How do I get my badge?

All badges will be at Balticon Registration, on the 5th floor of the hotel, in the Maryland Foyer. When you arrive at the hotel, take the elevators or stairs up to the 5th floor, then follow the signs.

Which line do I stand in?

For pickup of ALL badge types, start at the Check-in line. If you are not pre-registered and are purchasing your badge at the door, you will then head to the Cashier to finish payment. If you are pre-registering for next year and have ALREADY picked up your badge, you can go straight to the Cashier line.

What payment methods do you accept?

For online registration, we accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. You can also pay by check or money order through our mail-in registration. At the door, we accept cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

Are there any discounts available?

Yes! We now have a Young Adult category, for our members ages 13-21, as well as our Child membership for ages 6-13. As always, children under 6 are free! All children must be accompanied by all times by an adult.

Active Duty Military and their family are free on Monday with valid ID.

What about one-day memberships?

Our early registration pricing is a really great deal if you might want to stay a second day, and a full-weekend membership is cheaper than two single days combined. However, if you really only have one day available, one-day memberships are available for purchase at the door, as well as upgrades from one-day to full-weekend. See prices under At-con Memberships on the Registration page

What if I’m attending with young children?

Children 6-12 are half price, and children under 6 are free. We now provide registration for Kid-in-Tow badges along with your online registration, or they can be added at the door. When you arrive, we will provide a wristband with your phone number for your child to wear as well as their badge, since we understand that small children frequently remove their badges. Maryland state law requires that children under age 8 be accompanied by an adult at all times. We do not provide babysitting services. However, we have a Children’s Programming track with activities for our youngest fans, and the convention space is stroller-friendly.

Can I pick up my spouse/girlfriend/child’s membership as well as my own?

Maybe! You can pick up someone else’s membership IF one of the following:

• The two memberships share a last name.
• The two memberships share an address.
• The two memberships were purchased on the same transaction.
• You have ID for both memberships.

 

Do I have to use my real name?

Only in our database. Your badge name can say whatever you want! We use ID to match up the registration with the person who purchased the badge, so the name on your registration does need to match some form of ID that you carry.

Do I have to show ID?

No. You are more than welcome to pay cash for a badge at the door. However, if you purchased a badge, we would like to make sure that no one else picks up your badge, and that only you get the badge you paid for. We are very reasonable about what we consider valid ID; we just need to know the badge is going to the right person. You may also bring your receipt as proof of purchase, either printed or electronically.

What happens to my email address if I give it to you?

We will email you a copy of your receipt, if you pre-register online. We may use it to contact you individually if we need to (i.e. we found something with your name on it in our Lost & Found, you purchased a piece of artwork, there’s a question about your registration, etc). We are hoping to also send out an informative email blast just before the convention to remind you about parking and where to pick up your badge, but we NEVER share your information without your explicit permission.

What happens to my phone number if I give it to you?

We may use it to contact you individually if we need to (i.e. we found something with your name on it in our Lost & Found, you purchased a piece of artwork, there’s a question about your registration, etc). We NEVER share your information without your explicit permission.

When can Year Ahead memberships be purchased? How?

Right now! You can pre-register at the same time as picking up your badge, or you can come back to the Registration Cashier at any point during the weekend and present your badge for easy pre-registration for Balticon 54. Online pre-registration will be available in Winter 2019.

What if I lose my badge?

If you find a lost badge, please return it to Registration, and check there if you’ve lost yours. Please be prepared to show ID to reclaim your badge.

My lost badge has not been turned in. Can I get a replacement?

Most conventions require you to purchase a new membership if your original badge is lost and has not been found, and that is an option. Such purchases are not refundable if the badge is later located. Alternatively, if the registration lead can confirm that someone has purchased or otherwise been granted a currently valid membership to Balticon, they may, at their discretion, issue a replacement badge.  A donation of at least $20 to BSFS Books For Kids is requested for that service.

What’s that funny-looking font on all the Registration signs?

Thanks for noticing! It’s called OpenDyslexic, and it’s specially designed to be easier to read for people with dyslexia. You can find out more information at https://www.opendyslexic.org/