Code of Conduct

Arisia Code of Conduct and Behavior Policies

To help ensure our members' happiness and a successful convention, we have established a Code of Conduct and Behavior Policies for all members and staff. Please read this document and help us have a safe and welcoming convention for all.

Arisia reserves the right to revoke, without refund, the membership of anyone for just cause. This may also lead to being banned from future Arisia conventions.  Persons violating the law may be turned over to the police or the hotel security force.  We will refund the membership fee of anyone who finds the policies contained herein unacceptable prior to accepting their badge. The general principles of this Code of Conduct apply to the Arisia convention and also to all the activities of the convention committee, whether before or after the convention.  

General Demeanor

Arisia expects its members to respect each other and behave in a generally civilized fashion.  Members should respect common sense rules for public behavior, personal interaction, common courtesy, and respect for private property.  If you wouldn't do it in public, please don't do it here.  Additionally, all Staff are representatives of Arisia and therefore are held to a higher standard of behavior, even when off duty.

Reminder: The hotel is not dedicated completely to our use for the weekend.  Members of the general public stay here or visit the hotel to dine and socialize. Please be considerate of non-convention individuals at all times.

Arisia forbids abusive, insulting, harassing or intimidating behavior.

Please report any incidents in which a member of the convention is abusive, insulting, intimidating, bothersome, or acting in an unsafe or illegal manner to Convention Security, an Assistant Div Head, a Division Head, an Assistant Con Chair, or the Con Chair.

Sleeping in public or convention areas of the hotel is forbidden by the hotel management. This is private property.

Program participants, moderators, and event coordinators are responsible for the comfort and safety of convention members in their areas. Disruptive behavior by adults or children is not acceptable. Any request to leave an area must be complied with immediately; appeals should be brought to attention of Arisia Security Staff and directed to the responsible Division Head, the Convention Chairperson, or the Arisia Corporate Executive Board.

Convention Badges must be worn by all attendees and volunteers and must be visible to access any convention area (including Dealers Room and Open Parties). Exceptions may be made for special cases, e.g., uniformed professionals (police or nurses) and masquerade participants while on-stage (but masquerade participants do need to have memberships in any case).

Student Memberships for ages 13–25 require a current valid student ID for students aged 18 and older.

Children as Fans and Companions

Note:  In this section where "Parent" is used, it can mean a parent, guardian, or person charged with a child’s welfare.

Arisia makes every effort to protect fans of all ages and provide a healthy environment with many opportunities for fun and learning. Children are a valued part of our membership, and we welcome their appropriate participation.

All children aged 8 and under must be with an adult, in Turtle Track (Childcare), or in Fast Track (Children's Programming) con areas.

Parents of children ages 9–12 who believe their children are mature enough (and who have their own paid membership) may choose to allow their children to freely roam the convention on their own. Any child who excessively misbehaves or engages in inappropriate, disruptive or dangerous behavior is subject to having free-roaming privileges or their entire membership revoked.

Children under 12 years old may attend with either their own paid convention membership, or with a free Kids-in-Tow membership (with and under the supervision of an authorized adult at all times). Arisia requires that there be at least one supervising adult with a membership accompanying every three Kids-in-Tow members.

Parents should make sure to be aware of the hours of Fast Track  and Turtle Track. Parents who are late in picking up children may have their children barred from Babysitting and/or Fast Track at the current or future conventions. 

Any unattended children (which includes: children not picked up at Fast Track/Turtle Track; children that do not have free-roaming ribbons found outside of Fast Track) will be brought to Arisia Security, who will follow procedure to ensure the safety of the child.

Please remember that the convention and hotel is not "child-proofed."  There are many items (including costumes, displays, art, etc.) that are easily damaged. Additionally there are things that might place a young child at potential risk.  It is the parents’ responsibility to supervise their children so they do not venture anywhere or touch anything inappropriate.

Participation in some regular program items by minors may require parental permission or the presence of a supervising adult. Some program items dealing with adult topics may be closed to children under 18 years of age. Although children under 18 years of age may register as "adults," membership in the convention in no way supersedes local, state, or federal laws. Some items may require the supervision of a child by parents. It is the parents' responsibility to review the schedule and decide which items they will allow their child to participate in, either with or without adult supervision

Please review the separate Children's Policies for a full description and restrictions.

