Harassment is generally any behavior that intentionally annoys or alarms another person. This includes any unwanted physical contact, following someone around a public area without a legitimate reason, or otherwise infringing on their personal liberties. Assault is legally defined as an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to the person of another, coupled with an apparent ability to do so, and doing some act which creates a well-founded fear in such other person that such violence is imminent; in the state of Florida assault is a 2nd Degree misdemeanor. Neither activity will be tolerated at METROCON. Please remember that if you approach someone and they tell you ‘no’ or to leave them alone, your business with them is done. If you do not leave them alone as they have requested, your actions may be grounds for a complaint of harassment. If you feel that you are being harassed, or you have been assaulted, please report the matter immediately to convention staff, security staff, or Tampa Police Department. Offenders will be required to leave the convention, and may be liable for criminal charges as well.  We recommend that all harassment be reported immediately.

There is no food from outside sources allowed in the Tampa Convention Center. Only food purchased in the convention center is allowed on property.

Please do not post any flyers to the doors & walls of the convention center. They will be removed immediately if they are put up. Also, make sure your flyers stay within a PG-13 rating. If you wish to hand out flyers for your anime club, or other event, there will be a fan table available to place your flyers on, at the discretion of the Head of Registration.

Federal and state laws prohibit serving alcohol to people under the age of 21. Underage drinking will not be tolerated and will result in your removal from the convention.  There is no drinking in public/function spaces, or in the convention area. It is likely that hotel security will be conducting spot checks to ensure compliance in the hotel rooms. If you drink, please drink responsibly, and do it in places that allow it. Public drunkenness will result in your being asked to leave the convention and not return. If you drink, don’t drive! Please have a designated driver. The Tampa Convention Center staff will be happy to call you a cab if you need one. There are plenty of bars and opportunities to drink, however the METROCON show floor itself (all badge-checked convention areas) are a DRY ZONE, meaning that no alcohol may be present in the convention areas, and if a patron is perceived to be under the influence, we may ask you to leave the convention area up to and sometimes including trespass and removal of badge.

METROCON gladly complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. As such, trained animal assistants (“working animals”) are allowed in the public/function areas of the convention center and in the hotel. If you’ve never encountered a working animal before, please keep in mind that their owners have them to assist them in everyday life; they are not to be played with, called out to, or otherwise disturbed, as their primary function is to serve as guides. No other animals are permitted in the convention center at any time. According to Tampa Convention Center policy, if any animal (even service animals) becomes a safety or biological waste threat to the other inhabitants of the facility, the animal and its owner may be asked to leave the premises – this will be enforced by Tampa Convention Center security as necessary, and there is nothing we can do about their judgment on this policy.

Our staff has been selected based on the knowledge they possess of their departments, and our trust in their judgment. If a STAFF member requests something of you, please comply. If you feel you are being treated unfairly, you may request to speak to their superior, however this is not always possible due to time constraints throughout the weekend, and will most likely result in the same answer you were originally given, in addition to time wasted that you could have spent enjoying the convention. We take complaints and disputes very seriously and we are always willing to hear out both sides of a story.

TYPES OF CONVENTION STAFF:

• STAFF: These are department heads and the people directly underneath them. Staff has the final authority on any decision regarding your behavior or any other policy.
• SECURITY: If someone from Security tells you something, it’s for a very good reason. Please listen to them. They are here for your safety and the well-being of the entire convention.
• SPECIAL GUESTS: People wearing a Special Guest badge are just that – guests of the convention. Notables in the Japanese animation or video game industry in some form or fashion, they’re one of the main reasons most people come to conventions. Treat them with politeness and respect.
• VOLUNTEERS: By far the people you are most likely to encounter throughout the weekend, these are the people who are working in exchange for free registration and attendance to METROCON functions (when they’re not on the clock, of course). These are badge checkers and other stationed positions throughout the convention who have received direct instruction from the staff.

• CAST: There are several shows and performances at the convention, and many of the performers are wearing official cast badges. These are some of the most knowledgeable people at the convention – feel free to ask them for help or assistance if you can not find a staff member or volunteer. Cast members may, on occasion, be acting as staff members or volunteers, so respect them as such.
• PRESS: METROCON will have in attendance various members of the press. Many work for large TV networks or local newspapers, and others work for podcasts or anime magazines – if you can comply with their requests, try to do so in a polite manner. They’re just trying to do their job.

METROCON convention badges/wristbands must be worn at all times. If you have no badge/wristband, you will not be granted admittance to the convention areas. If you lose your badge/wristband or find one, please notify Registration immediately. Replacement badges are NOT available for purchase or otherwise – you will be required to purchase another pass at full prices. We strongly recommend putting a unique name or identifier on your badge (we provide stickers and markers just for that at registration!) so that if it is lost and returned to Registration, we can reunite you with it.

It shouldn’t need to be said, but please use common sense when in public areas. A good general rule is: if you have to ask or think twice about whether or not you should do it in public, DON’T. Convention staff has the final authority on what is and is not acceptable in public areas, and may ask you to stop an activity, or take it elsewhere; compliance with these requests is mandatory. Repeat offenders may be required to hand over their badges and leave convention areas. Remember that you are a guest of both the convention center and the hotel you are staying in, and that there are other guests utilizing the same facilities – some of whom may not be in any way affiliated with the convention. Be courteous and do not disturb other guests with noise or activities inappropriate to the time and place. If the convention center staff request you to quiet down or stop a certain behavior, do so; if you do not, your badge will be confiscated. We’re all here to have a good time, so please act responsibly.