WEAPONS POLICY
Attendees must have all ‘props & prop weapons’ checked by Bendigo Pop Culture Expos (BPCE) staff at the event entrance.
Weapons deemed ‘unsafe’ will not be allowed into the event and you will be asked to remove them from the event premises (there will be no onsite storage of props or weapons. You will be required to take it back to your car).
Misuse of any weapon or other large prop, in any way that could potentially cause a hazard to attendees, will result in the weapon or prop being deemed unsafe for the event. If a weapon or prop is deemed unsafe for the event due to misuse, it must be immediately removed from the venue.
BPCE reserves the right to refuse entry of any prop items at its sole discretion and is final regardless of items and descriptions listed below. No discussion will be entered into regarding the decision.
ALL PROP FIREARMS MUST CONTAIN A CLEARLY DISLAYED AND POSITIONED ORANGE BARREL PLUG AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE BELOW.
The following items are not permitted at BPCE:
Working firearms including but not limited to air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns,pellet guns and similar.
Realistic replica firearms including reproduction, fake or toy guns that can be confused for functional firearms.
Functional projectile weapons including blow guns, crossbows or other bows, canned silly string, slingshots, water balloons and water guns.
Sharpened non-metal bladed weapons. Sharpened or dull metal-bladed weapons including but not limited to axes, daggers, hatches, knives, swords, switch blades.
Hard blunt weapons brass knuckles, clubs, extendable batons, nunchaku, baseball and cricket bats or any other hard sporting implement.
Any other metal weapons.
Tasers, sound or light emitting devices. Fireworks, crackers and caps or explosives
Mace and pepper spray etc.
Concealed weapons.
Hard prop weapons such as props made of metal, fiberglass & glass.
Anything that can cause excessive noise levels like vuvuzelas, grenade whistles & grenade horns.
Any prop weapons over 1 metre in length.
Please note, BPCE staff have sole discretion in determining whether a weapon or other prop may affect public safety or may in any other way compromise the integrity of the event. If you are unsure if a weapon or prop is permitted, it’s always best to check before the event, or at the Cosplay Registration & at the event entry for clarification.
For further information on Victoria's specific laws regarding imitation and replica firearms and weapons please refer to Victoria: VIC Police Firearm Classifications & Imitation Firearms Quick Guide
PHOTGRAPHY POLICY
Attendees agree that they may be photographed and or videoed and hereby provide explicit consent to allow the Bendigo Pop Culture Expo (BPCE) and its affiliates to utilise any and all images or videos without compensation and without notice. You here by provide limited rights to your image rights for use by BPCE and its affiliates for the purposes of advertising, marketing, use on social media and website use.
Attendance at the event grants your permission to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded. Your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in connection with BPCE and its initiatives may be used. This may include use on websites, archival, news and advertising, social media, and to the release, reproduction, or publication of any and all recorded media on event grounds.
You waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of ‘you’ by entering BPCE or event grounds. This includes, without limitation, any right to review or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such recorded media.
Understand that all photography, filming and/or recording at BPCE will be done in reliance on this consent.
BULLYING & HARRASSMENT POLICY
BPCE prides itself on cultivating a friendly, diverse, and safe environment for all attendees, panelists, vendors, guests, staff and volunteers. In an effort to do so, BPCE prohibits harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment/assault, and will take appropriate and immediate action in response to this behavior.
Harassment is any verbal or physical conduct designed to intimidate or pressure, humiliate, threaten, make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Harassment includes but is not limited to the following:
Offensive comments and hate speech in relation to age, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity , appearance or body size, disability, or religion etc.
Deliberate intimidation, bullying, assault, or inappropriate behavior to another person.
Stalking or following.
Unwanted photography after verbally requesting it to be stopped, clandestine photography or videography for the purpose of exploitation (hidden cameras, upskirt video, etc.)
Sustained disruption of events.
Inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact.
Unwelcome sexual attention.
The use of social media to engage in any of the above behaviors while at the event
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. The above list is not exhaustive and the BPCE staff are the final arbiter of what else may constitute harassment for the purposes of this policy.
Any form of physical aggression or assault will result in the immediate removal of the offending party without refund, authorities called and ultimately, expelled from BPCE and future events.
COSPLAY GUIDELINES
Bendigo Pop Culture Expos (here in referred to as BPCE) Cosplay Contest is a fun, light-hearted catwalk-style event for cosplayers of all ages and skill levels to showcase their costumes!
Pre-registration is required. Contestants can sign up in advance online or in person during the event at the Cosplay registration Booth
Costumes based on original characters, fashion styles & cultural elements are welcome at BPCE , but are unlikely to be valid for competition entry. All costumes must come from an established cartoon, comic book, anime, video game, tabletop game, television show, manga, novel, movie, etc to be valid for competition.
Sandbagging is not allowed. If your cosplay has already won Best in Show or Best in Division at any other major event, it cannot be re-entered at BPCE.
The contest is open to all attendees of BPCE with a valid entry ticket and is limited to one entry per person in one category and all contestants must fill out the entry form and pay the registration fee.
Costumes may be hand-made, store bought and or a combination of both. No store-bought or custom-made (made by a third part creator for an individual) costumes will be eligible for major prizes unless it is combined with at least 50% handmade elements. Stock Store bought and custom-made costumes are eligible for the ‘Mirror Image’ award. Props may be store bought (handmade is highly encouraged) but must comply with the weapons policy listed above.
A strict weapons policy will be enforced (see policy above). If you do not surrender a prop when asked, it will be considered a breach of cosplay rules & regulations and you may be asked to leave the premises.
Do not create a mess with your costume. If your costume contains any elements that detach from it, please make sure to collect them before you leave. Liquids, sticky substances, laser pointers, glitter or anything else that could damage the venue or pose a hazard to other attendees is not permitted.
Bad behaviour of any kind is not allowed. This includes but is not limited to: trash talking, sabotage, poor sportsmanship, and bullying or harassment (POLICY ABOVE in person or online). Improper behaviour will get you removed from the competition and possibly the event.
Hate symbols are not permitted at BPCE; it is at the sole discretion of BPCE staff whether something is considered a hate symbol. Refusal to remove any hate symbols will be grounds for removal from the event.
Cosplay is NOT consent! Taking photos of other contestants while in line and/or backstage without consent is not allowed. Inappropriately touching or speaking to other contestants is not allowed and will result in disqualification and possible expulsion from the event. By entering the Cosplay Competiton you provide BPCE rights to use your likeness for ongoing future promotional use.
Real military or police uniforms are not permitted.
BPCE is a family-oriented event and overtly sexualised or overly revealing costumes are not permitted, All costumes must be PG classified or less. Nudity and risqué costumes are not allowed. G Strings and Thongs are not permitted. The illusion of nudity is also not permitted.
Appropriate footwear must be worn with all costumes. If your costume would normally feature bare feet, you may remove your footwear for photos or during competitions or events but must replace them as soon as is practical.
Costumes may also be deemed as inappropriate for reasons beyond those itemised in these guidelines, at the sole discretion of event organisers.
Ignorance of the rules & regulations does not warrant exemption from them.