Hi, everybody.Welcome to another episode of fan effect. I'm Andy Farnsworth. And as we get ready for a year without fanox It's been two full years now since we had Fanuc Salt Lake comic convention, and it's finally back and better than ever, hopefully when the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic canceled fan x in 2020. Organizers promised to be back ready for an even greater experience in 2021. Now the comic and pop culture event is poised to deliver in less than a month when fans of all shapes and sizes and costumes converge on the salt palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City September 16. Through the 18th 2021. For this year's event, visitors are invited to enjoy the regular offerings of celebrity guest appearances, many of which have already been announced some of which are yet to be announced autographs photo opportunities, cosplay meetups, exhibitors, merchants and artist alley vendors, gaming kit con a variety of panels and more. But they've added some extra experiences like a fan x quest, a workshop room, a tabletop gaming charity events, and even a massive cosplay contest with a massive award. Today on the fan effect podcast we are joined by none other than fan x founder and producer Dan Farr to give us a look into the convention and discuss the best ways to escape into Phenix. Welcome Dan Farr, founder and producer of fanox. Dan, it's always a pleasure to have you here on the fan effect podcast. And I'm excited to you know, we I remember you and I talked a year and a half ago, as we were trying to as the pandemic began, and we were kind of like, we got six months, hopefully fanox 2020 will come to pass. Unfortunately, it did not. Now we're a year later and Fingers crossed. So far, we're still on track for September 2021,
we are so excited to be having that time together, you know, can't come soon enough in a lot of ways, we can still use the extra time to prepare, still trying to lock in a few more guests and what we have announced. But still, we just were so excited to get together and and see our family again.
Now last time you and I talked we were talking about the Cobra Kai guests announcement which of course got me super excited as a lifelong Karate Kid fan and a huge fan of the Cobra Kai TV show. But we only talked about William zabka and Martin Cove. And then it looks like you've added some of the younger guys too, which I think is really awesome Jacob Bertrand and Peyton list, I assume we're going to have a Cobra Kai panel with all those Cobra guys up there,
we are trying to do that it should come together just fine. But sometimes there's always a little hiccup here or there that maybe one of them isn't available that time or you never know. I hesitate to commit 1,000% to it. But I planned it, we were definitely
committed to it. And I'm gonna make you commit.
But you know, it's funny as I just learned to, to try to be careful about committing to stuff with this. Because when you're dealing with celebrities, it always changes. There's always things that come up in their schedules. You know, we have some of the celebrities that we have announced. So they have picked up some jobs. So we're going to be announcing some cancellations as well as announcing some new additions. And so that's what's happened yield so far, we have not had anybody at least communicate to us that the reason why they may counsel or whatever is because of COVID. But it's usually it's let's say that all of the people that that have communicated, canceling has been professional reasons, which we always hold out to know that that's going to happen with celebrities, especially right now when everything is getting, you know, like productions are just going back full speed. You know, people, celebrities don't have time to breathe in between one production to the next. Right.
I one of the things that if you've followed fan acts, and you know, celebrity appearances over the years is, you know, longtime fans have learned that, you know, a lot of the reason that the actors are available to appear is because you don't have any particular work the weekend that we hold fanox. So if they get some, then that kind of takes priority as much as they might want to meet the fans. They know they've got to, you know, they've got to do their job. It's just like the rest of us. They're just their job seems a little more fun, right?
