Code of Conduct

1. All attendees are assumed to have read and understood this official Nightmare Nights Dallas Code of Conduct, and agreed to the terms set forth therein when receiving a badge. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse.
2. Anyone who accepts a membership badge agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Nightmare Nights Dallas and Phoenix Entertainment from any claim for personal injuries or other damages or equity arising out of any individual’s activities at Nightmare Nights Dallas, even if such injury or damage is caused by negligence by or on the part of Nightmare Nights Dallas or Phoenix Entertainment.
3. Nightmare Nights Dallas seeks to make its staff members available to its attendees. Staff members will be wearing special badges to indicate their status. If you have a problem, please alert a staff member to the issue.
4. All attendees of Nightmare Nights Dallas (excepting minors attending with a parent or guardian) will be required to present a single, government-issued photo ID at registration which clearly states their full legal name and date of birth. Examples of valid photo identification include: photo ID issued by DPS or DMV office, driver’s license, military ID, passport, etc. Examples of IDs that are NOT valid include: school ID, employee ID, or any other ID that is either not issued by the government, or not a photo ID with full legal name and date of birth. Any person who does not present such photo ID will not be allowed to complete registration or be granted a convention badge of membership. Any person who provides a forged photo ID will be remanded to the custody of the local police. (So don’t do it!)
5. Nightmare Nights Dallas is for general audiences, and is an all-ages event.
6. Minors who will be ages 16 and 17 at time of registration check-in may attend Nightmare Nights Dallas without a parent if they present government-issued photo ID stating their legal name and birth date. Minors who will be ages 16 and 17 at time of registration check-in who do not present government-issued photo ID stating the legal name and birth date must register with and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times in any official convention spaces including, but not limited to: the Dealer’s Den, Corral, all panels and dances. Parents and guardians will be held responsible for damage or problems caused by their minors. Any minor who provides a forged photo ID will be remanded to the custody of the local police. (So don’t do it!)
7. Children who will be age 15 and below at time of registration check-in are not required to present government-issued photo ID, but must register with a parent or legal guardian. Parents and guardians will be held responsible for damage or problems caused by their children.
8. Convention attendees must wear their official convention badge at all times while in public convention areas, and it must be shown upon request to any member of convention staff, security, hotel staff or law enforcement. Your badge will contain a badge name of your choosing (subject to staff approval). Altering convention badges in such a manner as to permanently obscure any of these elements renders the badge unusable. If your badge becomes unusable or is lost, it will be replaced at a rate of $10.00 U.S. per badge. Any person found using a counterfeit badge, using a badge not belonging to them, or making copies of their badge for others will have their membership revoked and will be barred from returning during that year or subsequent years.
9. Nightmare Nights Dallas reserves the right to deny or revoke membership at any time for any reason.
10. In the event that any Nightmare Nights Dallas staff or security member deems it necessary to revoke any attendee’s membership, that attendee must surrender their convention badge to said staff or security member and leave Nightmare Nights Dallas convention spaces immediately. Also, said attendee will not be entitled to any manner of refund or compensation for the price of their membership. This includes all levels of membership.
11. All public areas of the hotel are non-smoking–this includes e-cigarettes and associated vapor-generating devices. The hotel has designated areas where smoking is permitted.
12. Any usage, sale or possession of illegal or non-prescribed controlled substances will constitute cause to revoke membership of those involved and will be reported to the local authorities.
13. All parties at which alcohol is served or consumed must verify that every person attending the party is 21 years of age or older by checking government-issued photo IDs. Any party found serving alcohol to or allowing consumption of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21 will be shut down immediately and will be remanded to the authorities.
14. Nightmare Nights Dallas accepts no liability for whatever may occur within the confines of private hotel rooms. Incidents that occur in these rooms are the sole responsibility of the individual to whom the room is rented. This includes payment for any and all damage, responsibility for complaints levied against the room, and any other issues that may arise. Please note that if a situation should occur that may present a threat to the convention and/or its attendees, Nightmare Nights Dallas has a responsibility to report it to the proper authorities.
15. No weapons (including prop/cosplay weapons) are permitted at Nightmare Nights Dallas. Also, because of potential damage to property, items including, but not limited to: silly string, paintball guns, cooked pasta, water guns or any similar devices are not allowed within the hotel at any time.
16. While Nightmare Nights Dallas wholeheartedly endorses get-togethers, meet-ups and other gatherings, it is imperative that any materials used to advertise these events be tasteful and posted in an area and in such a manner wherein no damage will be caused to the hotel. This may include limiting such posts to designated areas. Nightmare Nights Dallas reserves the right to remove any posted notices that are considered inappropriate.
17. Remember that while you are at Nightmare Nights Dallas, you are not only here to enjoy the pony fandom, but you also serve to represent it. As such, the following behaviors are prohibited in any public area:
    • Public displays of affection more extreme than hugging
    • Excessively loud volumes
    • Failure to wear appropriate attire up to and including shirts, pants/shorts, and footwear. (Nightmare Nights Dallas staff may require attendees to alter their attire if it determined to be inappropriate.)
    • Disrespect of hotel staff or damage to hotel property
    • Sleeping
    • Consumption of alcoholic beverages anywhere other than the hotel bar and hotel restaurant
18. The following behaviors are also prohibited in any public area:
    • Display of any adult-themed subject matter
    • Running (If that’s even possible)
    • Selling goods or services outside of the Dealer’s Den, Artist Alley, Art Show or other commerce areas specifically designated by Nightmare Nights Dallas
19. Nightmare Nights Dallas has a strict No Harassment policy.We value your safety and take pride in Nightmare Nights Dallas being a safe place where everybody is welcome and anybody can be whomever they desire. As such, certain kinds of offensive or harassing behavior will not be tolerated. To the best of our ability, we intend to eliminate inappropriate conduct from the convention.Harassment can include:
    • Physically or verbally threatening
    • Annoying
    • Unwelcome attentions
    • Stalking
    • Pushing
    • Shoving
    • Use of physical force which in any way creates a disturbance that is disruptive or dangerous
    • Any boisterous, lewd, or generally offensive behavior or language
    • Using sexually explicit or offensive language or conduct
    • Profanity or obscene gestures
    • Racial, religious, or ethnic slurs

