FC3 Prime Directive

Our events, guests, and volunteers must abide by our Fort Collins Comic Con (FC3 or Con) Core Values.

• Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination: everyone is acknowledged, welcome, and valued for their differences as well as their similarities. 
• Representation Matters: each attendee should be able to recognize themselves in the valued community experts we bring to FC3. 

All rules and policies below are subject to change.

Table of Contents

• Anti-Harassment Policy
• Privacy and Usage Policy
• Recommendations for Parents
• Rules for Attendees
• Rules for Volunteers
• Rules for Vendors
• Rules for Vendor Area
• Rules for Panels/Panelists
• Rules for Cosplayers
• Rules for Cosplay Contest

Anti-Harassment Policy

FC3 is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, physical appearance, body size, race and/or color, national origin and/or citizenship, age, or religion.

We do not tolerate harassment of any kind during Fort Collins Comic Con Events. Harassment includes verbal, written, or physical conduct and any actions (directly or indirectly) that are unwelcome and are intimidating, hostile, or offensive in nature.

Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to:

• Slurs, jokes, and/or derogatory comments;
• Inappropriate nicknames, descriptions and/or labels;
• Graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body;
• Sexually degrading words used to describe an individual’s body;
• Sexual images in public spaces;
• Deliberate intimidation;
• Stalking and/or following;
• Harassing photography or recording;
• Sustained disruption of panels or other events;
• Blocking an individual’s movements;
• Unwelcome sexual attention, and;
• Unwelcome physical contact.

Such conduct may constitute harassment if it takes place within someone’s viewing or hearing,  even if it is not directed at a particular individual. Complaints of harassment will be taken seriously and appropriate action will be taken, up to and including being expelled from the event without a refund.

This policy is in effect at Fort Collins Comic Con, during vendor/sponsor set up/tear down, and at any other of our hosted events. This policy applies to all attendees, employees, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and panelists.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the FC3 Bridge Crew immediately: identifiable by a purple badge. All complaints of harassment will be thoroughly, promptly, and objectively investigated; this may include statements from parties and witnesses. 

All FC3 Bridge Crew are able to help participants take appropriate action: 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 and are dedicated to creating a safe and secure conference for everyone.

Contact information:

• Email address for the organizer: Nick@FoCoComicCon.com
• Phone number for the organizer: ‪970-236-6425‬
• Phone number for venue security: 970-221-6256
• Fort Collins Police Department: 970-221-6540
• SAVA (Sexual Assault Victim Assistance): 970-472-4204
• Yellow Cab Fort Collins: 970-224-2222

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Privacy and Usage Policy

Our digital environment is public and things that you upload or post on, say, Discord are immediately viewable and searchable by anyone around the world. Using our website means you agree to abide by the terms and conditions issued by any integrated or connected third party provider, such as the billing tool we use for badge purchasing. 

The Information We Collect About You

The information Fort Collins Comic Con collects, and how that information is used, depends on how you interact with this site and associated digital tools. The content you submit to our forms is used only to facilitate the interactions and activity that you intended. We might use the information we collect, like your email address, to interact with you directly. For example, signing up for our email list means we’ll send you bulletins about our community events. 

Under no circumstances will we ever sell your information or intentionally misuse it.

Our services are not directed to children, and you may not use our services if you are under the age of 13. You must also be old enough to consent to the processing of your personal data in your country (in some countries we may allow your parent or guardian to do so on your behalf).

We may revise this policy from time to time; by using this site you agree to the Privacy Policy.

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Generative AI Statement

Fort Collins Comic Con brings people together to celebrate their nerdy diversity. Our mission is centered on children’s literacy and access to traditionally gatekept spaces, which means human passion and creativity come first in Con spaces. 

To this end: 

• FC3 does not use generative AI in any content we produce. Crew members do rely on logistical AI tools to assist with data sorting and tracking. 
• FC3 requires all Vendors to certify that their saleable work is not “Buy-to-Sell” or Production work, is completely made by the artist, and any use of generative AI is clearly disclosed. 
• In other FC3 spaces, we ask that our exhibitors, panelists, guests, and other Con partners clearly label generative AI usage. 

