Day one of SLCom’s FanX is very similar to last year’s inaugural convention. The floor is easily walkable. Vendors are busy, but not terribly rushed and for the most part the convention is calm in comparison to what the storm of the weekend is to bring.
The reason FanX is so calm can definitely be attributed to two factors; the increased floor-space and the Thursday scheduling.
The midweek attendance at any convention is usually the lightest due to people still working or wanting to avoid fatigue for Friday shifts. The lighter attendance means that lines for signings are shorter and quicker, browsing is encouraged by vendors and everyone is overall chattier and more pleasant.
The increases floor-space is a welcome addition to the experience. The vendor and artist area is humongous in comparison to the previous year at double the original size, meaning that there is more to see and buy. Guests range from cosplayers to local stores and popular comic book artists.
Panel rooms are also bigger in some situations, adding a sense of urgency to the event. Waiting too long to enter an event could cause you to end up in the back barely being able to hear or see guests and panelists.
In a previous interview Dan Farr mentioned that those who attended comic con would feel right at home at FanX and this is mostly true, but the increase in celebrities, space and attractions mean that we’re stepping into bigger, fancier and more comfortable shoes.
