When does pre-registration open?

August 1, 2023! _{(Return to questions)}

Why is there a pre-registration service fee?

We are proud to offer a pre-registration service that solves many problems our customers have brought to us over the years. This service offers several customer-requested features, such as the ability to transfer badges without going through our customer service department, the ability to use your confirmation email as a proof of purchase at check in, and the ability to create accounts to manage your own contact, billing, and registration details. This service charges us a fee per badge, as does our credit card processor. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope you enjoy the new(ish) pre-registration service! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. _{(Return to questions)}

Do I have to pick up my badge on Friday? Can I do it on a different day?

You may collect your badge on any day of the convention during the registration center’s operating hours. _{(Return to questions)}

How do I change my pre-registered badge information?

Please see the answer for, “How do I transfer my badge to another person?” _{(Return to questions)}

How do I transfer my badge to another person?

Our registration system automatically prepares an account for you when you finish purchasing your badges. In order to access it, you must “claim it.”

• If you have not yet claimed your account, visit the account center and click the “Claim My Account” link. Follow the prompt and check your email (including your spam folder) for the link to claim your account, then follow the instructions for “If you have already claimed your account.”
• If you have already claimed your account, visit the account center and log in. Use your account dashboard to edit your existing badge information. Be sure that the name of the person you put on the badge matches the one on their acceptable ID. (If you selected the “Show confirmation” pickup option, then this is not required.) The software does not automatically resend confirmation emails when you do this.
• If you would like to send the new person a confirmation email after completing the transfer, update the email address on their badge. Then visit the main registration page, click the “Resend Confirmation” link, enter their email address in the box, and click “Lookup & Resend.”

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What if I prefer a different name than what’s on my ID?

That’s OK! Just make sure you select the show purchase confirmation pickup option when you register. We’re not printing your name on the badge or anything, and you can write whatever you want on your badge. For more details and a list of acceptable forms of ID, please read our policy about it. (Please be advised that when you select “show purchase confirmation,” you are waiving any liability we might otherwise incur in the event someone misrepresents themselves as you or otherwise steals your badge.) _{(Return to questions)}

How do I secretly buy a badge as a gift for someone else?

The easiest option is to select the “show purchase confirmation” pickup option when you register their badge. This means your recipient won’t need to present their ID with a matching name and photo in order to pick up their gifted badge. You can simply slip the purchase confirmation email into a birthday card and you’re ready for the big surprise!

However, it will be very important to put your own email address on the registration, not the recipient’s address. Otherwise they will get a confirmation email automatically and immediately upon checkout, and the surprise will be ruined! You can always forward the email to your giftee later.

Finally, please be advised that all sales are final; we don’t offer refunds even if your recipient already bought their badge. _{(Return to questions)}

I don’t remember whether I preregistered. How can I check?

Our pre-registration service sends emails automatically and immediately upon checkout. Sometimes they end up in a spam or junk folder, so you could try checking there. You may also try visiting the registration page, clicking “Resend Confirmation,” and entering the email address you think you registered with. Failing that, you could try checking your bank and credit card statements to see if you paid for a registration. If you’re still not sure, you can contact us, though it may take a few business days for us to respond to that question. We thank you for your patience. _{(Return to questions)}

Is there a group discount?

Yes! We offer a $5-per-badge pre-order discount on groups of ten or more. The discount is only available for pre-registration, so make sure you do it by the last day of pre-sales. Simply register all of your people in the same transaction and the system will automatically apply the discount when you add your tenth attendee. (You will need each person’s consent to the agreements, full name, address, phone number, email address, and emergency contact information.) We strongly recommend selecting the “show pickup confirmation” option at checkout. (If you really, really feel the need to require ID, the best action would be to put all of the badges in your own name. But be advised that if you can’t make it for whatever reason, no one will be able to pick up their badge!) If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact us. _{(Return to questions)}

What are your refund and transfer policies?

Unfortunately, badges are non-refundable and only good for the show they’re purchased for. We will refund if the issue is our fault. If you think we did something wrong, please send us a message. You are welcome to transfer your badge to another person. _{(Return to questions)}

How do I get a media pass?

