HAYHAY

POLICIES & FAQ

Get ready to explore Ancient Egypt and come with your best archeology gear, the Curse of AWUbis is happening July 17th-19th, 2020! You can avoid leaving your fate up to the vengeful AWUbis by reading and preparing to follow the policies below. Think of these policies as your treasure map to the fun! By attending the convention, you agree to adhere to these policies.

General

  • Anthro Weekend Utah is an all-ages, family-friendly convention. We will strive to ensure our events, activities, panels, artwork, and other items are PG.
    • Displayed artwork in the dealer’s den will follow these guidelines; open display of NSFW art in the convention space is not permitted.
    • If a panel is intended to be for more mature audiences (e.g. Cards Against Humanity), it will be clearly indicated on the schedule and signage. Such circumstances are the only exception to the convention’s PG policy.
  • Anything illegal outside the convention is obviously illegal inside the convention.

Registration

  • You may only register once; one person may not have multiple registrations and badges.
  • Your name as entered on our registration form MUST match your ID or we will not be able to allow you entrance to the con space. Your name and all identifying information will be kept secure and never shared with outside parties.

Interpersonal

  • Our current location is the Davis Conference Center. We have the convention rooms rented out, but the hallways and the attached hotel are public thoroughfares and may have non-attendees walking through. Remember, this may be the first time people encounter our fandom. Be polite, understanding, and kind to people who are learning about furries for the first time.
  • Treat each other with respect! We're all here to have fun and meet people. Harassing, bullying, intimidating, threatening, obstructing, or otherwise targeting others will not be tolerated. You’re a big, lovable fuzzy creature. Act like one!
  • Not everyone likes hugs; please refrain from hugging or touching others unless you have their consent.
  • If you have a hotel room and are planning a party, please follow the rules of your respective hotel.
  • Treat our con space with respect. If you damage the space, you will be responsible for paying for the damage. If you want a hole in your wallet, go to the dealer’s den instead!
  • The Davis Conference Center does not allow animals into the convention space, including therapy or anxiety pets. The only exceptions to this is service animals that have been trained in accordance with the ADA to provide assistance to an individual with a disability through a specific action.

Costumes

  • Cosplay or fursuiting is not consent.
    • Do not touch, hug, grab, squeeze, or otherwise make physical contact with people that have not already consented to it. If you don’t know if you have permission, ASK.
      • Everyone needs to be afforded the courtesy of asking before making contact. If the person you are wanting to hug or boop asks you NOT to touch them or expresses that would make them uncomfortable, DO NOT touch them.
    • You can turn someone’s great con experience into a bad one by invading their personal space and touching them without permission. Don’t be that person.
    • Don't touch or move others’ fursuits without their permission. This extends to spraying Febreeze or other deodorizing products on people and/or their suits. Fursuits are expensive, and not all materials react the same way to cleaning agents. We don't want to risk any damage to suits, or possible allergic reactions of suiters.
    • Please respect suiters’ space and well-being. If a suiter is obviously in a hurry or declining forms of interaction (e.g. photos), let them get to their destination. They may be overheating and/or in need of a break.
    • The headless lounge is meant to be a sanctuary for fursuiters to cool off, not a high-traffic social space. Each suiter is permitted a maximum of one non-suited handler to accompany them into the lounge; other non-suiters are not permitted. Photography inside or into the lounge is prohibited, but you are welcome to capture a suiter’s grand re-entry into the public con space!

Dress

  • In public convention space, refrain from wearing clothing or any accessory which is overly revealing, inappropriate for our convention’s PG atmosphere, or likely to result in complaints or offenses from others. This includes fetish-related material as well as clothing or modifications with obvious sexual implications.
    • If you can wear it in public, and it adheres to the above rules, you can wear it in the convention space.
    • Harnesses and collars are allowed.
    • Leashes are not allowed to be worn.

Hygiene

  • Shower, use deodorant, brush your teeth, the works.
    • Clean and brush your fursuit.
    • A lot of people in a shared space can quickly compound bad smells. We recommend bathing yourself at least every day, possibly more depending on other factors (like exertion levels). You know what it takes to keep yourself clean, please do it!
    • Your general health is important! Remember the classic 6-2-1 rule: at least six hours of sleep a day, two meals, and one shower or bath will keep you in top shape for the weekend.

Food and Drink

  • Per the Davis Conference Center policy, outside food or drink is not allowed in the convention space. Water bottles with water are permitted. If you bring food from outside the convention center, the DCC asks that you consume it outside or in your hotel room.
    • The Davis Conference Center will offer a snack bar during the day. Food purchased in the Davis Conference Center may be consumed there.

