Organizing a Cup Sleeve Event has always been a dream of mine, and I’m so grateful to have brought it to life—my very first event, all by myself. From coming up with the concept, picking the decor, designing the cake, to lay-outing the tarp, posting on social media, and carrying all the costs (since it's a free event), it was a lot of work and finances, but the experience was incredibly rewarding knowing I was only a one-man team. Indeed a check on my bucketlist!
To give a bit of background, a Cupsleeve Event is a gathering where fans come together at a cafe to celebrate a member’s birthday (In my case, it's Young K, a vocalist and bassist of the Korean band DAY6). In exchange for purchasing drinks or food, attendees receive fan-made merchandise or kits. In the Philippines, these events are typically organized by official fanbases, who often host programs and distribute both official and fan-made items, thanks to their large and dedicated fan reach.
As for where I found the confidence to organize one in my city, I honestly don’t know! Even I’m amazed at how far I’ve come and what I’ve been able to overcome, all for the love of artists lol.
Moreover, I had been looking for CSE events for Yonk’s birthday, but when I realized there were no active fanbases in CDO, I thought, "Why not take matters into my own hands?" Day6, and especially Young K, have had such a profound impact on my life, and my deep love for them gave me the courage to push through any challenge. It’s incredible how far passion can take you!
[Event Poster and Kit Design by Caixordium]
For the kits, I commissioned the designs from Caixordium on Twitter, as I didn’t have the time or the necessary skills to create them myself. However, the concepts were all my own, and I’m so grateful to Cai for being so patient with all my revisions and for meeting my expectations.
For the concept, I went with an F1 racing theme, inspired by Young K’s fun reputation of not having his driver’s license yet, as well as the countless driving-related memes that have been making the rounds on social media. It felt like a perfect fit to capture his playful side and the ongoing jokes among fans.
Although I do graphic design, my expertise lies in publication materials, and I’m still not confident enough to tackle CSE kits, despite having designed hand banners and cupsleeves before—mostly for personal use.
[Preview of my previous designs]
When it came to the number of attendees, I knew it wouldn’t be as large as the events organized by established fanbases, especially since I was doing this independently. However, I’m incredibly grateful to Northmin Mydays (the Day6 fandom) for their support, as well as my fellow fans from other fandoms who came to join in. Although there were only twelve pre-registrants, I was beyond happy that they all showed up! That alone feels like a huge achievement, as I honestly thought there’d only be 3 or 4 of us at the event. There are still some kits left, but I plan to give them away at Day6 concert this February.
One major setback I had to overcome was the fact that the cafe I originally booked unexpectedly closed on the day of the event, without any prior notice or even a post on their social media. In hindsight, I do take some responsibility for not following up on my booking beforehand, as I was overly confident since it was a cafe I had visited for multiple CSEs before. At that time, I was juggling so much—four straight days of Christmas parties and just returning from the Fujii Kaze concert in Manila. My plate was full, and I didn’t anticipate such a disruption.
I’m so grateful that, by some miracle, there was an open shop right next to Driptea—Good Me Milktea Shop—that kindly allowed us to hold the CSE for free! It was a totally impromptu decision on the day of the event, but the owner was incredibly accommodating and even fulfilled all my requests. Their drinks were fantastic, and the space was so spacious with only a few customers, as they had just opened in November. It honestly felt like we had the whole place to ourselves!
I was honestly dissatisfied with the curtain designs and backdrop but it's something I can work on the next time around! I had problems with logistics so that's the best thing I can do for now. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA
Cutie bento cake right here but you should check the aftermath here! HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA
Indeed, love has the power to move mountains. I am deeply grateful to God for all the blessings He has showered upon me, and for the strength and energy to make all of this possible. Happy Birthday to my eternal Young K! I love you so much it hurts, and I can't wait to see you this February!
[ALL PHOTOS ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED]