So, after a long time contemplating whether I should try the convention experience as an artist and vendor, I finally decided to apply to my very first event. A few months ago, I signed up for ConnectiCon, a comic and anime convention in Hartford, Connecticut.
The Artist Alley was already sold out by the time I applied, but there’s an area on the 6th floor of the building called the Daily Market—and it just so happened that when I looked into attending, a few tables were still available. I decided that, despite all my reservations, I wanted to get that experience under my belt. The Daily Market lets you attend on a daily basis instead of committing to all four days (the convention runs from Thursday to Sunday).
Why did I have reservations? Well, first off—Hartford is about 2.5 hours from Brooklyn without traffic. The Daily Market opens at 9 AM and closes at 11 PM every day. There was no way I could drive in the morning and back in the evening—it just wasn’t realistic. So staying overnight became the only option if I wanted to arrive early, set up properly, and be presentable.
Secondly, I had the impression that ConnectiCon was very anime-focused, and anime fans can be a tight-knit tribe. They’re usually not that interested in things outside of anime. I wasn’t sure my art would connect with that audience. Still, I really wanted to experience what it’s like to table at an event—and honestly, most other conventions I looked into for the summer were already sold out.
So I signed up. I didn’t expect to make my money back 100%, but I saw it as an investment. I’d already signed up for a Long Island event in October and, more importantly, for the Area Gaming Expo in Philadelphia on January 26. Yup—if you want to do conventions as an artist, you have to apply months in advance. It’s usually very competitive. I also wanted to test if I could manage the full convention routine—setting up the table, dealing with logistics, handling payments (card, cash, etc.).
The bare, naked table at my arrival.
Now… let’s talk cost. The table at the ConnectiCon Daily Market was extremely expensive compared to a regular Artist Alley spot. I think it’s because that section is meant for vendors, and vendor tables are always more expensive. Still—$350 for just one day is steep. I went on Saturday, July 19. I believe the other days were slightly cheaper, but not by much. I figured, If it’s this pricey, that area must get a ton of traffic.
As I imagined, the day was slow. I barely made back the cost of the table, and everything else—two nights at a hotel, food, gas—was out-of-pocket. The Daily Market area had about 30–35 tables, right next to two big auditoriums where events were held throughout the day. There was some foot traffic, but not nearly as much as I had expected. People were curious, asked questions, took business cards, but didn’t spend. Again, I don’t think it was my crowd.
The positive? I had a blast—although it was exhausting. I was tabling solo. My day started at 5:30 AM. Got up, got ready, and drove to the convention center to arrive by 7 AM, when we were supposed to retrieve our badges. The ConnectiCon team ran late, so we (me and a bunch of other early birds) didn’t get to the 6th floor until around 7:20 AM. I was nervous—when I time myself setting up at home, I usually need an hour and a half to do it right. It was tight.
Surprisingly, I was super efficient. By 8:50 AM—ten minutes before opening—I was fully set up and ready to go.
I really enjoyed interacting with the people who stopped by, asked questions, or bought my work. I loved meeting other artists. My neighbor at the next table, who was selling amazing miniatures with his wife, was a total joy—super chatty, full of energy, and clearly a pro at working conventions. It was inspiring.
I honestly don’t know how I got through the day. Adrenaline, maybe. I started breaking down my table around 10:20 PM—after nearly 15 hours of standing and talking to people. It was tough, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Even though I lost money on this one, I still think attending was the right choice. Now I have a much better grasp on how tabling works, what to expect, and how I can improve.
One thing I was nervous about was internet connectivity—I use Square for payments, and I need a decent signal. Thankfully, the 6th floor had solid cell service, so I didn’t have to buy the convention’s overpriced Wi-Fi (yes, most cons charge absurd fees for Wi-Fi and electricity if you need them).
My set up at ConnectiCon, Daily Market.
And the best news? Ta-da! Just a few days before I left for Hartford, I found out I’d been accepted to table at New York Comic Con Artist Alley this October!
Honestly, I applied mostly just to go through the process—I didn’t think I’d actually get in. I was shocked when I saw the acceptance email. Like… my very first Artist Alley table ever, and boom—it’s NYCC?! Hah. I have a whole theory about why this happened: I think a lot of cons get flooded with anime art, and when someone shows up with something different, the jury takes notice. So in the end, attending ConnectiCon—even with its financial downside—was the right move.
Now I’m heading into NYCC with real experience under my belt. Sure, it might be slow too—it’s also a very anime- and comic-heavy crowd—but it’s a four-day event, the table cost was $420 total, and I’ll be local, so I won’t have to worry about hotel or gas. Maybe just a couple of Ubers to get to the Javits Center on the first and last day. All in all, I’m counting ConnectiCon as a positive experience—though I probably won’t do it again.
Anyway, I hope some of this info helps others thinking about tabling for the first time!