thing out there. And guess what? That’s alright. Spending money on your favorite media should be something you do because you enjoy it, not because you want to reach an arbitrary standard of what it means to be a fan. Fandom shouldn’t be determined by the money you spend because income ends up being the gatekeeper whether someone is allowed to stan or not, and that should never be the case.
Just because you don’t go to all the concerts or have all the photocards doesn’t make you any less of a fan than those who do. Fandom shouldn’t be reduced to a competition of who has the most items. There’s no points system here. Fandom should be rooted in interest and something more personal.
You are a fan because you like that artist, not because you want to turn owning their merch into a personality trait. Viewing someone’s worth as a fan through the lens of materialism is just not it. The reality is that not everyone has the funds to shell out money, so people express their support to their fave in their own way, and that’s ok.
There should be no shame in not being able to keep up with all the drops. As long as you stay true to what being a fan means to you and the stanning is grounded in authenticity, then you’re still a fan. What is important is you appreciate the experience, make connections with fellow fans, and find that genuine joy in your fandom. So, stop worrying that you can’t afford their concert ticket or have to buy fake merch because you can’t afford the official collection. There’s more to being a fan than the size of your bank account.
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