Introduction

Welcome to Fan Con NC 2024! We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable environment for all attendees, guests, staff, vendors, and volunteers. This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for behavior at the convention and explains the consequences of unacceptable behavior. This policy is in effect year-round and publicly available here on our website to ensure transparency and accessibility.

Family Fun For Everyone

Fan Con NC is a family-friendly fan convention designed to be enjoyable for attendees of all ages. To ensure that everyone has a great experience, we ask all participants to contribute to a respectful and positive atmosphere. Whether you’re attending panels, enjoying food and drinks, shopping at the vendor tables, or participating in the costume contest through cosplay and dress-up, let’s all strive to make Fan Con NC a memorable and delightful event for children, teens, and adults alike. Your cooperation in maintaining a fun and inclusive space is greatly appreciated and essential to the spirit of our convention.

Quick Links

• Harassment Policies
• Costume, Prop, and Mask Policies
• Consequences for Non-Compliance with Code of Conduct

Harassment Policies

Zero Tolerance for Hate and harassment

Fan Con NC 2024 has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• Offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, or any other personal characteristic.
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following.
• Harassing photography or recording.
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
• Inappropriate physical contact.
• Unwelcome sexual attention.
• Costumes/props/masks designed to shock, offend, disrespect or simply contain content which is offensive to individuals, cultures, traditions, identities, religions, genders, gender identities and expression, sexual orientations, disabilities, physical appearances, body sizes, races, ages, or any other personal characteristic will not be tolerated. The display of hate symbols, including but not limited to swastikas or blackface, is strictly prohibited.
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

“Cosplay is NOT Consent” is strictly enforced. However, this policy applies to all attendees, regardless of whether they are in cosplay or not.

Costume, Prop, and Mask Policies

• All costumes/props/masks at Fan Con NC must be family-friendly (PG). Fan Con NC reserves the right to deem a costume, mask, or prop as unacceptable and request modifications, require changing into more appropriate attire, or, if necessary, require you to leave the convention.
• Any activity or item that is illegal outside of the convention is illegal inside the convention. State law mandates that public decency laws are violated when the genitals, buttocks, or breasts are exposed. Ensure that your costumes/props/masks adhere to these standards at all times. Additionally, shoes must be worn at all times, bare feet are not permitted.
• If your costume/prop/mask restricts your vision or movement, it is required that you have a dedicated person with you who can assist. Leashes are permitted; however, if you are wearing a collar, you must be the one holding the leash. Leashes must not extend between multiple people as this could create a hazard for others.
• Costumes/props/masks which cover your face are allowed, but Fan Con NC security or staff may request that you remove it at any time for identification or safety purposes.

Prohibited Costumes, Props, and Masks

• Costumes that may be confused with local law enforcement, emergency responders, or military personnel are not allowed. Fan Con NC reserves the right to determine whether a uniform costume is too close to a real-world uniform and may ask attendees to modify or remove such costumes.
• Fan Con NC prohibits the use of roller skates, bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, hoverboards, Segways, and wheeled shoes such as Heelys inside the venue. These items may be carried as props but may not be ridden anywhere at the event.
• Fan Con NC has a zero-tolerance policy regarding real weapons of any kind. Fake weapons/props, such as knives or orange-tipped guns, may be allowed as long as they are made from a lightweight material (such as foam, plastic, or cardboard) and are properly checked and marked by our prop check team.
• Every costume/prop/mask will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Be prepared to make modifications to ensure yours are safe and compliant.

Prohibited Items

Concealed guns or weapons are prohibited, even with a permit. Fan Con NC has a zero-tolerance policy regarding real weapons of any kind.

• Guns: This includes modern, historic, hunting, airsoft, BB, cap, paintball, and pellet guns, whether functioning or non-functioning.
• Replica or toy guns that could be mistaken for real firearms.
• Projectiles: Including blow guns, functional crossbows, longbows, silly string, slingshots, water balloons, and water guns.
• Sharpened metal blades: Including axes, daggers, hatchets, knives, kunai, shuriken, swords, sword canes, arrow tips, and switchblades.
• Explosives: Including firecrackers and fireworks.
• Chemicals: Including aerosols, mace, and pepper spray.
• Blunt weapons: Including brass knuckles, clubs, and nunchaku.
• Hard props: Including those made of metal, wood, or fiberglass.
• Metal spikes.
• Laser pointers. Props containing laser pointers must be non-functional.
• Items causing excessive noise, such as vuvuzelas, grenade whistles, and grenade horns.
• Glass items.
• Aerosol mustard.
• Tasers.
• Bows and crossbows with functional tension in the string, and arrows with tips.

If you purchase a prop or replica from the Vendor Room that does not comply with this policy, you must leave it at the booth until you are ready to leave or take it immediately to your vehicle or hotel room.

Consequences for Non-Compliance with Code of Conduct

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, the convention organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including:

• Issuing a warning to the offender.
• Expelling the offender from the convention without a refund.
• Banning the offender from future Fan Con NC events.
• Notifying appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Reporting Harassment

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact convention staff immediately. Convention staff can be identified by their orange wristbands.

In case convention staff are the ones engaging in harassment, please reach out to outside security, law enforcement or the following contact point via phone call:

Phone: 252-395-2327

Accessibility and Contact Information

We understand that not all attendees may be able to reach us easily due to mobility issues or other concerns. Therefore, we have provided multiple ways to contact us:

Email with subject line “HELP”: [email protected]

Phone (call or text): 252-395-2327

Final notes

If you have any questions about this Code of Conduct, believe that we have not addressed everything, or if you need to report an issue, please contact us at [email protected].

We appreciate your cooperation in making Fan Con NC 2024 a safe and enjoyable event for everyone. Thank you for being a part of our community, and we look forward to an unforgettable convention!

This document is subject to updates and revisions as needed. Please check our website regularly for the most current version.