Code of Conduct
The following is the full list of the rules and regulations of Anthropomorphic Events Incorporated Organization United (AEIOU) Conventions
The primary reason our conventions happen is for our attendees to have fun, and in order to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone, the following rules have been put in place. AEIOU welcomes all persons to our conventions, but does reserve the right to deny or revoke the membership of any individual at any time for any reason.
Any action, behavior, or dress that causes significant interference with the convention operations, significant discomfort to other attendees, or affects the conventions relationship with the the venue, attendees, or the public is strictly prohibited and may result in the removal of your person from the property and a ban from the current convention or future events that AEIOU hosts. This includes behavior pre-convention and not just on site.
Badges and Convention Identification
The convention badge provided to you at Registration is property of AEIOU and must be surrendered upon request. You may keep your badge after the end of the convention if requested. Your badge visible at all times when you are in the convention space. This is your identification when entering events within the space.
You also by purchasing and agreeing to the code of conduct, that at any time prior to, at, or post convention. May have your badge revoked and be asked to not attend, leave, and or not return to any event hosted by AEIOU.
By accepting your badge, you are agreeing to abide by all AEIOU policies as well as any other agreements that may be necessary or put in place at the time of the convention. Anyone who accepts a badge agrees to indemnify and hold harmless AEIOU from any claim for personal injuries or any other damages or equity arising out of any individuals activities at AEIOU conventions, even if the injury or damage is caused by negligence by or the part of AEIOU.
Attendance by Minors
Children under the age of 18 are permitted to attend AEIOU conventions.
Children under the age of 13 are permitted to attend with a parent or guardian present at all times with the minor. A child under the age of 13 will not be permitted in the convention space at any time without a parent or guardian present, we are not babysitters.
A minor that is 14, 15, 16, or 17 is permitted to attend the convention without a parent or guardian present.
Anything that the minor participates in at any AEIOU conventions are the sole responsibility of the minor’s parent or guardian regardless of if they are present or not.
Minors are not permitted to enter any areas that are labeled as 18+, adults only, 21+, ect even with a parent or guardian present.
Minors that are 5 and under are permitted a badge without having to pay the badge fee.
Convention "Rating"
AEIOU Conventions are considered “rated” at PG in all public areas.
AEIOU becomes “PG-13” acceptable after 8pm.
Exceptions will be made in areas clearly marked as “Mature” rated in the schedule and event areas such as the 18+ areas in the Art Show/Dealers Den. Any area with a rating above PG-13 will have controlled access and may require display of photo identification along with convention badges to verify age before admittance. 18+ areas will be off limits to Minors regardless of parental consent.
General Rules
No sleeping in any public areas of the hotel or convention spaces.
Attendees are required to follow any reasonable instructions when given by a staff member. If you believe an instruction is not reasonable, address your concerns to the Manager of that department. Disputes are escalated as necessary, but the decision of the Directors/Chair is final.
Convention spaces are open ONLY to registered attendees or visitors being escorted by staff.
Badges are issued only to one person and may not be shared at any time. If a badge is found to be shared, the badge will be taken for the duration of the convention and the person originally issued the badge as well as the person wearing the shared badge will be removed from the convention. Knowingly providing transportation or housing, or enabling an individual that is banned from AEIOU conventions to attend, will result in a permanent ban.
Smoking, and Vaping are NOT PERMITTED in the convention spaces and hotel rooms. There are designated areas for smoking/vaping.
Any act of vandalism or deliberate damage to the hotel or hotel property will result in immediate and permanent removal from AEIOU conventions. This also includes any interference with hotel staff in the performance of their duties.
Merchandise sales may only be performed in the Dealers Den, Artist Alley, or any area similarly designated by convention staff and only by parties who have prior arrangements with the convention or hotel to conduct business.
Hotel and Rooms/Parties
The person named in the room reservation is responsible for anyone staying in the room, visiting the room, or passing through, and any damages that occur.
Signs may not be posted to hotel walls, hallways, or elevators of the Hotel unless otherwise stated by the individual convention. If allowed, this must be done with paper or ‘painters’ tape to prevent residue being left on the walls. If flyers are placed with improper hanging materials, the person named in the room reservation will be responsible for damages and payment to the hotel.
Room Parties are allowed, but noise must be kept to a level to not disturb other attendees during night hours.
Doors to hotel rooms must be kept shut.
Noise complaints will receive a single warning from the hotel staff. The member hosting the party is responsible for cleanup. Excessive trash, soiling, or damage to hotel property in the room may result in removal from the hotel and the convention. Housekeeping will ONLY clean up bagged trash. In most cases, hotel staff are required by corporate policy to inspect hotel block rooms once per day, even if the room is not to be serviced. Housekeepers will often bypass rooms with “do not disturb” signs on, but will return at the end of their rounds, and knock on doors. Attendees must allow housekeeping to access the room if asked. Room parties hosted on the designated party floor are subject to different rules. Please see operations for any questions regarding party floor parties. This will change per convention.
Lost and Found
Lost and Found will be maintained in the Convention Operations Office. If you lose an item, check here first. A report can be filled out describing the item and contact information must be left. Items will only be held for 30 days past the convention before they are either thrown away or donated.
Dress Code
Collars and leashes may be worn, but persons cannot be lead around by them in public areas.
Public exposure of bare breasts, buttocks, or genitals is not permitted. Full-body fursuits are an exception (fur covers all!), but may not reveal genitals, buttocks or breasts. Breasts that are built into fursuits are acceptable if they do not have nipples showing.
Fursuits are not permitted in the pool or hot tub. Hotels may ask that Suiters not be in these areas at any time.
Military Uniforms are permitted with the only exception that the person wearing it must be an Active Duty Service Member, and or veteran, with proper matching identification. And makes themselves known to Con Operations.
Hateful, provocative, and clothing articles that imply harassment are NOT allowed. This is included, but not limited to arm/head/tail bands, shirts, pants, fursuits, costumes, flags, props or any other item at staff discretion.
Some items AEIOU does not allow at anytime:
- Military Costumes
- ParaMilitary gear including tactical harnesses and or webbing as well as plate carriers
- Military Uniforms of any fashion from any Era
- Military, police and or handheld radios on convention property
- Any racist cosplay
- Realistic prop weapons
Clothing must keep within the PG-13 rating of the convention, but certain clothing may be worn into 18+ panels or by vendors of 18+ booths provided it is covered up while in public areas.
Harassment/Assault
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Physical assault, battery, stalking, or unwelcome physical attention.
- Conduct, dress, or speech that targets, threatens, intimidates, or is otherwise intended to cause distress to other attendees, or members of protected classes (such as those based on race, age, religion, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual identity).
AEIOU will never tolerate any conduct, dress, or speech that targets, threatens, intimidates or is otherwise intended to cause distress to other attendees or members of protected classes. What someone identifies as is to be respected always. If someone corrects you, every effort to respect and identify the person correctly must be made. If you are found to be purposely misgendering or misidentifying someone to cause distress or upset, you will be immediately banned from all AEIOU conventions.
All reports of harassment/assault are taken very seriously, whether this is done in person or in any digital fashion. Whether this happens prior to, at, or post event.
If you witness or are the victim of harassment or assault, report it to Convention Operations or CRT immediately.
If you are in immediate danger, it can be reported to hotel security as well.
It is not the job of AEIOU to solve your interpersonal problems. AEIOU is not able to prevent attendance of person(s) unless they pose a specific, credible threat or have a criminal history of conviction of crimes which may pose a threat to the convention or its attendees. If you would like to make a report about an individual, have a legal name and police report ready for convention staff. If a protection order or restraining order is in place against someone who is on the premises, report to CRT to have law enforcement involved. Notification of such orders can be given to convention staff prior to the convention as a courtesy. Responsibility for settling personal disputes lies solely with the parties involved and any relevant authorities.
Threats, harassment, and stalking will never be tolerated. They are grounds for immediate revocation of your convention badge and expulsion from the property. Report any issues to convention operations if you have asked the party to stop and they continue. If people tell you “no” or ask you to leave them alone, you must follow their request, no ‘if’, ‘ands’ or ‘buts’. If you continue to make efforts to contact them, even over digital platforms, you may have your badge revoked.
No matter the costume someone is wearing, this does not equal consent.
Never touch anyone without permission, ever.
