Convention Rules

• Your 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. Show common courtesy to your fellow otaku and follow the rules, so there are no problems.
• Disruptive behavior and/or harassment of any sort is not tolerated at Otakon. We Otakon staff 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. (Action taken is solely at the discretion of Otakorp, Inc.)
• 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 and rules to address specifics such as weapons and lost children. The sorts of things that may trigger such action include but are not limited to: fighting (fake or real), heckling, impeding traffic flow, offensive behavior, harassment, failure to observe basic hygiene, public inebriation/intoxication, or any other failure to follow the rules and directions of staff members.
• Remember, anything illegal in the District of Columbia is illegal at Otakon! If your behavior is clearly problematic, we will deal with it as such.

• Medical masks are not required at Otakon, but we encourage members to wear masks if it makes them more comfortable attending the convention.

Simply put, Otakon is a smoke-free event, within a smoke-free facility. Since the Walter E. Washington Convention Center does not permit cigarettes or tobacco products, Otakon cannot allow them either. Please remember that we are a family-oriented event, and want to make sure to not only appeal to but respect all of our attendees, and know that there are no designated smoking areas inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. If you are really feeling the need for a smoke, feel free to step outside and respect a distance of at least 25 feet from the entries. Attendees caught smoking are in violation of this policy and may be ejected from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

• Regarding E-Cigarettes: This policy also applies to electronic cigarettes or any alternative smoking product; they are not permitted and are considered the same as cigarettes by the convention center.

• When standing in lines, be sure to follow Otakon Staff instructions. Before joining a line, look for staff members holding “Line Starts Here” and/or “Line Ends Here” indicators.
• If a line is full, or being cutoff, no new lines are allowed to be formed behind it. Unsanctioned lines will be dispersed.
• NOTE: Members caught cutting in line will be sent to the rear of the line. You will not be allowed to hold places in line for people not already queued with you.

Please be respectful of everyone at Otakon, and obtain consent before photographing or videoing anyone at Otakon. Otakon staff will be documenting the event for archival and promotional use.

As a reminder, drones are illegal to operate in DC.

The usage of photographic devices is prohibited within certain areas of the convention, including but not limited to video rooms, within Main Events and/or concerts, in the Art Show, in/or near Otachan, in Gopher Ops, and all 18+ events. All such areas will be marked, so please pay attention. Otakorp, Inc. reserves the right to remove the individual from the event and revoke access to the convention for failure to comply.

• Prohibited devices include, but are not limited to, cameras (both film and digital, including recording with cell phones) and camcorders.
• Photography within the Artists Alley is only allowed at the discretion of the individual artist. Permission must be obtained from the artist for photography of any kind.

Otakorp, Inc. reserves the right to ensure deletion of recorded material.

Events that allow photography will be marked as such.

Please make sure you are not taking photographs in narrow hallways or other high traffic areas. Otakon staff may ask photographers and subjects to relocate to less crowded locations for taking photos as needed to accommodate traffic flow and other safety reasons.

The photography rules apply to any location used during the Otakon event. This includes the badged areas of the Marriott Marquis (M1-M4) and the entire Walter E. Washington Convention Center (WEWCC), and the spaces immediately outside of these locations.

Where not prohibited, Otakon attendees may take photos and video within the Otakon locations using handheld equipment only. Equipment cannot extend greater than a 16-inch radius around or above the photographer or subject. There is no freestanding equipment allowed, which includes tripods, lighting with light stands, ladders, backdrops, signs, running cables/wires, etc. Photographers, subjects, and/or equipment cannot block any public area or impede the flow of traffic, including the staircases around the event. Photographers cannot use any power receptacles within the locations to run lighting or other photography equipment.

By participating in Otakon or other Otakorp, Inc. events, participants are granting their permission to be photographed or recorded by authorized Otakorp, Inc. individuals. By purchasing your membership you inherently grant Otakorp, Inc. permission to use such images or footage for archival or promotional purposes.

Please refer to the Impromptu Gatherings section below for more information.

Note: Otakon’s guests have the right to maintain their privacy and publicity. Convention members may be asked to refrain from photographing guests if the guests would prefer to not have their picture taken.

A parent or guardian must accompany any and all children age 12 and under at all times, including at Otachan. Do not leave your child unattended at Otakon.

Otakon is a fun family event, but also one of the largest east coast Japanese animation conventions; there is an expected attendance of at least 30,000 people. As a result, Otakon wants to ensure the safety of all of our members, especially children. In order to safeguard the well-being of our youngest attendees, Otakon staff have put these rules and policies into effect.

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.

Recommendations

• Make sure your child knows important information, such as your name, what you are wearing, what hotel you are staying at (if any), a cellular phone number, and a home phone number. If a child is lost, we will make every attempt to contact you via this information.
• It is a good idea to set up meeting places and times for children older than 12. We suggest that you do not use the following locations as meeting areas: the Dealer’s Room, as it is constantly crowded and extremely large; video theaters because they are dark and also fairly large. We do suggest using landmarks. Also encouraged is to locate and meet at any of the Otakon Information Desks.

