Rules of Conduct

General

1. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
2. Any action or behavior that causes significant interference with convention operations, excessive discomfort to other attendees, or adversely affects Furvester’s relationship with its guests, its venues or the public is strictly forbidden and may result in a expulsion from the convention. This general rule supersedes all others listed below and may be invoked at any time.
3. Harassment of any kind, including physical assault, battery, deliberate intimidation, stalking, or unwelcome physical attentions, will not be tolerated. Nothing except a continuing, sober, and enthusiastic "YES" is considered consent. A fursuit is not consent.
4. You are liable for any damage you might cause. As accidents happen, please take the initiative and inform a Director and/or Security of any damage.
5. Instructions from the Directors, Security or the hotel personnel must be followed at all times. Any infringement may result in expulsion from the convention.
6. If you are a driver and have made arrangements to transport other attendees, you are responsible for ensuring alternative transportation if you change your plans during the con.
7. Any violation of these rules that also constitutes a breach of valid law will be escalated to the proper authorities (e.g. theft, harassment, weapons or controlled substance violations, etc.).
8. The Hotel Reception will maintain the Lost & Found. Any items not picked up by 11:00 on late departure day will be placed in storage. These can be returned prior to the next convention if the owner coordinates pick-up or pays for shipment.

Clothing and Decency

1. The fursuit lounge is meant as a safe haven for the fursuiters. Due to limited space, only fursuiters, Furvester Directors and Crew, hotel personnel, and one helper per fursuiter are allowed in. Others will be asked to leave. The fursuit lounge crew reserves the right to ask any person to remove themselves, or be removed, from the fursuit lounge.
2. Displaying items made out of real fur or NSFW items (art, objects, etc.) is not permitted in public areas.
3. You must wear shoes and/or fursuit paws when outside of your room.
4. The following rules apply to costumes or accessories. When in doubt, please contact our security prior to the convention. Decisions made during the convention by the Head of Security, after consulting with a second member of the Board of Directors, are final and not up for debate.
   1. Costumes and accessories are generally permitted if they neither harm nor endanger:
      1. Furvester
      2. the hotel or our relations with the hotel
      3. attendees (including Crew, other attendees, and yourself)
   2. The following items are never permitted outside of your private room
      1. Costumes or accessories that are visibly anatomically correct or indecently revealing the wearers own private anatomy
      2. Costumes, accessories, or gear whose primary function is sexual as opposed to fashion.
      3. Costumes, accessories, or other items made out of real fur.

Parties, Events, and Gatherings

1. If you wish to host a private room party and wish to be discrete, you may leave a phone number, room number, and name of a contact person at SecOps. Decency and noise rules still apply, but in the event of a noise complaint or other necessary communication, Security will prioritize other contact methods to knocking.
2. Noise in the hallways during nighttime hours needs to be kept at a low conversation volume. If your room is the loudest in the hallway, you will be asked to quiet down. All noise complaints will be acted upon.
3. Security is required to clear out overcrowded rooms. For your own safety, we recommend keeping the occupancy below 10 in a regular room, or below 20 in a suite.
4. All attendees are expected to clean up after themselves both in public spaces and in their rooms (e.g. after parties, confetti cannons, larger items of trash, etc.). Trash bags will be available at the hotel reception if required.
5. Parties in convention spaces can be permitted if requested through Events. You will be required to name a responsible person for your party.
6. If you wish to host an event in which the regular "Clothing and Decency" Rules are to be relaxed, this must be coordinated with the Events team prior to the convention.

Hotel

1. The consumption of food and drink not purchased at the hotel is only allowed in your room.
2. Sleeping in the public areas (lobby, halls, bathrooms, bar, etc) is not permitted.
3. Under no circumstances are items made of glass permitted in the Main Stage during dances.
4. It is prohibited to enter restricted areas of the hotel or the convention (e.g. backstage, convention storage areas, hotel service areas, etc.).
5. Disabling or tampering with fire detection devices, suppression equipment or fire doors will result in an immediate expulsion and ban from the convention. Exceptions are allowed only when coordinated prior to the convention with Security.
6. Personal music players such as bluetooth speakers or boom boxes may not be used in a way that may disturb any bystanders. Noise, or loud music or loud conversation, outside the hotel after 22:00 is not allowed. If it can be heard from off the hotel property, it is too loud.
7. It is strictly forbidden to throw anything out of any windows, balconies or any other elevated location. If anything falls from the windows (items to dry, flags, etc.) it is the attendee’s responsibility to retrieve it, or have it retrieved.
8. Any non-residential attendee (not staying at the hotel) is required to leave the hotel within 30 minutes after the final event of the night.
9. Any electrical device used in the hotel must have the EU's CE Certification or have been checked by an electrician.
10. Do not park in the fire lane. If you park in the fire lane, the local authorities will be informed and you may be towed and/or fined.

