Applies to: all attendees, exhibitors, booth staff, speakers, performers, contractors, volunteers, sponsors, media, and guests (“Participants”).
Scope: the expo floor, sessions, performances, workshops, official social events, registration/check-in areas, venue grounds under NAESE control, and any official online/community spaces administered by NAESE.
NAESE is committed to a safe, welcoming environment. By attending or participating, you agree to follow this Code of Conduct and any related policies referenced here.
1) Expected Behavior
Participants must behave in a way that supports a respectful, harassment-free environment. This includes using common courtesy, respecting boundaries, following venue rules, and complying with applicable laws.
2) Unacceptable Behavior
Unacceptable behavior includes, without limitation:
- Harassment, intimidation, stalking, following, or deliberate disruption of the Event.
- Offensive, derogatory, or discriminatory comments or conduct related to protected characteristics (including but not limited to sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, age), or any targeted demeaning behavior.
- Unwelcome sexual attention, unwanted physical contact, coercion, or persistent advances after a clear “no.”
- Threats of violence, physical assault, or encouraging others to harass or intimidate.
- Harassment via photography or recording, including recording someone after they ask you to stop, or using cameras to target someone in a way that a reasonable person would find intimidating.
- Illegal activity, or any behavior that materially interferes with Event operations, safety, or other participants’ ability to enjoy the Event.
NAESE reserves the right to interpret and apply this Code of Conduct in a manner that prioritizes safety and the attendee experience.
3) Consent and Personal Boundaries
NAESE expects participants to respect personal boundaries. Ask first before touching someone, taking close-up photos, or inserting yourself into a conversation. If someone asks you to stop a behavior (including photographing or recording them), you must stop immediately and give them space.
4) Weapons, Dangerous Items, and Safety Hazards
Weapons and illegal substances are strictly prohibited. Dangerous items, unsafe behavior, or hazardous conditions may be prohibited or removed at NAESE’s or the Venue’s discretion, consistent with applicable law. Participants must follow all posted safety rules and staff instructions.
5) Recording and Photography
NAESE may publish additional rules for participant recording. Even where recording is allowed, it must not be disruptive or harassing, must comply with posted restrictions in certain areas, and must stop when directed by staff. (Organizer media policies and rights—if any—are handled in the Attendee Terms and other agreements.)
6) Sound and Noise
Sound/noise is governed by the NAESE Sound & Noise Policy and the Exhibitor Manual. This Code of Conduct applies to conduct around sound (e.g., refusing staff instructions, escalating disputes), but the technical thresholds and enforcement mechanics live in your separate policy.
7) Reporting Concerns or Violations
If you experience or witness behavior that may violate this Code of Conduct, report it as soon as you can.
During the Event:
- Find any Event staff member, Info Desk staff, or Security, and ask for the NAESE Conduct Response Team.
You can also report by phone/text to a TBD number.
When reporting, helpful details include: who was involved, what happened, where/when it occurred, and whether there were witnesses.
8) Non-Retaliation
Retaliation against anyone who reports a concern in good faith, participates in an investigation, or seeks help is prohibited. Retaliation itself is a serious violation.
9) Response and Enforcement
NAESE will respond as reasonably appropriate under the circumstances. Responses may include offering an escort, involving venue security, contacting law enforcement when necessary, separating parties, and taking corrective action.
10) Consequences of Violations
NAESE may take any action it deems appropriate depending on the circumstances, including warnings, credential checks, removal from specific spaces, revocation of credentials, ejection from the Event without refund, and bans from future NAESE events.
NAESE’s enforcement decisions are final for on-site safety and operations. (Any separate legal rights are governed by applicable law and other agreements.)
Exhibitor Code of Conduct Addendum
This Addendum applies to all exhibitors and booth staff in addition to the NAESE Code of Conduct and the Exhibitor Agreement/Manual.
A) Booth Staff Conduct
Exhibitors are responsible for ensuring all booth staff follow the Code of Conduct. Harassment or abusive behavior by booth staff is treated as an exhibitor issue and may result in removal of individuals, suspension of booth operations, and/or closure of the booth without refund per the Exhibitor Agreement.
B) Respectful Engagement and Sales Conduct
NAESE welcomes enthusiastic selling, demos, and conversation, but exhibitors must avoid tactics that cross into intimidation or disruption.
Unacceptable booth conduct includes:
- Aggressive harassment of attendees (blocking aisles, refusing to let someone walk away, repeated badgering after disinterest is expressed).
- Demeaning comments, sexualized banter directed at attendees, or “performance” behavior that reasonably creates a hostile environment.
- Targeted filming or photographing attendees who ask not to be recorded.
NAESE may impose reasonable operational rules in the Exhibitor Manual regarding queues, aisle flow, and point-of-sale placement.
C) Solicitation Outside Your Booth
Unless expressly permitted in the Exhibitor Manual, exhibitors may not solicit sales, distribute flyers, or conduct marketing outside their assigned space in a way that interferes with traffic, sessions, or other exhibitors.
D) Safety, Electrical, and Demonstration Areas
Exhibitors must follow venue/NAESE safety rules, including any restrictions on tools, soldering/repair, batteries, fog/haze, strobe/lasers, trip hazards, and cabling practices. If a demo creates an unsafe condition or violates staff instructions, NAESE may require it to stop immediately.
