When panel suggestions opened for FanX 2023, I had no idea what I would be doing in September during the convention. I was looking for jobs and hoping to get something that would pay the bills. I figured if I wasn’t employed by the comic convention in Salt Lake City, I could get to the Salt Palace and have a good time. So, I filled out the form and suggested “Disneyland Is Creativity.”

Disneyland Is Creativity

“Disneyland Is Creativity” is the name of the first book I published. It uses the structure and history of Disneyland to illustrate creativity principles. Main Street, U.S.A. is a good example of how Disney made people feel comfortable when coming into the park; you need to feel comfortable if you want to practice creativity, especially in a business setting. Disneyland’s opening day provides plenty of examples of failure and mistakes; in creativity, you’re going to fail and make mistakes because you’re trying something new.

I had done a panel based on my book at Lilac City Comicon, and I have also done the follow-up panel based on the Haunted Mansion at Lilac City Comicon and Ogden UnCon. I was confident I could present a compelling and enjoyable panel for FanX conventioneers and Disney fans.

FanX 2023 Notification and Work

When I got the email to let me know that I had been chosen, I was excited. I was also working at a bookshop and didn’t have days off available. Still, I figured I would figure out the time off at the time that I was able to let people know I was invited to FanX as a panelist. The bookshop was fine with me going; I just wouldn’t get paid.

Then, I got a notice that my rent would be increasing. My bookshop job would no longer pay for my expenses. I was going to have to find something new.

I applied for a hotel job and a bank job. I scheduled interviews for both, and I was offered the job at the hotel. I told him I would have to discuss it with my wife. He said he would get back to me the next day with the exact pay amount they were offering. He didn’t call the next day.

I did the interview for the bank and was offered the job there as well. However, they had some details to work out before they could give me the benefits package. I called the hotel, the person at the front desk refused to take a message. I called a second time, and left a message with a different front desk person. I called a third time, and I had the bank offer in my hands. There was only one more hurdle to jump for the bank before the offer was finalized. I asked for time off to go to FanX. While waiting for the approval, I called the hotel manager one more time. He did not get back to me. The bank did with the approval for unpaid leave, and I accepted the offer.

Flights and Hotels

I had to book flights and hotels for FanX. I booked the cheapest hotel I could find within walking distance. If I was going to drive, I didn’t want to have to deal with my car during the convention. I should have looked at the reviews. By the time my wife looked at the reviews, it was too late to book a hotel with the FanX discount, which is what I should have done in the first place. We found the City Creek Inn and Suites about 1.5 miles away from the Salt Palace. It ended up being good enough – quiet, waffles for breakfast, clean room. It could do with a renovation, but we were just going to be sleeping there.

I booked flights out of Eugene with Southwest Airlines. They were the least expensive that didn’t charge for luggage. That meant I could take my books, computer, and posters to FanX without paying anything additional. The flights went smoothly; we didn’t even need to pay for earlier boarding. (We got the last two seats that were together on the flight back. All the other flights we sat together without having to worry.)

The Worst Buddhist

I knew Darren Lamb, the Worst Buddhist, was going to FanX. I think he may have been at every convention put on by the group since its inception – 15 shows or 10 years ago. I edit Darren’s books because he writes stories that need to be written and read. If you’re looking for something amazing with some Buddhist leanings, Darren delivers. His fiction works include “The Book of Benjamin,” an exploration of what happens if the answers are literally inside of us, “Rebirth: a Zombie Tale” explores reincarnation during the zombie apocalypse, and “The Pit Bull” brings together a dog and a disparate and desperate group of people who are looking for healing.

I asked if he would allow me to do a book signing at his booth. He was enthusiastic about it. I asked him to pick us up at the airport, and he was enthusiastic about that, too. I scheduled and did the signings at his booth immediately after my panels.

Darren also writes some great non-fiction. If you are looking for a way to practice spirituality, and you can’t find anyone to help you, “Ronin Buddhism” is a great read to set you on your own path. (I have used affiliate links for the books in this post. They take you to Amazon, which provides me a small commission if you purchase something and doesn’t cost you or the author anything additional.)

Walt Disney World Vs. Disneyland Panel

Josh Twelves Facebooked me and said I was scheduled for a panel on Thursday. I looked at my schedule and told him I didn’t know anything about that panel. I knew I was scheduled for Friday, but Thursday was free as far as I could tell.

He clarified that he added me to his panel. I didn’t know Josh, but I have been to both parks. Disneyland is my go-to vacation, and I was a College Program participant at Walt Disney World (which was amazing). After a little back and forth, I agreed to do the panel with Josh, Tracy Mangum, and Jake Dietz. (The latter two do “the Movies that Make Us” podcast.)

It was a fun panel that Josh moderated well. There was plenty of audience participation, but I think the consensus was that Disneyland is better overall. We did have a West Coast bias because it’s super easy to get to the Happiest Place on Earth from Utah. We also had a Walt Disney bias; Disneyland is the only park he walked and lived in. Neither of those two things can be said for Walt Disney World.

Disneyland Is Creativity Panel

Jenya said this was her favorite panel of the two days we were able to attend FanX. I had brought the wrong laptop, so I couldn’t connect to the projector. That meant I had to do the presentation without the PowerPoint prop. Jenya thought it went even better than the previous panels I had done on the same subject.

I enjoyed being able to take a group of Disneyland fans down the Main Street, U.S.A. of our imagination while relating aspects of the park to creative principles. The questions afterward were great, and we found out that one of our audience members was headed to do her own Disney College Program experience. If you want me to upload video, leave a comment.

Panels and Books

I was able to sell three sets of the books I brought: “Disneyland Is Creativity,” “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity,” and “Penguinate! The Disney Company.” All three are available on Amazon in eBook format. Only “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity” is available on Amazon in both paperback and as an eBook. I have some paperbacks of the other two still available. All three sales came from people who came to the panels.

FanX and Its Guests

Outside of my panelist duties, I was able to see several stars and a couple of panels. Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel, Zachary Levi, John Rhys-Davies, and Christopher Lloyd were the biggest names that I saw on stage. Lloyd said this would be his last comic convention. Abel was hilarious. They were all hampered about what they could talk about by the writers’ strike that is being supported by SAG-AFTRA.

We started the day with Jim Meskimen, who was funny and sincere. He made a good impression on us, pun intended. Meskimen does impressions as part of his act; you can visit Jimpressions.com for more information. Jenya really enjoyed the History of Costumes panel put on by the costume department of the Hale Center Theater Orem.

Artist Alley

As with almost every comic convention I have attended, there just wasn’t enough time to do much with Artist Alley beyond my own book signing. We saw Ty Hulse from afar, who we had met at Lilac City Comicon. On Friday night, our last day, I took a couple extra minutes to rush through the aisles jam-packed with amazing artwork, stickers, and posters, but nothing caught my eye until I saw a comic book for $2.99. That’s a great price. As I looked more at the booth, I noticed that the proceeds were going to help stop animal abuse. I wasn’t really sure I wanted it, but as I walked a couple of booths past the comic books, I decided that I had budgeted the money, and I should come away with something from my FanX experience. (Plus, Jenya was sure I wanted it and said I should get it.) If it doesn’t support the artist, at least it will go to a good cause.

So we made a U-turn, and I went to the booth. The Calico comic book series from Sigma Comics was eight issues and a sticker for $20. I was warned the comic was graphic; the bad guys won’t make it out alive.

I would’ve loved to stay for Saturday, but budget constraints and other circumstances required me to go home. Thursday was great because it was less crowded than Friday. Friday was great because the convention energy picked up. We were glad to have been able to attend and participate in FanX2023.