In the case that you cannot find your child at your designated meeting place and cannot establish contact, please notify an Otakon Information Desk.

Otakon wishes you and your children a safe and happy convention!

• Members of the Otakon convention are required to follow the Service Animal policies of our venue, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
• Please see their Venue FAQs page for their current policy on Service Animals.

This summary of the Dance Rules is located on the Otakon Dance page. Should there be a discrepancy between these rules, the rules on the Otakon Dance page take precedence.

• Only Otakon members will be allowed into the dance. Valid Otakon Membership badges for the current year must be clearly displayed at all times within the dance area.
• Otakon is not responsible for members’ bags. This includes but is not limited to outside, beside, or near the entrance to the dance.
• No bags (of any size) will be allowed in during dance hours. Check the Otakon website to see if a location will be available for bag storage at Otakon this year.
• Empty plastic bottles will be allowed into the dance. Any other container types will not be allowed.
• No large costume props allowed.
• No commercial grade photography or videographer equipment is allowed.
• Please be considerate of the other dancers…
• …and REMEMBER, drink plenty of water!

NOTE: All other Otakon rules and policies are enforced in the dance, such as disruptive behavior and swinging items attached to rope/string/chains/etc.

• There are certain areas and events at Otakon that are designated as 18+. Members who wish to enter these areas and events must be at least 18 years old and MUST obtain a wristband from the wristband booth prior to the event. Please have your identification ready when obtaining your wristband.
• Otakon Staff will not allow access to these areas or events without an 18+ wristband.

• As required by the host venues, Otakon will perform bag inspections upon entering the convention spaces at Walter E Washington Convention Center, and the M1 level of the Marriott Marquis. The bag inspections will be conducted by contracted security personnel.
• The bag inspections will involve either walking through a detection device, being scanned by a handheld detection device, or a manual search through any bags. Should anything prohibited be detected, you may be pulled aside where a secondary search will be performed. Please pay attention to any signage and verbal instruction as you approach in order to make the process as efficient as possible.
• A list of commonly prohibited items, and rules and policies regarding props, signs, and cosplay is located elsewhere in our rules section. Remember that if it is illegal in DC, it is illegal at Otakon.
• If you have any questions about the procedures, you can contact our Access Control team through our Help Desk link at the bottom of every web page.

Clothing and Cosplay Rules and Requirements

• In general, no one will be permitted to be topless, bottomless or barefoot in convention spaces.
• Garments must cover all genitalia and nipples, and none should be visible through the costume.
• If a costume calls for a thong, g-string, pasties or the like, a bodysuit or leotard must be worn beneath it. Body paint, liquid latex, makeup, and/or pasties are not acceptable as coverage on their own.
• If a costume is significantly tight, items such as nipple shields and/or dance belts may be required to ensure proper coverage.
• Any apparel that depicts any sexual or violent content that is not suitable for all ages is not permitted.
• Any apparel with inflammatory or derogatory language is not permitted.
• Any apparel with hate speech or hate symbols is not permitted.
• Cosplays cannot replicate or impersonate official law enforcement, emergency services or military personnel uniforms, nor shall anyone be allowed to impersonate those individuals.
• Skates, rollerblades, wheeled shoes or other types of similar footwear are not allowed in convention space.
• Carts or wheeled props are not allowed in convention spaces. The only exceptions are for wheelchairs and other ADA compliant mobility devices, as well as strollers used to transport small children.

Sign Rules

• Signs are allowed only if they are a canonical feature of the character being portrayed by the cosplayer. Characters that break the fourth wall (e.g., Deadpool, Ambush Bug, She-Hulk), are allowed to have signs resembling speech bubbles or similar elements, if those elements are in-character.
• Signs should not have inflammatory or derogatory language.
• Signs should not have any hate speech or hate symbols.
• Signs should not contain any explicit content that is not suitable for all ages.
• Signs should not solicit or advertise. This includes phrases like “Free Hugs”.
• Signs should not be too heavy, should not inhibit movement, and should not be too tall or wide to easily fit through a door or on escalators.

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED IN OTAKON CONVENTION SPACE:

METAL WEAPONS ARE NOT PERMITTED in Otakon convention spaces, without exception. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Swords, spears, axes, bayonets, knives, sai, throwing knives, darts, or shuriken. This is regardless of sharpness or if they are sheathed.
• This also includes metal cooking utensils such as forks, BBQ forks, knives, spatulas, tongs, frying pans, pots, woks or similar.

METAL OR WOODEN SPORTS EQUIPMENT IS NOT PERMITTED. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Bats, tennis rackets, golf clubs, or javelins.
• Bokken, shinai or similar practice weapons made out of metal or wood.

