First some words about it, then onto the stats ala Dom from Megatokyo. His method seems to work well so I'll follow his example.

To those who don't know (Which is probably a fair chunk), ConnectiCon is an attempt to kill convention envy from the folks in the Connecticut area who don't have the cash or ability to make it to San Diego over this weekend. This was it's first year so turn out was understandably low. This is probably due to Connecticut never having conventions of any kind. No cons in state equals no reason to look. I only found out about it through folks from my Sculpture class. I was even more interested when I found that the folks from MacHall were going to be there.

The con was held at the University of Hartford in West Hartford. The map I made online sent me through Hartford to get there. A good example of the pain from that trip: I have better luck finding my way through mazes with a blindfold on in a dark room than making it through Hartford. The city had to have been designed by people on high doses of Many Different Psychotropics at Once. I can navigate New York on foot and yet I can't make it to the con by 2:00pm.

Being without a driver's license or car (I know.. it's sad), my sister and her friend gave me a ride up there. None of us have been to a con before. None of us have seen CosPlayers in person before. The feeling of seeing people dressed up as random anime and game characters on a day other than Halloween was equal parts funny, sad, scary, and confusing. I have to admit, they have a bit of respect from me... to dress up like that knowing full well that they look completely nuts takes moxie. Some of the costumes were really damned good too. And people were allowed to freely carry fake weapons and wooden swords. I felt under-dressed and very unarmed.

Once registered and inside I notcied something. The con was quiet. Very very quiet. The site said famed actor Glenn Shadix, the guy who played Otho Fenlock in Beetlejuice as well as many other great roles, was going to be there. They had rooms set up for gaimng or all kinds, some crazy oustide rpg that used Nerf-esque weapons, workshops to make said weapons as well as sculpting and various comic book and animation related stuff, and many rooms showing many classic and modern anime series and movies. I got so lost on campus that I couldn't find the right buildings for anything for a while. This was my fault as I got so lost in the amazingly beautiful day that I didn't notice the arrows on the ground or the signs saying the what building was where. = P

I did meet up with Ian McConville and Matt Boyd of MacHall in the Dealer's area. Ian was good for a short conversation while Matt was really into his GameBoy. Being a gamer myself, 'tis best not to snap folks out of their zone for fear of life. My lack of outstanding conversation skills and manners at the time made for a strange opening line: "So... you're the artist, huh." Oh yeah, I'm the master of suave. o.@ Once reality set in and my manners returned, I had a nice small chat with Ian about the con and the shirts they brought. I got both Ian and Matt's signature on my convention book as well as that very cool shirt which they pretty much debuted for public consumption at ConnectiCon. They will have the shirt for sale on there site soon. I recommend you grab one, they look amazing.

Afterwards, I roamed the con. I took in the sites and sounds, the strange conversations that only come at places like this (Folks who have been to other cons know what I mean), and the Dealer's room a little more than I wish I had. I did leave with money which is more than can be said for a friend of mine. Hopefully he doesn't blow the loot he has left today.

Now for the stats.

- Cash to get in: $20 for a Saturday ticket

- Famous folks met: 2

- Items bought: 3 (Import CD, Shirt, Pack of Magic cards)

- Free gear snatched at the door: A few flyers and a Gundam bag to collect stuff in

- Cash spent once inside: $32.50

- Strangest moment: Forgetting my other $20 bill at home, forced to pay for shirt with a $50 bill. Ian, Matt and I attempted to do the math but a mass brainfart left us temporarily confused.

- Oddest overheard conversation from a CosPlayer: "Is this bridge moving or am I just crazy?"

- Most interesting idea: The BYOC room (Bring Your Own Console)

- Overall time spent: A little over 2 hours

- Returning next year: Definately.