We’re back with a new Fandom Story – this one from Carolyn!
Carolyn has an online shop, C&Tee, and hosts many cupsleeve, PC trading, and market events in the New Orleans, Louisiana area!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hi there! My name is Carolyn, and I’m your local K-pop fan, shop owner, and event organizer. I was born and raised here in New Orleans and would describe myself as a Creative. Growing up, I always had many ideas, with art class being my favorite creative outlet. I explored many different art mediums, such as drawing, polymer clay making, jewelry, etc. I opened my Etsy shop in 2018, but I have been selling in person at my local festival since 2014. It was during that time that I began bringing the sketches I drew on the side of my school notebook to life. I would ink them with a pen, scan them, and cut them on our silhouette or screen print them on shirts and tote bags. Now, I use my iPad with ProCreate to draw my designs, but still going back to pen and paper for sketching. Seeing my own designs come to life and people enjoying my art is truly one of the best feelings.
Opening my online shop in 2018 brought so much joy, where I met so many amazing shop owners, followers, and customers far and wide. Monsta X was and still is a big influence on my shop as they are one of my ult groups and one of my first items in my shop. As years go by, I always look so fondly at the cupsleeve events that popped up around big cities, like LA, New York, and Houston. I personally attended a few in Houston in 2020-2021 and remembered thinking to myself, “I wish we had events in New Orleans.” One of the most notable lightbulb moments for me was when the Monsta X movie was showing in the Elmwood Theater in December 2021. I passed out freebies to everyone in that theater and had the most lovely time talking to everyone about how happy we are to see K-pop so close to us.
In early 2022, I said to my family, “What if I hosted my own event?” And they didn’t say anything, which I took as my sign to do it! I decided to host a cupsleeve event for Monsta X’s 7th anniversary. I experienced lots of firsts with Monsta X in my K-pop journey, so it was only fitting that they would be my first cupsleeve event. I researched cupsleeve events and followed many other event organizers, seeing their events from announcement to sending the last tier order. Balancing a full-time job with long commutes, I remember working on this event very late into the night and being so happy seeing my event come to life. I had so much support from my fellow online K-pop friends and even gathered support from those in the Monsta X theater and other New Orleans locals.
I have worked with over eight local small businesses to bring events to life and met the most amazing friends and regulars. The shop and events have brought me so much joy in my life, knowing that these ideas in my head have become so anticipated and loved by so many people.
Let’s talk Kpop. Who are your favorite groups/artists?
I got into K-pop in 2011 with Super Junior’s Mr. Simple. I have a deep love for 2nd-gen and 3rd-gen groups, but I also welcomed so many newer groups along the way. I’m the biggest multi, but I have 4 ults I follow the closest: WayV, Monsta X, iKON, and TWS. I love them each so dearly and in different ways. In WayV, my bias is Xiaojun (who is my ult of ults and favorite person in the world), and my favorite songs would be After Midnight and Invincible. In Monsta X, my biases are Kihyun and Minhyuk, and my favorite song is Breathe For You and All In. In iKON, I bias all of them, and my favorite song is Jerk. Lastly, in TWS, my bias is Jihoon and Youngjae, and my favorite songs are Lucky to be Loved and Overthinking. My ults mean the world to me in various ways, all of them having such an amazing bond with each other, their loved ones, and their fans. I could talk all day about each of them, but I will just leave it here, haha.
Give me your top 3 favorite songs, and why you love them.
- But You by iKON
Such a feel-good song that can be put on at all times of the day and mood. It’s such an uplifting, fun party song, iKON never misses with a good karaoke song. - It’s You by Super Junior
Truly has been one of my favorite K-pop songs since I got into K-pop. It’s a perfect ballad pop song full of yearning, and has been a favorite song since 2011. The ending high note is just so good. - Plot Twist by TWS
I was truly awed the first time I saw a clip on my Instagram. A literal perfect song that I ran to YouTube to watch the full MV and choreography. Plot Twist still puts the biggest smile on my face as my favorite TWS song ever.
Are you into any other fandoms? Tell us about them!
Other than my ults in K-pop, I am also a fan of Animal Crossing and Asian dramas, especially K-dramas.
For Animal Crossing, I have always found it so nice and relaxing playing this game since my childhood. I love building my town and meeting the other villagers. The fandom is also so fun since there is so much personality and freedom to create in the game. I had so many great memories playing with my brother and friends throughout the years, especially during the peak pandemic.
As for dramas, I enjoy the healing and escape through different storytelling told through the characters. It’s also an interest that I share with my mom, so it’s always fun talking about the dramas throughout the years. My favorite dramas would have to be Hometown Cha Cha Cha, 2521 and Family By Choice, to name a few, haha.
What is one thing you love about fandom communities, IRL or online?
I love the sense of community in sharing your love for something and bonding over it with others. I would be going about my day, and I get a message from a friend about my favorite group and how they thought of me. It truly makes my day knowing that people think of me in those moments. Some of my closest friends are online mutuals that I would later meet in person to travel and go to concerts together. These times would become such precious memories to us, which all started with that mutual love of K-pop.
What is one thing that concerns you about fandom?
Many things concern me most about fandoms, but one would be the streaming culture. When I got into K-pop in 2011, YouTube was a relatively new platform, and the MVs uploaded on K-pop channels did not count towards charts. The comment section was so lively, and I made a few friends that time off the YouTube comments, haha.
Now that YouTube and other music streaming platforms, like Spotify, count, many new fans view their popularity and relevance based on their stream numbers. Kpop should be something fun, rather than only focusing on numbers.
Hype yourself up – what are you doing/selling/making?
Our shop, C&Tee, is currently known for shirts, tote bags, and accessories. I plan to continue focusing on these items while providing more variety in groups and having different variations of the same design. I also really enjoy making keychains right now, recently doing deco whip on them. Incorporating different mediums in my items is really enjoyable and has also been a favorite among our customers and regulars. I love seeing what items that our regulars and followers love and try my best to meet their interests.
Any words of wisdom about being a fan you want to share with the world?
One thing that I always say to myself is how I found this group at this time for a reason, they always heal me and comfort me in a way that is specific to that time. Being a fan of an artist should be fun, and you are allowed to like them in your own way. Likewise, it is okay when your feelings for a group can change and look different. When my ult groups change, I am still very fond of that group and will always have a special place in my heart.
Another word of wisdom is to never force yourself to stan the same way as everyone else, and you don’t need everything. This includes content to buying merch of the group to which concert ticket to buy at the concert. Whichever merch, content or ticket makes you happy and is within your means, go for it! If how you collect and enjoy does not make you happy anymore, you are allowed to let go and enjoy the group in a different way.
Thank you, Carolyn, for sharing your Fandom Story! Be sure to check out her shop, C&Tee!
Carolyn’s next event is the Kpop Winter Market on December 20th – follow her IG for more info on the event.
If you’re interested in participating in The Fandom Story Project, please email me or drop me a line on my Contact page!
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