Yeah. Well, and that's exactly right. And there's you know, the other thing too, is years past, it was much easier to get people to, let's say come out, let's say they're working on in production. They can be cleared for a day or two to take off and go to convention. Now. The The celebrities and actors and people that are working on the set have to basically quarantine themselves. And so that's true with COVID protocols. Exactly. So that's changed too. And so getting people in between shooting or during your project when they are actually shooting is much more difficult than that it
has been historically, their ability to get off set, I'm guessing is a little more restricted than it would have been in years past? Yes, yep. Okay. Well, then since we're since we've we've broached the subject, this is the big concern. Now, Dan, we're a month away. And we're seeing some case counts increase in you know, quote, unquote, the real world? How confident are you that we're still going to be able to have a full fanox 2021? Right now? And I'll just say, today's August 20. So we're just under a month away? How confident are you still,
I don't think it's a matter of if I think it's a matter of what exactly are the protocol is going to be when we have that event. And obviously, I could be wrong, and things can change even further. But we do know that the world has kind of come to a place where those people that want to get together and do things are doing that, and those that don't, you know, they don't have to, and they still can stay home. And we obviously, we don't want anybody staying home, that doesn't feel like it's the right thing for them to do, because we want the family back together again, but at the same time, we don't want people taking unnecessary risks. And so we are working on some protocols. You know, there's several things that we are doing, you know, one thing I can say is, obviously, a temperature check. You know, that's something that absolutely, is something we'll be doing. But then, as far as mass go, there will be a level of masking required, whether it's going to be for everyone in attendance, you know, with the exception of people that have legitimate reasons why they couldn't wear a mask, or whether it's going to be for people that are unvaccinated, you know, that could be, you know, somebody unvaccinated and then mass requirement would would likely be in place. But we do know that there are some celebrities that will require masking to come see them. And that's their prerogative if they want to if fan wants to meet a certain celebrity guests there. They were max gray. Yeah, they may just require it whether you're vaccinated or not. And whether you tested recently or not, they just may say everybody to come in our line, you know, come up, quote anywhere close to that celebrity, because it's such a big cost to them if they get sick. And so perfect sense. I
mean, I I think I'd be surprised if there were any long time, you know, fanox attendees, you know, would have an issue with that. I think I think they really do understand that. I don't know, I just having walked the floor for several years and met different people and interviewed different people. And I'm not talking like the celebrity is I mean, like just actual fanox attendees. And we shot a documentary about the whole experience one year for the fan effect podcast, I found that the they're generally the most understanding of those things. Oh, okay. Well, we don't want to ruin, we don't want to our thing to ruin it for everyone. And that's the longtime fans that the people who come every single year, that's the attitude I've generally sensed from them, not just at the con. But even as I you know, I watched the message boards, I'm part of the, you know, the fan x group on Facebook, and, you know, everybody's just kind of feeling a little bit like, they don't know what's gonna happen. I did want to ask you about, I noticed that some of the celebrities have been doing some different cons around the country, and some of them have for their photo op, they've got like a plexiglass divider between them and the and the fan. Is that going to be the case at fan x? Or is that? Like, is that a standardized thing? Or is that at the celebrities request?
Okay, so it's funny, as I just was writing, we have a guest that we're trying to bring in and, and the manager said, Okay, what they want to know what the protocol is. And it's a really big gas, if we get this person that who would be kind of our headliner, they're asking, so are they are you guys going to be doing that? And so my response to them is, it's probably going to be there unless the celebrity specifically asked for it not to be there.
You know, that that will be kind of a default?
Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I think we're looking at it. I'm speaking kind of ahead of us, actually, you know, because we're, we're, we're keeping our finger on the pulse very closely. But, you know, up until this last week, we have our photo op company, and they've done different shows, and they said that the Plexi was required to have the separate shows that they've done recently. But now I think we're seeing a shift where because the numbers are getting so high so quickly, that it's probably going to become the standard. And then you may have some celebrities that say, you know what, I don't care for that. But then the one thing that that could create a problem is, you know, we'll have to at least let people know because there may be some I'd say, Well, you know, I really would like to meet that person. But I don't feel comfortable not having that screen. So it actually could go either way. But I mean, there are people that you mentioned on the groups and things, there are some people saying, Well, I don't know, if I want to get a photo op, I don't want to pay that money if there's going to be a screen between us. And so there are some people saying that and we want to identify, once we know for sure what people are going to want, we want to identify it early enough that people can make an informed decision and not be made uncomfortable. You know, at that point, We sure hope that they're, you know, even if masks were required throughout the event, that people could take their masks off for a minute to get a photo off. And that's what's hold your brains right.
Now, just out of curiosity, what about those who've already purchased a photo op, who then find out there's a plexiglass shield? And they'd rather not pay the money? If there's a plexiglass shield? When did they get a refund? Or what what would they do if they
have that situation, we'll make sure they're taken care of, we're not going to force people in a situation where they have to have an experience that they wouldn't have wanted to have, you know, if it's, if it's something that they feel like, it would diminish the experience too much to have the Plexiglas in the middle, we understand that and would not want to make somebody pay for something they don't want, we are going to let them know ahead of time and give them the option to ask for a refund or credit on that.
