SAFETY POLICIES
All weapons/oversized props must be peace-bonded. Please go to the Cosplay Corner upon entry to the Convention Center to receive your peace-bond.
Having your prop/weapon peace-bound means that you agree to our rules of proper weapons behavior.
Weapons NOT Permitted at OMG!con
NO METAL OR LIVE STEEL will be permitted on the premises. Live steel is defined as swords, knives, bayonets, cane-swords, and/or other objects made of metal, which can take an edge. This holds true regardless of whether the object is actually sharp and includes star-knives/shuriken.
The following types of guns are NOT PERMITTED:
Real guns
Stun guns/tasers
Loaded water guns
Airsoft guns without orange tip and/or loaded
The following types of guns ARE permitted:
UNLOADED Water guns
UNLOADED Airsoft guns with orange tips
Please keep water guns or airsoft guns within the convention space and away from the public areas (restaurants, hotels, etc.), as they can feel threatening.
ABSOLUTELY NO AMMUNITION!
All magazines must be empty and will be checked at Weapons Check. There are to be no explosives or chemicals of any kind, including but not limited to smoke powder, sparklers, and fireworks.
NO COMPOUND BOWS PERMITTED.
Bows are allowed on the premises, so long as they are NOT pulled back for a live fire.
Tipped arrows are NOT permitted.
Prop arrows (no hard tips or sharp edges) are permitted, so long as they are kept unnotched.
Bows may be drawn temporarily for pictures, but arrows MUST STAY UNNOTCHED.
Weapons and Props Permitted
Bokens
Wooden Swords
Walking Sticks
Wooden baseball bats (cannot be swung)
Fake or made-up prop weaponry (wood, foam, bondo, resin, plaster, cardboard, etc.), if they are safe and not dangerous to the other con-goers around you.
Dangerous conditions include:
Wires that stick out
Items that trip bystanders
Things that can clothesline attendees
Size Limitations
Please limit the size of your weapons to less than 8 feet in height and less than 50 pounds in weight.
If you do happen to make something heavy, make sure that you are able to carry it without a problem.
There is no storage within the convention center.
LARP Gear
All LARP gear may be used in mock battle outside of the convention center. However, they still must adhere to all safety requirements.
Behavior with Weapons
Misuse of any weapon, such as swinging it in a public area or causing hazards to bystanders, will get your privilege revoked immediately.
If we deem a weapon to be unsafe for the con, we will ask you to store the unsafe weapon in your private quarters (i.e. your room or car).
If there is a repeat offense, we will escort you out of the convention and off of convention grounds so that you can place the weapon in your private quarters.
If the weapon is illegal, we will turn it into the appropriate authorities.
Any weapon purchased in the exhibitor's hall that is boxed, should remain boxed. Weapons are not to be taken out of their packaging or wrappings while at the convention.
After purchasing a weapon that normally violates our weapons policy, it must remain in its packaging and be taken immediately to your room or car for storage.
Questionable items will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Anything deemed illegal outside the convention is deemed illegal inside of the convention premises.
All OMG!con staff decisions on weapons are final.
WEAPONS POLICY
OMG!con is a family-friendly event!
As such, all attendees must adhere to our Dress Code Policy at all times during the convention:
Attendees MUST wear clothes! Absolutely no nudity is allowed!
All costumes must be properly secured & ensured they are not prone to "wardrobe malfunctions”.
Messages/words printed on shirts, bodies, or signs are permitted, but they must stay tasteful. Clothing with distasteful messages/words are forbidden.
Short skirts, kilts, etc. must be accompanied by proper underwear (regardless of Heritage and how you "traditionally wear a kilt").
Shirts, clothing, costumes, or signs suggesting/promoting pedophilia are strictly prohibited and are grounds for removal from OMG!con without a refund!
When in doubt, follow the "Pool Rule":
Clothing should provide the same level of coverage that’s expected at a public pool, such as a two-piece swimsuit or swim trunks.
The upper chest must remain covered at all times, regardless of gender.
Dance Belts are required for skin-tight suits.
Ineffective underwear (or a lack thereof) constitutes as indecent exposure. Offenders may be turned over to law enforcement.
Footwear
To ensure your safety, we ask that you wear footwear at all times. Sandals/flipflops at the bare minimum, even if your character is barefoot.
Wearing skates and rollerblades are prohibited.
