PROPS POLICY

We recognize that costume-related props are sometimes an important part of the costume experience, so our convention has the following props policy for costume-related props in place:

• No firearms or replica firearms that can be confused for real weapons (including air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns and pellet guns). 
• Must be 50% “safety” color. “Safety” color is defined as fluorescent orange only and must be permanently attached to the prop (i.e., paint) and visible even when the prop is sheathed. Colored tape is not acceptable for this purpose. This requirement is for ‘firearm’ type props only.
• No functioning projectile props includes water pistols, silly-string guns, bows and arrows (removing the bowstring is acceptable) and ping-pong pistols. Arrows must have flexible, non-rigid shafts.
• No hard material bladed props of any kind are allowed on site, even if sheathed. This includes, but is not limited to, hard plastic, rubber, or any metal or metal alloy. 
• Explosives or chemicals of any kind including, but not limited to, smoke powder, sparklers, and fireworks, are not permitted at the con. Do not bring anything that would annoy another attendee or disrupt event operations.
• No blunt props (including brass knuckles, clubs, and nunchaku)
• No hard props (including props made of metal, plastic, wood, fiberglass, and glass)
• No costumes with hard spikes or similar attachments.  
• No sticks attached to signs. All signs must be held by hand and of an appropriate size that does not contain any solicitation. Solicitation as defined by the convention is any offer or request of actions/services/etc in exchange for actions/services/money/etc.
• Hard Canes or walking sticks, must be for ADA purpose only, must be one piece with no hidden cavities or compartments. All such items must be inspected before entry.  
• There will be absolutely no play-acting with props indoors.

ALL prop weapons must be non-working and peace-bonded (see below).

Peace-bonding is the act of making it clear that your prop cannot be used (either by a brightly colored tie, or trigger lock) and that your intentions are peaceful. To display a costume related prop weapon on your costume, your prop weapon must be peace-bonded; to do so, it must be brought to the Convention Operations (“ConOps”) tables which are located outside the Long Beach Convention Center at each security entrance. This is required each day of attendance.  Do not presume that the peace-bonding from another or a previous convention will do. Items producing light or sound must be checked with ConOps for decisions about peace-bonding.

These rules apply solely to costume prop weaponry. Our convention does not permit any real weapons to be used or brought to the convention at all as per our general policies above; violation of this rule will require immediate reporting to proper authorities.

We ask that you properly cover up or place costume-related prop weapons in bags when not in convention areas or on convention property.

Do you have a cosplay photo session, and you want to undo the peace-bonding for that period? We are happy to assist you! We have a great solution for you! Please find our Ops Cosplay Liaisons out & about wearing bright yellow ConOps vests or a bright yellow ConOps armband. They’ll be more than happy to remove any peace-bonding for photos but be sure to either flag them down again when you’re done to re-peace-bond your props or return to the Ops tables or office for re-peace-bonding.