Convention Policies

Convention Rules

  • Convention Areas consist of the Vendor Rooms and the hallways around them on the lobby level, all rooms and hallways on the lower level, as well as the rooms and hallways between the Chase Room and the Chesapeake Suite.
  • Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in any convention area. The only exception to this is where the hotel officially provides alcohol.
  • Maryland state law prohibits all outside alcohol at the Convention.
  • No unsheathed swords or knives, uncapped prop, paintball, airsoft, or splatter guns, laser tag, or similar articles will be allowed. Laser pointers are not allowed in convention areas (with the exception of those used by speakers) as they may cause eye injury.
  • Our hotel is smoke-free; smoking is not allowed in any part of the hotel buildings.
  • Damage to the hotel or convention property is the financial responsibility of the perpetrator. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for damages done by minors.
  • Badges must be worn within the convention areas at all times. Lost badges will be replaced for a $30 fee. Proper photo identification must be provided.
  • Interference with Shore Leave Security or with convention radio communications will not be permitted.
  • The Hotel allows pets in the sleeping rooms, but the Convention does not allow them in the convention areas. Please see our “Service Animals and Pet Policy” for further details.
  • Please respect the posted parking restrictions in the lot above Frankie & Vinnie’s. Parking there is by permit only!
  • Any disruption in the Convention Areas, as well as any violations of the Convention rules, will result in immediate expulsion from the Convention. Refunds will not be given.
  • Practice the principles of IDIC, The Golden Rule, common sense, and have a good time!!
  • Thank you. We appreciate your cooperation.

Seating

Seat saving will not be allowed in the main room. If the room becomes full, five (5) minutes before each speaker starts, all empty seats will be declared free. Convention Security will assign empty seats.

Personal Conduct

Shore Leave is to be enjoyed by all people present, including attending fans, guests, and staff. In order for everyone to comfortably participate in the activities in a somewhat crowded environment, we all need to agree to respect each other, our personal spaces, our differing opinions, and to share responsibility for everyone’s personal, physical, and emotional comfort and safety. We expect courtesy and cooperation from everyone in this regard. If anyone feels they cannot resolve an uncomfortable situation on their own, please do not hesitate to seek out a member of our committee for assistance. If you feel that your or someone else’s safety is at risk, please contact Shore Leave security, hotel security, or local law enforcement. If, in the opinion of the con chairs, an episode of harassment has occurred, the person committing the offense will have their badge confiscated and will be asked to leave the convention without compensation.

Ten-Forward

When Ten-Forward closes, the room is closed. This is so that we can get the room set up for programming to begin on time Sunday.

For your safety, dancing is not allowed on the stage. By Maryland state law, outside alcohol is not permitted, and violators will be asked to leave Ten-Forward.

Video Recording

Electronic recording of any kind (videotape, DVD, cell phone, etc.) is not allowed in the Hunt or Valley Rooms.

Photo Opportunities

All Photo Op sessions will take place on Saturday morning, July 16. The location will be at the end of the long downstairs hallway past the ballrooms. You should arrive just prior to or as close to the start time as possible. There will be signs posted outside of the Photo Ops area telling you where and when you will be able to pick up your photos. Please check the Pocket Program and near the Information Table for exact times. If you did not pre-register for a Photo Op and would be interested in purchasing one, please inquire at the Registration Desk for ticket availability.

Personal Presentations

Personal presentations while guests are on the stage are not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, giving presents, and asking for hugs, kisses, handshakes, or photographs with the guests.

Autographs

Aimee Garcia and Gates McFadden will each sign one item for no additional charge during the Official Autograph Sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

One autograph is permitted, per guest, per membership badge, per day, during the official autograph sessions on any item that you provide. This is subject to on-site agreement with the guests. Please note: the program book will count as your one free item during the official autograph sessions; it is not in addition to your one free signature. Signing the program book outside of the official autograph sessions, free of charge, will be at the discretion of the guest. Please be sure to inquire about the charge before obtaining the signature.

The official autograph sessions line will be formed as badge numbers are announced. Lowest numbers are called and form the line first; anyone may enter the line anytime after their badge number is called, but they will not be bumped in front of higher numbers that have been called. We do not line up in strict numerical order, but by number range. Numbers will be announced in all convention areas of the hotel, so please do not linger in the area while awaiting your number – go enjoy the con!

