From Fan to Echelon: The WTF Transition

I’ve been involved with 30STM and everything it entails for more than 20 months. I’ve supported the band in forums, during award shows and I have voted ‘till my fingers felt numb. But I was not an Echelon. How do I know? It’s pretty tough to explain. But I think it started because of my odd entrance into this magical Echelon world. I came here, after finally convincing myself to watch Alexander. AtG is by far my favourite historical figure and I have read tomes and biographies by the hundreds. I knew that the movie was a hot mess just by watching the trailers, so I decided not to get involved. Until I watched it by accident. I had heard of all of the actors, was familiar with their filmographies and knew of their work. Including Jared Leto. But him, I had already decided that I didn’t like. Ages ago, while surfing the internet I had found a picture of a very stunning and handsome young man, whose name was Jared Leto. I hit Google Image Search and one of the first pictures to pop up was JL snogging Paris Hilton. Yikes. I more or less decided immediately that I was not getting involved with that tool.

But watching him act out a man (Hephaistion) who I had more respect for than practically anyone else on the planet, past, present and future, made me accept and respect JL by association.

And the moment I let my initial misconceptions about Jared Leto go; a man with integrity, heart and talent popped up, took his place and made me fall in awe. Jared Leto is one of a kind and I really respect him.

So, I delved deeper into the fandom surrounding AtG, until I ended up listening to 30STM. I was prepared for utter shit. Because let’s face it, most actor bands should never have been allowed to live. But to my surprise, it was love at first listen. It was my kind of music. I was thrilled.

I spent the next many months falling deeper and deeper in love with the band and their fans. But I was still an outsider. I watched Echelon’s interact with each other from a distance; I admired their dedication, their passion and their commitment. But I was not one of them. I was budding fan, who never expected to get swept up in the madness.

It happened so gradually, that I never had a chance to see it coming. I have no idea when I stopped being proud on behalf of the Echelon, to actually feeling proud myself. And I have no idea when I stopped being offended on behalf of the Echelon, when someone bullied the band or its members, to being offended myself. As I said, it was gradual.

But, I am an Echelon now.

That was something I found that out yesterday, while hanging out on twitter after the Billboard livechat. Seeing a bunch of fellow fans lacking VyRT’s and being unable to participate in #Mars300 somehow struck a chord in me. I wasn’t sad on their behalf – I was sad because my family was being left out of a experience that I thought they deserved.

So aside from my own VyRT, I bought 3 extra which I handed out to fellow Echelons so they could see the show. It struck me, as I was paying for those VyRT’s that something had happened. I live on a skimpy salary and I have an 800$/600€ dental bill this month, as well as having to buy Christmas presents. Yet here I was, buying show tickets to people I have never met and likely never will, all because of the fact that I felt a kinship with them and I shared their feelings, dreams and desires.

So to myself: Welcome on board, sista! You took your sweet time. And to my fellow Echelons: I love you and I wish you a wonderful #Mars300!

Oh, and thanks for letting me be part of this wonderful family! *marshug*