PROJECTILE WEAPONS OF ANY KIND ARE NOT PERMITTED. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Real or antique firearms, including replicas or decommissioned firearms.
• Real ammunition or ordinance, including shells, casings, or bandoliers.
• Airsoft guns, B-B guns, spring guns, blowguns, bowguns, bean shooters, slings, darts, or similar items.
• Stun guns, tasers, batons, mace/pepper spray, knuckle dusters/brass knuckles or similar self-defense items.
• Functioning bows, such as compound bows, crossbows or similar.
• Items that propel other types of matter, such as water guns, silly string, money guns, or confetti poppers.
• Confetti, glitter, or similar items are not allowed in general.

PADDLES ARE NOT PERMITTED.

• This includes BDSM or Yaoi paddles.
• Handcuffs are not allowed unless they have a safety release button.
• Real whips and riding crops are not allowed.

NUNCHAKU ARE NOT PERMITTED.

EXPLOSIVES, FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS OR SUBSTANCES ARE NOT PERMITTED. This includes, but is not limited to fireworks, sparklers, smoke powder, flash powder, stink bombs, spray paint, or any type of lighter fuel.

AEROSOLS ARE NOT PERMITTED. This includes spray deodorants, hairspray, or canned air.

NOISEMAKERS OF ANY KIND ARE NOT PERMITTED. This includes air horns, bullhorns, whistles, musical instruments, drums, or speakers.

CHAINS, ROPES OR OTHER RESTRAINT ITEMS ARE NOT PERMITTED.

ANY ITEMS DESIGNED OR CAPABLE OF INFLICTING BODILY HARM ARE NOT PERMITTED.

ACCEPTABLE PROPS AND COSTUME WEAPONS:

• Props constructed of lightweight materials such as foam, cardboard, worbla, lightweight 3D printed plastic, papier-mâché, or PVC tubing are acceptable.
• Props must have no sharp edges or points.
• Props must not exceed 7 feet in height or width.
• Prop guns must have an orange safety tip permanently affixed to the muzzle.
• Bows must be unstrung or strung with low-tension elastic cord incapable of firing any projectile.

Otakon recognizes that our members love to celebrate their fandoms through singing, playing music, staging elaborate photo shoots, and other spontaneous group activities. However, these impromptu gatherings can pose serious safety hazards by blocking walkways, stairs, and emergency exits.

• Impromptu photo shoots or group gatherings must not block hallways, doorways, escalators, stairs, or access to any convention facilities.
• Otakon Staff or convention center security may instruct groups to disperse or relocate to designated open areas at any time.
• Please comply promptly and courteously with all staff directions regarding crowd flow and space management.

Please see the Guests Page for autograph rules and more information.

• All autograph sessions are subject to time constraints and the specific policies set by individual guests.
• Otakon does not guarantee an autograph from any specific guest. Lines may be capped at staff discretion.
• Guests reserve the right to refuse to sign any item they deem inappropriate or unauthorized.

A word about Cosplay Safety (For a better Convention Experience!) - By Jez Roth

Cosplaying is fun, exciting, and a hobby that brings unique challenges in construction and execution. But what comes with creating and donning that unique design is a responsibility to yourself and your fellow con-goers. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind to ensure a successful convention experience:

• You owe it to yourself to make sure that your costume is manageable for your own safety. This entails that not only is your vision, mobility, and range of motion adequate to get around but also your ability to show your badge upon request, and communicate well with your surroundings. If you are wearing a costume that jeopardizes any of the things above, consider having a handler: a friend who will make sure that you are not going to pieces, (figuratively or literally), and that you have an extra set of hands and eyes.
• Your ability to move in a flowing gown, cloak, cape, or anything with fabric that trails is very important. To get a feel for it, try vacuuming a room with it on. You’ll learn not only to avoid stepping on the excess fabric, but how to avoid having a tripping hazard for anyone else around you. If you have a particularly long train, consider putting handles or hidden loops on the inside of the hem so you can easily carry it on the go.
• The escalator is not the place for wings, mechas, costumes with stilts, or large costumes. If you have a bulky costume think about your surroundings. Do not block and cause areas to “bottleneck.” Stay away from the dealer’s room, confined areas, or areas with a lot of people.
• Fit your headpieces and wigs loose enough to be comfortable but tight enough to be secure. Remember that at convention centers you will be sweating and moving for hours.
• There should be no sharp edges on your costume that are potentially dangerous (including plastic, metal, or fiberglass). Sanding equipment is very important to finish those sharp edges to dull.
• Costumes with heavy makeup (such as Homestuck), are allowed but must be sprayed down with a make-up fixative to prevent rubbing off and staining others or damaging convention facilities.
• Fursuits or other heavy costumes at summer conventions come with particular recommendations: get dressed at the convention, keep movement to a minimum, and have a handler. Keep water or juice on hand.
• The number one word of costuming safety at Otakon is HYDRATION. Drink plenty of water and stay away from sugary drinks that dehydrate you in the process. Eat square meals and take breaks!