San Francisco Folk Music Club
Code of Conduct
SFFMC’s chief principle is respect: for the event organizers, for the jam or workshop leaders, for the volunteers, for the space, for all members of the community, and for yourself. We believe that this is the primary requirement for the reason we’re all here: to have fun!
To that end, we produced this code of conduct to make sure that everyone has the best experience possible. It doesn’t matter if you’re an old hand at SFFMC events, or if this is your first folk gathering ever, it’s always good to brush up on etiquette.
We want everyone who attends any of our events to feel that they are in a comfortable and safe environment. If you feel that anyone is acting inappropriately towards you, please bring it to the attention of the leader/s of that activity promptly so action can be taken.
Code of Conduct
The San Francisco Folk Music Club seeks to create an environment that is safe, pleasant, and conducive to sharing folk music. We are dedicated to providing a safe, comfortable, and harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion. This code of conduct is intended to protect the rights and safety of SFFMC and community members and event organizers, volunteers, and attendees, and to protect SFFMC’s and individuals’ property and the facilities used by the organization.
Anyone who engages in behavior that disrupts someone else’s participation may be asked to leave an event. No one may engage in conduct that interferes with others’ ability or right to participate in and benefit from our events. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form.
The following behaviors are prohibited at SFFMC events:
- Refusing to follow the reasonable direction of event organizers and volunteers
- Refusing to follow the rules of our rented facilities
- Engaging in dangerous or illegal activities
- Smoking (including the use of electronic or vapor cigarettes) indoors or anywhere where it is prohibited by the rules of the rented facility
- Repeatedly creating loud noises or otherwise repeatedly disrupting workshops, jams, dances, performances, or other event activities
- Causing strong pervasive odors that constitute a nuisance to others, including pervasive fragrances caused by perfume or other scented products.
- Entering restricted and/or nonpublic areas of a rented facility without permission
- Theft
- Engaging in behavior that a reasonable person would find harassing, threatening, harmful or disruptive, including unwanted touching or sexual attention, indecent exposure, unwanted photography or recording, stalking, prolonged staring, or following another after being asked to stop. Non-consensual sexual language and behavior are not appropriate for any event. “No” means no. “Stop” means stop.
- Threatening, assaulting, fighting, challenging to fight, or making verbal, written or implied threats of violence
- Bringing a weapon of any kind to an SFFMC event, including but not limited to a loaded or unloaded gun
- Using insulting, belittling, or harassing language (including making insulting, belittling, or harassing statements regarding sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion) especially after being asked to stop
- Vandalizing facilities, instruments, equipment, or other items
- Leaving young children unattended
- Bringing animals to SFFMC events, except service animals or animals authorized by SFFMC and by the rented facility
- Using SFFMC’s or a rented facility’s electronic devices or online services (including Internet bandwidth) in ways that interfere with the event or interfere with a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment for participants
- Engaging in behaviors prohibited by other SFFMC or facility policies
Enforcement of this policy will be by SFFMC officers, SFFMC event organizers and volunteers, facility security staff in consultation with SFFMC representatives, and/or local police, as appropriate. Persons who engage in illegal activity or who willfully or repeatedly violate this code of conduct or other SFFMC policies may be removed from an event and/or have their SFFMC privileges suspended or revoked. Conduct violations may also result in arrest if authorized by federal, state, or local law.
Adopted November 2022 by the SFFMC Board of Directors