Codes of Conduct
Please read carefully, and adhere to the Code of Conduct for each part of the event. Doing your part will help ensure the most enjoyment for all Attendees and Guests at the event.
Special note about Gifts: please note that gifts may only be offered during AUTOGRAPHS. No gift offers are permitted during Q&A, Photo Ops, or Meet & Greets.
No food or beverage items are permitted as gifts unless commercially packaged and sealed.
Be advised: Guests reserve the right to refuse gifts for any reason. Attendees may not insist or demand Guests accept gifts for any reason. You may offer, but be prepared to possibly receive a "no thank you" as a response.
Please also NOTE that the convention center holds a "no outside food or drink" policy. Personal drinks should be in a closed tumbler only.
1
Meet and Greet Code of Conduct
Attendees may NOT:
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Request physical contact from Guests, ie: hugs and kisses, or to sit on the Guests lap.
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Request a date or other intimate, social or sexual engagement from the Guest.
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Ask questions of a political or controversial nature, ie: asking about a Guests political beliefs or affiliations, asking the Guests religious beliefs, asking the Guest to speak on highly controversial topics relating to ideological, political or religious movements.
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Demand that a Guest accept gifts or favors from the attendee. NO gift giving is permitted during Meet & Greets.
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Continually ask the same question of the Guest. If a Guest chooses not to answer a question, you may not press them again for an answer.
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Interrupt other attendees or in any way seek to prevent them from asking their own appropriate questions. Multiple interruptions of others in attendance will result in you being asked to leave the meeting.
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Take photos or video. ALL video or photography during the meet and greet is strictly prohibited.
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Have personal phones or cameras out. Attendees will be asked to put away their personal phones and/or cameras until after the meeting has concluded, and may be asked to leave by moderators if they refuse to do so.
2
Autographs Code of Conduct
Attendees may NOT:
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Request autographs on body parts or on items worn by the attendee.
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Request autographs on a blank piece of paper: all autographs must be on a paper with a background. Lined paper is acceptable. Blank white paper is not allowed.
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Demand personalization for each autograph. Attendees may make a request if time permits, but Guests and Organizers maintain the right to deny personalization at their discretion.
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Hold up the line to “chat” with the Guests. Everyone is awaiting their turn, and the Guests' time is limited. Interactions with Guests must be kept brief.
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Ask for selfies or hugs from the guests. The time is limited for the Guests to give autographs to each ticket holder. Asking for personal contact with the Guests is inappropriate and disruptive.
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Demand that a Guest accepts gifts or favors from the Attendee. You may offer gifts but be prepared to accept “No thank you” as a response.
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Take photo or video of the Guests in the autograph area. This is strictly prohibited.
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Demanding a Guest autograph an item of which Guests do not approve due to it being inappropriate or offensive. Guests maintain the right to refuse autographing an item at their discretion should they find the item inappropriate or offensive.
3
Photo Ops Code of Conduct
Attendees may NOT:
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Demand or expect hugs, kisses, or other physical contact from the Guest. If the Guest offers to hug the Attendee, be respectful of personal boundaries and do not engage in any inappropriate, harassing or abusive touching. ANY inappropriate non-consensual physical contact could result in your immediate removal from the event, with possible legal consequences.
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Have the photo taken on the Attendees personal device (ie. camera or phone). All photos are taken by the photographer with their equipment only.
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Take photos or video of the Guest or photography space while waiting in line. This disrupts the professional photographer and those being photographed. ALL photos and video are strictly prohibited in the photo op area.
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Demand that a Guest accepts gifts or favors from the Attendee. NO gift giving is permitted during Photo Ops.
4
General Code of Conduct
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Attendees must be respectful of the Guests, other Attendees, and Organizers during the event.
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Do NOT take video or flash photography during panels and Q&A. Only NO-FLASH photography is permitted.
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During general Q&A, Attendees will keep their questions respectful to all Guests and Attendees, and keep them short. Long drawn out questions or personal stories disrupt the flow of the event, and limit other attendees from having time to ask their own questions. Organizers maintain the right at their discretion to cut a question or story short to ensure time for all attendees to enjoy the event.
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Do NOT request/demand that a Guest accept gifts or favours from the Attendee. NO gift giving is permitted during Q&As, Photo ops, or Meet and Greets. No Guest is required to accept gifts when offered.
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Do NOT engage in any unsolicited and non-consensual physical contact with any Guest, Attendee or Organizer. This event holds a zero tolerance policy for any unwanted touching, hugs, or requests for physical contact. Remember, our Guests are people with their own personal boundaries and deserve to have their personal space respected at all times.
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Limit excessive talking or noise disruptions during panels discussions and Q&A time. Everyone deserves the right to the same enjoyable experience, and excessing talking or noise is disruptive and disrespectful to other Attendees and Guests.
5
VertiCon Connect Conduct & Question Guidelines
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Please join virtual meeting 5-7 minutes before the scheduled start time for check-in and tech check. Host will grant access once Guest arrives.
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Do not share the meeting link. Access is only for registered attendees only.
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Sessions are limited to the ticket holder only. Please do not invite others to join you on camera or to participate verbally unless they have their own valid ticket.
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All attendees will remain muted unless attendees are called on to speak.
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Please avoid interrupting talent, moderators, or other attendees.
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Use the chat function to share excitement, reactions, or links (but please avoid spoilers and keep this chat civilized).
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Questions that have been pre-submitted via the online form will be given priority.
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When it’s your turn, please keep your questions short and focused so we can include as many fans as possible. Personal sharing or comments must be reserved to the end only when all attendee questions have been asked and if time permits.
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One question per turn. If we have time to allow multiple questions per person, we will call upon attendees at that time. This keeps it fair for everyone. Only the ticket holder may ask questions during the session.
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Use the "hand up" feature in the "React" tab to request permission to unmute. Note: Using the chat to indicate that your hand is raised does not guarantee a turn or your place in the queue, as we may not see the message in time or be able to track the order accurately.
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Please avoid questions about politics or any invasive personal topics, including relationship status or the guest’s intimate feelings about fellow actors or fans.
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Do not request personal information, individual messages or private contact from the Guest.
