General Event Policies

 Abuse & Harassment Policy

Attendees who use abusive language promote a sense of unease, or in some other way impact negatively on the event or attendees at the event can be asked to leave at any time without refund.  Be polite and courteous to each other, the volunteers, hotel staff and anyone that you come in contact with.  Having an event in a hotel is a privilege, and if you behave in a way that would reflect poorly on our group, you will be removed immediately. 

Age

All Grand Strand Affair Attendees must be  at least 19 years of age by the first day of the conference.  A current, valid picture ID must be presented at registration.  No exceptions. 

Alcohol Policy 

Attendees who chose to purchase alcoholic beverages must be at least 21 years of age.  Any attendee who is noticeably impaired will not be permitted to stay at the event.  No drinking is allowed in the dungeon or during classes.  All alcohol must stay in designated spaces. 

Animals 

According to the ADA, “A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability”. Our hotel is a pet friendly hotel; however, our hotel does charge a pet fee. .  Comfort/Support animal handlers must get the hotel’s permission prior to bringing an animal that is not a service animal into the hotel or conference space.  Animals that are not working or providing assistance to their handler should not be inside the conference space. All service, comfort, and support animals must be updated on all vaccines, leashed, and if they have an accident – the handler should clean it immediately and report the incident to Grand Strand Affair staff. Handlers are completely responsible for the conduct of their animals in public and private hotel spaces including but not limited to stain removal, medical care for an attendee injured by the animal, etc.

Badges & Wristbands 

Badges and wristbands must be worn at all times while in the hotel.  You must wear BOTH your wristband AND your badge at all times in public event spaces. No admittance through our security checkpoints will be permitted without both wristband and badge displayed. You are expected to keep your badge with you at all times. If it is not physically on you, it must be displayed near you (while in the dungeon).

Cell Phones

Please silence your cell phone when in the conference space.  This includes the sounds from typing on the keyboard, and notifications. Cell phones are not permitted to be out or used in the dungeon during parties even momentarily. 

Confidentiality

All activities that take place at Grand Strand Affair should be treated with confidentiality. Adhere to the photography policy, and do not share information about other attendees.    Outing an attendee is considered a serious offense and could result in your expulsion from this event, and future events.

Consent

All activity must be consensual, both in and out of play, in both actions and language. Be respectful requesting a “yes” and providing a “no”.  Treat others politely when possible.  (Please see consent policy for more information)

Covid

Please see our policy

Dress and Conduct in Hotel Spaces

Having a space to do what we do depends on everyone’s conduct.  One thoughtless person can ruin it for everybody. We expect everyone to be street legal and polite in ALL hotel public spaces including riding the elevators and walking to their guest rooms. There will be guests staying at the hotel that ARE NOT WITH Grand Strand Affair.  Hotel contracts are precious; it is important to have an incredible amount of decorum when in areas of the hotel that are not behind checkpoints. This includes ALL public areas of the hotel, including the pool, restrooms (outside the conference space), lobby, gym, parking lot and elevators, hallways and more. 

Hotel staff & guests should not be exposed to nudity or lewd commentary. We reserve the right to immediately eject, without refund, anyone who doesn’t follow this policy.  Please ere on the side of conservative when you are not behind the checkpoints. re

We encourage, support and celebrate you dressing for your gender and personal expression. Fetish attire is okay, as long as it abides by the following requirements: Everyone’s nipples, genitals, butts should always be covered when in a public area of the hotel. Feel free to bring items to change into inside the checkpoint bathrooms. A sheer shirt over a bare chest is not good enough. Please be respectful of our hotel staff and guests who are not here for Grand Strand Affair 

DO NOT: Display genitals or nipples (real or simulated – this means no dildo parades, see-through latex or mesh (without a cover-up), play in public spaces (no leading on leashes etc.). Be an ambassador of kinky people so we can come back next year. 

Dress After Security Checkpoint

After our security checkpoint, expectations relax significantly. Dress code is fetish friendly in hallways and vending areas but our window coverings are imperfect so we expect street legal(risque ok!) in our hallways. Nudity is OK in our classrooms and dungeons, but you will  need to be sitting on blankets/towels/yoga mats/chux/etc. and not right on hotel furnishings or carpet if they are significantly undressed. Let us be clear “no naked genitals on hotel furnishings EVER” We don’t want to have to talk to anyone about that any more than anyone wants to get talked to about that.

Drops – Rope Suspension

The dungeon equipment and the rigs in classes should not be used to perform drops.  This practice should not be demonstrated or taught at Grand Strand Affair.

Drugs 

Cannabis is not legal for recreational use in the state, and there is no legal commercial market for it . Marijuana remains illegal for recreational purposes, and possession can lead to penalties. A first offense is a misdemeanor, punishable by 30 days in prison and a maximum $200 fine, possessing one ounce or more is a felony, punishable by up to 5 years in jail and a potential $5,000 fine. South Carolina drug laws distinguish between actual and constructive possession.

Emergencies 

First Aid Staff Members will be available to assist with any basic medical needs.  In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 911.  Please notify event staff in the event of an emergency. DMs will be present at all parties and will serve as first responders in the event that a situation arises there.

First Aid

If you need basic first aid during our hours of operation, please ask the hospitality desk to radio for non-emergency first aid if no one is at the First Aid Station. 

Hate Speech or Behavior

Grand Strand Affair is designed to be a space where a variety of identities should feel safe, supported, and represented.  If you use the privilege of attending the event to make hateful, discriminatory, or other just plain mean remarks about an attendee’s gender, sexuality, race, religion, weight, age, economic background, etc., you might be asked to leave.  You will certainly be asked to apologize. You risk not being invited to attend future events.  

Illegal Activities 

Abide by all state, local, federal laws. Grand Strand Affair has a zero tolerance policy

Photography Policy 

Grand Strand Affair does not hire official event photographers. We do allow attendees who create active consent to take photographs using their personal cell phones in our designated photo area. Only consenting attendees may be photographed and absolutely no people who do not consent (people walking by, etc.) may be in any photographs taken even if you plan to blur or crop them out. Photography is not permitted in the dungeon during parties, and anyone taking unsolicited photos at any time will be removed without refund. Absolutely no audio or video recording is permitted at any time within event spaces. Please limit your personal photographic equipment in general event spaces to cell phones – not larger cameras or tablets.

Play 

Play scenes are restricted to the dungeon and play spaces. Refrain from any kind of play including pinching, fondling, spanking, rough body play, humiliation play, or similar activities while in public spaces, the Serenity Space, or in the Vendor Hall. See Dungeon Rules for play rules during evening parties.

Restrooms 

Most restrooms in the convention space will be all-gender for this event. Please respect the right of others to use the restroom of their choice.

Sex Work

Accepting or giving payment for any type of sexual behavior/act is prohibited due to South Carolina law. This will result in your immediate removal from the event with no refund.

Smoking

No smoking or vaping in the hotel.

Volunteers

Our volunteers are members who have graciously given their time to help our event run more smoothly. We insist that all attendees respect volunteer directions and directives. Issues with volunteer conduct may be brought up to event management by email to grandstrandaffair@gmail.com at any time. During our event weekend, please contact the appropriate team lead or the information desk for assistance.