Okay, well, that's, that's good. I know that there's gonna be some fans that are gonna be happy to at least know that, that they have that option. That that's good. I'm, I'm glad to hear that on the part of because you know, just for a moment here, I'm playing advocate for the, for the fan x attendees, asking them the questions that that maybe they haven't had a chance to ask you in person? Well, lots of stuff to do, though, is there? Is there going to be anything that would have been in past fan x is that just because of protocols or anything that you won't be able to do this particular year, but may be able to resume in the future?
Yeah, the kissing booth is off. If we've never had, yeah,
that's probably a good idea to take advice from somebody who's not necessarily an attorney. I don't think that one's a good idea.
Because the COVID booth, right, yeah, no, we were we were looking into speed dating and feel like, you know, that's probably one that will forego for this year and just revisit again in future. So that's one of the things and there's probably a few things that would have been like in the cube con area that will probably not do as much as time but we're still going to have a very enjoyable kid gone. And it's it's going to have plenty to do princess Tea Party and some of those things that people have grown to love. But obviously anything that would have been physical in nature that, you know, require to close interaction with people that that would have, but I can't really think of anything that we've had that is right off the bat, like, Oh, well, that's got to go. But, you know,
let me ask about I know that there in the past has been like a little arcade. I know, that's a gamer con too. But I know that they've had it at fan x, and I'm just stuff where you're gonna, where multiple people have to put their hands on the same thing is that the kind of stuff that you're that you're looking at not using?
Well, if we can clean it up, you know, we sanitize it between us, you know, then we'll keep it there. But yeah, if it's just something, it's just too hard to keep the equipment clean, then we definitely want to do that.
Well, and to be fair to a lot of this goes towards, you know, people's choices of risk. I know that I love arcade games, but maybe this year isn't the year that I've got to play that particular one I can try in any year or something like that. The main thing that as a as a fan, I don't want to see and I'm I'm assuming you wouldn't either is people at a thing that's usually such a unifying event for people. And you know, some people only see each other at con when they travel in from, you know, different states or something like that. But they keep in touch, you know, via Facebook for the whole year. And then they get together is you need to see something that's generally such a unifying event, having a bunch of people angry at each other the whole time for one reason or another.
Exactly. That's exactly right. We don't want to say that. I guess, polarization. You know, there's just been too many things over the past two years that have polarized people. have ever seen
any of those things?
Yeah. Yeah. Our focus all along was to bring people together, it's been so beautiful that see such a wide variety of people coming together and getting along and celebrating finding the common interests. And we don't want to do anything that would create, you know, more contention right now.
All right, yeah. Well, let's take a quick break here. And when we get back, I want to actually talk about some of the new events that I've seen that are kind of interesting that I'd love to get you to tell us just a little bit more about so that we can, you know, get some people excited that maybe didn't know about some of these different new features for Phenix 2021 when we come back on fan effect,
Welcome back to fan effect, Eddie Farnsworth and FedEx founder producer Dan Farr, we are talking about fanox 2021, which is coming up in less than 30 days after a while really. Now we're talking about 720 days since the last time everybody was able to get together. But now we're down to just less than 20. So I guess we could say, you know, it's been about 700 days, Dan, since we've had a fan x event for everyone to get together, enjoy. And I know that I've got my, my metal fan ex mug that's just been waiting to get refills. Yeah, I bought it at the last one thinking I was gonna get to use it a bunch of times. And I haven't had a chance yet. So it's sitting there, it's ready to go for all the different flavored sodas. Yeah, definitely, you need to go and get that we definitely have will have an opportunity for you to refill it there, get my wristband so that I can try all the different flavors. Although I will say you do need to pace yourself especially because depending on what you want to do when your VIP photo ops, or appearances, autographs or panel is you don't want that soda to finish its way through yet the wrong moment when you're supposed to end something. That's way too much information. All right, Dan, let's talk about some of the new things this year. First of all, and I had never heard of this. Maybe you've done it. And I didn't know about that. But there's a murder mystery panel this year. For 2021. You and fellow audience members are presented with a murder mystery challenge. Do you know anything about this one?
