Derpy Nirvash

Because the convention's own rules do not apply to them!

To get started, here is a link to the rules for the con, http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/contact/rules/ If you skim through that nice webpage, I believe you will find nothing related to photos, or general media inside the convention space. But, with most every con, there is the assumption that if the area is publicly open to con goers that cameras are allowed unless otherwise noted. Ponyville Ciderfest had a 21+ Ciderbar/drunk people hang out at the top of the hotel in the Polaris level and door staff to check IDs on entering to verify you are over 21.

On Saturday night a friend and I decide to take a trip up there, we were let in, and I had a very obvious Canon DSLR around my neck, which the con staff checking IDs did not have an issue with at all. It was not until we were up there for probably half an hour that someone approached me and wanted to inspect my camera fully and delete any pictures they deemed unfit. As I had never previously saw anything about, or been notified by anyone about special camera polices in the area, I refused to have my property searched and asked where this policy was stated. The response I got was pretty much this, 'I own this con, so I make the rules whenever I want'. At that point my badge was revoked and I was told to go back to my hotel room immediately, but the story doesn't end there!

After I got to the hotel room, two con staffers and two hotel staffers arrived outside my door, they informed me that, if I could not contact the person who checked in the room and prove I should be in the room, I would get kicked out of the room right there. I however was able to contact said person and he was dragged up to talk to the hotel staff. After a while of talking, it was decided that I could stay in the hotel room for the remainder of the stay, but if I wandered too much, or loitered around on the second floor, or lobby of the hotel for too long, my entire hotel room would be kicked out of the hotel and con without further warning.

If you are the head of an organization that puts out published rules and a code of conduct, you as the head of the organization should not 'own the place'. Your organization placed the rules that the guests and your staff should follow. One person should not be able to make official polices on the fly and apply them retroactively.

tldr; I had a camera around my neck, the staff at the door had no issue with it, one person (with an ego that is too large) did and I had my badge revoked and was threatened to be thrown out of the hotel. Despite the fact I cannot see any rule I broke!