San Francisco Folk Music Club
Code of Conduct
The San Francisco Folk Music Club is dedicated to the enjoyment, preservation, and promotion of acoustic music in individual, family, and community life.
SFFMC seeks to create an environment that is safe, pleasant, and conducive to sharing folk music. We welcome and value everyone who participates in our events. We established this code of conduct to make sure that everyone at all our activities – attending either in-person or virtually – feels accepted and respected. We intend 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 venues used by the organization. Our key principle is respect for people and the spaces we share.
Whether 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 and to know the rules.
- Respect and be considerate of all others, regardless of their sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion, and regardless of their musical abilities
- Contribute to the atmosphere of welcoming all others
- Avoid language or behavior that others would find troubling, offensive, or upsetting
- Respect others’ property
- Follow the direction of event organizers and volunteers
- Follow the rules of the venues and properties that we use
- Obey the law
- Treat venue staff with respect
- Communicate about venue issues only through SFFMC event organizers, not directly with venue staff
- Adhere to the rules listed in the SFFMC Parking and Driving Policy
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. SFFMC commits to listen and treat seriously any complaints made or issues raised.
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 others in any form.
- 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 venue
- Repeatedly creating loud noises or otherwise repeatedly disrupting workshops, jams, dances, performances, or other event activities
- Introducing strong pervasive odors that constitute a nuisance to others, including fragrances such as perfume or other scented products
- Entering restricted and/or nonpublic areas of a venue without permission
- Leaving young children unattended
- Bringing animals to SFFMC events, except service animals or animals authorized by SFFMC and by the venue
- Racist language, racial slurs, racist behavior and microaggressions
- 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
- 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
- Willfully or knowingly flouting the rules of the event or the directions of the event organizers and volunteers
- Using SFFMC’s or a venue’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
- Theft
- Vandalizing facilities, instruments, equipment, or any other items
- Bringing a weapon of any kind to an SFFMC event, including but not limited to a loaded or unloaded firearm
- Engaging in behaviors prohibited by other SFFMC or venue policies or by law
Enforcement of this policy will be by SFFMC officers, SFFMC event organizers and volunteers, venue 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 and revised October 2025 by the SFFMC Board of Directors