Cosplay weapon rules

General Cosplay Rules

  1. Dress Code:All cosplayers must wear the following articles at all times while inside the convention center:Clothing: This is a family friendly event. No costume is considered No Costume. Absolutely no nudity. Please ensure that all costumes are properly secured at all times and are not prone to “indecent accidents”.Footwear: To ensure your safety, we ask that you wear footwear at all times. You should consider wearing a minimum of sandals (ie, flip flops) at all times even if your character is barefoot. Skates and rollerblades are prohibited in the hallways. Sneaker-skates my only be worn as a sneaker at all times inside the convention area. Banzaicon will not be held accountable for any damages or injury that occurs due to inadequate or improper footwear.
  2. Mock or Play-fighting is not allowed in the hallways and convention area. Wielding or handling weapons or props in a way that could potentially cause harm to others is prohibited, whether there was an intent to harm others or not. Mock-fighting is allowed on stage during cosplay but must be carefully rehearsed, reviewed and approved by cosplay staff.
  3. Large Costumes: Please be sure to keep all large costumes contained as much as possible. (We recommend no more than 2 feet in all directions unless it can be folded up or contained) We recommend the use of handlers to help manage your costume if it is larger than this. Large costumes or large parts of costumes are not allowed inside the dealer’s room due to blocking the flow of traffic and other hazards.
  4. Picture taking: Do not stop for pictures in smaller, crowded hallways. Please go outside, to a less crowded area, or to the designated picture taking areas. Do not block doors, ramps, exits, corridors, and aisles while taking pictures.
  5. We reserve the right to remove you from the convention and/or cosplay events at any time. If for any reason we feel that your actions pose a threat or hazard to others while at Banzaicon, we will ask you to stop or you will be removed from the cosplay events. We simply ask you to be courteous towards others at all times.

Banzaicon Weapon’s Policy

Weapons NOT Permitted

1. NO LIVE STEEL at all will be permitted on the premises.

Live steel is defined as swords, knives, bayonets, cane-swords, and/or other objects made of metal, which can take an edge. This holds true regardless of whether the object is actually sharp. This includes star knives/shurikens.

Real Swords may be allowed on stage for the masquerade/cosplay contest only, but they are not to be swung. These will be dealt with on a case by case basis and are subject to approval by the Cosplay Head and/or the convention chair.

2. GUNS: The following types of guns are NOT PERMITTED.

  • Real guns
  • Stun guns

Water guns are permitted as long as they are not loaded.

3. There are to be no explosives or chemicals of any kind, including but not limited to smoke powder, sparklers and fireworks.

Weapons and Props Permitted

Bokens, wooden swords, walking sticks.

Fake or made-up prop weaponry (for example, made of wood, foam, bondo, resin, plaster, cardboard, etc) are permitted if they are safe and not dangerous to the other con-goers around you. For example, dangerous conditions include but are not limited to wires sticking out, items that trip passersby, clothes lining an attendee, etc.

Please try to limit the size of prop to less than 8 feet in height and weighing less than 50 pounds. If you do happen to make something heavy, make sure you are able to carry it without a problem.

Behavior with weapons

Anything can be innocent or harmful depending on how its being handled. If you handle something innocently, you won’t be bothered about it. If it appears that what you are carrying may become a problem, we will ask you to put it in your room/car. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Any weapon purchased in the dealers’ room that is boxed, should remain boxed and stored in your private quarters. Weapons are not to be taken out of their packaging or wrappings while at the convention.

All questionable items will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Anything deemed illegal outside the convention is deemed illegal inside the convention premises. All Banzaicon staff decisions on weapons are final.