Rules and Policies

General Policies & Guidelines

• To partake in Kogaracon activities, you must have a 2024 Kogaracon badge worn on your neck at all times. Please purchase a badge at our registration tables.
• All sales of goods or services at the Convention must be pre-approved by Kogaracon Staff (for example, vendors and artists in the Artist Alley/Vendor Hall, autograph sessions, and photography sessions, etc). All other sales or panhandling fall under the “no solicitation” policy and are not permitted at Kogaracon.
• Conventions and other organizations must have approval from Kogaracon Staff to advertise their business or events. They must be pre-approved.

COVID-19 Policy

Policies are subject to change depending on external factors in COVID infection rates and other influences; please check our social media and this page for updates.

Mask Policy

• Masks are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for this convention.
• Middlesex College does not currently have a mask policy and we also do not have enough staff/manpower to be able to fully enforce a mask mandate at our show, therefore, Kogaracon is unable to enforce a mandatory mask policy, we do; however, strongly suggest you wear a mask for activities inside the College Center and Gymnasium.

Vaccination Policy

• For Kogaracon 2024, we will NOT require proof of vaccination at the day of the convention.
• Vaccination is strongly recommended, and we suggest being up-to-date on the booster for your respective vaccine prior to attending.

Doing Our Part

• In an effort to maintain happiness and health for our staff and attendees, we aim to:
  • Provide hand sanitizer throughout to convention
  • Provide masks throughout the show.

We ask that all attendees self-evaluate prior to coming to Kogaracon in order to protect others at the event. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has had COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to the event, please stay at home. If you are feeling unwell in general before the event, please stay home and get some rest.

For further COVID-19 related information, please refer to the links below:
https://tinyurl.com/covid19-nj
https://covid19.nj.gov/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Registration Policy

These policies apply to all attendees, whether they pre-register or purchase a badge at the door.

1. All attendees agree to comply with Kogaracon rules and policies, the directions of Kogaracon Staff and Middlesex College Staff, and all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
2. Badges grant attendees access to the full day of Kogaracon including events such as the Asian Food Fest.
3. An attendee may have their badge revoked and be expelled from the premises for any reason at the sole discretion of Kogaracon staff. No refund will be given in the event of such an expulsion.
4. Attendees agree to provide complete and accurate registration information. Kogaracon is not responsible if an attendee cannot be contacted with the information provided during registration.
5. Attendees under the age of 18 (at the start of the convention) must provide an emergency contact phone number when registering.
6. Badges are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Badges may not be resold. Kogaracon staff reserve the right to check the ID of anyone suspected of carrying a badge that is not their own.
7. Badges are only available for pickup at the convention during listed Registration Hours. Badges will not be mailed. No attendee badges of any sort will be issued outside of these hours.
8. A valid photo ID is required for pre-registration badge pickup. Minors without a photo ID may pick up their badges when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with a valid photo ID. Any type of photo ID may be used for badge pickup.
9. No replacement will be provided for lost badges; a new badge must be purchased at the full at-con rate. Damaged badges may be replaced at the discretion of the Director of Registration and must be surrendered at the time of the request.
10. Kogaracon reserves the right to censor or refuse badge names that may be considered obscene, vulgar, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate. Such determination will be made at the sole discretion of Kogaraconstaff.
11. Any person found attempting to forge a membership badge or presenting a forged ID will be removed from the convention and may be banned from future Kogaracon events.
12. Any attempt to compromise the security of the registration process or gain unauthorized access to attendee data will result in loss of access to the online registration system, loss of Kogaracon badge without refund, and possible legal action. These policies may be modified at any time deemed necessary by Kogaracon.

Registrations are non-refundable, non-replaceable, and non-transferable. Attendess that pre-register will receive their badges at the convention. Bring a photo ID (driver’s license, passport, school ID, etc.) to the convention when you pick up your badge.

Autograph Policy

Kogaracon staff acknowledges that getting autographs from our special guests is a major highlight at a convention for attendees. In order to give the greatest number of fans the opportunity for a meet and greet, we must keep the lines running smoothly. Please following Kogaracon’s official rules for Autograph session times, which are below:

• Lines will start no earlier than 10 minutes before the autograph session.
• Guests may offer merchandise for autographing that you may purchase during the session.
• Guests will not sign any bootleg or illegal items. Please bring licensed items only. Both the guests and Kogaracon Staff reserve the right to deny autographing for a specific item.
• Please have whatever item you want autographed ready to be signed by the time you reach the front of the line. (e.g. Remove CD sleeves/DVD cover from their cases before you get to the guest.)
• Out of courtesy to those in line behind you, please try not to take up a lot of the guests’ time when you reach the front of the line.
• You may bring gifts or small things to give to the guests; however, food gifts will not be permitted.
• Photo Etiquette: Taking photos of the guests while you wait is strictly prohibited and may result in removal from the session.
• Kogaracon does not guarantee all attendees will receive an autograph, so it is important to let the line proceed as quickly as possible.

