…and I figured I’d post them, so you can see a bit of my process. I’d also be interested to know if people think something isn’t unclear or if the tone of something is wrong. Basically, these are meant to be simple and straightforward and friendly, and I try to stick with do rather than don’t as much as I can.

In order to make sure that everyone has the very best BronyCon they possibly can, we have a few rules to help keep you safe. Most of them are common sense, but they’re here just in case. If you have any questions, stop by one of our info booths or grab a staff member and ask. We’re all here to make sure you have a fantastic weekend! Help keep BronyCon a family-friendly convention. If you wouldn’t see it on the show, please don’t bring it into the convention.

If you wouldn’t see it on the show, please don’t bring it into the convention. What’s illegal outside the convention is illegal inside the convention. Please don’t steal, fight, drink (if you’re underage), use illegal drugs, or do anything else that’s illegal in Baltimore, Maryland, or the United States in general.

Please don’t steal, fight, drink (if you’re underage), use illegal drugs, or do anything else that’s illegal in Baltimore, Maryland, or the United States in general. Cosplay is not consent. Make sure you ask first if it’s okay to take pictures or give hugs, and keep your compliments centered on the costume. If you feel uncomfortable, or if you see harassment and don’t feel comfortable intervening yourself, find a security staffer.

Make sure you ask first if it’s okay to take pictures or give hugs, and keep your compliments centered on the costume. If you feel uncomfortable, or if you see harassment and don’t feel comfortable intervening yourself, find a security staffer. Obey all directions given to you by staff members. If you have a problem with a staff member, follow their directions first, then ask to see their supervisor.

If you have a problem with a staff member, follow their directions first, then ask to see their supervisor. This is a public event, and you are in the public eye. Your likeness may be used in crowd shots, and members of the press may ask you for pictures or interviews, which you have the right to refuse. BronyCon issues press badges to credentialed press outlets, and you can always ask to see someone’s press badge if you aren’t sure. In addition, make sure all your props and costumes follow these rules: Attendee attire must cover all areas normally covered by a swimsuit. Costumes and props must be PG-rated, and hate speech is not allowed in any form.

Costumes and props must be constructed and held such that they are not dangerous to anyone who bumps into them accidentally.

Costumes and props that make noise must have volume controls and should be kept at an appropriate volume. The owners of such props must turn the noise down or off if asked to by a staff member.

Props made of live steel — anything crafted of metal with a pointed or blade-like edge, blunt or sharp — are not allowed in the convention space at all.

Real weapons, such as maces or axes, must be disabled or peacebound. Bows must be unstrung or strung with a flimsy string. No projectiles are allowed.

Gun-like props are required to have orange tips, and they must be unloaded and disabled. You may not carry any ammunition on your person.

Real firearms are not allowed in the convention space at all, even if disabled or unloaded. If you are an off-duty law-enforcement officer carrying your firearm through convention space, please check in with the Head of Security when you enter convention space so there are no unfortunate misunderstandings.

Any prop being used in a threatening or unsafe manner is not allowed.

Security may ask you to put your prop away or change your costume at any time based on its acceptability. The Head of Security has the final say on the acceptability of any costume or prop.

I don’t really think the three rules about weapons are going to be necessary, but I think it’s better to have them than not. I also wanted to include where attendees can go to complain about staff (since I’d like to close that feedback loop) and emphasize that our security team is there to help with any harassment issues. (At ACen, I was on a Cosplay Is Not Consent panel, and it was a revelation to people that they could go to IRT for help with those issues. I don’t want anyone else to not know where to go.)

ETA: It occurs to me that BronyCon doesn’t have a posted harassment policy, so here it is (in colloquial terms). Essentially, if a person are harassing someone, depending on the situation (degree of harassment, the feelings of the person being harassed, whether we’ve seen you before), we can go anywhere from a warning to calling the police so the subject of the harassment can file a police report to revoking your badge and asking you to leave convention space. I don’t like taking badges and kicking people out, but BronyCon should be a safe space for everypony, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to help it be that way.