You know, I don't know the details because I want to stay a little bit in the dark on that one in case I can participate. You
don't want to know what the
outcome. I don't know the answers. But I know that we've got the right people that are putting something together that's going to create you know, the idea is just creating the interaction. You know, people have been apart for so long. And so if we have a chance to interact mentally, you know, and vocally and not physically so to speak. It's getting to the end far with the plaid jacket in artists out using a paintbrush. That's exactly right. You know what, that's the kind of the spoiler alert there. But yeah,
I just figured I solved it. That's how good I am. I don't even know the clues I solved it
says I love that. I'm gonna wear that plaid jacket, for sure.
Now, here's something interesting prior to fan x, and in fact, just a week from now, Saturday, August 28. Fan x presents the annual cosplay games scavenger hunt. So this isn't actually part of the three day celebration in September. This is actually a month early, the cosplay games. Tell me a little bit about that.
That's something we started from the very beginning. Were really yeah, we've done it. There's been maybe one or two years that we haven't done it for one reason or another. But it's a scavenger hunt for people in cosplay. The idea is, we want people seeing cosplayers downtown, having a good time. And it's kind of an advertising opportunity to to get people excited for the event. We want people to know about it. So the way to make it happen.
So you'll have people that are cosplaying downtown, and then everybody else is supposed to go find them or Oh, are the nodal in cosplay supposed to be scavenge?
So basically, people come in costume and they scavenge.
Okay, what are the types of things that they look for? Can you say that or I don't know if that's part of the
basically they're given directions to certain areas. So it's not like it's the clues are super difficult, but it just gets you into different areas. And when you get to that area, there'll be a volunteer there that will check in and you know, make sure you've accomplished that and then you move on to the next one.
This is kind of like a live action multiplayer game kind of you got to point to another complete the Taz that's that sounds kind of cool.
Yeah. It mean that's the thing is it is people have loved it. It's been a chance for people to to get some tickets, because you do. What's the prize for completing as you get some passes to the event. And so that's why
that sounds cool. Alright, so that is a good incentive. So if you haven't bought tickets, you could actually earn some tickets by participating in the cosplay games on August 28. In the evening. Yep. Well, that's cool. Actually, no, no, it's in the morning. 9:30am to noon. Okay. Sorry about that. Let me get the time, right. I don't want to send people the wrong time.
Now, here's the new stuff that I didn't.
Yeah, no, no, no, I just I didn't what I didn't know is apparently how to read 9:30am is not 9:30pm. I don't know I get a you know, early shift. And so everything I kind of think on Eastern time. Yeah. All right. Let's so now since we're talking about cosplay, Dan, this year for Phoenix 2021, the cosplay contest now you have that every year, however, this year, this is a kind of a nice prize for the winner of the cosplay contest this year,
yes, we decided to make the the grand prize. It's a $5,000 cash prize. But we also have, you know, totally an over $10,000 in cash prizes. So making it worthwhile for people to participate in the cosplay contest. Well,
this is going to up the stakes, Dan. I mean, this is gonna get a cutthroat competition when it comes to crowd shares.
Yes. Oh, I, I definitely think people Well, I mean, it's been pretty competitive, being the talent that we have in Utah for the cosplay contest is just phenomenal. And people do the most amazing costumes. And so just even as a reward for the work that people have done so far, that's great. But I think having, you know, having that extra prize may bring in some even higher level costumes of what people have done in the past.
Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to seeing then what people can do. And did I hear something like, there might be a motorcycle for the winner if you choose?
We're holding off on that this year. So we're just doing the cash. Oh, wow,
that's 5000 is nothing to sneeze?
Well, the reality was, is people would get the 5000. And we're gonna say, well, maybe the motorcycle because it's, you know, the book value on the bike is, you know, it's always hard to say what the US value is, it just has a bunch of signatures on it. But we're going to probably save that for next year. And make that as it as a super prize. Because, you know, I know a lot of people won't be able to pack it up and put it in the suitcase. So they may take the cash prize.
