Dealer / Vendor Rules

Last updated on Jul 8, 2026

Vendor Halls Rules

Anthropomorphic Arts and Education, Inc. (“AAE”) has established the following rules regarding the display, promotion, and sale of goods and services for its annual event, Further Confusion (“Further Confusion”, “FurCon”, or the “event”). All policies are subject to change without advance notice, including in response to venue requirements, changes in state or local law, or event function requirements. Questions about these rules should be directed to dealers@furtherconfusion.org.

1. General

By purchasing space in the Further Confusion Dealer Rooms or participating as a dealer (as defined below), dealers agree to have read and understand these policies.
These rules apply to all areas of the event, with the exception of authorized vendors subject to separate contracts with the event or the venue.
These rules will be updated as circumstances and legal requirements change.
Further Confusion reserves the right to refuse allowing any sales to any person or entity for any reason at any time.

2. Space Types

“Dealer Tables” includes Half Tables, Full Tables, Double Tables, and Booths (collectively, “spaces”) across Further Confusion’s vendor halls. Dealers are expected to staff their space during all Dealer Rooms hours. Dealers may not abandon their space for extended periods without notifying a Dealer Rooms volunteer. In the event of a medical need or emergency, please inform the Dealer Lead so we can work with you on covering your table. The general vendor halls, Adult Dealer’s Den, and Night Market are collectively referred to as the “Dealer Rooms” throughout these rules.
“Adult Dealer Tables” include spaces in the age-restricted areas of the Dealer Rooms; such as the Adult Dealer’s Den or the Night Market.
“Artist Alley” spaces are half-table, single-day assignments. Please see the Artist Alley page for more information.
Spaces are selected via a juried application system. A diverse group of Further Confusion volunteers from multiple departments, demographics, and professions take part with the intent of providing a diverse selection of goods and services.
Dealers will be pulled from the Waitlist and offered spaces based roughly on internal order, diversity, and product/services needs of the Dealer Rooms. Further Confusion is unable to provide an estimate as to if or when a dealer on the Waitlist may be offered space.

3. Age

Any individual or legal entity selling goods or services at the event, or assisting such individual or entity at their table space (collectively, each a “dealer”), must be at least 18 years old. This requirement applies to all assistants. No exceptions can be made.

4. Seller Permits

Dealers are required to have a current California State seller’s permit at the time of the event. Dealers are required to provide confirmation in advance of the event and upon request. Each dealer is responsible for obtaining the necessary seller’s permit and the event cannot and will not do it on a dealer’s behalf.
If a dealer is unable to present a valid seller’s permit at or before check-in for the event, they will not be allowed to sell at the event and no table, travel, or other costs will be refunded.
Further Confusion cannot make exceptions to the seller’s permit requirement.
California Seller’s Permit may be obtained from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (“CDTFA”). Click “Register for a Permit” to go to the application.
1. A brief California Sellers Permit Walkthrough is available to assist. Dealers who experience difficulty when applying can call the CDTFA. The event is not able to assist with the permitting process.
2. The space rental is based on the size of space. See Table Fees.
3. Further Confusion charges membership to attend the event. The table fee does not include the membership fee. The organizer/Promoter of the event is:
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Anthropomorphic Arts and Education, Inc.
809 Cuesta Dr Ste B PMB 236
Mountain View, CA 94040
408-837-0408
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4. Dealers must use the CONVENTION CENTER address for the location of the event, as this is where business is conducted for the purpose of a temporary seller’s permit. The address is:
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San Jose Convention Center
150 W. San Carlos St.
San Jose, CA 95113
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5. Dealers MUST NOT use a Further Confusion email address when applying for a seller’s permit. Dealers must use their own email address for the permit.