Weapons
Real weapons of any kind are not permitted in convention spaces regardless of any local or state laws for concealed/open carry of such items. This also applies even if you possess a government permit that allows you to carry concealed or open in the state the convention is being held. An exception can be made for law enforcement officers or federal law enforcement officers, which must be approved prior to the convention. This is including, but not limited to firearms, tasers, stun guns, OC (Pepper) spray, knives with 4” or longer blades and swords (any live steel).
Magnetometer wands and other checks may be performed randomly by the CRT to ensure compliance with this policy.
Any violation will result in law enforcement being contacted and badges revoked for the duration of the convention.
Reasonable facsimiles of firearms are also prohibited in convention spaces.
Prop weapons are allowed, but must have no sort of “firing mechanism”. The prop weapons must be obviously fake to be approved, cannot represent a real firearm in any way, and must be approved and marked by CRT staff before it is permitted in con space. If you have something you wish to submit to CRT for consideration, please bring it to CRT staff before wandering the convention.
Pets
Pets are not permitted in the convention space.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), recognized Service Animals are permitted. Attempting to falsely claim an animal as a Service Animal may result in revocation of membership and local law enforcement involvement. If a service animal is seen to cause disruption of any kind, report it to CRT immediately. Any validity of a service animal will be handled through the venue and through local law enforcement if a service animal is causing a disruption.
Emotional support animals and therapy animals are not considered service dogs by the ADA, and are not permitted in convention space.
Substance Abuse
In the states where marijuana is legal, it is convention policy that marijuana products are not permitted inside the convention space or on hotel property. This includes the sale, distribution, or serving of alcoholic beverages to someone under 21.
In the states where marijuana is legal, it is convention policy that marijuana products are not permitted inside the convention space or on hotel property. This includes the sale, distribution, or serving of alcoholic beverages to someone under 21.
Media Relations, Photography, and Videography
All journalists, media photographers and other members of the press are required to display an official badge provided by the convention. These persons must be prescreened and submit their credentials and intent prior to the event. Members of the press may not conduct interviews, take photos, record audio, or take video without a staff member present and with permission given.
Photos and video may be taken in the convention space by attendees for personal use only. Any commercial use of the images or video must be approved by AEIOU. At any time AEIOU may request that all photos and video footage that are not in compliance with digital media policy be deleted in the presence of staff and hotel security.
Payments to AEIOU
AEIOU accepts most major credit cards and debit cards, as well as cash.
Charge-backs that are made for the sole purpose of avoiding payment, that are made without sufficient cause, or are made without first attempting to resolve the dispute will result in a permanent ban from AEIOU conventions.
Sales, Flyers and Solicitation
Do not place flyers, signs or business cards in any public spaces such as tables, bars, and hallways. Any such items must be distributed in convention space.
No adult materials or implied adult activities or items may be placed in convention space.
Nobody, unless approved by the convention, may sell raffle tickets or host a drawing of any kind.
We can not allow hand held signs advertising anything in exchange for anything else, signs offering free items are permitted.
Music
Portable speakers must be turned off in convention space that is enclosed or where people cannot walk away from your speakers. This includes but is not limited to, any elevators, lines, dealers den, stages or panel rooms. Music played otherwise must be quiet enough that you can talk over it without raising your voice. The same rules apply to live musicians and they may not obstruct any walkways or disrupt a scheduled event.
Musicians may not play with an open case to ask for money or imply that they are asking for tips.
Convention Specific Policies
Each convention may have their own specific rules or regulations that will supersede the statements in our general ToS. Please see the convention specific website for any changes or rules that apply only to that convention.
Accessibility
AEIOU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs and activities. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made no later than one month prior to the convention start date. Accommodations may also be made by the venue or hotel, so prior notification is important. Every effort to make your accommodation requests possible will be made. Please see the convention specific website for more information and to contact us with any questions.
The above does not restrict the authority of the convention to remove or add any necessary policy or procedure at any time without any prior warning.
Any modifications to these policies or procedures will be accompanied by immediate notification via social media and the convention website whenever practical.
Please be reminded that these rules involve “worst-case” scenarios and are put into place to ensure the safety and comfort of our members. They are also not all-inclusive; in all cases, the singular rule that supersedes all others is: Any action or behavior that causes significant interference with convention operations, excessive discomfort to other attendees, or adversely affects AEIOU or Con’s relationship with its guests, its venue, or the public is strictly forbidden and may result in revocation of membership privileges.