MCCCC Club Policies
Participation requirements/agreement at club events, like RisuCon
RisuCon is the annual meeting of the Montgomery County Comic & Cosplay Club. Admission is free to all club members in good standing. Members are welcome and encouraged to attend all club activities including in-person meetups and events as well as virtual events and using social media. Yes, that includes coming to our annual meeting, RisuCon!
Want to get in on the fun? Become a member of the Montgomery County Comic & Cosplay Club. Annual dues are good for one year and there are no other commitments with your membership. Dues are tiered, and allow different access to the annual meeting. Do to space concerns, this may mean that you are only allowed to attend one of the days of the annual meeting, or it may mean that your dues are free if you are under 14! Some tiers of membership include special member benefits like merchandise and early entry to the annual meeting.
Before you become a member, take a moment to read our policies below. This is for all our members (which means anyone attending RisuCon). Our policies are designed to keep everyone safe, comfortable, maintain an all-ages atmosphere, and have a lot of fun. By becoming a member, it means that you agree to our policies.
Once you have read our policies and agree to them, there is a button at the bottom to purchase a membership in the MCCCC and attend RisuCon.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMIC & COSPLAY CLUB
Membership Rules
By becoming a member of the Montgomery County Comic & Cosplay Club (MCCCC) you are certifying that you have read and understand these rules and agree to abide by them so long as you are a member. The MCCCC does not sell “tickets” to its events, you are paying for an annual membership in the club, essentially “paying your dues” in our club. Attending an MCCCC event is a membership privilege, not a ticketed entry. The MCCCC’s events, either virtual or in-person, are for members only.
These rules are for all member behavior, including interactions with other members, both virtually (i.e. electronically, streaming, social media, etc.) and physically (i.e. in-person meetups, conventions, meetings, etc.).
Harassment and inclusion
The MCCCC is committed to fostering an atmosphere where fans can count on a safe, inclusive, and rewarding membership experience. The MCCCC is meant to be an inclusive space for fans, with a zero-tolerance policy against harassment, groping, stalking, language, and inappropriate photography. Harassment doesn’t have to happen in the workplace to be unacceptable.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to, verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion; deliberate intimidation; stalking; following; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; bullying, and unwelcome sexual attention. Harassment of any kind is unwelcome in the MCCCC and will not be tolerated. Violation of this policy will result in termination of membership and removal from any club events.
Should you feel like you are being harassed, please notify the club’s leadership immediately, or if on-site, the club's designated Health & Safety staff.
Cosplay and weapons at in-person events
Any weapon that could seriously hurt somebody is not allowed. Specifically, but not limited to:
Metal-bladed weapons. Whips. Explosives. Blunt weapons like bats, clubs, or hockey sticks;
Functional firearms – that includes paintball, airsoft, bb guns, cap guns, any gun that shoots a real projectile or causes a real explosion;
Realistic firearms – any gun that could be confused for a real gun. If it looks like a real gun, it cannot be at an MCCCC in-person meetup or event. Realistic prop guns with brightly-colored caps are not allowed;
Prop weapons made of a hard material such as metal, wood, or glass;
Functional projectile weapons – any weapon (crossbow, slingshot, etc) that discharges a projectile. No bow or crossbow is permitted to have a string;
Loud props such as whistles, horns, etc.;
Prop weapons must meet the following criteria to be allowed; they are composed of cardboard, foam, or something light. Prop firearms are allowed only if they cannot be mistaken for real weapons. Prop bows will be allowed providing all arrows have soft tips and will not be shot.
Prop weapons will be allowed at MCCCC events at the discretion of the MCCCC Safety Committee and uniformed security personnel. Safety is paramount; we will always err on the side of caution. There will be no place to store prohibited weapons on-site. If you have a weapon that is prohibited, you will be asked to leave and not allowed back in with the weapon.
The MCCCC Safety Committee reserves the right to inspect a prop weapon at any time during the event and rule that it must be removed. The MCCCC reserves the right to inspect prop weapons prior to entry at an event and tag that weapon as having been inspected. At these events, people with untagged prop weapons will be asked to have their prop weapon inspected and tagged or leave the event and not return with that prop weapon.
We love costumes, good guys, bad guys, and everything in between! However, hateful symbols aren’t welcome at MCCCC virtual or in-person events. Historical costumes can be great, but reminders of unspeakable atrocities are not appropriate, ever. This includes any sort of “ironic,” satirical, or recreation costumes that re-appropriate paraphernalia, symbols, or gear of hate organizations such as Nazis or the Ku Klux Klan.
MCCCC virtual and in-person events are deemed to be all-ages, and as such all cosplay needs to be conservative in nature. No “adult-only” cosplay will be permitted, such as and including; being topless (this applies to all genders: male, female or non-binary); liquid latex, body paint or makeup, and/or pasties shall not be acceptable alternatives to costumes or clothing. All “private parts” must be covered by actual clothing and must not be visible through the clothing. If the costume calls for a thong, G-string, pasties or other similar items, a bodysuit or leotard must be worn beneath it.
