The Arizona Browncoats, a not-for-profit organization, are hosting the 2013 Browncoat Ball in Phoenix, Arizona this year. 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 Arizona 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 Phoenix Airport Plaza Hotel, admission to the Browncoat Ball will be limited to approximately 150 people, including members of the The Arizona Browncoats. Aside from a limited number of tickets set aside for the members of The Arizona 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 Arizona Browncoats anticipate that 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 be 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 Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Phoenix Airport Plaza Hotel’s beverage license and will be subject to the hotel’s rules and regulations. Among other matters, this means that the restrictions imposed by the Phoenix Airport Plaza Hotel on the consumption of alcohol in public areas of the hotel will be in effect.
The Arizona 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, as well as ask you to keep in mind the positive reputation of the Browncoat community.
Smoking:
Arizona prohibits smoking statewide in most enclosed and public areas, including bars and restaurants. The hotel does not have smoking guest rooms. Outdoor smoking areas are usually available if you ask, but plan on taking a walk to the far end of the parking lot.
Weapons:
Arizona has very lenient laws when it comes to guns and unconcealed weapons are allowed in most places that do not explicitly prohibit them. However, 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 Arizona Browncoats will be final. Similar rules will be in place for swords, laser pistols, griswold apples, and mounted ground-to-air canons. Gentlemen will relinquish their side-arms before entering the Ball itself to be returned upon exit.
Security:
No off-duty police or other security personnel are being hired for any of the Browncoat Ball functions. While the Phoenix Airport Plaza Hotel has its own security people for its grounds, and the Arizona 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 Phoenix Airport Plaza 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).
Release of Liability:
You attend the Browncoat Ball at your own will, by your own consent and at your own risk. The Browncoat Ball and the Arizona 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.
Behavior:
The organizers reserve the right to ask anyone, regardless of age, gender or affiliation to leave based on disruptive behavior. Any duels must be overseen by the ball organizers and follow civilized rules. Whining, tantrums, spitting, talking with your mouth full and running in the halls is also prohibited.
Harassment Policy
We believe the Browncoat Ball should be a fun and safe event for everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or any other demographics. To help ensure our members’ happiness and a successful Browncoat Ball, we have added a harassment policy to our behavior policies.
Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Harassment includes but is not limited to offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, as well as behavior such as deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, unwanted photography or recording, sustained disruption of events, inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact, or unwelcome sexual attention.
Participants who feel they are being harassed are encouraged to attempt to address the issue directly with the harasser, if they feel comfortable doing so, in order to resolve any potential misunderstandings. However, all Browncoat Ball volunteers are informed of our policy, and we will do everything in our power to ensure all participants a comfortable and safe atmosphere.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the event organizers will take appropriate action. Individuals asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately regardless of whether it is an attendee or staff member making the request. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the Ball organizers may take any action deemed appropriate from warning the offender to expulsion from the Ball without refund. The Browncoat Ball does not assume any responsibility for the actions of its participants.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a staff member immediately. If you feel you or others are in danger, call 911 directly or contact any event or hotel staff.
The Final Rule:
REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING ELSE, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH ALL LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA, THE CITY OF PHOENIX, THE PHOENIX AIRPORT PLAZA HOTEL, AND THE ARIZONA BROWNCOATS.
THE ARIZONA BROWNCOATS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ADMITTANCE TO, OR EXPEL AND REQUIRE THE DEPARTURE OF, ANY ATTENDEE THAT VIOLATES THE POLICIES SET FORTH HEREIN OR OTHERWISE DISRUPTS THE BROWNCOAT BALL FUNCTIONS, WITHOUT REFUND OF THE ADMISSION PRICE.
Legal Stuff:
The Browncoat Ball is the brain child of the Chicagoland Browncoats. It is being hosted this year, with their blessing, by the Arizona Browncoats at the Phoenix Airport Plaza Hotel in Phoenix, AZ. All of the Browncoats that have put on past Balls and the Arizona Browncoats are purely fan-run entities, and none of them are 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. No entity involved makes any profit off of intellectual property that inspires the event. In other words, Don’t sue us. We’re just fans trying to do good works.
The Arizona 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 Arizona 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.