A beginner's guide to Salt Lake Comic Con FanX 2017

As each Salt Lake Comic Con event approaches, I'm often asked by rookie convention-goers what they should do, where they should go and what they should expect. With Salt Lake Comic Con FanX 2017 coming up this weekend, I figured I'd post a few suggestions for anyone to read over, first-timer or otherwise. My hope is that these tips will be informative and useful as you put together your game plan heading into FanX 17.

What should I do before I go?

• Look at the FanX 17 schedule. You can see the programming schedule online by clicking here and you can download the mobile app, which is super helpful for use at the convention by clicking here.
• You may want to get stoked for the convention by watching some movies or TV shows with some of the celebrity guests. My top personal suggestions for any last-minute entertainment cramming would be "The Princess Bride," and a few greatest-hits episodes of "Psych" and "Chuck."
• Follow Salt Lake Comic Con on social media. Their Facebook page is typically the main point of contact but you can also get live updates on Twitter (which I'll be helping manage again during the convention this weekend) and fun (occasionally behind-the-scenes) pictures and videos on Instagram and Snapchat. Be sure to use the hashtag #FanX17 during the convention to help us go viral!

How should I plan ahead?

• This is something I wish I would have done better for my very first convention back in 2013. I didn't really know what to expect, so I didn't make a plan. As I mentioned, be sure to check the schedule beforehand and have the mobile app handy for any on-the-fly adjustments.
• I would recommend that you use the mobile app to create a schedule for yourself. You can even set timers throughout the day to remind you about upcoming panels or events that you're interested in, which is very handy.
• Have a back-up plan. Sadly, there is so much fun stuff going on during the event that you might not be able to make it to everything you had your eye on. It's sometimes tricky to get from one side of the Salt Palace to the other before the panel fills up, so you may occasionally miss out on some things. Have a back-up plan or two, just in case. You may have to prioritize along the way, but having multiple options means you'll never be left with nothing to do.
• Transportation: I have typically driven downtown for most of the conventions, but parking is as expensive as all get out, so if you're taking your car, be prepared to pay - especially since the NCAA basketball tournament is in Salt Lake City this weekend, as well. Parking is going to be crazy. TRAX is a great option; it's inexpensive and drops you off about two blocks away from the convention center. TRAX is going to be packed all weekend, though, so I hope you're not afraid of germs.

Do I have to dress up?

• No, of course not. For my first convention, I went in thinking, "I'm not going to dress up like those losers!" Come to find out, I was the loser because dressing up is a totally normal, acceptable, popular thing to do. I confess that I now have a couple costumes that I wouldn't have had if I hadn't worked for Comic Con - and dressing up is pretty fun - but don't feel like you can only go if you're in costume. Such is not the case. A nerdy t-shirt would suffice or you can be a nerd like me and wear a polo shirt or button-up, as is expected for me as a member of the staff.

What should I bring?

• Money. Everybody accepts cash, so I usually bring a little bit (read: too much), but there seem to be more and vendors that accept credit/debit cards, so don't feel obligated to bust out the Benjamins.
• Snacks. Bringing a few things to munch on will end up saving you lots of money. Food is available on-site, but meals ain't cheap at these conventions. The Salt Palace is usually pretty lax if you bring in some granola bars, fruit snacks, salted peanuts and a water bottle, but don't try to sneak in Cafe Rio or anything. Use common sense.
• A back-up battery for your phone. I'm not sure how I ever lived without one. I'll also be bringing a wall charger to use from time to time since it'll be my job to be on my phone all weekend, but for you good people, a pocket-sized charger to leave in your purse or backpack should do the trick.

Where should I go once I get there?

• Check out the vendor floor. You'll find a ton of awesome merchandise and memorabilia on the floor, from paintings to clothing and everything in between. Whether you're window shopping, adding to your art collection or discovering new toys, there's basically something for everyone.
• Points of interest: I'd recommend grabbing some free photo ops with the many Features around the floor, watching ambidextrous Rob Prior do a live painting and, if you're taking children with you, stopping by the KidCon area.
• Hit up some of the smaller panels. During my first convention, I spent most of the time attending smaller panels. These, typically, will consist of a panel of local experts discussing (or occasionally arguing) about any number of topics. A few conventions back, I was on a panel about the TV show "LOST," which was a blast (read the full transcript of that panel here). You also can't go wrong with a good, old-fashioned "Marvel vs DC" comics debate or a nostalgia panel about Disneyland or the Harry Potter series.
• Brave the lines and check out the celebrity panels in the Grand Ballroom. It's sometimes a chore to stand in line (pre-Comic-Con-employment, I think my brother Cody and I waited in line for almost an hour and a half to see Stan Lee the first time he came), but being in the same room as some of the biggest stars in Hollywood and on television is a lot of fun. The panels are largely interactive and provide a lot of insight into the personal lives of the stars. I've really come to admire and respect some of the guests that have come to comic con and FanX over the last four years, including some of my all-time favorites, like Christopher Lloyd, Henry Winkler, original cast members of "The A-Team," pro wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and John Cena, the legendary Mark Hamill and many, many more.
• Pro tip: Once you're in the Ballroom, you can stay in the Ballroom. At first, I kind of hated that concept, but it is nice that they don't completely empty the room in between panels. That will save you from having to stand in line multiple times. Try to plan out blocks of time where you can stay in the Ballroom for several panels in a row.

