With the expansion of Korean culture, there are now events organized all over the world. Not just concerts, but pop-up stores are being seen here and there, and recently even fansign events were held outside Korea for the first time. Fansign is one of the most exclusive events K-Pop has ever created. And if before it was a privilege of Korean fans, it seems that it is not anymore. It started with fancalls because of the pandemic that allowed fans to participate in online fansigns, having a bond with their group, but now even offline fansigns are being held abroad.
Even though international fans have seen many photos and videos from fansign events in Korea, as it is newly introduced overseas, some fans may be curious or even confused about how it works and how to prepare for it in the best possible way. Of course, because the fansigns are being held outside of Korea, it doesn’t mean that everyone will attend, as the fansigns only allow a small amount of people, usually around 30-60 people. To participate in a fansign, you must be selected through a random selection after purchasing a certain amount of albums from a group. But even though not all participants can enter at once, that doesn’t mean you’ll never get your chance, so better be prepared in case you’re at the next fansign near you! Here’s a list of things to prepare for if you’re going to a fansign event.
Note: this list is also valid for a fansign event in Korea, it is not a ranking.
1. Preparing an outfit
Purple Kiss Twitter
For most fans, a fansign feels like a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get to know their idols up close. Even if they end up attending more than one, who knows, it always feels like a precious moment they should cherish. And to make sure this moment is perfect, fans tend to pay close attention to the outfit they’re wearing to meet their favorite artist. Some fans go for an outfit that reflects the group’s colors or style, while others go for their own style, thinking it’s the right occasion to see their favorites see them the way they are on a daily basis. Because it’s a special occasion, don’t hesitate to put on lots of accessories, really cool or fancy clothes, as long as it’s respectful and correct. You can also add some makeup if you like, one thing about idols during fansigns, they pay a lot of attention to every detail of you, because for them to know you is just as precious as for you to know them.
2. Preparing questions for the group
As the name implies, fansign is done to receive a signature from the group on your album. But it’s not the only thing you can get. If you’re curious about certain things about your idols, you can write your question – usually just one per member – on a sticky note for them to answer while signing your album! It will be another souvenir you can take home after the event! Of course, not all questions are allowed, don’t worry, your questions will be checked by the team before you meet the group and you will have time to amend your question if there are any issues with it!
3. Preparing gifts and letters
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Which fan never dreamed of giving a little letter or a handmade gift to their idol? Well, fansigns are the perfect place for that! Whether it’s a beautiful handmade gift, a letter, a fanart or any other gift, you will have the chance to gift it yourself to your idol and enjoy his reaction when he finds out what you bought him. Idols are always thrilled to receive small gifts from fans, it doesn’t have to be great quality, they are thrilled to see you put your heart into something for them. But of course, even if you don’t offer them any gifts, their greatest gift is, and always will be, knowing you.
4. Photo and video preparation
A fansign is such a precious moment that fans want to keep in their memory forever, and for that, there is no better option than taking pictures and recording videos. Of course, you’re not allowed to carry any phones, cameras or microphones when going to members to collect signatures, but don’t worry, you can leave your camera or phone on a tripod right at your seat and record it all! If you are alone you can proceed this way, but it is even better if you have a friend in the participants to help you record a video, as they will be able to zoom in and follow you as you go through each member, this way you will have a video that records your interactions with your favorite artist up close! A real camera is, of course, best for high quality photos and videos, but phones work just fine too!
5. Managing your schedule
This advice is made specifically for those who don’t like to plan their day or organize everything. Well, for such an event, you will have to plan things very well if you don’t want to run into any last minute problems. The first thing you should do is check all of your belongings before heading out to the event. Make sure you have your gifts and letters if you want to bring them, you don’t need an album, they usually provide one at the venue, make sure you have all the necessary documents to attend (ID, or other necessary documents) and all other belongings you might need as in your daily life. Most importantly, make sure you plan to arrive/go before the actual check-in time. In these situations, it’s better to arrive a lot earlier than a little late. You wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing your idols because of a slow bus, traffic, or anything else. To avoid this, schedule yourself to arrive about 15 minutes before the indicated time so that, if you face any situation, you have a little time ahead of you to find a solution! Timing is very important when it comes to fansigns, late entries really aren’t allowed so make sure you keep track of the timing!
6. Bonus advice
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Last but not least, make sure you enjoy! Enjoying a fansign can be different for everyone, some like to prepare short speeches in advance to tell their idols, others prefer to go with the flow and find their own way to enjoy it. Don’t be afraid to try to make friends if you show up, all of the participants are also fans of the group, so it’s easy to get along! Some enjoy the event taking as many photos as possible, while others prefer to enjoy the moment with the naked eye, each way is a way to enjoy, all are valid and fun ways to create unforgettable memories!
We hope this guide has helped you understand more clearly how fansigns are performed and helped you better prepare for your next fansign!
