General

Further Confusion strives to give as many people as possible a fun time. Most of the convention is for general audiences (PG-13 or less). We will mark clearly the few areas and events which may exceed a general audience rating. At registration, you may choose to sign an age statement, stating that you are over 18 years of age. If you choose not to sign this statement, or are not over 18 years of age, your badge will be marked and you will only be allowed admittance to those areas or events which are for a general audience. Please be prepared to show your badge any time you need access to convention space or events - it identifies you as a fully-paid attendee of the convention.

Further Confusion likes to hold itself out as a professional convention. We also hope that each attendee enjoys the fun that our wide-ranging community can provide. Please consider how your actions reflect on the convention and how they may impact or affect others. We take pride in our appearance and we want you to as well, whilst still having fun. To this effect, if the convention becomes aware of any of our attendees engaging in illegal activities either in convention space or in private hotel rooms, we will be forced to inform the proper authorities.

Although this year we are consuming all of the function space at the hotel, keep in mind that there are always other guests of the hotel, especially on the first floor and lobby areas. Offending the hotel's other guests is inappropriate. Impressing them with how much fun and enthusiasm we have for our fandom IS appropriate. What you consider to be acceptable behavior may not be so for others. Consideration of others is the hallmark of a mature individual and a healthy fandom. We encourage that courtesy from all participants in our community.

Safety and security matters are generally handled by 'FLARE', who are a group of experienced individuals used by Further Confusion and other conventions. FLARE can be contacted through Convention Operations (see below) or by asking any of the convention staff. FLARE may ask you to stop an activity or to move it to a private room. Repeat offenders may even be required to return their badges and to leave the convention premises. We ask our attendees always to comply with FLARE's requests promptly. If you feel that FLARE has made an unfair request, or has not dealt with you in an fair manner, you may bring this up at a later time with the convention Chair or Vice Chair.

Costumes and Clothing

Use your common sense in public areas. If you have to ask or think twice about doing it in public, take it to your room. For example, kissing and holding hands, regardless of sexual orientation, are fine. Groping, tongue battles and nudity, regardless of sexual orientation, are not. While collars and leashes may be worn discreetly, blatant displays of bondage or BDSM in public may result in FLARE asking you to return your badge. No costume is no costume. We ask you to always wear at least a shirt, shorts, and shoes in public areas of the hotel.

Body Painters should always keep a shirt handy at all times in case they need to pass through the lobby or other areas that the hotel's other guests might frequent. Additionally, if you are wearing body paint of any kind, please refrain from sitting on hotel furniture. Similarly, the lobby and hotel furniture is NOT the proper place for decorating someone as a tiger. We have a Creator's Lounge that may be used for impromptu makeup demonstrations. Public exposure of genitalia, buttocks or (female) breasts is not permitted. As a rule, a minimum of a non-thong bathing suit must be worn at all times in public areas. "Anatomically correct" costumes must be likewise clothed.

Harassment and Assault

No means no. Stop means stop. Go away means go away. If someone won't understand these simple rules, contact a member of FLARE. They have the right to remove an attendee's badge for not following these commands. Harassment is any behavior that intentionally annoys or alarms another person. This includes unwanted physical contact, following someone in a public area without a legitimate reason, or threatening physical violence. An offender may lose their badge and the matter may be referred to the proper law enforcement authorities. If you are being harassed, immediately contact FLARE, either through a nearby member of staff, or by phoning convention operations from any hotel phone and asking for FLARE. Convention operations' phone number is in the pocket program, or you can dial 0 and ask for Further Confusion convention operations..

Buying and Selling

Further Confusion has two main areas where merchandise and services are sold - the Dealer's Room, and the Furry Market Place. Anyone who receives payment for goods or services (such as body painting, massage, etc.) in convention space must comply with all the conventions rules regarding this. The Dealer's Room Rules apply in this situation, regardless of the location, and vendors must ensure they have a California Sales Tax ID.

If anyone wishes to request payment for goods or services where the proceeds will go to charity, Further Confusion must be informed of this ahead of time to allow for the convention to organize the correct tax reporting.

