Policies - General

1. Please do not damage the hotel. We like the hotel and the hotel likes us, we want to keep it that way. This includes painting or sketching on walls, slamming doors, etc. Please do not hang any flyers on any wall or other surface of the hotel; we will have a specialized area for hanging/placing flyers.


2. Many hallways have tape on the floor to indicate where the "traffic lanes" are, and where the "parking areas" are, (i.e., where you need to keep moving, and where you can stand and hang out.) Please keep an eye out for this tape and respect any Katsucon or hotel staffer who is trying to keep the hallways moving and doorways clear, a lot of people are trying to get to different places they want to go in the convention.


3. Katsucon and the hotel are not responsible for missing items. Any bag(s) or other item left unattended around the convention or hotel will likely be picked up by either a Katsucon staffer or another attendee and be taken to Lost and Found in Katsucon Security or to the hotel, please check with both places to locate your item. The item may be turned over to the police if deemed necessary. The hotel will have bag check available for a nominal fee along the main hallway near the lobby.


4. There are at least six cosplay photo areas around the hotel. They are marked with cameras on the map printed in both this program book and on your pocket program, and have large signs marking them on-site. When asked for a photo, you need to go to one of these areas that have been specially designated for this purpose. For the benefit of everyone, the hallways and walkways must stay clear for people to move around.


5. Please remember that in your hotel room, there are other rooms next to you, and if you and several of your friends are talking, your neighbor can likely hear you. If your neighbor, a Katsucon staffer, or someone from hotel staff comes to your room to ask you to quiet down, please be considerate and reduce the noise to a dull roar or perhaps find someplace else to talk.


6. The legal drinking age in the District of Columbia is 21. Do not drink alcohol at Katsucon if you are younger than 21.
   
   
   • If you are of legal age to drink, do not carry open alcohol throughout the hotel, keep it to the bar, other appropriate areas where alcohol is being sold by the hotel, or your hotel room.


7. Please don't run, play tag, or throw things inside the convention space or inside the hotel, there’s a beautiful park next door for that. Please also don't carry a radio, IPod or other device that is playing music at a loud volume (only you should be able to hear it). Please use basic common sense.


8. Attendees cannot carry bags into the following areas of the convention:
   
   
   • Video Game Rooms: shelves will be available just inside the door to these rooms for you to leave your bag.
   
   
   • Art Show: the staff will have coat racks available upon which attendees can hang their bags and coats as the enter Art Show.
   
   
   • Dances and concerts: no bags, props, or any other large item will be allowed in any of the dances or concerts.
   
   
   NOTE: Katsucon is not responsible for any items left at the bag check areas described above. The hotel will be offering an all-day and late-night bag check service in the main hallway just off the hotel lobby for attendees who do not have hotel rooms, cars or other personal space in which to place their bags. The fee is about $2/bag (or as much as you can hang on one hanger).


9. You may need to wait in line to get into the Dealer’s Room, please follow staff direction as to where the line is located. Merchants, staff, convention guests, associates, and persons with disabilities do not need to wait in line.


10. Katsucon is a non-smoking event. No smoking is allowed in any Katsucon function. There are smoking areas outside of the hotel; please use them respectfully, especially near the front doors where people, including non-Katsucon guests of the hotel, will be coming and going.


11. No glowstringing, poi swinging, etc. is allowed for safety reasons in the dances or in any other public area of the convention. Violators will be asked to stop and, if unwilling, will be asked to leave the area. Freehanding is permitted as long as the glowstick never leaves your hand (i.e. no tossing/throwing).

Policies - Weapons and Cosplay Props

COSPLAY PROP GUIDELINES

To ensure the general safety of Katsucon’s attendees, we can’t allow people to carry the following types of weapons or cosplay props:

• Live steel of any kind including knives, swords, axes, martial arts equipment, shurikens, etc.
• Any other type of bladed weapon.
• Any weapon/prop that could currently or in the past could shoot a projectile (“projectile” includes water, aerosols/sprays, Airsoft guns, toy bows, etc.)
• Anything generally awkward to carry, or that can’t be controlled by the person carrying (i.e., it is so heavy, you are consistently dropping it in the hallway, or cannot keep it from swinging into other attendees). Katsucon staff will be the final determinant as to whether something is too awkward or too dangerous to be carried around the convention.

Any item that is deemed to be too awkward or dangerous to carry must either be taken to the attendee's hotel room, car, or checked with the hotel bag check, or otherwise removed from the active areas of the convention.

