Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsie Stoker . They and their team shared their story with us below:
FanX is so blessed and excited to be celebrating our 10-year anniversary this September 21-23! FanX first started back in 2013 when Dan Farr wanted to bring Utah, and the surrounding states, together to celebrate all things pop culture and comics! What started in a smaller venue quickly changed to the Salt Palace after the outpouring of support from the community.
Since then, FanX has brought to Utah some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry such as Tom Holland, Carrie Fisher, Stan Lee, Tom Felton, Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Jason Momoa, Jeff Goldblum, Joan & John Cusack, Tim Curry, Elijah Wood, Millie Bobby Brown, Christina Ricci, Buzz Aldrin, and the list continues to grow.
FanX has also had the privilege of working with so many talented artists, vendors, authors, comic creators, panelists, and other industry-leading creatives.
One of the staff’s greatest joys is watching the many countless “magic moments” that have happened throughout the years to thousands of attendees. Sometimes these magic moments present themselves in form of doing the Spiderman handshake on stage with Tom Holland or getting a kiss on the cheek from Carrie Fisher. No matter how it happens, the memories that take place at FanX are truly unlike any other experience in Utah.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any live event is never without challenges. In fact, most of the stories we celebrate in pop culture and comics at FanX are based around a challenge.
We have had huge crowds where we have had to stagger admission or had our printers go down which caused us to create a new redemption system for Photo Ops. However, these challenges have allowed us to grow and create new systems to help try to prevent these obstacles in the future.
One challenge we never fathomed was The Pandemic of 2020. This gave our team the opportunity to find new ways to connect with each other online and allowed us to do panels and discussions through streaming services and video chats. Even though we knew this would never take place or replicate the energy and feeling of an in-person FanX, it did make that time in history a little more bearable.
As you know, we’re big fans of FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention brings The Ultimate FanXperience right to your backyard. Not only do we bring to Utah your favorite TV, Movies, Music, and Comic stars, but we also bring in a one-of-a-kind fandom shopping experience, authors, nationally and locally accredited artists, hundreds of hours of panel programming, board game tournaments, e-gaming, and more! This is truly an immersive fan experience like you have never seen before, right in the heart of Utah!
FanX is most proud of the family we have created through our events. Celebrities ask to come to Utah because of how amazing the people are here. It is the attendees that really have created one of the most positive and welcoming communities that can’t be replicated anywhere else.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
FanX has about 12 year-round, full-time staff members and the rest of the amazing people attendees interact with at the event are volunteers.
People around the community come together to help bring this event together, and we couldn’t do it without them. They truly are the heart of FanX!
Contact Info:
- Website: fanxsaltlake.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fanxsaltlake/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltLakeComicConvention
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fanxsaltlake
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQeb1WQ8EMwLra4b2AhOqg