Thank you for your interest in covering Ohayocon! All the information about media passes is available on our Special Badges page. _{(Return to questions)}

I won a free badge. How do I get it?

Congratulations! We will contact you by email with instructions, but only when pre-registration for the next convention is available. If it’s been more than two weeks since pre-reg opened and you still haven’t received your email, please contact us. _{(Return to questions)}

I submitted an application for something: when will you respond?

Generally speaking: after the deadline for that application. Volunteer and Kohai applications should have a much shorter turnaround time, definitely before the deadline if you submitted it early enough. If it’s been a meaningfully long time (say, three weeks) after the application deadline and you still haven’t heard from us, please contact us. _{(Return to questions)}

When can I apply for Dealers Room or Artist Alley space?

Dealers: The application is open now! Applicants are considered in the order applied; remainders will be waitlisted. Don’t delay!

Artists: Thank you for your interest. We expect applications for the Ohayocon 25 Artist Alley to open in early Summer 2024. For more information, visit the Artist Alley page.
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Do you accept submissions for maid cafés?

We do not. We do not wish to offer maid cafés as an activity at Ohayocon. _{(Return to questions)}

Why do you say an application will be available in “Summer” or “Fall?” Why can’t you give me an exact date?

Please see the question about website updates. _{(Return to questions)}

Can I wear this?

Thank you for asking. All attendees must follow generally accepted community standards of dress and behavior. Please read our public safety policies and clothing and costume policies. If you still have questions, feel free to send us a message.

(In case you’re wondering, any kind of clothing or visible object depicting imagery that is pornographic in nature, including “ahegao,” is strictly prohibited, and we will hold you accountable according to our harassment policy.) _{(Return to questions)}

Can I bring this prop, toy gun, or accessory?

Thank you for asking. All attendees must follow generally accepted community standards of dress and behavior. We cannot give you any specific approval for any item until we can inspect it in-person at the event. Please read our public safety policies and clothing and costume policies. Props must fit certain dimension requirements and be safe to handle in a crowded space. All toy firearms must have an orange tip — you may not paint over it, remove it, or otherwise obscure it. Anything that has a string, rope, line, or similar component longer than two feet is prohibited — the only exception is for trained service animals. (If you need it for a scheduled photoshoot, you must carry it in a safe, gathered manner and not allow it to be extended until you are posing for the shoot.) Authorized Ohayocon volunteers and venue officials have the final word on whether your item is acceptable. _{(Return to questions)}

Can I take photographs? Can I sell them? Can I set up a photo booth?

Please feel free to take commemorative photos for your own enjoyment. You are free to share your pictures in the manner of your choosing, but you are on your own regarding the appearances of individuals in your photos. (That is, we are not giving you permission to share photos of anyone in particular, and if there is a dispute with someone wanting you to remove a picture with them, that’s between you and them.) Please also review our Harassment Policy.

We do not permit you to sell photographs, raw or edited, at or during Ohayocon. You risk forfeiting your admission if you do so. After the convention and off-premises, we do not care as long as you are not using our branding or image and you are not telling people that your photos are “official” or that you work(ed) for Ohayocon. You are permitted to make appointments in advance and charge for your service as long as the actual payment occurs off-premises and not during Ohayocon.

We prohibit you from setting up photo booths unless you have an agreement with us in advance, and we will likely refer you to our Dealers Room leadership so you can negotiate purchasing vendor space. At-con photography is generally not considered for Artist Alley. If you have any questions about our policy, please send us an email.

(You can also read all the photography policies.) _{(Return to questions)}

Can I take official photos and give (or sell) them to you after the convention?

Thank you for your interest in Ohayocon. We are not accepting solicitations for photography contractors. However, we may have room for in-house photographers who can also write PR and marketing copy and do graphic design. You are invited to apply for a volunteer position and take part in the “fun.” _{(Return to questions)}

What is this year’s theme!?