Further Confusion takes very seriously its legal obligations in this area. Any solicitation for payment at the convention that does not comply with these obligations may result in the offender losing their badge and the requirement to return all payments.

Parties, Alcohol and Zero Drug Tolerance

Further Confusion does not tolerate the serving of alcohol to minors. If you are hosting a party where alcohol is being served, it is your responsibility as host to ensure that the age of anyone drinking alcohol is checked. You should also designate someone not to drink, so that there is a fully competent person present to deal with any emergencies that might arise.

Further Confusion DOES NOT tolerate the use of illegal substances. The violation of the above rules could subject you to the immediate loss of your badge and convention privileges and referral of the matter to other authorities. The last thing we want is for someone attending our convention to end up in the hospital, or even worse, dead.

Water Pistols, Silly String, and Weapons

Due to the potential damage to property, water guns, silly string and the like are prohibited in public areas of the hotel or convention space.

If it looks like a real gun in any way, shape, or form, it should not be brought to the convention. The State of California has recently instituted new state laws regarding replica weapons.

There should be no "live" steel or whips being wielded in any area of the convention. If a bladed weapon or whip is part of your costume, please have it peace bonded. This can be done out of the FLARE Base at any time. If you kill it you will have to eat it!

Photography and Videotape

Further Confusion wants you to have great memories from a fantastic convention. Photographs and videotape footage by attendees are generally allowed in all common areas of the convention with the exception of the Art Show. Specific rules regarding these matters may exist for selected events. Please consult the program guide at the convention for information relating to specific events. Flash photography will be allowed at the Masquerade.

When photographing or videotaping individuals or costumes, please use common courtesy and ask before photographing them. Please respect their rights if they do not wish to be photographed or videotaped. If someone asks or otherwise indicates (remember many folks in costume do not speak) that they do not wish to be photographed, DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH THEM.

Photography or videography for the purpose of sale or publication to the press is expressly forbidden unless written permission has been obtained from AAE, Inc. in accordance with its press policy. Individuals may take pictures and videotapes for private viewing or sharing with friends. We ask our attendees to be courteous to those they wish to take pictures of, especially if you wish to place those pictures or video clips onto a personal web page or similar Internet archive. In this case, please ask your subjects for their explicit permission to do this.

Attendees should be aware that footage gathered by staff members in public areas of the convention, including events and panels, may be used in a highlights tape, and that attendees may appear in that tape without compensation. As mentioned above, please consult the pocket program guide for specific video, audio, and photography restrictions for specific events. FC will require a release only for footage that is obtained in areas that are not fully public (i.e. private functions and personal interviews).

These rules apply to all attendees (Dealers, Guests, or any level of regular membership). All members of the press and staff will conform with Further Confusion's Press Policy and we encourage attendees to become familiar with those rules as well.

If You Need Assistance ...

Further Confusion has a Convention Operations room which is staffed night and day throughout the convention. One of their roles is to assist you if you have any problems whilst at the convention. You can find their location and phone number in the pocket program, or you can dial 0 on any internal hotel phone, ask for Further Confusion Convention Operations, and they will be happy to help you in any way they can. Remember, we cannot address a problem unless we know about it.

If Convention Operations cannot assist you directly, they will have someone contact you who should be able to. Messages may be left with Convention Operations for executive staff for less urgent matters, although it is not usually possible to pass messages on to non-executive staff. As with all messages left with Con Ops, please remember to give details of how, when, and where the recipient can contact you.

Further Confusion has a large staff to handle most aspects of the running of the convention. This allows the Chair and Vice Chair to remain available to talk about any comments or concerns that our attendees bring to them. If you see them around the corridors, feel free to speak to them - even if they appear harried, ensuring our attendees have a good time is one of their primary roles! If you need to contact the convention Chair or Vice Chair at any other time, you can do this by leaving a message for them at Convention Operations.

Have a fun, and safe convention!

If you have any questions or comments regarding Further Confusion policies, please send email to .