But we'll let you can ride home. Maybe you save yourself on a plane ticket. Is this the motorcycle that Chris Evans was sitting on in the photo from a few years ago?
It was but it's been repainted to a fan x bike. So it's the same bike, but they repainted it, then we started getting signatures on it from I think we have least 60 different signatures on there.
That's awesome. Yeah, save that one, save that one, so that I can enter. So that means I've got a year to get my cosplay together, instead of just yeah.
Yeah, this one, we didn't give enough lead time on it. So I think we will save it for next year.
Now, here's a couple of other things that and these may be, I haven't, I admit, I have not been able to explore every corner of a fan x in the past. So I thought this was kind of cool a workshop room that you guys offer where people can get advice from professionals in the industry for their own projects. For example, if you're working on a novel, you'll be able to get it to bring it to the workshop, talk to somebody professional on author to get some help with the project. Wow, that sounds like a really cool thing.
Yeah, they, once again, it's more interactive. In the past, obviously, we've had a lot of authors speak in the past, but encouraging people to bring in their own work and get advice and and, you know, have people working with them? Is the new aspect of it.
All right. So right now, your personal Dan far, the celebrity you're most excited to come this year that you've announced. I mean, there might be one that you've got, that's that would supersede whoever This is once or announce, but for right now, who are you personally, your geek side say you were not putting this on? And you were gonna pick and be like, Who am I most excited about? as a as a fan yourself?
Well, I have to say, Okay, this is kind of funny. But for me, when I was growing up, I watched mash. And I always loved that Jamie Farr was like the only actor I knew that had the name far. And so I should have seen that. Yeah, that's one that I seriously, I'm very excited about meeting him. And I just heard amazing things about him that he's super nice person. Yeah, he told the person that we booked him through, he says, Yeah, I'm looking forward to meeting my namesake out there. So he sees that he knows that, that it's a far that runs this convention. So he'll he'll be looking for me. So maybe
I'll have fun with that and ask questions during his panel of Dan, why am I not getting the royal treatment? And by Royal I mean, actually, in a crown and robe as I walk around?
He should even just have it for him.
That would be funny to say, okay, anybody who's named far is going to be treated like royalty here.
Well, I guess we could say we didn't know if we needed to put them in a dress or not, you know? Right.
Exactly. I actually was gonna ask Is he does he plan on on wearing what now? What? Can you give us any kind of hint about guests that you may be able to, obviously, you're not gonna see a name because you've got to lock this stuff up. And there's a protocol for announcing it. I understand that I do not want to jeopardize any person that's still you know, in the process. But can you give us a hint, a fandom genre something that we might expect in the next month to be announced?
Well, let's, let's say this is we do still have some pending offers. Okay. out on somebody from the Marvel you Reverse. And that's, it could be you know, there's there's a lot of different levels obviously, even TV, right? So or so it could be TV could be film, whatever. It could be Comic Book Creator, right? I mean if so if I if I'm trying to stay really vague and broad
there, there's celebrities to I mean, Rob liefeld and Todd McFarlane, and they were huge, at some cons in the past some
shows, and they're definitely ones we'd love to get one of our conventions anytime, so yeah, so I guess that's the best clue I can give at this point. I just say, one thing I will say is this year has been super tricky for getting talent that, you know, the that are at that level, you know, especially Marvel, because they are so busy with work, and they're just, you know, they don't have the time off. And as I explained earlier in the conversation, that they even if they are working, it's hard for them to get a time, you know, break away to do a convention, you know, just because they, they're under quarantine or whatever.
