I finally sit down to write this report, two weeks to the day since I strode into the Convention Center doors for Connecticon 2011. Those who know me know that the convention is more than just a 3 to 4 day period during the year but an event I talk about and look forward to for months leading up to picking up one’s badge. I met a lot of people at the con and to list them all would take forever but I hope to cover much of the ground. You can view my modest photos from the con here and modest videos here.
Thursday
Connecticon like many conventions offers Thursday badge pickup to pre-registrants, a very useful thing to be able to do, especially for a con local enough that many attendees can swing by. The Thursdays are still relatively low key affairs, people line up, get their badges and then head off, or to the hotels, perhaps to engage in some pool chicanery or other such things. Cosplays are limited but still welcome. This year perhaps the most prominent group was the Pokemon gijinka who were numerous in their outfits.
For me Thursdays often involve running into dozens of people briefly before the festivities really get going, it’s a day that fortunately allows for socializing before the busyness of con scheduling kicks in, but alas it also goes quickly.
Friday
It was perhaps the latest I had ever arrived at the convention center for a Friday, but that was but a momentary disturbance. I had acquired coffee on the way in as the number one priority of any con morning is coffee acquisition. I managed to present a tie to a friend so that he could finish his Harold Saxon/The Master cosplay and accost congoers with his request to vote Saxon. His friends included a pair of Firefly cosplayers which was also a welcome sight. Meanwhile the registration was line was growing as those who had yet to get badges were attempting to. With rain in the forecast the line snaked inside instead of outside, a testament to the con’s popularity.
Of course while waiting for Baron von Coffee Spiller, who kept us waiting two hours, myself, nega-chiba, and saxon were on basically what was the lower main area of the convention center near the line, dealer’s room, game room, food, et cetera. Various people were milling about naturally including the Pikmin who eventually turned on their controller. Cosplay groups are a rare treat because you get to see people acting in unison and it’s just fun.
Soon it was time for Cosplay Court Case, the time slot had been awarded at the last minute to the point it was not even in the program guide, but we made the best of it, and the crowd who attended enjoyed themselves.
Cosplay Court is set up to be the cosplay event that one doesn’t have to sign up for in advance, we draw from the crowd and hope to have a lot of fun with it. Kenny from South Park and Ken from Street Fighter found themselves as the defendants in the nonsense that would follow.
Today’s event was open to all ages, but the 18+ version would follow the next day with insanity not far behind it. More on that later. To watch videos from it visit here. More vids to come! For photos taken by Evan Joslyn visit here. Other photos to come as well!
I’m kinda blanking on my afternoon but it was more wandering and con-going including a visit to Moon Freight 3‘s operation as well as more random encounters.
Made the rounds as the Brigadier from Doctor Who and did get noticed a bit which was nice for a not often recognized character.
At 7pm the Doctor Who panel came around, with once again the Nega-Chiba and Saxon hosting and me along for the ride dressed as the Brigadier, the room was filled to the point that panel staff had to keep adjusting the crowd to make sure there was no fire concerns. Still it’s a good problem to have, the panel went of well, Nega-Chiba moderated well, and the discussion was quite vibrant. We also had numerous Doctor’s in the house which is always quality. The Doctor Who fandom was huge this year at the con, even moreso than usual.
I’m not sure where the next few hours went actually.
Then the dance happened, Nega-Chiba and I stood in the back and observed and noticed to our surprise that Batman was refilling the water and taking out the garbage. Later I was coaxed onto the dance floor by the only person who probably could do so. The DJ’s seemed to be keeping the crowd adequately enthused.
Of course at midnight, the con center shuts its doors, but while the dance and screenings go on in the Marriott next door, there is also the gathering that takes place on the plaza in between. Hundreds of people who just don’t want to go anywhere else. Not unexpectedly, the Internet also made his way amidst the crowd arriving to the con late that day. He often holds court with many gathered around him or paying their respects. I made my way around the area as things were slightly dying down, but still pretty active for that time of night, Connecticon people really go at it. Soon though I was headed back to HQ to recover.
Saturday
Finally getting an early start, I arrived at the con and continued the habit of running into people left and right sporadically.
I was dressed as Doctor Tomoe from Sailor Moon though the costume was not recognized as much as expected. Though the first Sailor Moon photoshoot didn’t materalize, a second one did but this one was impromptu and I was out of costume. After completely tripping on the way back to change, I managed to catch up to the Senshi and take a few photos at least.
