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Vitals: Policies ![]() It is very important that you read and understand these policies; they'll be posted at the convention as well, but anyone who attends Otakon is expected to follow these rules. » Disruptive behavior And remember: if it's illegal outside the convention, it's illegal inside the convention. Disruptive Behavior PolicyYour membership in Otakorp, Inc. entitles you to enjoy the primary benefit of that membership: you get to attend Otakon! But as the man said, with great power comes great responsibility. We work very hard to ensure that Otakon takes place in a safe and family-friendly environment, and we need your cooperation. We have policies to address specifics such as weapons and lost children. We also have a general policy that we do not tolerate disruptive behavior of any sort, and we can and will take action when we see something we feel is dangerous or disruptive. The type of action we take may range from a quiet but stern word in private to forcible ejection from the convention, revocation of your membership in Otakorp, Inc., or even criminal charges. (The action taken is solely at the discretion of Otakorp, Inc.) The sorts of things that may trigger such action include fighting (fake or real), heckling, impeding traffic flow, offensive behavior, failure to observe basic hygiene, public inebriation (or similar intoxication), or any other failure to follow the rules. Remember, anything illegal outside the BCC is illegal inside the BCC. If your behavior is clearly problematic, we will deal with it as a problem. Show common courtesy to your fellow otaku, and follow the rules, and there's no problem.
Line EtiquetteWith so many people attending, waits in lines may last many hours. We know that this is frustrating, but it is unavoidable. Please do not take it out on other attendees or on the staff. Members caught jumping in line will be sent to the rear of the line. You will not be allowed to hold places in line. Lines cannot block entrances or exits, so leave a gap in front of the door. Cameras at OtakonThe usage of photographic devices is prohibited within certain areas of the convention, including video and 35mm theaters, within Main Events and/or concerts, and in the Art Show. Photography within the Artists Alley is at the discretion of the individual artist. Permission to photograph must be asked for prior to any photographs being taken. Prohibited devices include, but are not limited to, cameras (both film and digital), camera phones, and camcorders. Events that allow photography will be marked as such. Photographing Guests at Otakon Otakon's guests have the right to maintain their privacy. Convention members may be asked to refrain from photographing guests if the guests would prefer to not have their picture taken. Guests will join con-goers for a photo opportunity if they choose to have their picture taken. When stopping to take photographs in the hallways, please be considerate of your fellow members by being brief and not blocking traffic. ![]() Children at OtakonOtakon is certain to be a fun family event, but also one of the largest east coast Japanese animation conventions with an expected attendance of 22,000 people. As a result, Otakon wants to ensure the satisfaction and safety of all of our members, especially children. In order to safeguard the well being of our youngest attendees, Otakon has put these policies into effect and offers some advice when it comes to keeping track of children at a large convention. A parent or guardian must accompany all children under the age of 12 at all times. Children are required to carry some form of written identification and parent/guardian contact information with them at all times so that Otakon staff may contact the parents or guardians should the need arise. THERE IS NO CONVENTION-WIDE PA SYSTEM. We are unable to page your child if he/she becomes lost. Recommendations
Otakon wishes you and your children a safe and happy convention! ![]() Dance at Otakon
Signs at OtakonWhile we understand the appeal of signs as ice-breakers and conversation starters, there have been too many complaints from our members about offensive content or signs that amount to little more than panhandling. No signs are permitted except for those signs that are an established part of a costume. (The sign must be part of the standard "look" of the character, such as the sign carried by Genma the panda.) Those members wishing to post notices or find other people should use the bulletin boards provided. Please note that signs asking for food, money, hugs, etc. are considered panhandling by the Baltimore Police department, and signs offering to exchange any sort of sexual favor (kisses, hugs, glomps, etc.) are considered solicitation. Signs with offensive content are not allowed regardless of whether they are "in character." Signs in violation of this policy will be confiscated. Repeat offenders will be considered in violation of the disruptive behavior policy. Please note that this policy applies to all types of signs, regardless of construction. Otakon staff decisions regarding signs are final.
Weapons at OtakonWeapons NOT Permitted Weapons not permitted at Otakon include, but are not limited to the following: NO LIVE STEEL at all will be permitted on the premises of the BCC. Live steel is defined as swords, knives, bayonets, and/or other objects made of metal, which can take an edge. This holds true regardless of whether the object is actually sharp. This includes star knives/shurikens. A sheathed sword is still live steel. NO GUNS of any kind will be permitted. Examples include, but are not limited to, pellet guns, BB guns, air guns, crossbows, dart guns, blowguns, water guns, or water pistols. Real guns, replicas of real guns, stun guns, and tasers are also prohibited. The ONLY exception to this rule will be prop guns or resin models that are easily identifiable as toys, provided that they possess no moving parts and are clearly marked with a non-removable orange tip. Nunchaku are not permitted. Explosives or chemicals of any kind including, but not limited to, smoke powder, sparklers, and fireworks, are not permitted at the con. Finally, if it is illegal outside the BCC, it is illegal inside the BCC. Illegal weapons will be reported to the appropriate authorities. Weapons Permitted Staves, bo sticks, boken, shinai, and wooden swords will be permitted. Fake, prop, or made-up weapons (i.e. made of tissue paper, plaster of Paris, cloth) are permitted if they are safe and not dangerous to others around you. (Dangerous conditions include, but are not limited to, wires sticking out, items that trip others, clothes lining someone, etc.) Prop weapons shall be limited to less than eight (8) feet in height and less than two hundred fifty (250) pounds in weight (that's 2.4 meters and 114 kilograms for you metric folks). Behavior with Weapons Misuse of any weapon or prop, such as swinging it in a public area or causing hazards to others, will result in the weapon or prop being deemed unsafe for the convention. If a weapon or prop is deemed unsafe for the con, we will ask you to remove the weapon or prop from the convention and store it in your private quarters (your home, hotel room, or car). Any weapon purchased in the Dealer's Room must be boxed and removed from convention property immediately, and should remain boxed and stored in your private quarters. Weapons are not to be taken out of their packaging or wrappings while on BCC property. All props and weapons brought into the convention may be inspected and approved or rejected by Otakon staff, including those that may have prior approval (other conventions, previous conventions, or pre-convention approval by Otakon staff). All questionable weapons or props will be decided on a case-by-case basis. All decisions made by Otakon and/or the Public Safety Staff of the Baltimore Convention Center are final.
Guests and Autograph PolicyWe understand that getting autographs from our guests is a major highlight of the convention for many attendees, not just because it’s a fantastic souvenir, but also because it’s a chance for that tiny bit of face time with the guest. Guests, too, value that rare opportunity to meet some of their fans. However, demand nearly always outweighs supply, especially for extremely popular or extremely rare guests. Even the speediest and most accommodating guest can only sign so many things in a given period of time. In order to give the greatest number of fans the opportunity to meet the guest, we MUST keep the lines moving smoothly. Otakon’s official, scheduled autographing sessions are governed by the following rules:
How Our Autograph Sessions Work:
Otakon staff reserve the right to make changes to guests policies as circumstances dictate. If you have a question about policy, please see the Otakon staffer in charge of the guest appearance or signing. All staff rulings are final. Notes and Gifts for GuestsIf you've brought something special for the guest, such as a personal note or small gift, we ask that you follow certain guidelines for practical and safety reasons. Most guests appreciate these small gestures, but many gifts cannot be accepted.
Tips for Interacting With Guests:
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