Public Safety Guidelines for Mericon
Public safety
Other people must be taken into account and no one’s safety must be compromised. For example, making excessive noise, messing up places and behaving in a frightening way is prohibited.
We have zero tolerance for bullying and harassing others. If you experience any form of bullying or uncomfortable behavior, report it to a member of staff at the event.
As a general rule, it is prohibited to bring any kind of firearm, steel weapon or similar object to the event. Such objects include, but are not limited to, airsoft guns, other replica weapons, decorative swords, bladed weapons of any kind, and any other object that could be construed as a weapon or that bears a deceptive resemblance to one. The decision is based on Article 10 of the Public Order Act, which prohibits weapons and objects resembling weapons in public places.
When creating props, use lightweight materials that cannot be used for harming other people even when hitting someone by accident. For example, hardwood props are prohibited.
Leave big props (E.g. scythes, swords that are as big as their carrier) at the customer service desk. You’ll get your prop back for photoshoots and judging when requested from the staff.
If your competition costume has a prop that mistakenly represents a weapon, but it also affects the recognisability of the character, bring it to get checked and stored by the staff. The prop can be visible while being judged, in photographs and on the stage, but otherwise it must be hidden. Even in that case, airsoft guns etc. are not allowed.
Cosplay costumes
Costumes that mistakenly represent any uniforms from the First World War and forward are banned. This includes tactical wear costumes. The ban doesn’t affect costumes that clearly belong in a fantasy world setting or they’re significantly older than The First World war. For example, Shingeki no Kyojin-, Hamilton or Fullmetal Alchemist-cosplay costumes are allowed.
Axis Powers: If the costume is clearly recognizable as a character from Hetalia and the costume is created with the colors seen in the show (with the exceptions of briefly seen black German uniform and other equivalent realistic color variations), you also may cosplay from Hetalia.
Military and potentially offensive symbols are prohibited. Such symbols include armbands and iron crosses.
The exception with armbands: if a black mourning band is essential to your character’s costume, it is allowed.
You can make sure that your costume or parts of it are within the convention’s guidelines by sending an email to mericon@rauma.fi
Smoking and Storage
Smoking is not allowed within the convention premises. A designated smoking area can be found at the front yard, near the bicycle shelter. Be mindful of other users and keep the area clean.
There are lockers as well as coat racks in the library that are free to use at your own risk for storing jackets, backpacks and such. There are a limited number of lockable storage lockers.