Tethered Together General Event Rules 2023

Please note that there are additional rules that apply during parties in the playspace.

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 nice 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 seek to behave in a way that would reflect poorly on our group, you will be removed immediately. 

Age

All Tethered Together Attendees but be at least 18 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 and charges a cleaning fee for overnight guests which is 50 dollars/night.  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 TT 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

Cell phones can be used to take notes during classes, but should not be used for phone conversations anywhere that would be disruptive to other attendees.  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 Tethered Together should be treated with confidentiality. Adhere to the photography policy, and do not share information about other attendees.  If you happen to see someone you know from the vanilla world – don’t make it weird, and do not share that information with anyone without explicit permission.  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. No puppy-dogging other attendees.  Be respectful requesting a “yes” and providing a “no”.  Treat others politely when possible.  (Please see consent policy for more information)

Covid

Vaccines and Boosters:

In most cases the bivalent booster will be required for you to attend.  If you have recently completed your initial series and are not yet eligible for the booster you are not required to have it for entry. If you have not gotten it yet and your last vaccine was administered before September of 2022 you will need to get a booster before attending unless you can show that you did get the bivalent booster at that time. If you got a booster shot in September 2022 or later it is likely the bivalent. Currently the CDC does not recommend receiving more than 1 bivalent booster shot.

Masks: 

We encourage all attendees to make health decisions that are within their risk profiles. We are not requiring masking.  Please respect everyone’s choice to mask or not mask.

Testing:

Since Covid-19 infection is a persistent concern, we want everyone to feel motivated and empowered to know their Covid-19 status before the event! Knowing your status is sexy, and we strongly suggest that folks take an at-home rapid Covid-19 test prior to arrival at the event at minimum AND every day if they want to really impress us. We will not be providing rapid tests; please bring your own. 

Dress and Conduct in Hotel Spaces

Our having a space to do what we do depends on our conduct and one inconsiderate person can ruin it for everybody. We expect everyone to be street legal and public-level 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 TT. 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 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 air on the side of conservative when you are not behind the checkpoints. 

We encourage and support 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 TT. 

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 folks need to be sitting on blankets/towels/yoga mats/chux/etc. and not right on hotel furnishings or carpet if they are significantly undressed. It’s probably self-evident to say “no naked genitals on hotel furnishings EVER” but being blunt about it now will hopefully avoid awkward conversation later. 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 the event.

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 – General Hatefulness Policy

Tethered Together 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.

Photography Policy 

Tethered Together does not hire official event photographers. We do allow attendees who create active consent to take photographs using their personal cell phones. 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 – and use good manners.

  • The one exception to this is that during the show, performers may ask someone to take pictures of them during their performance. 

Play 

Play scenes are restricted to the dungeon and playspaces. 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 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 CT law.

Smoking

No smoking or vaping in the hotel.

Ticketing

All tickets are pre-sale. No tickets will be sold at the door.  No exceptions.

Volunteers

Our volunteers are community 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 [email protected] at any time. During our event weekend, please contact the appropriate team lead or the information desk for assistance with contacting them.