Which celebrity panels should I see?

With more than 30 major celebrity guests appearing at FanX 17, you've got plenty of options, but here are my top picks for this weekend:

• Stan Lee, comicbook creator, best known for being the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics
• This is slated to be Marvel big wig Stan Lee's final appearance at a Salt Lake Comic Con event. Aside from the fact that he's already come here twice, sitting in the presence of the King of Comics is a really cool experience. If you haven't seen one of his panels before, you've got to go this time.
• Note: He cancelled a comic con appearance in New York last weekend, due to health concerns, so here's hoping that he'll be feeling well enough to come out to FanX.
• Zachary Levi, best known for "Chuck," "Tangled"
• This was my favorite guest announcement of the convention. Levi is a "dream guest" of mine because of his starring role as Chuck Bartowski in the nerd-spy series "Chuck." Levi co-founded a pop culture convention called Nerd HQ, so he knows how to work a panel. It's not often that he travels out to be in other conventions these days, so I think seeing him in person is an absolute must. Levi is also known for his work as the voice of Flynn Rider in "Tangled," and for his role in the NBC reboot "Heroes Reborn."
• Carey Elwes and "The Princess Bride" reunion
• When Cary Elwes made his first appearance at a Salt Lake Comic Con event, I was surprised - shocked - at how good his panel was. That experience alone is enough to make this panel a must-see at FanX 17. Elwes worked the crowd like a rock star and was even so popular that he convinced the programmers to give him an encore later on that weekend. He's genuine, kind and funny, and seeing him on stage with the Sicilian (Wallace Shawn) and Humperdink (Chris Sarandon) should be a lot of fun.
• James Roday and Dulé Hill, best known for "Psych"
• I've only seen a couple episodes of "Psych," but I know my sister Amy loves these guys. If their chemistry during their panel is anything like their characters on the show, this should be a pretty entertaining hour.
• "Twisted Toonz" voice actors panel
• The "Twisted Toonz" panel quickly became a Salt Lake Comic Con favorite since being introduced a couple conventions back. The beloved "Animaniacs" voice actor Jess Harnell is back with a new gang of friends this convention, and the rumor is that they'll be reading the script of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," which, in my opinion is a great choice, considering that the live-action remake of the animated classic comes out this weekend, as well. For those unfamiliar with this panel, Harnell and a handful of other talented voice actors will take the stage and read well-known scripts in the voices of animated characters. For instance, they've done a couple of the "Harry Potter" movies the past few times, which have been a riot. (See them read "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" at SLCC 16 by clicking here.)
• This is one of the most popular panels each convention. You'll want to make sure you get there early.
• SLEEPER PICK: "Weird Al" Yankovic
• This is my sleeper pick, people. This is my pick to be the unexpected hit of FanX 17. "Weird Al" is a crazy, crazy dude. He's never been here and who knows what he'll do? I have no idea, but I bet it involves an accordion. Take my word for it. It's an educated guess, but I bet I'm right. "Weird Al" is going to blow the roof off the joint.

Can I get a photo op with A-Town?

• Absolutely, yes. If you're at the Salt Palace, let me know. I'll be a bit busy running around and tweeting like crazy, but I'd love to see you and take a quick picture. Fifty dollars.

Do you have any other questions? Do you have any advice of your own for comic con-goers? Let me know in the comments section below. Let me simply end by saying this: if you haven't gone before, come check it out. I've never in my entire life heard anyone say, "I hated it." You'll either go, have a surprisingly good time and decide that it's maybe just not the thing for you, or - you never know - you may go and have the time of your life! It's worth a shot, in my opinion. Tickets are still available online at saltlakecomicon.com, so don't delay and get your tickets now! See you at FanX 2017!