Policies

Costuming has been a part of MomoCon since its inception.  We understand the time and effort it takes to craft the multitude of outfits and props that come through our doors every year.  Props of all types can be a huge part of a character.  However, the reality is that some props are not appropriate or safe in a public convention environment.  To ensure that all attendees have an enjoyable and safe time at MomoCon, we have the following policies regarding all props.  They are based upon Georgia Law as well as consideration to our venue’s needs.

Violation of these rules may result in a warning, having your prop removed from the convention grounds, or having your badge pulled and yourself escorted off the convention property.  The most severe violations may result in action by the Atlanta Police Department.

Please note that all rules can be superseded the day-of con by requests from the venue, security, or the Atlanta Police Department.  Consideration will be taken into account for any last minute changes of this nature.

General Crafted Prop Guidelines:

A prop check station is available near Registration for those with prop items.  Inspected props may have a zip tie or tyvek paper wristband affixed by security around it to mark that it has been reviewed.  It is possible that you will be asked to show the tie or wristband by multiple staffers through the course of the convention.  We will take all reasonable precautions to not damage your item.

Oversized props that pose a mobility hazard through doors, stairways or elevators are prohibited.  Recommended dimensions are less than six feet in any direction; items in excess will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Overweight props that pose a danger to persons or property if dropped are prohibited.  Recommended weight is less than 30lb.  Items in excess will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Any prop, outfit, or armor piece must not be made of a material that can that can injure a passerby via a sharp edge, point, spike or stud.

No explosives or chemicals including, but not limited to, fireworks, smoke pots, flash paper, etc.

Objects that can generate excessive noise, light, smoke, or confetti are prohibited in convention space.

Props cannot be thrown, tossed, shot, or swung regardless of its construction and functionality. They must be under the holder’s control at all times.  No exceptions will be made for boffer/LARP weaponry or sparring equipment.

Sports equipment is allowed.  They cannot be used to strike objects while at the convention ie. hitting baseballs or slap-shooting hockey pucks; equipment must be held under control at all times.  They are subject to all the size, weight, and material restrictions listed above.

Props must be secured to a costume or held in a manner in such that they do not endanger or entangle others. Be aware that the convention may become quite crowded and take appropriate precautions.

Do not point at a person or brandish the prop in a threatening manner outside of posed photos.

Realistic looking prop crafted grenades, bombs, mines (explosives) should have a strip of orange electrical tape visible wrapped around the body of the device unless it already has one thru the pin as stated immediately above.

Chains and ropes are limited to 3ft in length if they are uncoiled or used to attach to prop weapons ( example: kusarigama, morningstars).They cannot hang in such a manner as to pose an entanglement or trip hazard. They cannot be swung and must be under control at all times. Ropes/chains completely integrated into clothing or coiled into bundles (not hanging loosely) are not limited to 3 feet.

Chains cannot be of heavyweight metal gauges; lightweight plastic linked chains are available via a variety of sources.

Bows and crossbows can be strung but they must not have enough tension to fire an arrow or object with any appreciable speed. Bows should ideally not be capable of firing projectiles.

Arrows and bolts must either be completely blunt or the arrows heads be made of a soft material such as foam or rubber.

MomoCon takes place across multiple venues in the downtown area, including the Omni Hotel, Georgia World Congress Center, and surrounding spaces. These areas prohibit some or all of the following: firearms, metal swords/blades, all live steel capable of holding an edge (sharpened or not). Additionally the CNN Center prohibits face coverings (during non-pandemic times), masks, oversized bags, or large props. You may be asked to put away these items in prohibited areas, we highly recommend you not bring these items in the CNN Center as they are extremely strict.  CNN Center is not part of the convention space and as such have their own rules and regulations.

Additional Recommendations for any Firearm Props

1. Transport your prop to and from the convention in a bag or box rather than out in the open.
2. Use proper discipline
3. Fingers off the trigger unless posing for a photo.
4. Do not point it at anyone unless posing for a photo.