Costume and Masquerade Guidelines

All costumes are welcome at Arisia, whether created by the wearer or not. However, purchased and rented costumes are not eligible for awards. Awards are made to the creator of the costume, not the wearer.

Costume weapons are permitted, but must be peace-bonded by Arisia Security upon arrival at the convention, unless worn solely for the masquerade as part of an on-stage costume. The use of any weaponry as part of your costume, as well as the use of any special effects, must first be approved by the Masquerade Director. Remember, it's okay to surprise the audience, but not the staff.

During the masquerade, flash photography and laser pointers are forbidden.  If you take photos or videos during the Masquerade, do not obstruct the view of other audience members..  All electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, pagers, tablet computers) must be silenced and their screens must be dimmed.

Participants in the masquerade must read and agree to the terms contained in a separate costumer release and masquerade rules.

Parties in Guest Rooms

For individuals or groups wishing to host a party (Open or Closed), you must register with the convention in advance and use a room in the "Active" room block.  Parties registered in advance with Arisia will be moved to a “Party Host room”, which ensures that you are covered by Arisia's corkage agreement (allowing you to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks).  Party hosts can request a free ice delivery from the hotel.

Parties may be "open" (all convention members welcome, or with doors open or ajar, or publicly advertised) or "Closed Parties" (private, doors closed, no advertising). Serving of alcohol is not allowed in Open Party areas.

Party hosts are responsible for adhering to convention policies, hotel rules, and local, state, and federal laws, including the enforcement of the drinking age.  All Party Hosts must review and adhere to the separate Party Hosting Guide.

Smoking, Alcohol, Weapons, Nudity and Illegal Acts

The Westin hotel bans smoking in all areas of the hotel, including all guest rooms. Smoking is allowed outside the building away from the doorways.

Arisia prohibits the consumption of alcohol in all convention areas except for alcohol purchased from the hotel and consumed directly in the area in which it was purchased. The legal drinking age in Massachusetts is 21. You may be asked to provide a valid ID if ordering alcoholic beverages.
Arisia's corkage waiver does not apply to serving of alcohol. According to hotel policy all alcoholic beverages must be purchased through the hotel.
Laws governing illicit substances, obscenity, weapons, public behavior, and the treatment of minors must be strictly observed. Remember, there may be members of the Boston Police Department on patrol at the convention.

The list of Illegal weapons in Massachusetts include, but are not limited to: blackjacks, billy clubs, any sort of double-edged knife (symmetrical cross-section, even if one side is dull), shuriken (throwing stars) and nunchucks.  For further information see MA General Laws, Part 4, Title 1, Chapter 269, Section 10.

While the hotel is private property, the hotel is still required by the Boston Licensing Board to enforce standards of conduct and nudity. Accordingly, street-legal attire is required in all convention spaces and hallways.

Photography, Videography, and Press Policy

This is a private event; by registering, individuals grant Arisia and designated photographers a non-exclusive right to photograph, videotape, otherwise record, and publish (in print or electronically) themselves, companions, activities, costumes, artwork, sales goods, and other property used or displayed in their normal participation of the convention.

Photographers, ask permission before you photograph or audio/videotape any individual or group.  Anyone who does not wish to be photographed or recorded should state their wishes unambiguously.

We presume that you are acting in an amateur capacity unless otherwise stated. If you are acting on behalf of a publication, video production organization, or news medium (freelance or employed) of any kind, you must register as a member of the press (commercial publication, media, fanzine). Press passes may be obtained by going to the information desk and ask to speak with the press liaison to receive an orientation and press kit. Articles or media coverage released after the convention may earn you a membership to the next Arisia, or a refund for this year. 

Anyone wishing to sell photographs, audio, or video recordings of any part of the convention (including the masquerade) must read and agree to the terms contained in a separate photographers/videographers contract.

Individuals or organizations violating these guidelines by selling, reproducing, broadcasting, or publishing materials obtained at an Arisia convention without permission may be guilty of copyright violation and/or trespass, and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. If you have any questions as to what is appropriate, contact the Press Liaison for further information.

Other Policies

Dealers are limited to the Dealer's Room in the Galleria space.  Vending from hotel rooms is not allowed.
All raffles and drawings, whether for profit or charitable reasons, must comply with the City of Boston guidelines.
Attendees may only post signs on official Arisia Sign Kiosks, located around the hotel, using the tape provided.