ConnectiCon 2012 Review

Photo Credit to John Riley

ConnectiCon 2012: Nonexistent Dealers Room

Oh Connecticon, what fond memories we all have of you. It's where part of Blitz cosplay met, if not under unusual circumstances, but never the less. It is usually one of my most favorite conventions in the area. Alas how this year has failed me though. Do not get me wrong, good times were had, however, there was just so much at Connecticon 2012 that just really rubbed me the wrong way.



For starters, and I am certain I'm not the only one who felt this way, what was up with all of the lines, for everything, being outside in the blistering heat? I mean, it was one thing when they moved the registration line out onto the stairs, it sucked and I was aggravated by it, but whatever, these things happen. It was when they kept doing it the whole con that really ticked me off. Even for the masquerade everyone again had to wait outside. When I saw that horrible “line starts here” sign, AGAIN, I almost lost it. Thank god I was only cosplaying Riku. Our poor friend Megan though was doing the Mystical Elf, our first time attempting so much body paint on one of us. Needless to say, we were nervous about the heat. Then we got stuck out there for three hours just waiting to register. Thankfully we got the good stuff and her makeup held together fine. I'm just shocked that no one passed out or anything just waiting to get into the convention. Step up the planning here Connecticon.



My next two problems with the con can really be summed up together. That dealers room was the saddest excuse for a dealers room I have ever seen, and the artist alley might as well have been non-existent. Anyone who knows me, or will come to find out from reading these reviews, knows that my favorite part of every convention is the dealers room and the artist alley and both at Connecticon 2012 fell hopelessly short. I managed to snag a Silence t-shirt, a Doctor Who bookmark and a Sherlock one too, but that was all that they really had for me to pick up. This is really what hurts my rating for this particular convention, it was just so egregiously disappointing.



Having said all of that, the rave was awesome! There is just something about the Connecticon rave that I always seem to love and this one was no different, it was an absolute blast. Here is what it is with the Connecticon rave, me being not that big of a dancer, I love the little outdoor gathering that seems to form every year between the two buildings. Its great, because you can go inside, dance until you get sick of it, come out to the stairs, talk to your friends and meet new people. This is definitely a venue thing rather than anything the people running the con are doing, never the less, it makes the rave that much more enjoyable every year and I absolutely love it.



On top of that we also managed to make it to the Team Four Star panel and I have to say that was probably the most fun I have ever had in one of those. The guys were up there, doing the voices, answering questions in character and it was just hilarious. On top of that, I got to see the Nostalgia Critic in the aforementioned “dealers room” which was also totally awesome considering I have been watching him for years and have never been at a con that he was at. So all and all it can definitely be said that Connecticon 2012 at least did a good job getting awesome guests.



Thus, what was good at the con was absolutely awesome, but what was bad about the con was really bad and filled me with rage. What it all ends up boiling down to, though, is a lukewarm convention for Connecticon 2012. I had fun and if you live in the area and you have never gone I would still say to check out Connecticon because normally it is better then this. The good parts that have been spoken of are always good and the bad parts usually do not end up happening like this. One can only hope that they get some input and fix up that dealers room and artist alley.

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