We will not and can not police attendees’ and presenters’ personal use of AI in their nerdy craft or wider life. We understand that using AI tools can be a matter of accessibility and that there is a difference between generative AI and logistical AI tools. We are committed to supporting human creativity and passion, and work with partners to provide free and low cost tools to help our community reduce their reliance on AI tools wherever possible.

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Recommendations for Parents of Young Children

We highly recommend writing YOUR emergency contact number on your children’s badges. There is a space for you to do so printed right on the badge. This is the first number we will call in the event you are separated.

1. When entering the Fort Collins Senior Center: Note the location of the Check-in booth; it is a great place to meet-up in the event that you are separated. It’s right next to the front entrance and staffed with volunteers. Any lost children will be brought to this booth or the nearby Senior Center Front Desk. 
2. When entering the Fort Collins Senior Center: Note our volunteers with Fort Collins Comic Con badges with a BLUE “VOLUNTEER” or a PURPLE “CREW” type printed on the front. These people are here to help you in the event of an emergency.
3. If you become separated from your child, please notify a Fort Collins Comic Con volunteer; instruct your children to do the same.
4. Children under 12 years of age must not be unattended. If a parent/caregiver cannot be found, Bridge Crew will notify security.
5. Please do not allow your children to run, there’s a lot of caped/winged/sharp superheroes about who might not see them. Attendees of all designations, including children, must wear shoes.
6. Parents or guardians of children ages 5 and younger may wear their children’s badges if needed. If you do so, please consider requesting a wristband from our Information Booth so you may write your phone number on it before attaching it to the child.
7. If your child is an attendee, but you are not, you will be required to show ID so we may verify your identity before you are allowed to enter the Fort Collins Senior Center. While inside, you will be escorted by one of our volunteers and/or members of our security team. We reserve the right to verify with the child and other parents and/or guardians before releasing them to you.

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Rules for All Attendees

Purchase, acceptance, and/or usage of a Fort Collins Comic Con badge or the Fort Collins Comic Con website indicates agreement with the following terms and conditions:

1. Your badge cannot be replaced if stolen, lost, or destroyed and is valid only for the duration of the Con for which it is issued.
2. Your badge cannot be altered in any way and will be void if done so.
3. This badge is not transferable or redeemable for cash. No refunds or exchanges.
4. Reproduction of this badge is not permitted. Fake badges will be confiscated and you will be permabanned from future conferences.
5. Unauthorized or unlawful resale or attempted resale is prohibited by law and grounds for seizure without compensation.
6. Fort Collins Comic Con badges may only be purchased from the FoCoComicCon.com website and only for personal use. You may not buy badges with the intent to resell them.
7. Management reserves the right to revoke/refuse admission or to eject any person who fails to comply with the rules of the show, venue, and all applicable laws, without refund.
8. Badge holder assumes all risk and danger or personal injury, damage to property, including death, and all other hazards arising from, or related in any way to, the event for which the badge is issued, caused by negligence, gross negligence, or otherwise, and the holder releases Fort Collins Comic Con, any and all sponsors, employees, volunteers and its agents from any and all liabilities/claims resulting from such risk, danger, damage, injury or death.
9. Badge holder consents to the use of his/her image or likeness by media now known or hereafter devised for advertising, sale and/or other promotional purposes. If you have a Comic Con badge on, plan on that you might be in a few photos by either conference staff or other attendees.
10. Badge holder agrees to not take pictures or video where posted as prohibited, and to secure consent before taking any pictures of other con attendees.
11. Compliance with our Anti-Harassment Policy.
12. No signs offering services or making requests to be hugged or touched. No other signs of any kind (FC3 Bridge Crew has the final say).
13. You must wear shoes.
14. Water bottles are allowed. Stay hydrated.
15. Do not cut any lines.
16. Be respectful to your fellow con-goers.
17. If you or someone near you needs help, alert a Fort Collins Comic Con volunteer right away.
18. Fort Collins Comic Con is a family-friendly conference. Please watch the swear words (particularly around children).