Registration

1. You must be 18 years or older as of the first day of the convention to attend Furvester.
2. Only registered attendees are allowed in the convention spaces.
3. Your badge is only valid for you, may not be shared with another person, must be worn on display in the hotel's public areas at all times and must be presented and/or surrendered to Security upon request. Loaning your badge or in any way allowing it to be used to impersonate you, will result in possible sanctions for you and any other persons involved.
4. When picking up your badge, a valid photo ID must be presented which matches the data entered during registration.
5. Payments are non-refundable. A paid registration may be transferred prior to the convention by contacting registration.
6. Changing or obscuring information on your badge is not allowed.
7. If you drive to the convention, you will receive a tag at registration to be put into your windshield to show that you are an attendee at the convention. This tag will be used by us should we need to contact you directly regarding your vehicle.

Communicable Diseases

1. Whether masks or vaccination will be required will depend on the regulations in effect at the time of the convention. If you show symptoms of being sick, you are expected to take proper precautions (i.e. mask, hand sanitizer, social distancing, etc.) and are expected to follow the advice of Furvester Crew regarding the same.

Smoking, alcohol and drugs

1. Any individual found to be in possession of or distributing illegal or controlled substances will be expelled from the convention and reported to the local authorities. This includes “legal highs” such as nitrous oxide.
2. Smoking and vaping is only allowed in the designated areas outside of the building. If the smoke or vapor is detectable within the hotel, you may be asked to move. Please respect fursuiters when smoking or vaping.
3. You must adhere to the hotel’s rules regarding cannabis.
4. If you choose to imbibe, you are expected to do so responsibly. You will be held accountable for what you do, under the influence or not. Drinking or smoking to the point of requiring medical attention is grounds for sanctions by Security.
5. Our Security and Medic crew are trained to treat everybody with respect and according to their level of intoxication. We will gladly discuss any "next steps" with you to find the best solution for your health and safety. If you are intoxicated to the point of requiring medical attention, we expect you to cooperate with our teams in a timely manner.

Weapons and Fireworks

1. For safety reasons it is not allowed to ignite fireworks or other kinds of explosives on hotel grounds or within 10 meters of any bystanders.
2. It is not permitted to ignite or use fireworks or other kinds of explosives in a manner that brings disrepute to the convention. This includes using the dirt roads, private parking lots, or fields around the hotel as launch sites.
3. Fireworks must be used according to their instructions and local laws and ordinances. Endangering yourself or other convention-goers with the improper use of fireworks will be brought up immediately with Security and/or the police to discuss further actions that might be necessary.
4. All weapon look-alikes, LARP props, replicas, tools, weapon-like toys, or any other object which can be suitable for inflicting injuries or do damage to property must be approved immediately after your registration on site. If an item is illegal, don’t bring it.
5. Security reserves the right to confiscate any item not used in accordance with the conditions of its approval, or if an item causes damage or injury to any person or property. Confiscated items will be available for pick-up upon departure or at Security on late departure day prior to 11:00.
6. No water pistols, silly string, or any thrown or projectile-type toy may be used inside the hotel without prior written permission from Security.
7. Mock fights, swordplay, fire breathing or similarly dangerous activities are not allowed. Exceptions for staged events may be granted prior to the convention by Security.

Photography and video

1. Furvester reserves all rights to photos and videos taken during the convention, with the exception of material from private rooms.
2. You are granted the right to use all photos and videos you've taken for private and/or non-commercial usage.
3. Using media in for-profit publications requires written permission by one of our Directors. This permission may be requested by submitting the material in question to our team.
4. The media team of Furvester can film and take photos in all public areas for the use of publication. All pictures and videos taken by the media team may be used in such publications without release or compensation. Only in case of expected privacy will a release be required for such media.
5. It is prohibited to film or take photos in the fursuit lounge.
6. Other restrictions and rules may apply for certain events, as posted on location. Please ask a Crew member or Director for clarification.