Personal Property

You must check in any equipment brought for the host (GAAM) to use. Equipment includes without limitation: consoles, computers, musical instruments, T.V.s, games, and projectors. The host may store attendee-supplied equipment and accompanying items but will not be held accountable in any way for them. The host’s attendees leave all equipment at their own risk. Please note that any equipment intended for public use may be subject to normal wear and tear.

At check-in, attendees will be required to label each piece of equipment with a code tied to their badge number. To retrieve checked-in equipment it will be necessary to present an ID and attendee badge.

No equipment will be released to any persons refusing to present the aforementioned articles.

The host reserves the right to inspect all items coming into and out of the host’s event areas.

The host is not responsible for the contents of attendees’ systems as there is a possibility of them spreading malware or otherwise affecting other equipment adversely.

The host and GAAM, LLC may not be held responsible for any equipment damaged or otherwise affected by other attendees’ equipment.

The host also reserves the right to remove any suspicious equipment to preserve the safety of other equipment.

Weapons Policy

Prop weapons are welcome but must be checked in with security promptly upon arrival. Sharp corners, metal rods, or any other elements of weapons that may be dangerous to others will not be allowed. If constructing a prop please err on the side of caution, or contact us ahead of time for approval.

No real weapons or any item that can be easily mistaken for a weapon may be carried either openly or concealed at any time in event space, regardless of any concealed carry permits.

If a prop weapon or folding pocket knife is held or used in a threatening way, it will be considered a weapon. On such occasion, a staff member may take any reasonable measures to ensure the continued safety of the host’s attendees. These policies are enforced at all times.

Posting of Announcements, Fliers, Etc.

The host may provide a message board near the registration desk where attendees may post messages, place announcements for get-togethers, etc. The staff reserves the right to remove any posted materials that are considered inappropriate or may reflect poorly on the event as a whole.

Do not affix anything to or write on the walls of the venue or the directional signs placed by the host, including in the elevators. Hotel staff is authorized to remove any unauthorized postings on sight.

Sales of Merchandise

The offering for sale of any merchandise at the event may be undertaken only in the Marketplace area or by special arrangement with the host’s staff. All sales will be governed by the rules applicable to that area.

Anyone wishing to sell goods or merchandise must first obtain pre-approval from GAAM, LLC. Please note that it is illegal to sell merchandise or services in any area of the venue not designated for such activity. Such actions constitute “illegal solicitation,” and may result in the perpetrator being removed from hotel grounds.

Personal Conduct in Event Areas and in Public Areas

There is no smoking in any portion of the venue. Our hosts respectfully request that those who step outside to smoke kindly refrain from standing directly in front of any of the entrances, as the smoke is carried inside.

Please remember that you are a guest of the venue, and that there may be other guests staying or dining at the venue who are not attendees of the event. Please maintain a level of noise appropriate to the time and place.

We expect everyone to cooperate fully with The host’s staff, hotel staff, and any local security or law enforcement personnel. “Disorderly conduct” includes any and all fighting, any inappropriate horseplay, or any actions that may disturb or disrupt of any event or hotel function. Disorderly conduct may result in revocation of your badge.

No items of any kind, including paper airplanes, gum, or spit may be thrown or dropped from the venue or its adjoining patios. No water pistols, silly string, or any other projectile-type toy may be used in any public area of the venue.

No sleeping in the venue. The host is reasonably tolerant if you nod off at your computer, but you may not use event areas as a replacement for a hotel room. The host and venue reserves the right to remove a participant from an event room for sleeping.

Attendees must not attempt to cross any barriers (such as curtains or stanchions) without being accompanied by a staff member of the host or venue. Crossing such a barrier or otherwise entering an area that is off-limits to our attendees may result in suspension of your attendance and removal from the event.

Harassment

GAAM is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable event experience for everyone. Harassment of any kind, including but not limited to: physical assault, sexual assault, battery, deliberate intimidation, stalking, or unwelcome physical attention, will not be tolerated. If a person says “no” or asks you to leave them alone, your business with them is done. Do not follow them or attempt to disrupt their event experience in any way. If you continue to attempt to have contact with those people, you may have your badge revoked and may be removed from the premises.

The host is not responsible for mediating any interpersonal problems that may arise between individual attendees. In general, we can take no action to prevent a person from attending the event unless that person has made a specific and credible threat toward the event (and the general welfare of those attending) itself.

If you feel that a threat exists against your person, we advise you to seek a restraining order against the individual in question and to present it to the chairman in advance of the event. Otherwise, we recommend avoiding that individual. If that individual stalks, harasses or attempts to assault you at the event itself, please report that individual to a member of the security staff and appropriate action will be taken.

Conversely, any attempt to have an innocent person removed from the event by falsely accusing him or her will be treated as an act of harassment and dealt with appropriately. The responsibility for settling interpersonal disputes lies solely with the individuals involved.

The host will not tolerate being used as a leveraging point in such disputes.