5. Merchandise/Material Awareness

Legalities. Dealers must comply with all state and federal laws.
Mature and Adult Materials. Goods and displays must comply with legal requirements related to the potential viewing of such materials by minors. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Any material containing violent or sexually explicit content may not be accessible to minors. This includes literature.
2. Mature and adult material must be kept in closed binders/folders that are clearly marked as adult. Minors may not be allowed to access such material.
3. Mature and adult materials “in progress” must be reasonably concealed from public view.
4. Dealers are required to monitor mature and adult materials to ensure minors are not viewing them and must be aware of the individuals browsing their materials. Further Confusion recommends dealers display “censored” versions of mature and adult materials.
5. Failure to comply with the requests of Event volunteers may result in insufficiently covered material being required to be removed, or the dealer being asked to leave the Dealer Rooms.
6. The requirements in this section do not apply to dealers assigned to age-gated spaces (the Adult Dealer’s Den and Night Market), as entry to those areas is restricted to individuals 18 years of age or older.
Copyrighted and Pirated Materials. Further Confusion is committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of content creators. As such:
1. All materials sold must be owned by the dealer, approved for sale by the copyright owner, or be transformative works permitted under United States copyright law.
2. Art compilations/story anthologies offered for sale at Further Confusion must have the approval of the originating creators except where creators have previously approved their work for sale, such as published collections and fanzines.
3. Reproductions of copyrighted works that are not transformative and are not authorized by the copyright holder are not permitted unless they have been approved for sale by the copyright owner (e.g. a booksellers are permitted).
4. Pirated/bootleg materials are not permitted.
Large Displays. Large freestanding displays or stands may not be used if they will cause safety concern issues or clog walkways, entrances, or egresses. Dealers are encouraged to speak with Dealer Room volunteers if they have questions or concerns about display acceptability or positioning.
Donations. Dealers may not collect donations, whether for a registered charity or any other purpose.
Raffles. Raffles are not permitted.
Weapons and Dangerous Items. Weaponry, firearms, and other items determined by the Dealer Lead to pose a safety risk to attendees or staff may not be sold.
Controlled or Illicit Substances and Paraphernalia. Dealers may not sell alcohol, tobacco, controlled or illicit substances, or items reasonably understood to be paraphernalia for the use of such substances.
1. “Controlled substances” include, but are not limited to, narcotics, medications, and all other substances that are illegal or regulated under state or federal law.
Hazardous Materials. Use of hazardous materials such as aerosol sprays, including spray paint, or having other hazards such as open chemicals, soldering irons, or any materials with dangerous fumes, are not permitted, even after-hours. Spray painted materials may be sold at the event.
Stolen Materials. The event prohibits the sale of stolen goods, including but not limited to municipal signage. In the event that a dealer is suspected of selling stolen materials, the dealer will be asked to provide a bill of sale for the original purchase of such materials.
Tattoos. Tattooing at Further Confusion requires advance written approval from event staff and must be conducted outside the Dealer Rooms in a location compliant with all applicable requirements (e.g., valid business license, California Safe Body Art Act, registered with the Santa Clara County health department). Absent such approval, tattooing is prohibited at the event. Tattoo designs may be sold without limitation.
DJing. No live DJing or use of amplified sound is permitted within the Dealer Rooms unless pre-approved by event staff. The event permits the sale of recorded media otherwise compliant with the restrictions set forth herein.
AI-Generated Content. Artwork, merchandise, and other items created wholly or partially using Artificial Intelligence tools are not permitted for sale or display in the Vendor Halls. This applies to works that are fully AI-generated as well as works that have been enhanced, altered, or composited using AI tools trained on sources the artist does not own or hold rights to. Portfolio materials submitted as part of a dealer application may not contain AI-generated content.
1. This restriction does not apply where the AI model is sourced entirely from the artist’s own material, the artist can provide proof of ownership of all source material, and the AI-assisted element is not the focal point of the work (for example, an incidental background).
2. It is the dealer’s responsibility to verify the origin of all items they sell or display. Works found to be in violation of this rule will be required to be removed, and further action including removal from the Vendor Halls is at the discretion of the Dealer Lead.
Dropship and Resale Goods. Dealers should be the original designer or creator of the goods they sell. Goods that a dealer did not design or create, including items purchased from importers, wholesalers, or bulk suppliers for resale (commonly referred to as “dropship” goods), may not constitute a significant portion of their stock or display.
1. This rule does not restrict dealers from selling goods they designed and had manufactured by a third party on their behalf.
Application Accuracy. Dealers should accurately represent the goods, services, and display setup they intend to present in their application. Further Confusion reserves the right to require removal of noncompliant items or to terminate the vendor space of any dealer whose actual stock or display significantly mismatches their application, or who is found to be in violation of these rules. Such decisions are at the discretion of the Dealer Lead and executive staff and will be final.

6. Professionalism and Behavior

Dealers must maintain a reasonable level of professionalism during operational hours.
Excessive use of profanity, deliberately offensive mannerisms, dangerous horseplay, and harassment is explicitly prohibited.
Physical and/or verbal altercations are unacceptable and will result in immediate expulsion from the event without refund of any kind.
Only dealers (which includes registered assistants) and event volunteers may be seated at a dealer space.
1. Dealers must wear their badges when in the Dealer Rooms.
2. Only properly badged dealers are permitted early and late access to the Dealer Rooms for setup and tear-down.
3. Full Tables, Double Tables, and Booths may request up to two (2) assistant tags. Dealer Rooms half tables may request one (1) assistant tag. Dealers may request additional assistant tags from the Dealer Lead, who will provide them at their discretion on a case-by-case basis.
4. Dealer tags are not convention memberships. Dealers are still required to have convention memberships.
Smoking and use of vaporizers/e-cigarettes is prohibited within the Dealer Rooms. Dealers who smoke or use smokeless/vaporizer/e-cigarettes must leave the Dealer Rooms to do so.