Official law enforcement, emergency services, or military personnel uniforms are not permitted as cosplay, nor shall anyone impersonate or attempt to impersonate such individuals.
Please be advised that some of our in-person meetups and events may take place at a venue (movie theaters, conventions, restaurants, etc.) that have their own rules or guidelines. MCCCC members may be required to comply with those venue rules as well. Please don’t jeopardize our attendance at an event by trying to violate a venue’s rules!
Attendance
Anyone can apply for membership in the MCCCC. MCCCC leadership reserves the right to refuse membership to anyone. They also reserve the right to revoke a membership at any time. All members are welcome to attend any membership event, discussion, or gathering. Dues are tiered, and allow different access to the annual meeting. Do to space concerns, this may mean that you are only allowed to attend one of the days of the annual meeting, or it may mean that your dues are free if you are under 14! Some tiers of membership include special member benefits like merchandise and early entry to the annual meeting. Non-members and guests are encouraged to join MCCCC, but our events are designed for our membership.
Because all MCCCC events are designed for all-ages, we ask that members refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages. Drug use is prohibited at MCCCC events. Please do not arrive at an in-person MCCCC event intoxicated or under the influence of any mind-altering substance. MCCCC events are smokeless; cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping, etc. are all prohibited at MCCCC in-person events.
Lost or misplaced items: We are not responsible for lost or misplaced items. We cannot replace any items that were issued or sold to you or came with your membership.
ADA Rules on service animals: The MCCCC welcomes service animals as per ADA rules. Service animals perform valuable work or tasks and are trained to provide help directly related to a person's disability. Animals/living things whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and therefore are not permitted at MCCCC in-person events. In addition, if an MCCCC event is being held at a venue, that venue may have its own rules regarding animals/service animals. Members should check with the venue concerning their policies as well.
Photo/Video taking policy: Always ask, never assume, that taking a picture/video of a person or their cosplay is acceptable. Cosplay does not equal consent! Please be respectful at all times when taking photos/videos. Try not to block or interfere with others. Don’t ruin anyone’s experience because of your photo/video taking. MCCCC may have its own photographers/videographers at an event capturing images for future promotional purposes. If you see this occurring and do not wish to be in a photo or video, please approach them and let them know.
Audio or video capture for personal use is allowed except in certain circumstances: Photography and audio or video capture are for personal use only - public dissemination and commercial use is strictly prohibited. Live streaming of any portion of an MCCCC event is prohibited. If you have a Youtube channel, podcast, or something else that makes you want to post, stream, or record, talk to MCCCC leadership for permission.
By attending any MCCCC event, you agree to allow your image to be used on our website, social media and in news documentaries or stories, either filmed/photographed by MCCCC staff, their partners, or other entities.
Flashes from phones and cameras occur often during cosplay events: If you are sensitive to such lighting please be advised to take the necessary precautions.
Raffles/Fundraising: Unsanctioned raffles and fundraisers are not allowed at MCCCC events.
Medical emergencies: If you have a medical emergency and you do not have a caretaker with you, call 911. MCCCC does not have trained medical personnel at its in-person events.
Liability and privacy
The MCCCC assumes no responsibility for typographical errors or inaccurate information provided by venues/events that we may attend or have a meetup. All dates, venues and guests are considered tentative and subject to change.
Under no circumstances will any member or guest hold liable the Montgomery County Comic & Cosplay Club, Inc., or any of its subordinate organizations, leadership, volunteers, or other members, liable for any injury or damage incurred to their persons, property, or cosplay, even if that injury or damage is deemed to be negligence or gross negligence on the part of the Montgomery County Comic & Cosplay Club, Inc., or any of its subordinate organizations, leadership, volunteers, or other members. Members and guests, and their estates and assigns, agree to forever hold harmless and free of liability the Montgomery County Comic & Cosplay Club, Inc., or any of its subordinate organizations, leadership, volunteers, or other members. Your purchase of a membership and/or paying of dues, and/or your being a member in, and/or your attendance at, a Montgomery County Comic & Cosplay Club, Inc. meetup or event, or any of its subordinate organizations' meetups or events, is acknowledgement that you have accept and agree unconditionally to this.
These rules and policies may change from time to time. You should review them periodically and within 24 hours of any MCCCC meetup or event. Attendance at an MCCCC meetup or event, including the annual meeting, signifies that you have read, understood, and accept these membership rules and policies.
Cosplay at your own risk! No one is more responsible for your safety than you are. Be aware of steps, inclines, projections, low ceilings, slipping, tripping, and other hazards while in cosplay. Be aware that your movement, sight, agility, and senses may be impaired by your cosplay.
The MCCCC does not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer outside the organization personally identifiable information that members voluntarily provide in any registration, purchase, or e-mail list submission. This information is used to support related transactions and to better know our membership and possibly tailor any specific features, promotions, or other notifications to them.