Because of some past confusion as to the rules at MomoCon, provided below is a list of items/actions that will result in punishment that range from a warning to removal from the convention to inquiries from the Atlanta Police Department. Ignorance of these policies is not an excuse, so please tell anyone you know that intends to attend MomoCon.

DON’T BRING THESE TO CON:

–Projectile Props/Toys or Prop firearms that do not conform to our our full weapons policy. It also includes guidelines on other types of prop weaponry.
–Signs. Absolutely no cardboard/paper signs (i.e. “free hugs”, “the game”, etc.). Exceptions for signs that are part of costumes (i.e. “Objection” Phoenix Wright signs). No non-costume sign is immune to this rule, no matter how innocuous.
–Overly offensive shirts/apparel.  You’ll be asked to change, turn the shirt inside out, or leave. This includes offensive group periphernalia (Nazi, KKK, etc.), and anything that would be considered offensive to the general populous, at MomoCon’s discretion. NO EXCEPTIONS FOR COSTUMES.
–You, without clothes.  Wear some. The minimum for coverage is bikini top and shorts for women, shorts and shirt for men. If you are a man whose costume involves being shirtless, or a woman in a bikini-style costume without full rear end coverage, please bring a shirt or jacket to wear around when not taking photos.
–Roller skates or stilts indoors. Skate all you like on the sidewalk.
–Wares to sell if you are not a vendor or artist.  This is one of the fastest ways to get kicked out of the convention.
–Alcohol. If you are under 21, you shouldn’t be having it anyway. If you are over 21, there are plenty of good places to go to imbibe around downtown Atlanta or at the Omni Bar or Taco Mac, don’t bring anything onto convention floors. We don’t want to have to escort you out for something you can quite legally do at any number of bars and restaurants near the convention.

DON’T DO THIS AT CON:

MomoCon is dedicated to providing a safe and harassment-free experience for everyone at our events. We do not tolerate harassment of panelists, attendees, guests or any party taking part in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any MomoCon event. Anyone violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund at the discretion of the organizers, safety volunteers, professional security, or hotel staff.

HARASSMENT

Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or other protected class status, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

Harassment may be subtle, manipulative and is not always evident. It does not refer to occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature. It refers to behavior that is not welcome and is personally offensive. All forms of gender harassment are covered. Men can be harassed; men can harass men; women can harass other women.

SOME EXAMPLES:

-Jokes, insults and innuendos (based on race, sex, age, disability, etc.), degrading sexual remarks, referring to someone as a stud, hunk or babe; whistling; cat calls; comments on a persons body or sex life, or pressures for sexual favors.

-Gestures, staring, touching, hugging, glomping, patting, blocking a person’s movement, brushing against a person’s body intentionally, or display of sexually suggestive or degrading pictures, racist or other derogatory cartoons or drawings.

-Unwanted photography after verbally requesting it to be stopped, clandestine photography or videography for the purpose of exploitation (hidden cameras, upskirt video, etc.)

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the organizers or volunteer staff may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference (with APD assistance) with no refund. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, Information/Safety desks will be available around the venue, any volunteer can lead you to them.  All harassment is taken very seriously, and MomoCon volunteer safety are trained in procedures for reporting, escalation to local law enforcement and other anti-harassment methods.  If at any point you feel unsafe, please go to the Information/Safety desk to contact safety.

NO TOLERANCE

Conference staff will help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance.  We expect participants to follow these rules at all event venues and any related social events.

SAFTEY OR POLICE OFFICER INSTRUCTION IS NOT HARASSMENT OR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

Safety volunteers and professional security/APD may instruct you to discontinue activities, move to a different location, etc.  Such discussions may be difficult and they always should be done professionally and respectfully. However, specific security instructions (which may be delivered at a loud volume to compensate for ambient convention noise) or other related convention issues are not harassment or retaliation.