*Remember that all attendees seeking an autograph must wait in line and skipping the line or holding a spot for another person is not allowed and will result in removal from the session. *

Dress Code

• Every Attendee must have their private areas covered at all times.
• Cloth must extend at least one inch above the nipple and below/to the sides of the breast, and at least one inch above the pubic area and below the crotch/buttocks.
• This coverage must remain in place while moving/bending/posing/etc., so if your cosplay or outfit rides up/down, please extend it, find a way to secure it, or wear something under it.
• Shoes or footwear are always required.
• No rollerblades, Heelies (with wheels inserted), hoverboards, or stilts are permitted, due to safety and space concerns.
• Shirt coverings must always be worn.
• Mesh shirts are allowed if they provide the require coverage of sensitive areas.
• Tape over the nipples will not suffice.
• Capes will not be accepted in place of shirts – if you’re wearing one, please wear a shirt underneath.

If you are uncertain if your outfit is appropriate, please do not hesitate to reach out to a staff member before or during the convention!

Harassment Policy

We have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind, including but not limited to: stalking, intimidation, offensive verbal comments, physical assault, battery, harassing or unwanted photography or recording, continuous disruption of panels or other events, bathroom policing, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome physical attention. If someone tells you “no” or to “leave them alone,” your business with them is done. If you continue to attempt to have contact with that person, you may be removed from the premises.

Remember: Cosplay is not consent.

Our harassment policy applies to everyone- including but not limited to Kogaracon attendees, staff, volunteers, contractors, guests, panelist, vendors, and artists.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please notify a member of the Kogaracon Staff in that area immediately so that they may address it. Kogaracon Staff can be identified by their “Kogaracon Staff” T-shirts.

Weapons & Cosplay Props Policy

In all cases, final decisions on what constitutes an inappropriate prop belongs to the Kogaracon Staff and Middlesex College. If your prop is deemed inappropriate or dangerous to others, you will be asked to remove it to your car or somewhere else outside the convention.

Please use common sense when bringing prop weaponry to Kogaracon. If you would not carry your item in public, in plain sight, then you should not have it at the convention.

• All prop weapons must be easily identified as being replicas.
• All props must be inspected and approved by a Kogaracon staff member at the Information Desk. Approved weapons will be marked with either a zip-tie or ribbon.
• The maximum prop size is six feet (6’) in any direction.
• Misuse of your prop, by swinging it or endangering others with it, will result in Kogaracon staff asking you to remove the prop from the convention space.

Disallowed Props and Weapons
The following props and weapons are NOT allowed on the Middlesex College campus at any time:

• Projectile Weapons (or imitations thereof), including, but not limited, to firearms, airsoft guns, water guns/pistols, air rifles, Nerf guns, and BB and pellet guns, regardless of whether it is functional or not. No guns of any kind or design will be permitted, if you have any questions please check with the convention staff before the convention.
• Crossbows, dart guns, stun guns, blowguns, and tasers
• Live steel, including, but not limited, to sharpened and dull swords, knives and other cutting implements
• Throwing stars and shuriken, metal armor, including chainmail
• Anything made of metal that can take an edge, regardless of if it is sheathed or dull
• Real bows and arrows, or parts of real bows (including both tipped or non-tipped arrows)
• Incendiary Devices and Chemicals such as smoke bombs, smoke powder, flash bombs, sparklers, and other fireworks
• Flails and Throwing Weapons, including, but not limited to, nunchaku, sansetsukon, and hard paddles

Illegal devices not permitted on the campus of Middlesex College, in the city of Edison, or in the state of New Jersey

The following props/weapons are generally allowed, but will be subject to Kogaracon staff members’ discretion:

• Prop bows, provided they are strung loose (not taught or tight) with twine, yarn, or another non-functioning material
• Decorative props with no moving parts, less than six (6) feet in height, and under fifty (50) pounds deemed not hazardous or obtrusive to other convention attendees.

Photographs & Promotions

Attendees of Kogaracon are granting permission to be photographed or recorded by authorized Kogaracon staffers. By purchasing your registration, you inherently grant Kogaracon the permission to use such photos or recordings for promotional or chronicling purposes.