Coming out of university, when I decided to branch out and get into professional writing, I started a couple of blogs, as a kind of experimentation, I guess. The first one was a blog about cafes around Australia, which unexpectedly grew into a tv show and a few YouTube channels, and excited a few other people who saw potential in my work. It was a university project, that was it. No world plan there, but it turned into something much bigger.
The second project became a bit more substantial—oh yeah, a lot. The initial plan was to chronicle the TV show Supernatural and its fandom in Australia, which I will add is substantial, too. After spending years on international forums getting to know everyone—they were open forums, by the way, not closed private groups—I branched out to my own platforms and social media accounts. All of these platforms went global. All of them.
To be honest, it did get too big for me, and when the show finished, I thought that might be the end of the line. Even though I enjoyed it, it was far too time-consuming. But I did learn a lot. So, thus begins the lessons.

One key thing about fandom is their constant need for fresh content. They thrive on new stories and experiences. If I ever shared something they deemed uninteresting, I’d receive comments like ‘yeah, so tell us something we don’t know, yawn.’ It was as if I had to constantly break fresh ground, almost like I needed psychic powers to uncover things even Jensen and Jared didn’t know (yes, sarcasm ). It was a lot. Check out the video below to see what I was dealing with. I have no idea where they got the inspiration for this. I know nothing.

So to survive, cough cough, I mean to navigate the fandom I developed some skills and contacts.

Fan Conventions

Fan Conventions were a bit of a no brainer, in the end, for me. Although the draw back is they are a bit time consuming.

Part 1 – your the talent

These tips can apply to actors, stylists, makeup artists, and writers. You may attend a convention, but your fans need more than a few days’ notice. Most websites put tickets up a few months beforehand. So a quick mention on your social media with a statement such as; “I will be appearing about (that time- your date and place you appear at), would be good a couple of months before appearing at a fan convention (or your equivalent), then once or twice a week for a month before the event.
As you prepare for the convention, remember that your personal appearance is a crucial part of the event. Looking presentable, with a fresh shower and well-chosen attire, is a way of showing respect to your fans. Also, consider the practical aspects of your appearance, especially if you’re travelling. Will your clothes need ironing or hanging to avoid looking like they just came out of a suitcase? (You will need Access to an iron.) 
During the event, it’s important to engage with your fans. Most fans take a lot of photos at these events and use hashtags or the name of the show on their social media. I always give credit if I use an image or story shared by a fan. So, be prepared to take photos, sign autographs, and have conversations with your fans. This will make the experience more enjoyable for both you and your fans.

An Established Fandom

In this scenario, I was working with an established fandom; the groundwork had been done. A general example of an established fandom would be DC, Marvel, and Deadpool. I will mention that Deadpool has a very good and well-established fandom, with a fandom going back to comics when the character first appeared in 1991, followed by movies.
This outline provides tips and ideas, as well as an example of my education and experience in this area. The next article in the Supernatural study discusses how to establish a fandom when one doesn’t exist and how Warner Bros, Jared, Jensen, and Eric Kripke did that in season 1.

Upcoming articles;

Part 2 – how to establish fandom.

Part 3- working with that fandom and keep expanding.

Part 4—Organic experiences within fandom and “your Project”. An example of an organic fandom moment is found in this video below, which went viral throughout the Supernatural fandom. The video features Jensen Ackles and the crew dancing while on set, and they kept filming it and then obviously released it.