Cyberpunk! (Jan. 2024) _{(Return to questions)}

When will you tell us what the next theme will be!?

When we know what it is. We have nothing to hide; we’re just a volunteer organization that meets only once a month from March through July. _{(Return to questions)}

This webpage is out of date. Can you please update your website?

We’re sorry that we’re not up to date. It is each department’s responsibility to either update their pages or file work requests with our marketing department to that effect. However, generally speaking, the website has the most current information, so if something is not available or is out of date, then that means we probably don’t have all the information we need in order to communicate accurate information or make an application available. In other words, we haven’t forgotten about it, and it will be ready when it is ready. Please understand that we are unpaid volunteers who do this in our spare time. We thank you for your patience and understanding. _{(Return to questions)}

Can I bring my service animal, support animal, or pet?

Trained service animals are welcomed in accordance with venue policy and the laws of Ohio, Franklin County, and Columbus. The venues prohibit emotional support animals and pets. _{(Return to questions)}

I or someone I know needs an accommodation for accessibility. Can Ohayocon help?

Yes! We offer a full-service Accessibility Services department. If you would like to make arrangements with us, please send us a message. _{(Return to questions)}

I lost something. Is there a lost and found? How can I find my stuff?

We hope you find it! Please bear in mind that we cannot accept responsibility for lost or stolen items. Here are some places to look:

• After the convention: we give all of our lost and found items to the Hyatt front desk. At this point, the Hyatt treats the items according to their own policies and procedures. You can call the Hyatt Regency Columbus front desk at 614-463-1234.
• During the convention: if someone finds something, we ask them to take it to the Ohayocon public safety office. In 2023, that was the Clark Room. It may be a different room this year (check your map). We store all lost and found belongings until the end of the convention, at which point we turn them over to the Hyatt front desk.

Unfortunately, emailing us is an ineffective way of finding your lost belongings because all our customer service team can do is wish you luck and instruct you to either visit the Clark Room or call the Hyatt front desk.

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Will Ohayocon have room blocks at other hotels than the Hyatt?

Possibly. Lately, hotels have been reluctant to offer us what are known as courtesy blocks (blocks at a venue where we aren’t also renting show space) because they know they’ll sell out at full price anyway. We’ll let you know if they become available. Thank you for your patience. _{(Return to questions)}

My birthday is on such and such day; when can I get into age-restricted events?

At midnight on the calendar day of your birthday. For example, if you want to get into an 18+ restricted event at 1 a.m. on Saturday, you need a Friday or Weekend badge, and your 18th birthday must be on or before Saturday. For more details and examples, including a list of acceptable forms of ID, please read our policy about it. _{(Return to questions)}

I’m supervising my underage child. Why are they still not allowed into age-restricted events?

Our age-restricted events are restricted for two reasons. First, the content can depict or describe violence, sexuality, complicated geopolitics, differential equations, illicit drugs, etc. Fundamentally, anime, video games, and pop culture involve artistic expression, and Ohayocon allows specially permitted times for adults to gather in the same room to experience and discuss such art, just as in the same way you might experience such things at a film festival, theatrical production, on TV, or in a book. Second, it is also about allowing adults to have a space without children. We’re confident you understand, and we appreciate your patience. When your child is of age, we think they’ll appreciate our policy just as much as our 30-somethings do. _{(Return to questions)}

May I suggest a guest speaker or appearance?

Yes, but we generally will not respond. It’s not that we don’t like you, it’s just that we receive many solicitations per week and most of the time it’s agents’ trying to sell us someone we never wanted in the first place. To make up for this, we occasionally survey our paid attendees to see if they want anyone in particular to visit Ohayocon. _{(Return to questions)}

Is there a schedule of panels/events I can read?

We try to have a tentative schedule of events available two to three weeks before the convention. There are so many variables and changing circumstances in the months leading up to each show that make it difficult to commit to a general schedule outline any earlier than that. We prefer to err on the side of fewer changes once the tentative schedule is available. Please see also “Can you please update your website?”. _{(Return to questions)}