A ‘fan’ is short for ‘fanatic’. Celebrities welcome fans to support, until they suffer ‘social phobia’ when their fans turn up everywhere and they become afraid of going out.
It is easier for entertainment events to attract fans. Serious art exhibitions, culture talks and classical concerts can hardly find thousands of fans encircling entrances of the venues. Perhaps some of these fine art lovers are shy or gentle. Maybe there are never enough culture lovers in Hong Kong.
Timmy Cheung (張港欣) is a unique ‘endangered animal’ in Hong Kong. He is a well-educated young man with 2 different degrees from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and City University of Hong Kong. He is my ex-editor. He comes from a business family background but is not interested in running a business. Having worked as a computer programmer, tuition teacher and publication editor, he quitted. He would rather die of passion than of boredom. He chose to be a ‘professional fan’.
Timmy laughed, “A ‘fandom’ is a highly organized group of fans who devote time and money to increase their idol’s popularity. I did not join any fan club that was too zealous. I am an independent fan. I love art and culture but many such groups are only about pop singers. I support events only during my spare time. Some crazy fans will spam social media, spread flawless fake news to hijack public opinion and use bots to increase traffic data related to their idols. I dislike that.”
I asked, “So, what do you do?” Timmy said confidently, “My focus deals with what is a meaningful cultural event or program, who is a tasteful and adorable artist and why we can learn a lot, intellectually or spiritually, from that content or person. These are all my favourite hobbyhorse. I don’t blindly follow or support.”
Timmy smiled, “As a fan, I am more a ‘collector’. I love to take a picture with my idols who may be writers, scholars, painters or musicians. The photographs collected have become my impressive private library. Some of these idols passed away but memories about them on the special occasions remain my greatest possession. The photographs give me a nice sense of self-worth.”
Hobbies, no matter what kind, are great distractions from the worries that plaque daily living.
Timmy said, “Being a professional fan is much busier than I expected to be. It can be like a full-time job. I have to check daily online news on events, acquire connections with organisers, buy tickets, get route directions to the venues, find out in advance the best positions there for camera shots, ascertain the entrances and exists that the celebrity will likely use and buy the appropriate souvenirs for requesting autographs.”
I was bewildered, “Is it worthwhile to put such great efforts?” Timmy happily said, “The tears came from joy and pride. After photographs are taken in art and cultural events, I share them on social media and drop a few lines. I should claim credit for promoting creative trades in Hong Kong because I can encourage more people to participate in such occurrences. Public awareness is important to stimulate enthusiasm about art and culture. When an event organiser can fill empty seats and a lively atmosphere permeates the place, it makes all the sense in the world to secure fans and supporters.”
I asked, “Anything causing you tough time as a professional fan?” He shook his head in frustration, “Some celebrities are not friendly to fans. They refused to talk to us or take photos. Some gave fans a time limit to finish our job. Some simply appeared and left without saying goodbye. Often, security guards were extremely rude to fans. All these can drain away the enthusiasm of fans.”
I doubted, “Have you been labelled as unambitious, self-interested and ‘shoegazer’?” Timmy hunched his shoulders, “Generational gap is the difference between people of different generations. It is good for people to be different and this is why I am different. I experience new things that the older people did not. A man should be free to think and act as he pleases in private life. I have no need to make comparisons with my peers. Because the mainstream media pushes negativity on those who do not ‘build’ a career, many young people are often forced to feel they are not good enough. I am sure about what I am doing. It is a process of self-discovery. In fact, my life as a professional fan is refreshing and inspiring. What I do now is indirectly promoting art, culture and creativity in Hong Kong. I am happy as my life is the kind that I have sought and it can serve others too.”
The great poet T. S. Eliot wrote, “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started.” One of the many benefits of trying new things and staying different is—being able to keep yourself young!
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