Substance Abuse

The sale or distribution of any illegal or controlled substances is not allowed at a GAAM event. Any individual found to be distributing such substances will be removed and reported directly to the local authorities.

Please note an important caveat involving minors: Anyone knowingly or unknowingly providing alcohol or aiding others in providing alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 will be guilty of a felony and will be turned over to the local authorities. It is the sole responsibility of persons serving alcohol in room parties to ensure that every person in attendance is over the age of 21, regardless of whether the host or any party attendees are drinking alcohol.

Anyone caught drinking under the age of 21 is guilty of a Class 1 Misdemeanor and may be penalized harshly.

Use of Video or Audio Recordings and Media Relations

For the purposes of this section, the host denotes any private happenings including all concerts, panels, movies, tournaments, game rooms, and any other events or areas only open to attendees with valid badges. The term “recording” means any media capturing medium or devices, audio, visual, or otherwise.

You, the videographer, retain full copyright rights to the recordings you shoot but not to the content contained within the host’s event. The host grants you, the videographer, a creative commons share-alike non-commercial attribution license to any recordings you make at or of the event. Uses beyond this license require permission from GAAM, LLC. You agree to grant the host a non-exclusive, sub-licensable irrevocable, perpetual and universal license to use, distribute, perform and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology, including for-profit use. For any other terms of use or licensing please see creative commons by-nc-sa 3.0.

The host’s attendees may be photographed or otherwise recorded by other attendees. By accepting the host’s badge/ticket you are consenting to having your image published. If you prefer not to have your picture taken, please inform the host’s staff. If anyone continues to photograph or record you against your will, it will be treated as harassment (see above).

The host permits (and encourages) attendees to share photographs of their event experience on personal web pages. Video and audio recordings, however, are subject to the above provisions. Parties interested in making recordings or performances for public interest uses should contact the Board of GAAM, LLC through the “contact us” form on https://gaamnerdmarket.com

Payments to GAAM

GAAM accepts cash and credit card payments though our Point of Sales system. We will attempt to resolve any dispute involving a credit card payment to GAAM following the tenets of good faith and fair dealing. Chargebacks (denying payment to a credit card company for a specific charge) that are made for the sole purpose of avoiding payment, made without sufficient cause, or that are made without first attempting to resolve the dispute with GAAM may result in permanent revocation of attendance privileges and possible legal action. Attendees who have an outstanding balance due to GAAM, must settle that balance before being permitted to attend the event.

GAAM does not accept checks or money orders of any kind, in any form.

GAAM will not be involved in any financial disputes between individual attendees, and cannot divulge information about an individual attendee to any party other than to banking officials or legal authorities acting on a legal order.

Ticket Squatting

Please do not “squat” and collect tickets for multiple/back to back time slots. The intent is to give as many people an opportunity to experience the event as possible, and squatting on multiple time slots is not permitted. If after attending the Market Zone, you would like to return, please check to see if there are tickets available for another time slot, or ask a VolunStar about re-entry outside of your allotted time.

If it is discovered that an attendee is squatting on tickets, all of the tickets may be released back out.
If it is discovered that an attendee tries to continue to squat, they may be escorted by security, or banned from the event, and future events.

Miscellaneous Notes

The standards of conduct for the event will be strictly enforced by GAAM security and volunteers who will be clearly identified as such on site. Please remember that your badges (if provided) are property of GAAM for the duration of the event, and must be presented and/or surrendered to any Staff member requesting it. If you have any problem with any action taken by a Staff member you may take the matter up with the Chief of Security or GAAM’s board members. We make every attempt to be fair but we cannot tolerate behavior which threatens the peace and well-being of our attendees or organization.

GAAM accepts no liability for actions of any kind by individuals in the confines of private hotel rooms. Anyone intending to host a party is strongly suggested to check for GAAM badges and correct wristbands on party goers and to deny entrance to any person who is not a member of the event.

Responsibility for incidents occurring in hotel guest rooms rests solely upon the individual in whose name the room is rented. This includes payment for any and all damage, whether caused intentionally or unintentionally (such as from hanging something on a sprinkler head. Don’t do that.). Please note that if the host is provided with sufficient evidence to suggest that illegal activities, particularly those that may cause harm to another person or to the well-being of the event as a whole, will be taking place in a hotel room, we have both a civic and a moral responsibility to report such information to the appropriate authorities.

All Applicable Local, State, and Federal Laws Must Be Obeyed While in Attendance at the host’s events.

Please be reminded that these rules involve, of course, “worst-case” scenarios and are put into place to ensure the safety and comfort of our attendees.

We anticipate no difficulties, as our attendees as a whole are rational and responsible individuals.

The host is prepared to deal with any or all of the above scenarios in as rapid and efficient a manner as possible should they occur. We thank our attendees for their past cooperation and for their continued assistance in making this a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Have fun – just please be courteous of those around you.

last updated 10/02/2023