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Vermont Burlesque Festival's 
Event Code of Conduct

VTBF Event Code of Conduct & Harassment Policy Updated 11/20/2025

 

EVENT CODE OF CONDUCT

VTBF's Event Code of Conduct applies to all persons engaging in meeting-related events, whether in person at public or private facilities, online, in social media, or during virtual events. VTBF is committed to providing a productive and welcoming environment for all participants. All participants are expected to abide by this code as well as VTBF's ethical principles and practices. 

 

DEFINITIONS

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Harassment – behavior that intimidates, torments, disturbs, or threatens a person on any basis including age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, color, disability, national origin, race/ethnicity, religion/creed, or other factors.

 

Sexual Harassment – any unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

 

Participant(s) – persons including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, guests, exhibitors/vendors, service providers, staff, VTBF leadership, and others involved in the events. 

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Expected Behavior

  • Treat all participants with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.

  • Be considerate, respectful, and collegial.

  • Communicate with respect for others, critiquing ideas rather than individuals.

  • Avoid personal attacks directed toward other attendees.

  • Be mindful of your surroundings and of other event attendees and venue/contracted support staff.

  • Alert on-premises security personnel and VTBF staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone clearly in distress.

  • Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venues, hotels, VTBF contracted facilities, or any other venue associated with a VTBF event.

  • VTBF encourages attendees to follow recommended precautions to prevent transmission of infectious diseases.

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Unacceptable Behavior 

  • Harassment in any form, including bullying, threatening, stalking, intimidation, microaggressions, insinuations or disparaging comments that are hurtful or interfere with any other attendee’s experience.

  • Sexual harassment, including but not limited to, unwanted or inappropriate conduct, unwanted sexual attention, comments, jokes, or advances.

  • Violence, threats of violence, or violent language directed against another person.

  • Possession of a weapon or any item that can be used as a weapon, which may be used to threaten or cause injury to others if used in a certain manner.

  • Discriminatory jokes and language based on sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, gender identity, religion/creed, national origin or political views. 

  • Inappropriate photography or recording, including within the event environment for use on social media, without the prior permission of the individuals or owners of the content therein.

  • Failure to obey any rules or regulations of the event venue, including any destruction or vandalizing of personal or event property and materials.

  • Boisterous, lewd or offensive behavior or language that disrupt the event, a session, or other formal or event segment in any way.

  • Drinking or consumption of drugs in an irresponsible manner.

  • Falsely reporting violations of this Code and/or retaliating against another participant for reporting a violation of this Code.

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VTBF reserves the right in its sole discretion to determine what constitutes unacceptable behavior and what actions it will take to address incidents that occur.

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CONSEQUENCES FOR UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR 

Participants who are asked to stop their behavior will be expected to comply immediately. If an attendee or participant continues to violate this Code, VTBF may take whatever actions it deems appropriate, including removal from event without refund, disqualification from attending future events, notification of participant’s employer, or notification of on-premises security or local law enforcement as necessary. 

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REPORTING UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR 

If you are subjected to unacceptable behavior, notice that someone else is being subjected to unacceptable behavior, or have any other concerns, please notify VTBF staff, as soon as possible. All reported concerns will be treated seriously and investigated. All participants are expected to cooperate fully and honestly with any investigation. 

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HARASSMENT POLICY 

The Vermont Burlesque Festival is committed to providing a professional environment free from physical, psychological, and verbal harassment. VTBF and its affiliates will not tolerate harassment of any kind, including but not limited to harassment based on ethnicity, religion, disability, physical appearance, gender, or sexual orientation. This policy applies to all participants and attendees at VTBF conferences, meetings, and events. Harassment includes offensive gestures and verbal comments, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, inappropriate photography and recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriately physical contact, and unwelcome attention. Participants requested to cease harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately, and failure will serve as grounds of revoking access to the VTBF event.

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EXCEPTIONS TO THE CODES OF CONDUCT: PERFORMANCE ART & ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

VTBF recognizes that burlesque, cabaret, drag, and variety arts often include humor, satire, innuendo, improvisation, character work, and audience interaction as part of the creative experience. Some aspects of artistic performance may naturally involve language, gestures, themes, or dynamics that—outside a performance context—could be interpreted as violations of this Code of Conduct.

To preserve artistic integrity while maintaining a safe environment for all, specific exceptions apply only within clearly defined performance contexts as follows:

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1. Artistic Expression & Performance Context

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a. Artistic Context
These exceptions apply only when behavior, language, or expression occurs as part of:

  • a staged VTBF performance or act

  • emcee hosting, banter, or scripted/improvised material

  • VTBF-approved rehearsals, photography, videography, or livestreams

  • any medium specifically created to present VTBF artistic programming

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b. Purpose of Expression
Artistic expression may include provocative, comedic, or boundary-pushing content when the intent is to entertain, parody, comment, challenge ideas, evoke emotion, or tell a story—not to harm, demean, or threaten actual individuals or groups.

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c. Boundaries & Safety Still Apply
Even in a performance context, VTBF does not permit:

  • Actual hate speech

  • Non-consensual physical contact

  • Harassment of a real individual

  • Targeting protected classes

  • Behavior that creates a genuinely unsafe environment

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Artistic expression must never intentionally jeopardize physical or emotional safety.

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2. Audience Interaction, Heckling, & Emcee Response

 

VTBF acknowledges that playful audience interaction—including heckling—can be a traditional and sometimes expected part of burlesque and cabaret culture. Emcees and performers may engage with hecklers or disruptive audience members within appropriate limits.

 

a. Permitted In-Performance Responses

Emcees and performers may respond to heckling using:

- humor, wit, sarcasm, or playful banter

- character-driven commentary

- quick improvisation to regain control of the room

- brief pointed remarks addressing the behavior rather than the person

 

Such responses are considered part of the performance environment when kept proportionate and clearly comedic or theatrical in nature.

 

b. Limits to Responses

The following remain prohibited, even in response to heckling:

- prolonged verbal targeting once the situation is resolved

- any conduct that moves from performance into genuine harassment

 

If the heckling becomes disruptive beyond playful engagement, VTBF staff or venue security—not the performer—will intervene or remove the audience member -- the performer however may request for removal of said heckler by calling out for their removal from the stage to security or VTBF staff. 

 

c. Accountability for Hecklers

Audience members who heckle, disrupt, or interfere with the performance may be asked to stop or removed without refund. Heckling does not exempt an audience member from the Code of Conduct.

 

3. Clarity of Intent

 

Performers, emcees, and hosts are expected to ensure that their artistic choices and responses in the moment are clearly part of the performance and not expressions of personal hostility or discrimination. VTBF retains sole discretion in determining when conduct has exceeded acceptable artistic boundaries.

 

4. Not a Loophole

 

These exceptions exist to protect legitimate artistic expression—not to excuse inappropriate behavior outside of performances. All conduct occurring before, after, and between performances (including backstage, green rooms, online interactions, and social spaces) must fully adhere to the complete Code of Conduct.

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