ConnectiCon was this past weekend and it was really something special. There’s no other place like it, and I will be forever in its debt because it may have just saved my soul.
Real talk with you folks for a second.
The conventions I’ve exhibited at this past year have not been great for me. I want to make it clear that I’ve had no issues with the conventions themselves, the people who run them, or the folks who attended them! This is not me airing dirty laundry or spreading bad vibes. But, either sales had been disappointing or I was spending a lot of time behind my tables alone with my thoughts. Combined with being without my pal Garth and missing a lot of the old faces I used to see, I have not been in a good headspace regarding conventions this year.
Until ConnectiCon this past weekend.
Not only was it among the best years we’ve ever had financially, there is so much love in that space that at times I was overwhelmed by it. ConnectiCon may not have the staggering attendance of bigger shows, but it has more heart and soul than anywhere else I’ve been. I was always doing something this weekend, whether it was moving books or chatting with folks who were curious about the creative process and/or comics. I also got to see Garth again, and being reunited with one of my best friends after not having seen him for nearly a year filled another hole in my heart.
I was also surprised by the staffers during my annual hosting of the Cosplay Death Match (which has a series of stories all its own this year), who awarded me with a token of recognition for over twenty years of service to ConnectiCon. To say that I cannot express my gratitude enough is an understatement.
This was a much-needed reinvigoration of my spirit. This has been a rough year for everyone, for a variety of reasons, and I am so blessed to have received some reprieve from it this past weekend.
ConnectiCon has my love and loyalty until I have nothing left to give.