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Rules for Volunteers

Volunteering for Fort Collins Comic Con, acceptance, and/or usage of the Volunteer badge indicates agreement with the following terms and conditions:

1. Your actions reflect on Fort Collins Comic Con. If your behavior does not reflect well on our event, you will be ejected from the Con.
2. You must wear your badge at all times, even when outside.
3. Volunteer assumes all risk and danger or personal injury, damage to property, including death, and all other hazards arising from, or related in any way to, the event, caused by negligence, gross negligence, or otherwise, and the attendee releases Fort Collins Comic Con, any and all sponsors, employees, volunteers and its agents from any and all liabilities/claims resulting from such risk, danger, damage, injury or death.
4. FC3 Bridge Crew are your first and last point of contact for any questions, concerns, or comments.When in doubt, always send your question up the chain. 
5. If an attendee feels harassed or threatened, you should report it to the closest Bridge Crew member and escort the attendee to the volunteer break area.
6. If you do not feel safe while performing your volunteer assignment, leave the area immediately and inform FC3 Bridge Crew.

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Rules for Vendors

1. All vendors must complete a Vendor Agreement (found at: https://fococomiccon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FC3-Vendor-Contract-2024.pdf) before their booth purchase is finalized (by purchasing you agree to the terms of the Vendor Agreement).
2. By filling out the application form for a booth spot on our website (https://fococomiccon.com/) you’re indicating interest in potentially vending at Fort Collins Comic Con. An application doesn’t guarantee you a spot, a specific booth, or a specific type of booth. An approved application allows you the chance to purchase a booth. If we’re not able to accommodate you, we’ll refund your reservation and let you know in advance of the Con.
3. Fort Collins Comic Con reserves the right to rescind/refund any booth reservation payment for any reason at any time.
4. Fort Collins Comic Con will do our best to ensure that no shenanigans, antics, or Quark-like schemes befall the booth reservation process, and reserve the right to update the tools, rules, pricing, or processes at any time to best serve the interests of the Con at large.
5. Fort Collins Comic Con, employees, volunteers, and sponsors are not responsible for damage incurred to your product or display during the conference or load-in, and the staff reserves the right to ask you to remove dangerous or obscene material from your booth area.
6. All vendors are responsible for complying with venue policies as well as cleaning up after themselves before, during, and after the event.

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Rules for Vendor Area

1. If you want to commission a drawing from a particular artist, get to them as early as possible. Some artists handle their commissions first-come-first-serve, some do it via lottery, some have other systems entirely. Regardless, get to your chosen artist(s) early to find out what they do and if they have time to meet your request.
2. Please do not put food or beverage containers, bags, backpacks, or anything down on an artist’s table without permission, especially not on their artwork.
3. Please do not lean on an artist’s table, especially not on their artwork.
4. DO NOT take photographs in the Vendor Area unless you get permission from the artist.
5. Do not go behind the artist’s table unless expressly invited by the artist to do so.
6. Do not obstruct an artist’s table while in the Vendor Area unless you’re buying from them, or talking to them.
7. If you’ve just eaten, make sure you clean your hands thoroughly before browsing through an artist’s work. Nothing gets a food stain out of paper.

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Rules for Panels and Panelists

