Last Updated: 7 March, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service constitute a legally binding agreement between you and FantaSci Literary Society/Fandom Literature STEAM Convention (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Convention”) governing your use of our website and participation in our convention. By accessing our website, registering for the convention, or attending our event, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use our website or attend our convention. We reserve the right to refuse service or attendance to anyone for any lawful reason.

2. Registration

When you register for our convention, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of your registration information and promptly updating it if anything changes. Each registration is personal to you and may not be transferred to another person without our prior written consent. You must be at least 13 years old to create an account on our website. Minors under 18 should have parental or guardian permission to register and attend. Parents or guardians who register minors are responsible for their conduct at the convention. We reserve the right to verify your identity and may refuse or cancel your registration if we cannot confirm your information or if we suspect fraudulent activity.

2.1 Children/Minors

It’s important to note that the convention is not a babysitting service and cannot be held responsible for the safety of your child. However, the staff is willing to assist in any way possible. It’s crucial for parents to be attentive and keep a close eye on their children during the event. In the event that children are allowed to roam freely, the staff recommends that a cell phone number be written on the back of their badge as an emergency contact. If children are attending programming or visiting the Con Suite, it’s imperative that they are under the supervision of a responsible adult. In case a child becomes separated from their responsible adult, they will be taken to the Security Office where staff members will attempt to contact the parents and stay with the child until they are retrieved. Following these guidelines will help ensure the safety of all children at the Con.

3. Payment Terms

All membership fees and purchases must be paid in full at the time of registration unless other arrangements have been made in advance. Payment is processed through our third-party payment processor, and you agree to be bound by their terms of service. All prices are stated in U.S. dollars. We accept payment methods as indicated on our website at the time of purchase. Your payment authorization constitutes your agreement to pay all applicable fees and charges, including any applicable taxes.

4. Refund and Cancellation Policy

Refund policies vary by membership type and timing of your cancellation request. Standard refund terms are as follows: requests made more than [X days] before the convention may receive a [X%] refund, requests made [X to Y days] before the convention may receive a [X%] refund, and requests made within [X days] of the convention are non-refundable. All refund requests must be submitted in writing to [email address]. Processing fees are non-refundable. We reserve the right to cancel or modify the convention due to circumstances beyond our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, public health emergencies, venue issues, or insufficient registration. In the event of cancellation, we will provide refunds or credits toward a future convention as circumstances permit, but we are not responsible for any additional costs you may have incurred such as travel or accommodation expenses.

5. Code of Conduct

By attending our convention, you agree to conduct yourself in a respectful and appropriate manner at all times. Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or threatening behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to unwelcome physical contact, verbal abuse, discriminatory comments, stalking, inappropriate photography, and any conduct that creates an unsafe or unwelcoming environment. You agree to follow all instructions from convention staff, venue personnel, and security. You must comply with all applicable laws and venue rules. We reserve the right to remove any attendee who violates this Code of Conduct without refund. Serious violations may result in being banned from future conventions and may be reported to appropriate authorities.

5.1 Harassment

The Fandom Literature STEAM Convention considers itself a family-friendly convention. All forms of harassment are detrimental to the health and well-being of our attendees and the convention in general. In an effort to enhance FLSCon’s standing in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention Universe, its staff will emulate the harassment policy and reporting procedures from other conventions.

It is imperative that everyone understands that No means No, Stop means Stop, and Leave Me Alone means Leave Me Alone! If attendees treat each other with common courtesy and respect, there should be no reason to institute the reporting procedures.

If you find yourself in a situation where you feel you are being harassed, please maintain your cool and ask the person to stop. If they do not stop, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible. Find friends or a staff member and ask for assistance. At no time is the use of aggression or physical force acceptable unless your life and wellbeing are in question!

5.2 Weapons & Weapon Simulations

Absolutely NO REAL Projectile weapons will be allowed! No hand guns, rifles, shotguns, M-16’s, Uzi’s or crossbows!

Any weapons infractions will be dealt with in a serious manner, including expulsion from the convention, banning the individual(s) from the convention forever, or calling the local authorities. No realistic looking projectile weapons will be allowed for costuming unless:

  • The weapon is first checked by our security.
  • The weapon has been marked acceptable by our security.
  • The weapon is holstered or strapped and then peace bonded in place.

If the weapon is clearly identifiable as a toy weapon it does not need to follow the above rules. Otherwise, a water pistol (for you Harry Dresden fans) is allowable. Swords and knives will be allowed for costumes. They must be in their sheathes at all times and peace bonded by our security. They must not be drawn in a public place. If you want to show your weapon to a friend, please take it to your room.

