A “prop” is something that you carry around as part of your costume in your hands or on your person. We use the term “weapon” to describe any prop that is viewed as related to combat or violence regardless of how you may be acting (swords, knives, guns, spears, bows, whips and the like). The moment a prop of any kind is misused or brandished in such a fashion, it becomes a “weapon” and will be treated as such (baseball bats, paddles, pipes, tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers, up to and including the kitchen sink – ANYTHING can be considered a “weapon”, at the discretion of the METROCON Staff).

Anyone who has a prop or weapon for his or her costume will need to have it inspected and registered with Prop Check when they pick up their badge, located on the second-floor landing outside the Mezzanine level or the Franklin St entrance on the exterior of the building. Your convention guest badge and props will be marked with an indicator that you’re permitted to carry your prop or weapon. EVERY prop will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and all props must be inspected at Prop Check the first time they enter the building.

The hours for Prop Check are the same as for Registration – if you are arriving with a prop for the first time, please plan to have it checked during registration hours!

You may be asked to take further measures to make the prop safe before it will be given approval. Be prepared for this contingency.

Those who have their props and weapons approved at Prop Check MUST keep them under their physical control at all times. We WILL be checking to make sure that the owner and the item are together. If you loan your prop to someone else, or you fail to register your prop/weapon with METROCON, it may be confiscated, and you may be removed from the convention.
Cardboard, paper mache, resin, fiberglass, wood, and plastic weapons are preferred – we ask that ALL PROPS be constructed of light and flexible materials, and as little wood and metal as possible. As stated before, any “prop” may be considered a “weapon” in a certain situation, at the discretion of the staff. Props and weapons that are constructed of the preferred materials will certainly receive less hassle at Prop Check and throughout the weekend by METROCON staff, so save yourself some time that could be spent enjoying the weekend and follow our requests and policies regarding props and weapons.