1. All Panels/Session submissions open approximately 4-5 months before the date of the Con. All panels will be selected and panelists notified within the month before the Con. Fort Collins Comic Con Bridge Crew makes all final decisions with regards to programming and scheduling. Space is limited.
2. All Panels/Sessions should end 10 minutes before the next panel begins. No exceptions will be possible: we have a strict schedule and rooms need to be readied for the next presenters.
3. All Panel/Session rooms are equipped with a table, digital projector, and screen. We should have universal connectors but bring your own to be safe.
4. Fort Collins Comic Con cannot provide the use of computers or laptops. If you plan on having an AV presentation, please bring your own laptop with your files backed up on a USB drive. We encourage panelists to bring a second computer in case of the blue screen of death. There is no guarantee of WiFi or Internet even though the venue does provide free WiFi (ie: if every attendee is on it, we might not have it as fast/available as you’d like).
5. Fort Collins Comic Con does not allow the use of VCRs, 16mm projectors, Xbox, PlayStations or Commodore 64s to use for your panel presentation. 
6. Fort Collins Comic Con will try to assist in specific scheduling needs on a case by case basis. So email Programming@FoCoComicCon.com early and we’ll do our best.
7. Fort Collins Comic Con reserves the right to adjust the time and location of your panel at any point to best fit with our schedule of events. We will try and notify you 24 hours in advance of any changes in the schedule.
8. A submission is not a guarantee of a presentation at Fort Collins Comic Con. We strive to give our attendees the best programming possible. So take some time, do some research, prepare and impress us with your submission.
9. Videotaping or digital filming is prohibited in any panel by any attendee or panel participant, without advance permission from the person giving the panel.
10. Fort Collins Comic Con does not pay speaking fees or appearance fees. Nor does it cover travel, lodging or meals of any panelist or presenter.
11. Fort Collins Comic Con cannot connect panel submissions and/or presenters with any of our Celebrity or Artist Guests. Attempts to contact our guests or ask for their participation in your panel(s) without Fort Collins Comic Con’s prior approval will be grounds for immediate disqualification and cancellation of our panel.
12. Approved panels will be allotted a free day-pass for the day of the panel only, for a maximum of 2 panelists, including the moderator(s). Only panelists who participate will be granted a pass, and all panelists must participate extensively in the session. No additional free passes will be granted for any reason. Because of space limitations, we ask you to make maximum use of your free badges. If you plan to attend Fort Collins Comic Con, make a day of it or hand back your badge so someone else can enjoy it. Additional passes may be purchased through the Fort Collins Comic Con website.
13. Fort Collins Comic Con is a family-friendly conference. We will not approve any “adult”, “after-dark”, or “explicit” content. So please keep it to PG-13 and watch the swear words (particularly around children).
14. Panelists should arrive at their presentation room 20 minutes early and check in with the Room Coordinator.
15. Proposals that are largely self-promotional will be strictly scrutinized and are unlikely to be approved.
16. Programming submissions must be primarily educational in focus.

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Rules for Cosplayers

1. All costumes must be PG-friendly, have shoes (with a hard sole), and ensure all private parts are substantially covered/undergarments are worn. Minimum skin coverage rule of thumb: 30% (Borat swimsuit and/or pasties and a g-string do not constitute an acceptable cosplay).
2. Prop weapons MUST be rendered completely inoperable, clearly distinguishable at a cursory glance from a real weapon, and totally, utterly incapable of harming the badgeholder or another attendee. Also:
   • Projectiles (including weapon ammo like airsoft pellets, BBs, and arrows) are strictly forbidden.
   • Firearm props must have a clearly visible orange cap on the barrel.
   • Metal and ceramic weapons are not allowed (including bladed weapons, swords, knives, or sharpened edges of any kind).
   • Prop weapons must be made of lightweight materials such as foam, cardboard, or plastic.
   • Sharpened edges of any kind are not allowed, including on armor, shields, or other tools.
   • Bats and heavy blunt instruments (cricket, baseball, golf clubs, paddles, furniture legs, etc) are not allowed – however, facsimiles made of lightweight material may be allowed (e.g.: if you paint a hollow, plastic baseball bat to look like a real bat, and it’s very clearly fake and incapable of causing harm, we’ll have no problem with that).
3. All props must be peacebonded by Fort Collins Comic Con staff. After inspection, all guns will have zipties attached to the trigger to indicate it is unusable as a weapon, and safe for display. The cosplayer will be given a sticker to indicate that they have completed peacebonding. Peacebonding is mandatory. You may also be checked at any time by Fort Collins Comic Con staff.
4. Props may not be brandished in a threatening manner. If you leave Fort Collins Comic Con, please put away any weapon props.
5. If your costume could be confused for local law enforcement, please don’t wear that costume.
6. Hate symbols or cosplay elements that could be confused for hate symbols are not allowed at Fort Collins Comic Con (badges, tattoos, etc…)
7. Fort Collins Comic Con staff have the right to modify these rules on the spot to protect conference attendees and the safety of the event.
8. Be courteous of other attendees when posing for photography. Do not block walkways, doors, elevators, or stairs.
9. Fort Collins Comic Con, employees, volunteers, and sponsors are not responsible for damage incurred to your costume during the conference, and the staff reserves the right to ask you to change if your outfit is not acceptable.

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Cosplay Contest Rules

Click Here For Cosplay Contest Rules

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