Please be careful with all other potential weapons that may be part of your costumes

6. Programming and Participation

If you submit programming proposals or volunteer applications, you grant us the right to accept, modify, or reject your submissions at our sole discretion. You represent that you have the right to present any content you propose and that your participation will not infringe on any third-party rights. Schedule changes may occur, and we cannot guarantee that any specific programming will take place as planned. Participants and volunteers agree to arrive on time for their scheduled commitments and to conduct themselves professionally. We reserve the right to remove participants from programming for violations of our Code of Conduct or failure to meet their obligations.

7. Photography, Recording, and Media

By attending our convention, you acknowledge that photography, video recording, and audio recording may take place in public areas of the event for promotional, documentary, and archival purposes. You grant us and our authorized representatives the right to photograph, film, and record you and to use your name, voice, image, and likeness in any media now known or later developed for promotional purposes without compensation. If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, you are responsible for avoiding cameras and making your wishes known to photographers. Convention badges or indicators for those who do not wish to be photographed may be available upon request. You may not record programming, interviews with guests, or other content without express permission from the presenters and convention staff. Unauthorized commercial photography or recording is strictly prohibited.

8. Intellectual Property Rights

Our website content, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is owned by us or our licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from our content without our express written permission. The Fandom Literature STEAM Convention name, logo, and related marks are our trademarks, and you may not use them without authorization. Content submitted by attendees, including programming proposals, panel descriptions, and forum posts, grants us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, modify, and display such content for convention operations and promotional purposes. You retain ownership of your submitted content and represent that you have the right to grant this license.

Our website and services may integrate with or link to third-party websites, services, and content that we do not control. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or terms of service of any third-party services. Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to their terms and policies. This includes but is not limited to payment processors, hotel booking services, social media platforms, and any vendors or dealers at our convention.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our website and convention services are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that our website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that defects will be corrected. We make no warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any content or information provided through our services. We do not guarantee that any particular programming, guest, or feature will be available at the convention. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses resulting from your use of our website or attendance at our convention. This includes but is not limited to damages arising from errors or omissions in content, service interruptions, schedule changes, cancellations, personal injury, property damage, or theft. Our total liability to you for all claims arising from or related to these Terms or your use of our services shall not exceed the amount you paid to us for convention registration. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

11.1 Lost and Found

Lost items turned in and children who have become separated from their responsible adult will be escorted to the Security Office. Staff members will try to contact the parents and will stay with the child until a responsible adult is retrieved.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Fandom Literature STEAM Convention, its officers, directors, members, volunteers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related to your violation of these Terms, your violation of any rights of another party, your violation of any applicable laws, or your conduct at the convention. This indemnification obligation will survive the termination of these Terms and your attendance at the convention.

13. Personal Property and Liability

You are responsible for your personal property at all times during the convention. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property. You attend the convention at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety and well-being. You should maintain appropriate personal health, travel, and property insurance. We recommend that you do not bring valuable items to the convention or leave personal property unattended.

14. Modifications to Services and Terms

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our website or convention services at any time without notice or liability. We may update these Terms from time to time by posting revised Terms on our website with a new “Last Updated” date. Material changes will be communicated via email or prominent website notice. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

15. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to our website or your convention membership at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice, including for violation of these Terms or our Code of Conduct. Upon termination, your right to use our services immediately ceases. Termination does not relieve you of any obligations that accrued prior to termination. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including but not limited to intellectual property provisions, disclaimers, limitation of liability, and indemnification.

16. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of our services shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts. Before filing any lawsuit, you agree to first contact us at [email address] to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. If the dispute cannot be resolved within 30 days, either party may proceed with formal dispute resolution.

17. Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance under these Terms due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic or public health emergencies, war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes, government actions, venue unavailability, utility failures, or internet service disruptions. During such events, our performance obligations will be suspended for the duration of the event, and we will not be liable for any resulting damages or losses.

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable while preserving the original intent.

19. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding your use of our website and attendance at our convention. These Terms supersede any prior agreements, representations, or understandings, whether written or oral. No waiver of any provision of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of that provision or any other provision.

20. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

  • FantaSci Literary Society/Fandom Literature STEAM Convention
  • Email: president@flscon.org
  • Address: 3309 Barcelona Court, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
  • Phone: (757) 272-2598