Lone individuals with disabilities may report to the waiting area of the autograph line when the number range for their badge is announced. They will be fed into the line when their number range reaches the front of the line. Individuals with disabilities that are with a companion or a group may report to the waiting area when the companion or remainder of the group enters the autograph line. The individual will be allowed to join the companion or group when they reach the waiting area.

Dealers may report to the waiting area of the autograph line when the number range for their badge is announced. They will be fed into the line when their number range reaches the front of the line. Please note that this can still take some time, so the following options are recommended:

  • Have a trusted individual wait in line with any dealer badges and items to be signed.
  • Arrive near the end of the autograph session.
  • Wait until Sunday when the autograph session is generally smaller.

Any other feed-ins are handled on a case-by-case basis.

It is not permitted to present wrapped gifts to the celebrity guests in the autograph line due to security reasons.

Service Animals and Pets

The Delta Hotel allows pets in the sleeping rooms per their policy found online at https://www.marriott.com/hotels/fact-sheet/travel/bwidh-delta-hotels-baltimore-hunt-valley/. This policy limits Hotel Guests to 1 pet per room (pet maximum weight 50 pounds) with a non-refundable $75 fee per stay. The animal must not be left unsupervised in the sleeping room and must be on a leash when not in the sleeping room (including outside).

Animals are not allowed in the convention areas except for Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) service animals. Service animals must be leashed and always wear proper identifying tag, collar or vest in the convention areas. The ADA allows for trained service animals to accompany their matched partner in a place of business.

Per the ADA, service animals are:

  • Individually trained animals matched with a specific disabled person to perform assistance tasks for that person
  • Working animals, not pets

The following animals are not considered service animals per the ADA and not allowed in the convention areas:

  • Household pets
  • Animals in training to be service animals who are not accompanying their matched partner
  • Animals used for emotional support or easing anxiety

This rule also applies to Search and Rescue (SAR) animals in training. A SAR animal is trained in public at either organized training events or only after permission is granted by the owners of the public premises for the training to take place. The hotel will not grant such permission unless the public event is an SAR training event or demonstration, which Shore Leave is not.

All service animals on the convention floor are expected to behave in accordance with their training. Shore Leave and the Delta Hotel will request the animal be removed if an animal becomes disruptive to the proceedings, to include (but not limited to) the following:

  • Barking, growling, biting or snapping at Attendees, Staff, Vendors/Dealers or Guests
  • Jumping on Attendees, Staff, Vendors/Dealers or Guests
  • Knocking over, chewing on or otherwise damaging hotel or convention floors, furniture, equipment, displays and signage, including that of Guests, Vendors/Dealers and exhibitors
  • Urinating or defecating on hotel or convention floors, furniture, equipment, displays and signage, including that of Guests, Vendors/Dealers and exhibitors
  • Running loose on the convention floor and otherwise not staying with their matched partner while attending the convention

The seating area for disabled attendees in the Valley Ballroom for main programming will include specified seats with enough floor space for an Attendee to keep their service animal safely next to them and out of the way of foot traffic. Attendees with service animals who do not utilize this reserved seating may be asked to re-locate to this specific area and/or leave the ballroom if the Attendee places their animal in a way that blocks foot traffic or causes a tripping hazard for Staff, Guests and Attendees.

Anyone experiencing an issue with an animal in the convention areas is asked to go to the Disability Desk located in the lobby, the Registration Desk on the lower level of the convention center or the Information Desk on the upper level of the convention center and ask for a convention chair to be contacted.

COVID Policy

Updated June 2, 2022

All attendees, guests, vendors, committee, and volunteers must be fully vaccinated to enter any convention space. No exceptions will be accepted. If you cannot be vaccinated (age, medical issue, etc.) and you have purchased a membership, you may request a refund of that membership. Proof of vaccination will be required in order to pick up your badge at registration (original physical covid card or official digital covid card). The name on the covid card must match the name on your ID. You must appear in person and show the required documents in order to obtain your badge (i.e. you can only pick up your own badge, not other badges for family or friends).

Recommendations:

  1. We highly recommend but not require that you wear a mask, given the increasing case counts locally during the warmer months. Please bring a mask with you just in case.
  2. The CDC recommends that if your initial vaccination is more than five (5) months old, you get a booster shot. If you are over 50, the CDC also recommends that you get your second booster shot, if your first booster was more than five (5) months ago.

Let’s keep everyone safe and healthy so we can meet again next time. We have lost too many members of fandom already. Remember Spock’s words: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” We understand that some people may still have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. We recommend visiting the CDC’s page “Myths and Facts About COVID-19 Vaccines” (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html) for more information.