Convention Policies
Admission
· Admission is non-refundable.
· By purchasing badges to Saboten-Con, attendees agree to allow photographs and/or video with their likeness to be used by Saboten-Con for promotional purposes, including (but not limited to): fliers, television commercials, print ads, or website advertisements.
Animals
· Service animals will be allowed in the convention to assist those people who are in need of them. Other animals are not permitted in the convention space.
Badges
· Badges must be worn and visible at all times. Individuals without badges will not be allowed in convention space.
· No replacement will be provided for lost badges; a new membership must be purchased at the full rate. For this reason, keep a close eye on your badge. Please return any found badges to Registration.
Belongings
· Saboten-Con is not liable for any missing belongings. Please keep a close eye on your items. If you lose something, please check the Lost and Found at the Information Desk.
Children
· Children ten and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Convention Behavior
· The following behaviors are not allowed at the convention:
o Disruptive or unsafe behavior that disturbs the staff or attendees
o Sleeping in convention space
o Physical or verbal harassment of staff or other attendees
o Destruction or defacement of hotel or convention property
o Sexual misconduct, such as indecent exposure, offensive touching, or sexual harassment
o Unwanted touching without permission of the individual, such as glomping, hugging, etc.
o Any activity prohibited by law
Individuals who violate these rules will be warned and asked to stop. Saboten-Con reserves the right to request anyone violating these rules to leave the convention. If the person continues to violate these rules, they may be barred re-entry to the convention. Any violation of these rules which involves activities prohibited by law will result in notification of authorities.
· Please behave respectfully in the hotel space and take care not to disturb non-convention hotel guests. We would like to leave a good impression with the hotel and its patrons. Convention attendees who are found disturbing other hotel guests in convention space, outside the hotel, or in hotel hallways are subject to disciplinary action, including being ejected from the convention.
Costumes
· Above all, Saboten-Con is a family-friendly event. Please exercise modesty when wearing your costume as we have children in attendance. If the Saboten-Con staff feels your costume is too revealing, we may ask you to change your costume. Excessive blood on a costume may also be upsetting to children. Again, Saboten-Con staff may ask you to change your costume if we feel it is in poor taste. If you have questions about what is acceptable, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
· All cosplayers must have a clear line of sight while wearing their costumes.
· Shoes are required to be worn while in the convention space. However, you may remove your shoes for photos if desired, but they must be replaced directly after the photo is taken.
· Performance of skits in the hallways will not be permitted.
· If your costume has pieces that extend from it (spikes, armor, wings, etc.), please be careful of the other attendees.
· Please stay aware of your surroundings. If you damage or destroy any of the hotel property, you will be held responsible.
· Please do not block any doorways or exits with your costume or costume pieces. Anyone doing so may be asked to return their costume to their room.
Curfew
· City of Mesa enforces a curfew for minors as outlined here: http://mesaaz.gov/police/literature/curfew.aspx. Curfew for minors under sixteen is 10:00 pm; curfew for minors 16-17 is 12:00 am. Liability for curfew violations in on the parent, so please make sure your children are not violating curfew. If this is an issue for you, we recommend renting a hotel room for those evenings. Programming will run well into the morning hours, so please plan accordingly.
Dancing
· We all love to dance, but this behavior can be disruptive to vendors, staff, and other attendees. If you and your friends would like to perform dances (such as the "Hare Hare Yukai", "Caramelldansen", or a Conga line), please do this outside and out of the way of other attendees. If the dance interferes with other activities, Security will be called to stop the dancing. You are welcome to dance, but make sure it is in an empty area and does not interfere with others.
· Dancing by attendees is not allowed in the Vendor Hall at any time due to space constraints.
Eating Contests
· Attendees who participate in any convention-organized eating contests (such as ramen-eating contest) acknowledges that there are risks of personal injury, illness, and possible loss of life, and risks of damage to or loss of personal property, which may result from participating in such contests.
· By voluntarily participating in such contests, the attendee agrees to not hold Saboten-Con liable for acts or omissions arising out of or related to the contest or the attendee’s participation in the contest.
Fliers
· One table near Registration will be set aside for fliers. There is no charge to place fliers on this table. Please be considerate and limit your fliers to a single pile. Also, do not remove other fliers or cover them up. Fliers may not contain adult or illegal material. Fliers remaining at the end of the convention will be thrown out or recycled—if you wish to save your fliers please pick them up before 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
· Fliers left elsewhere in the convention (such as in panel rooms, at events, stuck on walls) will be thrown out immediately. Excessive amounts of fliers will result in all fliers from that organization being removed from the convention.