7. Space Guidelines

Refunds. For the full refund policy, including early and late refund deadlines and no-show procedures, see the No-Show, Refund Policy, and Waiting List section. Further Confusion will not roll-over dealer space to a following year for any reason.
Space Resale. Dealers may not resell their assigned space (i.e., give their space to another dealer, where the original dealer will no longer be present at that space for the duration of the event).
1. If a Dealer is believed to have resold the table, Further Confusion has the right to cancel the space up to and including during the event.
2. Dealers who are accepted into the Dealer Rooms but can no longer attend must notify the Dealer Lead and the space will be reassigned based on the operative Waiting List.
Space Sharing. Dealers may share Full Tables and single Booths pending the approval of the Dealer Lead. Half Tables, Double Tables, Triple Tables, and Double Booths may not be shared.
1. Unapproved table shares may result in the registered dealer and their unauthorized sharer being asked to leave the Dealer Rooms for the remainder of the event. No space or membership refunds will be issued.
2. Each business entity selling at a space is required to have a valid California seller’s permit. There are no exceptions.
3. In an approved share arrangement, the original dealer is expected to remain substantially present throughout the event. If the original dealer anticipates an extended absence, they must notify and receive approval from the Dealer Lead in advance. Unapproved extended absence in an approved share arrangement may be treated as a prohibited space resale at the discretion of the Dealer Lead.
Distracting or Disruptive Displays. Obtrusive, annoying, or distracting displays are not permitted.
1. Annoyances may include excessive/flashing lights or music/sound from speakers or other display/audio devices.
2. Displays that block or otherwise obstruct another dealer’s space, aisles, or fire exists, are not permitted.
3. Final determination of what is permitted is the discretion of the Dealer Lead.
Clear Aisles. Dealer Rooms can become crowded and hard to move around. Please help maintain safe and unobstructed Dealer Rooms for everybody.
1. Dealers must be behind their tables when selling goods or services. Sitting in aisles between table rows is not permitted.
2. Merchandise and displays may not extend past the front edge of dealer space so as to not create trip or snag hazards.
3. For the safety of others, dealers must promptly comply with any requests made by Dealer Rooms volunteers to keep pathways clear.
Be Space Conscious — Dealers shall remain considerate of other dealers and use common sense. For the safety of all dealers, dealers shall keep personal clutter to a minimum and keep pathways behind tables as clear as possible.
Cleanliness. Keep the Dealer Rooms looking clean and presentable. Dealers must pack up their own garbage at the end of the day and may not leave unsecured food or beverages overnight.
1. Use provided waste receptacles, not the floor, for any garbage.
2. Report any spills or similar issues to the nearest Further Confusion volunteer as soon as possible. Dealers may be responsible for additional cleaning costs for any large stains on the carpet at or near their tables after the convention.
Power Tools. Use of power tools (e.g., to assemble displays, etc.) is not permitted in the Dealer Rooms. Please reach out to the Dealer Lead with any questions, as Union assistance may be available for a fee.

8. No-Show, Refund Policy, and Waiting List

Early Refund Requests. Dealers may request a refund of their space until December 15th.
1. Dealers must send refund requests to dealers@furtherconfusion.org. Due to the delays in handling, Further Confusion cannot accept cancellations by postal mail.
2. By default, refunds will be handled by reversing electronic payment charges.
Late Refunds Requests. Refund requests made after December 15th will require approval of the Dealer Lead on a case by case basis. If a late refund is granted, it may take as long as sixty (60) days to process.
No-Shows. A dealer will be considered a “no-show” if their table is unclaimed four (4) hours after the Dealer Rooms first open to the public.
1. For no-shows, the disposition of the table will be handled at the discretion of the Dealer Lead.
2. Dealers should contact the Dealer Lead if they are going to be late to the convention for any reason. It is at the discretion of the Dealer Lead to extend any exception to these no-show rules.
3. Dealers who fail to return to their table on subsequent days without notification may have their table designated as abandoned at the discretion of the Dealer Lead.
Dealer Waitlist. Further Confusion anticipates higher demand for space than it can supply. As such, the event maintains a waiting list system.
1. The top twenty five (approximate) dealers not initially selected for space in the Dealer Rooms will automatically be placed in the waiting list.
  1. Waitlisted dealers will be considered for their preferred table space, along with secondary space preferences if applicable.
  2. Waitlisted dealers may opt out of the wait-list at any time by writing to dealers@furtherconfusion.org.
  3. Waitlisted dealers are not obligated to accept a table if one is offered to them.

9. Compliance

Dealers found to be advertising for, or actually selling, materials which violate these rules will be asked to cease sales and may be asked to leave the event. Event volunteers may engage local law enforcement if necessary.
Event volunteers will make occasional sweeps to ensure dealers are complying with these rules. It is the responsibility of the dealer to promptly adjust displays or remove noncompliant materials from their space after a request from an event volunteer.

10. Disputes

Neither Further Confusion nor its volunteers will become involved in financial disputes between attendees and dealers.
Disputes between attendees or dealers and Dealer Room volunteers will be settled at the discretion of the Dealer Lead, the Vendor Hall Lead, the event’s Business Director, or Chairman and/or Vice Chairman of Further Confusion.

11. Questions

For questions, comments, or clarification to these rules and guidelines, please email dealers@furtherconfusion.org.