Rules & Policies
All rules are subject to change at any time and without notice.
Anti-Harassment Policy
Wicked West Comic Expo is dedicated to providing a harassment-free 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 will not tolerate harassment of any kind during the Wicked West Comic Expo.
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, the following:
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 as harassment even if it is not directed at a particular individual but takes place within someone’s viewing or hearing.
This policy is in effect at the Wicked West Comic Expo, during set up/tear down, and at any other events hosted by the Wicked West Comic Expo. This policy applies to all attendees, employees, exhibitors, sponsors, and panelists.
Complaints of harassment will be taken seriously and appropriate action, up to and including, being expelled from the event without a refund, may be taken.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the Wicked West Comic Expo staff immediately. All complaints of harassment will be thoroughly, promptly, and objectively investigated. Staff may request statements from individuals involved, ask for witnesses, or take any other steps necessary to complete a thorough investigation before taking appropriate action.
All staff are able to help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe during the convention. We value your attendance and are dedicated to creating a safe and secure experience for everyone.
Recommendations for Parents of Young Children
We highly recommend writing YOUR emergency contact number on your children’s badges. This is the first number we will call in the event you are separated.
Pick a spot to meet-up with your kids in case you get separated. We recommend the Information Booth at the entrance. This is also where any lost children will be brought to.
All of our staff can be identified by their STAFF badges. All of these badges will have “STAFF” printed on them and have a red border. These people are here to help you in the event of an emergency.
If you become separated from your child, please notify a member of our staff immediately; instruct your children to do the same.
Children under 12 years of age must not be unattended. If a parent/caregiver cannot be found, our staff will notify security.
Please do not allow your children to run, there’s a lot of caped/winged/sharp superheroes about who might not see them.
Children must wear shoes.
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.
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 building. While inside, you will be escorted by one of our staff and/or members of our security team while searching for your child. We reserve the right to verify with the child and other parents and/or guardians before releasing them to you.
Rules for Attendees
Purchase of a Wicked West Comic Expo badge, acceptance, and use of this badge indicates agreement with the following terms and conditions:
Your badge cannot be replaced if stolen, lost, or destroyed and is valid only for the day for which it is issued.
Your badge cannot be altered in any way and will be void if done so.
This badge is not transferable or redeemable for cash.
Reproduction of this badge is not permitted. Fake badges will be confiscated and you will be permanently banned from attending the Wicked West Comic Expo.
Unauthorized or unlawful resale or attempted resale is prohibited by law and grounds for seizure without compensation.
Wicked West Comic Expo badges may only be purchased from the Wicked West Comic Expo website and only for personal use. You may not buy badges with the intent to resell them.
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.
NO REFUNDS/EXCHANGES.
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 Wicked West Comic Expo, any and all sponsors, employees, volunteers and its agents from any and all liabilities/claims resulting from such risk, danger, damage, injury or death.
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 Wicked West Comic Expo badge on, plan on that you might be in a few photos by either staff or other attendees.
Badge holder agrees to not take pictures or video where posted as prohibited.
Please read our Anti-Harassment Policy thoroughly.
No signs offering services or making requests to be hugged or touched. No other signs of any kind (staff has the final say).
You must wear shoes..
Do not cut any lines.
Be respectful to your fellow con-goers.
If you or someone near you needs help, alert a Wicked West Comic Expo staff member right away.
Wicked West Comic Expo is a family-friendly convention. Please watch the swear words (particularly around children).
Rules for Cosplayers
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).
Prop weapons MUST be rendered completely inoperable, clearly distinguishable at a cursory glance from a real weapon, and totally, utterly incapable of harming the badge holder 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).
All props must be peace-bonded by Wicked West Comic Expo staff. After inspection, all guns will have zip-ties 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 peace-bonding. Peace-bonding is mandatory. You may also be checked at any time by Wicked West Comic Expo staff or security.
Props may not be brandished in a threatening manner.
If your costume could be confused for local law enforcement, please don’t wear that costume.
Hate symbols or cosplay elements that could be confused for hate symbols are not allowed at Wicked West Comic Expo (hats, patches, tattoos, etc…)
Wicked West Comic Expo staff have the right to modify these rules on the spot to protect conference attendees and the safety of the event.
Be courteous of other attendees when posing for photography. Do not block walkways, doors, elevators, or stairs.
Wicked West Comic Expo, staff, security, and sponsors are not responsible for damage incurred to your costume during the Wicked West Comic Expo, and the staff reserves the right to ask you to change if your outfit is not acceptable.
Rules for the Exhibitor Area
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.
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.
Please do not lean on an artist’s table, especially not on their artwork.
DO NOT take photographs in the Exhibitor Area unless you get permission from the artist.
Do not go behind the artist’s table unless expressly invited by the artist to do so.
Do not obstruct an artist’s table while in Exhibitor Area unless you’re buying from them, or talking to them.
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.