· If you wish to insert your flier or materials into our registration bags, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for our rates.
Music
· Music played via instrument or boom box can be considered disruptive behavior. If you would like to share music with others, please do so at a reasonable volume and away from other convention activities. It is allowed to carry a boom box or musical device as long as the volume is acceptable. If it is deemed to be too loud, you may be asked to turn it down or off completely. If your music is particularly fun and causes dancing, the dancing must follow the "Dancing" policy above.
Photography
· When taking a picture of a cosplayer, please be conscious of traffic in the hallways or Vendors Hall. Please take the pictures off to the side so you do not block traffic.
· Please be considerate and ask before taking pictures of other attendees, staff, or guests.
Signs
· The construction and display of signs by attendees is not allowed. This includes such signs as “Free Hugs”, “Will Yuri for Yaoi”, or “Glomps for Cash”. Attendees carrying such signage will be warned and have the sign confiscated. Saboten-Con staff reserves the right to eject attendees carrying such signs from the convention and bar re-entry. The only exception to this rule is signs that are part of a costume (such as Genma Panda carrying a “What?” sign) are allowed.
· Please do not post any signs on the walls. Hotel policy prohibits us from posting anything on the walls (such as posters, banners, pictures, etc.). Anything posted on the walls will be taken down and thrown away.
Staff
· Please be courteous to all convention staff. We are all unpaid and work very hard to deliver a quality convention. If you have an issue you would like addressed, please contact a staff member and we will do our best to fairly settle the issue for you.
Weapons
The purpose of Saboten-Con's weapons policy is to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all of our attendees while working in conjunction with federal, state, and local laws along with the policies of the hotel.
Permitted Weapons/Props
Staves, bo sticks, boken, shinai, and wooden swords are permitted.
All fake, prop, or homemade weapons are permitted if they are in no way dangerous to attendees. Saboten-Con security staff will determine on a case-by-case basis whether a fake, prop, or homemade weapon is dangerous. Staff decisions will be final.
Attendees are required to have all such weapons peace bonded by Saboten-Con security prior to roaming convention space. There will be a peace bonding station located near the Saboten-Con Registration area.
A weapon/prop requires peace bonding if:
• A person could think it is a genuine weapon from 20 feet away.
• A person could reasonably conclude that the item may cause physical harm or damage to property.
All weapons deemed unsafe for the convention by Saboten-Con security must be removed from the convention space and stored in private quarters (car, home, hotel room).
The skill or lack of skill of the person in possession of a prop weapon is irrelevant to the determination of whether or not it is dangerous.
Behavior with Weapons/Props
Misuse of any prop weapon, 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 convention due to misuse, it must be removed from the convention space and stored in private quarters for the remainder of the convention.
Prohibited Weapons
Live steel is not permitted unless the item can be secured in its sheath by Saboten-Con security, and it is not removed during the convention. Live steel is defined as swords, knives, or other objects made of metal which can take an edge.
Bullwhips and other stockwhips are not permitted unless they are rolled up and secured by Saboten-Con Security and remain that way during the convention.
Guns and projectile weapons are prohibited at Saboten-Con. Examples of guns and projectile weapons include but are not limited to live guns, pellet guns, BB guns, air guns, crossbows, dart guns, and blowguns. Exceptions may be made for non-live guns that are not loaded and can be disabled by Saboten-Con security. Replicas of live guns are permitted if they are easily identifiable as props.
Nunchaku and other flail weapons are prohibited.
Incendiarry devices are not permitted. All devices which spark, shoot flame, burn, smolder, can otherwise cause combustion, or which exist for no purpose other than to be lit with a combustion device, are considered incendiary devices.
Illegal weapons are prohibited at Saboten-Con. Attendees found to be carrying illegal weapons will be immediately reported to appropriate authorities.
Concealed weapons are prohibited. All prop weapons must be carried in plain view and cannot be concealed.
Vendor Room Purchases and Prizes
Any prohibited weapons purchased or won as prizes at Saboten-Con must be securely packaged and immediately removed from the convention space. Weapons should be stored in attendees' private quarters and are not to be taken out of their packaging or wrapping at any time on convention premises.
All prop weapons purchased or won as prizes at the convention must be peace bonded by Saboten-Con security if they are to be carried during the convention.
Saboten-Con staff reserves the right to revoke your badge and eject anyone at anytime from the convention without a refund.