    If people tell you NO, your business with them is done. If you continue to attempt to have contact with such people, you may be removed from the premises and your membership revoked without refund.

    Remember: “No” means no. “Stop” means stop. “Go away” means go away.

    Costuming is not consent.

    We have also taken steps to make it easier to report instances of harassing behavior. It is very important that if you are being harassed or are in any way endangered, you report it immediately. We cannot address anything that we are not made aware of, and we need whatever details can be provided, such as names, badge numbers, or other descriptive information.

    If you feel you have been harassed, please find the nearest Nightmare Nights staff member (yellow badge). They will direct you to security.

    If, at any time, you feel that your personal safety or the safety of others is in jeopardy, please contact the Police Department via 9-1-1.

    If something you have done or said has inadvertently offended somebody, the best practice is to genuinely apologize* for the offense and then walk away from the situation. Prolonged explanations frequently lead to worsening conditions. “I’m sorry I offended you” sums it up nicely and gives you a graceful line to leave on. Best of all, everybody’s dignity is left intact.

    Likewise, if somebody offers you a heartfelt apology and walks away, don’t shout after or pursue them, or else you may inadvertently become the harasser after their indiscretion. Accept their apology and continue on with what you were doing.

    *Apologizing does not excuse a person from the policy on harassment. It is just an important step to help to prevent the need for Convention / Security intervention in cases of genuine accidental offenses.

20. Any attendees engaging in behavior which endangers life or property (such as, but not limited to, pulling fire alarms or creating hazardous situations) will have their membership revoked immediately and may be asked not to return to future events. If warranted, law enforcement may be called.
21.  Photographic or video media coverage is prohibited in any convention controlled areas. This includes, but is not limited to: any and all ballrooms, conference rooms and other spaces reserved by Nightmare Nights Dallas. Attendees must also give written consent to being photographed and/or videotaped in any public space at the convention hotel location by the press, and the written consent must be kept on file for a minimum of one year. If any attendee declines to consent to this, any kind of broadcast or publication is not permitted by any media outlet. It is also not permissible to photograph or videotape from any public space into any convention-controlled space.If a member of the press is found by any attendee, they should immediately contact a staff member, who will present said individual(s) with a written copy of the Nightmare Nights Dallas Press Policy and information about Nightmare Nights Dallas.No photographs or video of Nightmare Nights Dallas may be used for any commercial purpose or financial gain without prior written consent from Phoenix Entertainment. Any personal photographs or video taken at Nightmare Nights Dallas and placed on the internet must be removed immediately upon request.
22. The Crowne Plaza Hotel prohibits any postings in areas other than the galleries in front of each function space and the poster board which will be readily visible in the front hallway outside the ballroom. Any flyers, notices or other items posted in prohibited areas will immediately be removed upon discovery by a member of staff.
23. Nightmare Nights Dallas staff members will make every attempt to be fair, lenient and understanding in the case of infractions, but there are some situations in which our options may become limited based on the severity of the situation. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly by a member of Staff or Security, you may take the matter up with the Chief of Security or the Convention Chairman.
24. Nightmare Nights Dallas will not accept ANY refund requests after October 1st, 2017, or 60 days after purchase.
25. Nightmare Nights Dallas reserves the right to amend these rules without prior or posted notice.