Sure. Okay, I was just going to tell you so I have a couple of things because, you know, you always ask me, but I've never, I thought ahead this time. So the one First of all, the first the person that I'm probably most excited about and believe it or not, is Peter Cullen because I love Optimus Prime, and he's always been my favorite. Always, always, always since the cartoon first debuted when I was like seven years old turning eight. And when Optimus Prime died in the Transformers Animated Movie in 1986, it was so traumatic for me that I've never watched the movie can and now it's the 35th anniversary. Yeah, and so that he's coming like, you know, somebody might say, Oh, look at all these other bats. Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime like he just is and so that and the fact that Frank Welker who voice Megatron is going to be there to me Frank Welker has done tons of other voices too sure. But the his his high pitch Megatron, and anyway, I don't want to I don't want to commit that impression, according So, but I'm actually really excited to meet Peter Cullen and to meet Frank Welker because I just think they're awesome. So that that may be weird of me that it's not, you know, Loretta swit. Or, I'll admit Martin Cove and Williams AB could be pretty awesome, too. But Peter, Colin, to me is the biggest one. And then for requests. I know we'd like to throw out wild requests all the time. Yeah, Rebecca Ferguson, or Lilly Jays. I love those two actresses. I love Rebecca Ferguson. She's one in reminiscence who's in the greatest showmen. She's in the last couple impossible movies. I think she is just I just love everything she's in.
Well, Rebecca would be fantastic. Was she in Sherlock as well? Or my thinking? You know, the BBC should not think of somebody else. But Lily James. I asked about her every time I think one of these times we will get her she was when Cinderella came out? Oh yes. My otter was such a big fan and I got a special recording. One of the managers sent me a recording to my daughter from Lily James saying I look forward to coming out media whether you know one of your shows in Salt Lake, so she's committed to it somehow. Right? One of the guys that were really cool, so
those are my two Hollywood, you know, actress crushes as Lily James and Rebecca Ferguson. I don't know why just as a coincidence that they both happen to be you know, British actresses with British accents, but I just Yeah, and I loved I loved reminiscence like if you haven't I know you haven't seen it. It just came out today. But it is so good. I really really liked it.
Yeah, I didn't know about it. So this is great.
Oh, yeah, no, it's a sci fi movie. We Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson. And it's a you know, it's like a film noir mystery futuristic thing where he, he's able to project he's got a machine that allows people to project their memories into like a 3d hologram. And it's just really cool. And I enjoyed the heck out of it. So there's, there's a recommendation for you. It'll convince you even more to get Rebecca Ferguson to come to Phoenix.
What if we could get you and Rebecca together? That would be fun.
Don't even tease me like,
Well, I'm not saying I'm bad or anything. I'm just saying that would be be amazing to get them both at the same time. Just because, you know, obviously, he's one of the there's clearly the Evergreen guests that you know, that we're trying to get every single time and Benedict Cumberbatch. Chris Hemsworth you need to Chris's. Right, right. Please kind of go all those guys are people that we try to get every time and so did Hugh Jackman is towards the top of the list as somebody will take the moment you do willing to do it and and you know, I guess the one thing is just for some actors that This type of event is not comfortable for him, you know, I don't think it's because they don't like people. You know, it's like I maybe there's a few actors out there that, you know, Tommy Lee Jones is that you wonder if they they would just wouldn't like people anyway, like Harrison Ford Exactly. Yes, sir, are those that you would kind of think would be maybe in that category, but the majority of my think is just it's not a real comfortable thing to be doing for them to kind of have to, you know, kind of pull outside of themselves in this way, because they are crazy, because they're great actors, and they can do amazing things on the screen and on stage. But I think when it comes to just trying to open up and meet a lot of people is they I think there's internal shyness comes through. And so who knows what Hugh Jackman I can picture him being a very nice person. It I mean, that's what I think he would be, he seems really cool off screen. And on screen, he does, he seems like he's just a very grounded, nice person. But at the same time, I don't know that he wants to put himself in a situation where he's just overwhelmed. And, you know, it's interesting, it's overwhelming to the actors, sometimes when all the fans come up, and they say, Hey, I, you know, I had this experience, and, and they share, you know, sometimes sad experiences where these actors have helped him carry through and emotionally it ends up kind of it be, you know, because their, their empathy for the people coming up to Sam is touched in such a way that they end up, you know, kind of carrying a little bit of that burden that people have carried with them. And so, in that way, it's very emotional for him to I've had them expressed that to me before, it's like, yeah, after a long day, and you hear these just these amazing stories, but the challenges that people have, it becomes really hard. You can kind of imagine that. Yeah, I mean, they're, they're glad to help. They're glad that they touch these people, however, the way they did, but at the same time, it's just, I'm sure, it's just so hard to see all the or to hear about all the challenges that people have been through.
