This has been an awful weekend for our community and our world. Christina Grimmie was an innovator, and an artist, and she was so so kind. Losing her is devastating. And the attack in Orlando likewise drives home how much hate there is in the world.
It’s awful. These things seem impossible, but they are real.
As you might expect, security at VidCon will be different this year and we wanted to let you know what that means for you.
In previous years we partnered with local law enforcement to ensure rapid response to emergencies and this year will be no different, but we have requested an enhanced presence, so expect to see more uniformed officers. Further, we will have undercover police patrolling the entire event. Every panel will have at least three security guards, and the event as a whole will have over 450 security officers in attendance. This is nearly twice as many as last year.
Part of our original security plan included posting security and law enforcement in the Hilton and that is unchanged. VidCon attendees will not be admitted to the Hilton without being properly credentialed, and loitering around entrances is expressly prohibited. A new procedure for this year, but already part of our plan, is to fence the entire perimeter of official VidCon spaces. Registered attendees will only be able to access the event via designated entrances and exits. This includes the AwesomenessTV Festival and the entire Anaheim Convention Center, including lobbies.
We also need to enforce some new policies:
First, we are implementing a new security feature at the Twitter Meet and Tweet Hall. Before entering the hall, every attendee will need to pass through a metal detector and all bags will be checked, no exceptions. Every signing line, as in previous years, will have a dedicated security officer as well.
Previously, after panels many fans have come up to give creators gifts or letters or to ask questions and talk. This will no longer be a thing. Creators won’t be able to linger after panels and the audience will not be allowed to approach the panelists. This sucks; obviously, we don’t want to build a wall between creators and their communities, but it is unfortunately necessary.
We will also be performing random bag checks throughout the event. We ask that you be sympathetic and patient with the security staff about this.
As in all years we want VidCon to be fun, but you can’t have fun without being safe, and the VidCon Team is committed to making sure that everyone’s safety is the number one priority.
If at anytime you feel like you are part of or are in observation of an unsafe situation, please immediately alert the first security staff person you see, or otherwise communicate the situation by using any of the following methods (which be printed on the back of your VidCon Badge):
VidCon 24 hour hotline: 657-203-9695
Have fun, be safe, and we’ll see you next week.
Hank, Colin, Michael, Julie, Julia, Laura, Monica, Travis, Jeri, Valerie, Nick, Adrienne, Jim, and Duncan
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