For whatever reason I found myself thinking of the Cosplay Death Match that I host at ConnectiCon every year. It’s become the main event of the convention and more folks who attend that show know me as “the Death Match guy” than from my two decades of making comics. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I love being Death Match Guy.
It’s a really fun event and I look forward to it like a child looks forward to Christmas morning. I get butterflies in my stomach as showtime comes ever closer. I feel totally at home on that stage in front of the beautifully raucous crowds. And when it’s over I’m emotionally and physically exhausted, but cannot wait to do it again.
But over the years I’ve been asked by several people questions like “do you do this event anywhere else?” and “would you consider taking this event to another convention?” The answer to both of those questions is a resounding but polite no. I couldn’t imagine doing the Death Match anywhere but ConnectiCon, and only once per year.
The Death Match is special because it only happens once a year for me and everyone else. A year’s worth of excitement, of anticipation, and stage butterflies are built up and released in one glorious night. If I had to do this several times a year across several other conventions, with different crowds who have different energies; with different backstage crews who have varying levels of experience and approaches to events; with myself having varying levels of energy from needing to be “on” for several weekends at a time; just thinking about it now makes me feel burnt out. It wouldn’t feel like a holiday or a special event. It would feel like a job. And the last thing I want is to turn the things I love into chores.
The next Cosplay Death Match isn’t until ConnectiCon 2025 in July, but like Santa Claus in the depths of summer, I’m already making plans for next year’s show. After all, the Death Match only comes around once a year, so I’ve got to make it count. That’s what makes it special.