Policies - Attendee Service Program

Volunteer Information

Volunteering

Why Volunteer? There are many reasons to volunteer; here are some of the bigger ones:

1. Meet the people.
   
   Ask anyone who has volunteered: you meet people, make friends, and find out how the convention works behind the scenes.
   
   
2. Help the anime community.
   
   All staff who work at Katsucon are volunteers; no one gets paid a cent and some are not only paying for their badge, but their hotel rooms as well. They love anime and the anime community; without them, the convention would be nothing but utter chaos.
   
   
3. You may get a nifty-keen t-shirt.
   
   With 10 hours or more of volunteering, you will receive a limited edition t-shirt. These are not sold anywhere and they show for years to come that you were a valuable person in keeping the convention running.
   
   
4. You may get crash space.
   
   Volunteers who work for 15 hours or more; we find you places to crash. This is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Katsucon rewards your hard work!
   
   
5. You may get admission to the next Katsucon.
   
   For those who astound us with 20 or more hours of work, we appreciate you and will give you a free pre-registration to the next convention. Some people have gone convention to convention this way and never paid us a cent. However, this isn’t for everybody; it can be grueling to do that much time. For those of you who enjoy working behind the scenes, this is our way of saying ‘thank you’.
   
   

Common Fallacies About Volunteering

1. It’s too hard.
   
   Stuff and nonsense! You will never be given a job that is too hard for you; anything requiring a skill you don’t already have will be taught to you.
   
   
2. I have to be part of the "inner circle".
   
   No way! Katsucon is always looking for new talent. Many of the people in higher-up positions have been with the convention less than three years. There is no ‘inner circle’; it’s all anime fandom.
   
   
3. I will be stuck with a job I hate or can’t handle.
   
   While there’s always a need for someone to fill the thankless and tiring jobs of badge checking and room guarding, Katsucon will never force you to do something you absolutely don’t want to do.
   
   
4. I have no detectable molecule of skill or knowledge that could help anyone.
   
   If you can walk and talk at the same time, Katsucon has a position for you. You’d be surprised at what you know.
   
   
5. I won’t meet anyone or see anything at the convention.
   
   Just because you volunteer doesn’t mean that you have to miss the convention. Even two hours of work can make a huge difference! Also, you can choose the times and places you work. If you’re looking to meet a lot of people, volunteer at the Information Booth.
   
   
6. You’re really not an anime fan or you are just starting out in the genre.
   
   Perfect! This is how you can find out from the inside where to start. Some of the previous volunteers have been parents, siblings, roommates, significant others, and even driving buddies of attendees. Being dragged along for the weekend? The staff can help you fill your time and even explain what the big deal is.
   
   
7. I will be treated rudely and ignored by staff.
   
   Katsucon tries its best to give sincere thanks where thanks are due, even to someone who can only do a few hours during the con. If you feel you have been ignored, speak up! Sometimes things get hectic and you might be passed over, but this is unintentional.
   
   
8. I will be an anime god and have actual powers over others.
   
   They will bow before your mightiness and worship your shadow like the groveling slaves they are. Um… no. Anyone who thinks that should stay home or change the dosage on their psychotropic drugs. We don’t think abusing our attendees is a good idea. Those volunteers who show signs of delusions of grandeur will be escorted away and assigned to guard a blank wall in another hotel.
   
   
9. I have to be a guy.
   
   That is an outright lie. There are many fabulous and talented ladies on staff such as our vice-chairman Colette to our magnificent femmes in Security, Medical, Tech Crew, and there’s even one skulking around in Publications. Come on, animegrrls; we can do it!
   
   

Volunteer Rules

1. All volunteers must sign in at the volunteer table before they begin their shift.
2. Volunteer work times and positions are available on first-come, first-served basis at sign-up on Thursday night of the convention.
3. All volunteers must exchange their attendees’ badge for volunteer badges before they begin work and vice versa after they are done working their shifts.
4. All volunteers must pick up their time cards before they leave to work and return them after they are done with their shift.
5. Volunteer crash space is available on a first-come, first-served system starting on Thursday night of the convention.
6. Non-volunteers are not allowed in crash space.
7. Volunteer crash space is not co-ed.
8. Only 6 volunteers are allowed in each room.
9. Alcohol is not allowed in volunteer crash space.
10. Volunteers are not allowed to have parties in volunteer crash space.
11. Volunteer room doors are not to be left open at any time.
12. Katsucon and its staff are not liable for any misplaced, lost, or stolen personal items.

* If there are any additional questions or concerns please feel free to . *