Convention Security

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Convention Security is the enforcement of rules and the presence of people to keep order at conventions.

"Security" is one role of people on the concom.

Security by Fans

• Dorsai Irregulars and Klingon Diplomatic Corps
• "There was a group hired to do security called, "The Amazons," an all-girl security force, run with the aid of a few minor male persons. They were OK, considering that they didn't know the hotel, and that a lot of their people backed out at the last minute, sick (Remember the flu?) and they had to use substitutes." --

Security Provided by Fans for the Guests of Honor

Many of the people that get themselves on the "goffer" lists really aren't the type that should be doing important security jobs at cons. I have seen a lot of things go wrong because hassled staff or committee or whoever assigned the wrong person to a job. This can be dangerous for the fans as well as the stars, art work, funds, ect [sic]. But there isn't time to get to know ALL the volunteer help before the con, you say. Agreed, but there is a solution. There are groups that will do convention security} usually for the price of expenses. There is the famous Klingon Diplomatic Corps (KDC or Dorsai, as they are also called), and a new group being formed called the Athenas. . There are others. If conventions are ever going to improve safety and enjoyment by the good fans, they will have to start using these types of groups more.

Costumes and Weapons

Weapon policy at cons in regards to costuming, role-playing, and reenactments... See peace bond.

From the 1985 Timecon program book:

WEAPONS IN GENERAL - We understand that a lot of Hall Costumes require some type of weapon for effect. Yet at the same time there are a lot of people who bring weapons to conventions and misuse them. Hopefully at TIMECON we can reach a happy medium, and remember the famous quote from an earlier Convention:

"If You Kill It. You Eat It"

This Policy also extends to inanimate objects, i.e., furniture, trash cans, walls, etc. Unless you have a strange diet, don't damage the Convention Center or the hotels.

FIREARMS - NO REAL FIREARMS will be allowed at TIMECON. If it looks real, then don't bring it. All guns, phasers, etc. must be bolstered at all times. DO NOT point, aim, or shoot your weapon at anyone.

EDGED WEAPONS - Edged weapons (including swords, knives, axes, spears, etc.) must be sheathed and peace bonded at all times. Drawing your weapon may be grounds for ejection from the con. You are also responsible for any damage or injury your weapon causes; whether it was done by you or any other person that has your weapon. All Edged Weapons must be registered and approved by security.

OTHERS - This includes projectiles such as crossbows, long or short bows, stars, throwing knives, or similar items. Any item that emits a harmful energy in the form of light (Lasers or Blinding Light), or heat (Flame or Hot Pokers) are also in this category and are all forbidden at the con. Any and all weapons brought to the con must conform to the California Penal Code regarding "Dangerous Weapons Control Law, Part 4, Title 2, Sections 1200-12590.

WEAPONS IN THE "REAL" WORLD - As stated earlier, drawing or pointing your weapon at anyone is not allowed nor appreciated. Another note of interest; unlike many cons, this one is not at a hotel. Many events of TIMECON will be at the Hilton, but the majority of the events will be at the San Jose Convention Center across the street. Drawing your weapon while on the street is VERY unwise.

Note: There are three exceptions to the rules regarding weapons: Weapons may be drawn for photographs as long as Security has been notified and is present. Some restriction regarding Weapons used in the Costume Contest may or may not differ from the above set rules. Consult the Costume Contest Rules for information on their policy.

Those SCA members participating in their demonstration will be allowed to have their weapons drawn and displayed for demonstration only. They must follow the above rules at all other times.

From the second issue of Mindscanner, a Klingon-centric zine:

KNIVES. In recent weeks, I've noticed several Klingons at cons — not from KAG — wearing actual combat and hunting knives. Don't even try this in OUR outfit. I don't care about how good you say you cure with blades, weapons, or what kind of training you have — at cons and events you CANNOT predict what people will do. Leave the real stuff at home. Some of you, especially on the west coast, know what weapons policies are in effect there. TOTAL BAN. All because some jerk took a sword or knife, and did something dumb. Most of the USA is quite fortunate, and I would hate it if the Klingons, especially the KLINGON ASSAULT GROUP, were to louse things up for everyone.

The Unpopularity of the Fire Marshall

REMEMBER THE FIRE MARSHALL? Well, Mr. Frazier is still on the job, and unless we enjoy having to stop the convention and replace all the chairs where he wants them (and by law, he has the right to close-down any public meeting that does not comply--sigh!), then everyone better plan on being their own watch-dog! Replace chairs when you see them out of place, remind smokers--who ALWAYS need reminding, unfortunately--that smoking isn't allowed, and in general, let's police ourselves so that the Fire Marshall doesn't have to! It doesn't do any good to get childish about it; the man has authority over us, and there's nothing we can do about that! All we can do is try to see that EQUICON 74 flows smoothly IN SPITE OF FRAZIER, and the only way to do that is to obey every legal stricture he lays down (we plan to check and make sure that there is a law on some of the things). Bugging the Fire-Marshall may seem like good sport, but all it will do--especially in this case--is to make him drag out every single out-dated and obscure law he can find to slap on us and make the convention suffer! So, the word is: PLAY IT COOL, and hopefully, the Fire Marshall will too. After all, there are good reasons for most fire laws in public meeting places, so however unpalatable it is for us fun-loving conventioneers, those laws are for OUR protection. Our real gripe is the dedicated way this particular Fire Marshall nitpicks over totally unimportant trivia!

One lovely moment at Equicon 73 occurred when [Fire Marshall] Frazier entered the banquet and lit a cigarette. Craig Miller told him to put it out; that we didn't allow smoking in any of the rooms, and especially where food was being served. Definitely a case of "tit for tat"!

Saturday was more of the same. Much more. We had a new ingredient, though. Fire Marshals. One slightly hysterical parent called them when she was unable to find her son in the crowd. "He's being crushed or suffocating, I know it." He was later found on line, munching a Mounds bar and calmly reading STARBORNE. Sigh. But the Fire Marshals were reasonable and intelligent. If we just kept the aisles and the exits clear and limited the daily attendance everything would be fine. That's what they thought; we still had problems. One ever present one was getting the guests in and out of the hotel. The one thing to remember was not to stop for any thing. Step right over the fainting bodies; it's the only way. For all the crowding, the fans were marvelous, as always.

Meta

• Police And Conventions (August 1992)