Well, but that's a that's a good emotional thing to carry. I would think i think that that probably, probably energizes them in a way after it drains them is just to know that, hey, I mean, it doesn't everybody want to feel like something that they do matters to somebody besides themselves. And, you know, absolutely. You know, I
get to this whole guy's talking to her a couple of weeks ago. And we're at a different convention, and she was sharing with me how cuz I was watching her and she was interacting, so great with everybody that she met, that she would take time. And you could just see she's making eye contact, she was engaging, you know, that time that you spend with each person was sincere, and it was real. And I asked her about it, I said, I've noticed he's, you know, you really pour yourself out there with people. She said, You know, I learned a long time ago that this really isn't about me, you know, it's much bigger than who I am. And you know, these interactions mean so much to me, as well as to the people that I'm meeting and she's just so happy that people have that interest in her and it does it I think it builds her up in the same way that it can become emotionally draining. It does build her up and she she puts it out there and gets it back. And it's just it's really a beautiful experience.
Now as Jude is coming to Phoenix, she was April O'Neil in the original Ninja Turtles movie. Yes, yes. I hadn't seen that one on the guests. Oh, that's cool.
Yeah. Well, she was also the mom and halloweentown
I don't think I ever saw that one.
guy I just did not.
It was a kids show. It was a it was on Disney and Debbie Reynolds was in it. And
oh, okay. Yeah, no turn. Yeah, Ninja Turtles. I mean, that was I was 14 when that came out. It was it was really awesome.
Yeah, let's do this. Just as pretty today. She's just beautiful. And I think that, you know, people were Ninja Turtles fans, and maybe had a crush on her. They're gonna be, it's gonna be worse. And not only is she beautiful on the outside, she's just amazing on the inside just such a sweet, wonderful person. So I'm looking forward to hearing the stories after the fact when people say that today I hear this all the time. I hear people say oh, I met him a week or oh my gosh, he was just the nicest person or I hear this about my bed or, you know, just her now. You just go down the list. I hear this all the time that people have these amazing experiences meeting. Some of the celebrities that we bring in and I can pitch for Jesus is going to be one of those that I'll hear a lot about after the fact.
Oh, that's cool. Oh, maybe I'll get a chance to see her.
Alright, Dan, let's think here. Okay, so, as we wrap up, I just want you to click Your mind, if you were to, you have a chance right now to talk to fanox fans who maybe if you're on the fence they want to go, but they're not sure I want you to talk to him right now and invite them and tell them why they ought to come.
Okay, I will do that with a caveat, in the sense that I will say that we probably have one of the most rounded lineups of celebrities that we have put together, we've, we've had two years to build this show. And so there's so many wonderful things that's going to happen. But the caveat is, I don't want anybody taking any personal risks. And I want people to be careful. And if they feel like they would be taking a risk to come to the event, we're going to build great shows to come down the road. And you know, as much as we'll miss them, I just don't want people to risk their health. Besides that, We sure hope that people make it. And we do hope that anybody that comes that they're being respectful not only of themselves, but of everybody else, and making sure that they're doing what they can to not put anybody else at risk.
Well said, Well said. Well, Dan, I look forward to seeing you at fan x. If you've got another big announcement, of course, we'd be happy to chat about it. That comes between now and then I I'm sorry to hear that there's some that are going to cancel it completely understandable. I hope that whoever that is that the fans who are looking forward to seeing that celebrity aren't too disappointed. But I look forward to whoever, whoever you've got in the pipeline. And we'll keep our fingers crossed and send good thoughts your way to that that'll come about, and whoever might be disappointed at one minute, we'll find something else to be super excited about, especially once the actual Phenix experience begins.
Yes. Thank you for saying yeah, that is I always hate to see guests cancelled just for that reason, just knowing that everybody has somebody that is just looking for them specifically. And so no matter who they are, how big or I guess, popular they are, it doesn't matter. Because there's always somebody that's like, Oh, I wanted to meet that person. But you know what, we've always tried to bring them back.
It's not Peter Cullen, is it? No. I mean, I mean, did I say that out loud? No.