It’s a good time to mention the sheer volume of Senshi that made it to the con and that’s always great to see. Also ran into several friends from various years of the anime club at the old alma mater.
Stopped in to the Cosplay Jeopardy if for no other reason than to see people’s reactions when Mystique took the stage. (Cuz Mystique was a man bwahaha, enjoyed seeing that one.)
I believe this was the first year of the Cosplay Jeopardy event and it looked to be quite a success.
Then came the Babylon 5 panel. Along with Coffee Spiller we did the B5 thing, got a very good discussion going, and showed some clips to really capture the series. There are some series that it is good to just flail about in a group. Green! Purple!
The afternoon was spent with relatively unorganized congoing, just seeing all that was going on around the con. There is always plenty of random events and fun cosplays as exemplified here.
Along with Saxon up by panel ops we observed several random events in the hallway leading to the main room. This included Santa being chased and a small contingent of Umbrella corp soldiers.
Then came prep for the Sailor Moon panel. Despite our best efforts Aarana and I couldn’t get the trailer for the Sailor Moon Movie to play, but she put together an impressive set of multimedia to go along with the Q&A. We added some additional panelists and spoke to a packed room, getting both a solid discussion underway as well as showing off a lot of great clips. With Sailor Moon’s return, at least in Manga form to US shores it was good to see the crowd packed in. I also got to meet several people for the first time before and after the panel, and this added to the list of peeps I had meant for the first time which was great.
Along with Nega-Chiba, and Cactus Head I was then out in the parking garage charging my cell phone with the car charger….exciting…and trying to assemble the Bat-Lincoln costume. There was some success but also some failure. An onlooker who pulled in next to the car laughed his head off. We then wandered the con, I took a picture with the real Batman and soon dispensed with the costume to head into the Masquerade. I’m not a line person so I waited until the Masq started and was able to be let in 40 minutes in. Fortunately I hadn’t missed many skits. I saw several quality ones, but regret not filming more. I felt with my position in the back of the room it was not useful, but I was wrong to not just film as I wished. I did also get a skit of the roxbury parody which was quality.
Those hosts did a good job.
Though personally I think any masquerade is better to just go skit to skit, i.e. like when Uncle Yo emcee’s Anime Boston. It goes faster and just keeps things flowing. I had only planned to stay for part of the masq as I needed to prep for 18+ court case later in the night. I hung around for a specific skit which I enjoyed immensely and then departed.
Then more hanging out occurred in the lunch room and on the top floor including encountering an awesome old school Cyberman.
Then it was time for 18+ Court Case which was perhaps the most successful court case we have ever done and that’s saying something considering the success we’ve had. But with Skeletor on trial and then a Count Named Slick Brass, as well as the surprise arrival of the Internet later on, and a third surprise trial to follow it was just one of our zaniest events ever. Video will be forthcoming as will photos.
Was going to go to the dance, but it was crowded, so I didn’t, meanwhile there was much hanging out to be done on the plaza between buildings. People had gathered, the Internet was in a corner holding court and it was just another night of activity.
There was even singing. The guy with the guitar had made the rounds at the con and had now made it onto the main plaza. Eventually though people started scattering and the day’s events drew to a close.
Sunday.
I slept in Sunday, I had my reasons. I did drop in on the Doctor Who panel that day where a variety of doctors were speaking their minds and answering questions.
This led to a variety of interesting quotations and photo opportunities. I also spilled some coffee.
Much of the day was spent wandering around, last minute visits to the dealer’s room and artist’s alley, gradually saying good bye to people, a pretty depressing time but it happens. As Dr. Tomoe I was accompied by Tellu from the Witches Five, the first time I’ve had one of the W5 in my presence but we encountered no Senshi and no one who really noticed which is perfect for our nefarious plans. Plus there was much randomness!
Paid visits to Jolly Rogue Studios and their Sky Pirates comic, Off with Their Hats, and made another visit to Senpai Magazine picking up the latest edition, also visited a place whose name I cannot remember and snagged some Sherlock bookmarks, and paid a last minute visit to the Cow Comic.
In the Dealer’s Room made the rounds including to HellowithCheese.com, Shortpacked, Hijinksensue, Dr McNinja, and others. I was unable to do my usual business card roundup though links to the various Webcomic peeps and Artists are available in earlier blog posts.
Meanwhile a gigantic robot had arrived, and interpretive dance broke out!
Then as it happens the con must end, too quickly as always.