EVERY MOMOCON PARTICIPANT AND ATTENDEE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN ACHIEVING A RESPECTFUL CONVENTION

• MomoCon expects respectful behavior at all times, no matter the situation. Remember that your actions reflect upon you, and potentially reflect upon conventions and fans in general. Be sensitive to how others may perceive your actions. Just because someone does not complain to you does not mean that they don’t object to your behavior.
• There is no reason to ever engage in unwelcome behavior that has the purpose or effect of harassing others. Report any unwelcome behavior you think might be harassment regardless of it is covered in this document.  If you feel unsafe, tell someone. If you are not comfortable reporting to volunteer Safety, we have hired professional security and uniformed officers at the venue available to you.
• If someone offends you, let that person know so that it won’t happen again. If you have offended someone, understand his or her perspective, apologize and don’t let it happen again.  Again, if you feel the incident is severe or makes you uncomfortable, please proceed to an Information/Safety desk and tell Safety.
• If you are aware of any behavior that might violate this policy, report it to Safety at an Information/Safety desk.

HARASSMENT CAN AFFECT ALL GENDERS

Never feel that your gender or the situation should somehow make harassment “welcomed” or “wanted”.  Harassers come from all gender identities and harassment can happen to anyone.  Please report all instances, regardless of situation, should you feel uncomfortable.

(Sources: 3M’s harassment policy, Ada Initiative event anti-harassment policy)

At MomoCon a diverse, inclusive, and equitable event is one where all attendees and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach in all of our departments, programs, and events. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued, heard, and represented in fandom.

We’re committed to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.  MomoCon wishes to foster a community of fans and friends, where the many different and unique things we individually and collectively bring to the convention can help progress, understanding, and friendship.

To provide informed, authentic leadership for cultural equity, MomoCon strives to:

• See diversity, inclusion, and equity as connected to our mission and critical to ensure the well-being of our attendees and the communities we serve.
• Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services, and continually update and report organization progress.
• Explore potential underlying, unquestioned assumptions that interfere with inclusiveness.
• Advocate for and support board-level thinking about how systemic inequities impact our organization’s work, and how best to address that in a way that is consistent with our mission.
• Help to challenge assumptions about what it takes to be a strong leader at our organization, and who is well-positioned to provide leadership.
• Practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions.
• Commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, volunteers, committees, and advisory bodies.
• Lead with respect and tolerance. We expect all volunteers to embrace this notion and to express it in interactions and through everyday practices.

MomoCon abides by the following action items to help promote diversity and inclusion in our workplace:

• Pursue cultural competency throughout our organization by creating substantive learning opportunities and formal, transparent policies.
• Improve our cultural leadership pipeline by creating and supporting programs and policies that foster leadership that reflects the diversity of American society.
• Pool resources and expand offerings for underrepresented constituents by connecting with other organizations committed to diversity and inclusion efforts.
• Continue to develop and seek out from community participants panels and events on diversity, inclusion, and equity.
• Advocate for public and private-sector policy that promotes diversity, inclusion, and equity. Challenge systems and policies that create inequity, oppression and disparity.

SERVICES FOR ATTENDEES WITH DISABILITIES, MEDICAL CONDITIONS, OR CHILDREN

MomoCon is happy to provide the following services and information for our attendees with disabilities who plan to attend the event! We aim to help make the experience as easy as possible for everyone.  Due to the convention’s limited resources, convention staff may be required to discuss your reasonable accommodation with you in order to attempt to meet your needs.

Please note, only mobility devices approved by the GWCC will be allowed in the venue. If you have questions about a mobility device, please reach out to the Georgia World Congress Center. Non-mobility-related powered/gas driven devices are not permitted inside the venue (personal motorized scooters aside from ECVs, hoverboards, tiny cars, segways, etc.).

WHEELCHAIR/ECV RENTALS

1. Mobility Georgia – 470.357.6130
2. Cloud of Goods – 407.545.3103
3. Mobility Scooters and More – 770.710.0221

REGISTRATION AID

If you have issues standing for long periods or have needs related to disabilities, please proceed to the Registration desk labeled “Will Call/Disabilities” at the registration area.

ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

Handicapped parking is available in all GWCC lots and many downtown lots around the venue; all spaces require a valid permit to be displayed at all times.  The GWCC Red parking section is the closest to the venue, has multiple elevators for access, and maintains a covered walkway into the GWCC directly from parking.

The Omni hotel provides accessibility rooms upon request.  Please contact the Omni directly about your room needs.  Our other local hotels also provide the same service.

SEATING FOR EVENTS

Each large programming space at MomoCon is outfitted with several disability seating locations, including some cut outs for ECVs and wheelchairs. Please let the volunteer staff at the door to the room know if you need special accommodation (end of row, close to front, etc.) and we will accommodate as available.

MomoCon has a policy of not clearing rooms between panels, but in the case of a line, chairs will be provided for those who cannot stand for long periods of time.  If you need extra chairs, please ask any volunteer and they will be happy to assist.

Our disability guests are not guaranteed early or special access to any events.  We will attempt to accommodate all requests, however some events do fill up, and we do not have the ability to let in any further people, disabilities or otherwise. To make the process easier, disability guests may be loaded into a room early should the need arise, but it is done on a case-by-case basis.

SERVICE ANIMALS

Trained service dogs are welcome in most locations throughout the Georgia World Congress Center and Omni Hotel. Guests who use service dogs must retain control of their animals at all times and must keep them on a leash or harness while visiting. Service dogs are welcome to use any open outdoor area for relief as long as the owner picks up after the animal and leaves the area clean.

Pets and non-service animals/ESAs/companion animals are not permitted inside the GWCC or Omni Hotel event space. For information on Omni hotel room policies, please inquire with the hotel.

Bringing a pet or untrained animal into a crowded venue is extremely dangerous to everyone around including the pet itself, other people, and other trained service dogs.  

Learn about service dogs via the ADA here

Other attendees should refrain from harassing or petting service animals at any time for any reason.

SMALL CHILDREN/PREGNANT ATTENDEES

Please be cautious with small children in any large, crowded environment. MomoCon does not provide any type of childcare, so please plan accordingly. We have no convention-wide public announcement system; please keep an eye on children at all times. Most events at MomoCon are appropriate for all ages, but some events taking place after 8pm or listed with a Content Warning may be too “blue” for some younger kids. MomoCon does not host any 18+ programming.

Please note, unless specific circumstances merit, our Safety volunteers do not have the ability to seek out missing attendees over the age of 18.  If you have been separated from a party member, please attempt to locate them personally, or contact the on-site APD for help if you think the situation is serious.  Have a planned meetup location for your party should you become separated, in advance of the event.

Our pregnant attendees with mobility issues are welcome to use any function available to disabled guests as well, including GWCC wheelchair rentals, special panel accommodations, etc.

ADVISORY ABOUT CROWDED AREAS/FLASHING LIGHTS

In general, conventions such as MomoCon can become crowded, to the point of discomfort for those who have crowd anxiety. Please plan accordingly, and be aware of a few areas that are less crowded or have fixed seating spaced out in the case that you should need to utilize them:

Screening rooms while events are in session (ingress and egress can be crowded between events)
Medical area in the GWCC
Tables in the gaming space not allocated for specific games
Omni hotel lobby areas, specifically in the South Tower
AFK Room

Full maps will be available online prior to MomoCon in the late spring, as well as on the MomoCon app and in the printed guides on-site.

Some events may have strobe lighting, bright flashing lights, or other effects that may be detrimental to those with light sensitivity, specifically any raves or dances.  Please consult your physician about your specific needs prior to attending MomoCon if you have these issues.

OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS

We seek new ways to help our friends and colleagues with various accommodations and are looking to expand what we are able to offer to those who need extra assistance.  If you have a need, please reach out to us in advance of the event at info@momocon.com and we will attempt to help as best we can!