E) Dispute De-escalation
If you disagree with staff about sound/noise enforcement, safety, queues, or any rule, you agree to de-escalate and follow staff direction in the moment, then use the Exhibitor support channel for review. Escalation on the floor (arguing, yelling, refusing instructions) may itself be treated as a conduct violation.
F) Enforcement for Exhibitors
In addition to remedies in the Exhibitor Agreement, NAESE may:
- require removal of specific booth staff from the Event,
- suspend demos/retail temporarily,
- close a booth for the remainder of show hours, and/or
- terminate exhibit privileges for the Event (with or without refund, per the Exhibitor Agreement and applicable law).
Press Code of Conduct & Credential Terms Addendum
Applies to: all credentialed press/media and content creators approved under NAESE’s media program (“Press”).
Scope: all NAESE venues and official events, including the expo floor, sessions, performances, registration areas, and any official online spaces operated by NAESE.
NAESE issues press credentials as a courtesy to support coverage. Press privileges are conditioned on compliance with this policy, the NAESE Code of Conduct, venue rules, and staff direction. NAESE may revoke press credentials at its discretion for violations or misuse.
1) Credential Rules
1.1 Non-transferable; display required. Press credentials are non-transferable, may not be sold or shared, must be worn/displayed while on-site, and may be requested to be surrendered at any time.
1.2 No special access by default. A press credential does not guarantee early entry, reserved seating, line skipping, or access to restricted areas. Access is always subject to capacity and operational limits.
1.3 Press privileges may be limited by zone. NAESE may limit press access to specific areas (for example: expo floor during public hours, designated press zones, or specific sessions) and may restrict access to private events, back-of-house, green rooms, or closed meetings.
2) Professional Conduct and “No Stunts”
2.1 Respect and safety. Press must comply with the NAESE Code of Conduct and maintain a respectful, non-harassing environment.
2.2 No ambush/unsafe conduct. Press may not engage in stunt behavior, intimidation, “ambush interviewing,” blocking aisles/exits, or any conduct that a reasonable person would find unsafe, harassing, or disruptive.
3) Photography / Video / Audio Recording
3.1 No disruptive setups. Tripods, light stands, c-stands, backdrop rigs, cables/power cords run across public walkways, or “fixed” interview setups are prohibited unless pre-approved in writing by NAESE. Press may use handheld equipment that does not create a safety hazard or disrupt traffic.
3.2 Do not block traffic or egress. Recording may not occur in a manner that blocks doorways, aisles, fire exits, hallways, registration choke points, or other high-traffic areas. If staff instructs you to relocate or stop recording for safety/operations, you must comply immediately. Failure to comply may result in credential revocation.
3.3 Sessions, performances, and screenings. Recording rules vary by program type. Some sessions or performances may prohibit recording, live streaming, flash, or extended clips. You must comply with posted signage and staff direction, and obtain any required permissions for extended recording or commercial use.
3.4 Live streaming. Live streaming or real-time broadcast from sessions/performances may be prohibited or restricted unless pre-approved by NAESE in writing.
3.5 Exhibitor booth restrictions. Exhibitors may set reasonable “no photo / no video / ask first” policies at their booths (e.g., for unreleased prototypes). Press must honor these requests and any posted booth signage. If there is a dispute, comply in the moment and escalate through the Press Desk.
4) Interviews, Consent, and Privacy
4.1 Consent for interviews. Obtain clear consent before recording an interview. Respect “no,” and do not persist after refusal.
4.2 No harassment-by-camera. Do not film, photograph, or record individuals in a targeted way that is reasonably intimidating or harassing, and stop if someone asks you to stop (unless you are documenting a safety incident at staff request).
4.3 Minors. Minors under 18 may attend only with a parent/guardian under NAESE rules. Press must exercise heightened care when recording minors and must not conduct on-camera interviews with minors without the explicit consent of the parent/guardian and the minor.
4.4 Private or restricted areas. No recording in staff-only areas, green rooms, backstage, private meetings, or other restricted zones without explicit written permission from NAESE and any involved parties.
5) Identification, Misrepresentation, and Ethics
5.1 No impersonation. Press may not misrepresent affiliation, credentials, or access permissions.
5.2 Respect intellectual property and embargoes. Press is responsible for respecting copyright, trademark, and any embargoes or restricted announcements communicated by NAESE or exhibitors (where agreed).
6) Violations; Enforcement
6.1 Immediate consequences. NAESE may take any action it deems appropriate, including warnings, restricting recording privileges, requiring deletion of unlawfully obtained footage where appropriate, escorting you to the Press Desk, or revoking credentials and ejecting you from the Event without refund (if applicable).
6.2 Credential revocation is final on-site. On-site decisions are final for safety and operations. NAESE may also deny future credential applications based on violations or failure to provide meaningful coverage consistent with the application.
7) Reporting and Press Support
7.1 Press Desk / contact. For questions, approvals, or disputes, contact the Press Desk or email press@naese.co.
7.2 Report concerns. To report a conduct or safety issue, contact the Conduct Response Team via staff, Security, or conduct@naese.co.