The Albuquerque Browncoats are the hosts for the 2012 Browncoat Ball! We all look forward to having a fun, successful and safe gathering.

As part of achieving this goal, persons planning on attending the Browncoat Ball (BCB) functions are asked to read and understand the policies set forth below, which will be enforced for the gathering. Any attendee who violates these policies (i) may be asked to leave the function immediately, (ii) may have his or her admission to the remaining functions of the Browncoat Ball revoked, without refund, if the violation is deemed serious enough to warrant such action, in the sole judgment of the Albuquerque Browncoats and its officers, and (iii) if violations of law are involved, will be reported to the local police.

Limited Admission to Events:

Because of the size of the available facilities at the Sheraton Uptown Hotel, admission to the Browncoat Ball will be limited to approximately 175 people, including members of the The Albuquerque Browncoats. Aside from a limited number of tickets set aside for the members of The Albuquerque Browncoats and the Browncoat Ball staff, all admissions will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Obtain your tickets in advance – do not count on showing up at the event and being able to acquire tickets at that time.

Merchandise Sales:

At this time, the Albuquerque Browncoats anticipate that the some or all of the various performance artists engaged for the Browncoat Ball will be selling their own CDs, videos and other items in connection with their performances at specific Browncoat Ball functions. However, no person will permitted to sell souvenirs, T-shirts, CDs, records, videos or items of any other sort at the Browncoat Ball except pursuant to the prior written consent and agreement of the Albuquerque Browncoats.

Refunds:

The Browncoat Ball (BCB) committee is required to make non-refundable deposits and purchases while planning and executing the Browncoat Ball. As a result, we are unable to grant refunds for BCB registrations. If you cannot attend, you may sell your membership to someone else; you must contact the Browncoat Ball and notify them of this transfer. Refunds for hotel reservations, airline tickets, etc. are at the discretion of the issuing authorities.

Drugs & Alcohol:

The Browncoat Ball and the Albuquerque Browncoats recognize all state and federal laws regarding the possession, use and distribution of illegal substances. The Browncoat Ball staff reserves the right to revoke the Browncoat Ball membership of any guest found with or discovered under the influence of illegal substances.

The state of New Mexico recognizes the legal drinking age as 21 years old. If the consumption of alcohol by a minor in a public place is brought to the attention of the BCB Staff, the staff will ask the attendee to leave the area.

The purchase and consumption of alcohol at these events will be through the Sheraton Uptown Hotel’s beverage license and will be subject to the Sheraton Uptown Hotel’s rules and regulations. Among other matters, this means that the restrictions imposed by the Sheraton Uptown Hotel on the consumption of alcohol in public areas of the hotel will be in effect.

The Albuquerque Browncoats cannot and do not prohibit “room parties” in a private hotel room, but we remind all attendees that their conduct within their hotel room remains subject to applicable law and the rules and regulations of their hotel. We encourage all attendees to be responsible for their party and guests.

Smoking:

The state of New Mexico prohibits smoking statewide in all enclosed workplaces in New Mexico, including bars and restaurants. The hotel does have smoking guest rooms, but these may not be available at the negotiated Browncoat Ball rate.

Weapons:

No live firearms of any kind will be permitted at any activity hosted by the BCB. Only plastic, cast-resin “prop” and non-firing replica firearms are permitted. The Ball staff reserves the right to inspect such weapons and to reject them if they, or your behavior with them, are found to be unsafe. In the event of any uncertainty as to the nature of the prop or replica, the judgment of Albuquerque Browncoats will be final.

Prop weapons displayed in the Gallery of ‘Verse Collectables are for viewing only and are not to be handled. The “dueling” event will be done using NERF weapons provided by the Ball; you may not bring your own weapon.

Security:

No off-duty police or other security personnel are being hired for any of the Browncoat Ball functions. While the Sheraton Uptown Hotel has its own security people for its grounds, and the Albuquerque Browncoats will have various staff members on duty at each of the Browncoat Ball functions, no representation or warranty is made that any of such persons are licensed or trained law enforcement personnel.

All attendees are expected to follow the safety and security instructions given by Sheraton Uptown Hotel security personnel and the designated staff members of the Browncoat Ball. All designated Browncoat Ball staff members will be wearing readily identifiable clothes and badges, indicating their position.

Failure to comply with any safety policies or instructions may result in you being asked to leave the BCB (see above).

Liability:

You attend the Browncoat Ball at your own will, by your own consent and at your own risk. The Browncoat Ball and the Albuquerque Browncoats take no responsibility for anything untoward which may happen during your participation in BCB activities. We make no guarantee, explicit or implicit, that the various venues, locations, tours, means of transport, activities and events of the BCB are free of potential hazards of any kind or nature.

Children:

No children under the age of 16 will be admitted to any of the Browncoat Ball functions. No baby sitting or child care services will be provided by the Albuquerque Browncoats or the hotel. Guests are responsible for arranging for their own child care.

The Final Rule:

REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING ELSE, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH ALL LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, THE SHERATON UPTOWN HOTEL, AND THE ALBUQUERQUE BROWNCOATS.

Legal Stuff:

The Browncoat Ball is the brain child of the Chicagoland Browncoats. It is being hosted this year, with their blessing, by the Albuquerque Browncoats at the Sheraton Uptown Hotel in Albuquerque, NM. Both the Chicago Browncoats and the Albuquerque Browncoats are purely fan-run entities, and neither is affiliated in any manner with Joss Whedon, Fox Television, Universal Pictures or anyone else of relevance to the Firefly TV series or the Serenity movie.

The Albuquerque Browncoats do not promise that this website will be error-free, uninterrupted, or that it will provide specific results from use of this website or any content, search or link on it. This website and its content are delivered on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis. The Albuquerque Browncoats will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this Site, including without limitation, direct, indirect, incidental, punitive and consequential damages.