Under 18 Info

  • For those 16-17 years old as of the first day of the convention, a signed, notarized Parental Consent Form is required. Bring the original, not the copy. If the form is not notarized, you will not be admitted.
    • You must bring a photo ID.
    • You do not need to attend with a parent.
    • If your parent or legal guardian attends with you, you don't need the notarized form.
    • Your parent or legal guardian may appoint another adult to attend with you; see "Appointing an Alternate Guardian" below.
  • For those 15 and under as of the first day of the convention:
    • You must attend with a parent/legal guardian and they must stay with you at all times.
    • The parent or legal guardian must buy a badge.
    • Your parent or legal guardian may appoint another adult to attend with you; see "Appointing an Alternate Guardian" below.
    • A basic registration is available to children 12 years or younger free of charge. Higher-tiered registrations are still available at the standard prices.
  • Appointing an Alternate Guardian
    • Parents or legal guardians of attendees under the age of 18 may approve a responsible adult (18 years of age or older) to serve as a temporary guardian of minor attendees during the course of the convention.
    • To do this, the parent or legal guardian as well as the appointed temporary guardian must sign an Alternate Guardian Form in the presence of a notary. If this form is not notarized, it will not be accepted, and the minor(s) will not be admitted to the convention.
    • A new alternate guardian form must be filled out, signed, and notarized for each child; multiple minors may not be listed on a single form.
  • Refunds will not be issued in any circumstances which arise from a failure to understand and adhere to these procedures and guidelines. Please ensure that you have the proper notarized paperwork before arriving at the convention.

Substances

  • Utah law prohibits the consumption of alcohol in any public building as well as bringing an alcoholic beverage onto the premises of an establishment open to the general public. Party on, and keep those drinks in your room or in the bar.
  • Illegal substances and drugs are, well, illegal.
    • Smoking and vaping are not permitted inside the Davis Conference Center.

Weapons

  • Weapons, firearms, and explosives will not be allowed anywhere in the convention space WHATSOEVER.
    • We don’t mess around with this; if you are found to have a real weapon, you will immediately be ejected from the con and the appropriate authorities will be called. Such conduct will also put you at risk of being banned from any future AWU conventions. We hold the safety of the larger population of attendees as more important than letting you carry around things like pocket knives, etc. If you don’t feel safe enough to attend the con without a weapon, please don’t attend. If you know of anyone who has stated an intention to cause harm at the convention, please alert AWU staff or the authorities.

Outside Events

  • AWU is happy to collaborate with other companies and fandoms!
  • If you want to be a sponsor or cross advertise with us, please email us at marketing@anthroweekendutah.org.
    • During the days of the convention, July 17th-19th, 2020, AWU does not promote for outside events. For example, if the SLC Comic Convention had a costume competition during Friday night of our convention, we would not promote their event or advertise for it.
  • Unless officially announced, AWU has no affiliation with any outside event.

Photography

  • Photographs are allowed in the convention space, with the exception of any headless lounges.
  • The AWU Staff, as well as designated photographers, will be on hand and may take pictures during events or activities.
    • If you prefer not to have your picture taken, please notify the person with the camera.
    • Unless explicitly requested otherwise, pictures taken may be used by the staff on our website, social media, or for other marketing purposes. We will credit the subjects of the photos and/or the photographers given our best efforts to identify them.
  • If you’re taking personal pictures, please get permission from those you’re taking pictures of.
  • There will be a photo booth in the main convention area for you to get your picture taken, either with your personal cameras and equipment or by the AWU photographer.

Reg/Swag/Merchandise Pickup

  • We expect you to pick up your swag with your registration badge at-con.
  • In the event that you purchase Ultimate or Alpha registration and you are not able to pick up the swag at-con, you may email us at contact@anthroweekendutah.org to request your swag be mailed to you. You must include your name, registration confirmation number, and mailing address in the email so that we can locate your registration. You have one month after the last day of the convention to contact us, otherwise, your swag will be surrendered.
  • You must contact us by August 25, 2020, to request your swag. We will not be able to mail swag after this date.
    • We are unable to give registration refunds after May 16, 2020.

Questions, Comments, Concerns?

  • Please email us at contact@anthroweekendutah.org. We will also have a suggestion box on the registration desk during the convention for any and all suggestions.
  • During the convention, you can talk to volunteers, staff, and board members directly. If there are any issues, let us know as soon as possible so we can address it.

Liability

  • Rules and policies may change at any time.
  • If someone is acting inappropriately, please report it to us. Staff and Volunteers will be on hand at all times for assistance.
  • AWU reserves the sole right of interpretation of these policies. Don’t try to use a technicality to get around a rule. If you do not understand a rule, we are happy to explain it and work with you. Be reasonable and spare us the sass, we’re only human too. Well, human-animal people...
  • If you are ejected from the convention for any reason, your money will not be refunded.
  • By attending the con, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the con and its staff of and from any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, losses, damages, lawsuits, including reasonable attorneys fees and court costs, but only to the extent caused by, related to, or arising out of the work performed by the con.
  • Liability is limited to the cost of attendance.