(You may bring them, but not use them inside.) Sneaker-skates may only be worn in sneaker-mode.
OMG!con cannot be held accountable for any damages or injuries that occur due to
inadequate or improper footwear!
Large Costumes
Please be sure to keep all large costumes contained as much as possible. We recommend the use of handlers to help manage large costumes.
Large costumes (or large parts of costumes) are not allowed inside the Exhibitor's Hall due to blocking the flow of traffic and other hazards.
3-Foot Rule
Your cosplay cannot extend past 3 feet from your body. Imagine a three-foot radius around your body; if a part of your cosplay extends past 3 feet, please do not bring it into the hallways.
Dragging Articles
Keep your cosplay maintained at all times. Your wig or outfit is not allowed to drag on the floor at anytime, as this poses a biohazard threat as well as a safety threat (tripping others).
DRESS CODE POLICY
Harassment Policy
Our goal at OMG!con is to provide a safe, fun environment for all attendees! As such, we have a Zero-Tolerance Policy for harassment, bullying, verbal assault, physical assault, and stalking.
What Counts As Harassment?
Harassment is defined as unwanted behavior that creates an intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile environment for the person being targeted. It can be physical or psychological.
If someone tells you that your comments or behavior are unwelcome, then you must stop immediately.
If that person tells you to leave them alone, then you must cease contact.
Examples of harassment can include, but are not limited to:
Making comments about a person's appearance, offensive jokes, sexual and/or vulgar statements, or anything disparaging a person's gender, race, religion, sexuality, identity, etc.
Whistling, catcalling, or any non-consensual flirting or sexual advancement.
Following someone or impeding their path.
Attending a person's panels solely to heckle them.
Photographing or recording someone without their permission.
(Whether or not they are in cosplay.)
Exposing oneself, or miming sexual acts.
Touching someone without their permission.
Repeated texting, phone calls, or emails, after being told to stop.
Any persistent action that creates a hostile environment for the person or persons being targeted.
What Do I Do If I'm Being Harassed, Or See Someone Being Harassed?
OMG!con has a dedicated Public Safety Team that does their best to prevent these kinds of incidents and swiftly address them when they do happen.
If you are being harassed by anyone (attendees, guests, vendors, volunteers, or even staff or convention center employees), or if you see someone being harassed, please find the nearest staff or volunteer and report it as soon as possible. They will get someone from our Public Safety Team to assist.
We have both male and female members on our Public Safety Team, so if you are not comfortable with talking to a specific Public Safety Team member, we can provide someone else for you.
We take all reports of harassment seriously, regardless of who is involved, and no retaliation for filing a report will be tolerated.
Consequences Of Harassment
Any violations of our harassment policy will result in immediate penalties depending on the severity of the action. Such penalties may include:
Verbal warning. (For a minor offense. You will only be warned once.)
Confiscation of your badge and ejection from the event, with no refund.
Temporary or permanent banning from all future events put on by OMG!con.
Contacting law enforcement when appropriate.
If You Need Help From Law Enforcement
If you believe that you are in immediate physical danger, call 911.
If you are calling from a cell phone, please tell the dispatcher that you are in Owensboro, Kentucky so that they can quickly route the call to the correct emergency department.
The non-emergency number for the
Owensboro Police Department is 1-270-687-8888.
HARASSMENT POLICY
Mock or Play Fighting
is not allowed in the hallways and convention area.
Wielding or handling weapons/props in a way that could potentially cause harm to others is prohibited, whether there was intent to harm others or not.
Mock-fighting is allowed on stage during the cosplay contest but must be carefully rehearsed, reviewed, and approved by cosplay staff.
LARPing is allowed outside of the convention center, so long as all safety precautions are adhered to and respected.
Picture-Taking
Do not stop for pictures in smaller, crowded hallways. Please go outside, to a less crowded area, or to the designated picture-taking areas.
Do not block doors, ramps, exits, corridors, and aisles while taking pictures.
If you want to take a photo of a cosplayer, be courteous and ask permission first.
Most will be happy to oblige and will pose fiercely!
Selling Of Items
Unless you are part of the Exhibitor's Hall, you cannot sell anything at OMG!con!
Enforcement
We reserve the right to remove you from the convention and/or cosplay events at any time.
If, for any reason, we feel that your actions pose a threat or hazard to others while at the convention, we will ask you to stop. Continuing such behavior is grounds for removal from the convention without a refund.