Okay. No, it's not that I. But you know, there's a knock on wood, right? Because we still have tomorrow the next day. You know, who knows what changes between now and the event? There's always some risks with anybody, but so far,
it's still gonna be there. Okay. We'll see now maybe I'm thinking about spending the $700 on that transforming Optimus Prime so that I can then have Peter sign it.
Yes. Now you're talking.
I just have to withdraw from my kids college funds and possibly, you know, sell their bikes.
Yeah, exactly. Feller by the lemonade stand if you put up there's still some time in summer for them to do that. Although
it's called suddenly now. Oh, no, my money sources dried up. Well, Dan, thank you so much for joining us. Best of luck over the next month as you try to get everything finalized. And we're looking forward to Phoenix 2021, September 16. Through the 18th in Salt Lake City at the salt palace Convention Center. Really quick for those of you who are curious about costs, who of course you can get tickets at fantic Salt Lake calm. You've got single day ticket options, multi day passes. Gold and VIP or VIP passes all sold out.
No, not yet. No, we're still good. Okay, but
they could I mean, those those can sell
they have in the past? Yes. Okay, so
the VIP multi pass, we're gonna go most expensive $295 but that comes with a lot of extra swag and perks and shorter line times and things like that. A gold multipass for $125. Of course, when we're talking multi pass, that means all three days. So this is not per day, this is total. So you could divide the cost by the day, if you want to do it that way. A multipass with no additional perks other than just getting in for all three days. $50 so that's that's less than 20 bucks a day. That's That's pretty good. That's pretty good dealing especially if you bought each day separate $20 for Thursday 30 for Friday 40 for Saturday, and these are pre purchase correct? Yes, door prices will be higher than that.
They will so buy now for sure. And that helps us plan. I mean that's that's why we make it that way just it just helps us but also helps with the line control and everything. When people buy early enough they can get their credentials in the mail. We just really just seen the benefits encouraging people to buy early and it helps us and it helps them and for those with bigger families like myself, although I don't qualify for this, actually no I do. I'll babies and children 10 years old and younger are free with the purchase of an adult pass. So
bigger families that are kids are younger, 1010 and younger are free with the purchase of an adult pass and then the following individual qualify for a 15% discount on the Fenix 2021 passes. students is that college and or just elementary? Junior High High School is both Yes. Okay, so so you're you're taking pity on the poor college students, that's nice. teachers. They definitely deserve it, especially after the past year, man, do they? Yeah, military active and veteran first responders and Sr 60 and older. So quite a few ways.
All those deserve it up to this last couple of years. Right,
right. You can have, you can have $1 off on me, if you come and find me for your pet now, he says because everybody went through something. But that's neat. So that just if you fall into one of these categories, make sure you ask for this discount or look for it on the website as you buy tickets, students, teachers, military, first responders and seniors 60 and older, so that you can see guests like Zachary Quinto, Adam Savage, Misha Collins, Ashley Eckstein, Loretta swit, Jim Cummings, plus all the people we've mentioned already, Dan, good luck with Phoenix 2021. We shall talk then for sure.
Thank you so much. It really it's awesome to talk with you every time I get a chance to talk with you. I
love it. All right. Thanks, Dan. We'll chat with you later. Our thanks again to Dan Farr, founder and producer of fan eggs, Salt Lake comic convention 2021, and all the others. We appreciate him joining us each time that he does. Thanks for listening to this episode of fan effect, a KSL News Radio Podcast. Beyond sci fi, fantasy gaming and tech. We're excited to share you with you our knowledge and arguments on everything pop culture and fandom. Based in the beautiful beehive state fan effects celebrates Utah's unique fan culture. And we're excited to bring you local guests that feel the same way. Mandy Farnsworth listen regularly on your favorite platform at KSL news radio.com or on the KSL newsradio app. Do you have a fun idea or local fan culture topic you'd like us to explore? Let us know by messaging our Facebook page at fan effects show that's e FF EC t by the way, where you can also get the latest nerdly updates and join the conversation. Follow us on Instagram at fan effect show and on Twitter at fan effect show. Thanks again for listening and hope to have you back real soon for another episode of fan effect.