F.A.Q
What is the mission of A Big Gay Market?
A Big Gay Market is a designated safe and affirmative space for LGBTQI+ individuals, especially for those in our community that have intersecting marginalized identities, to join together in queer and trans joy for a cause. This market aims to benefit Camp Unirondack’s Queer Youth Advocacy Retreat. All vendors and volunteers who are a part of our event agree to this collective mission before they are allowed to complete their application to attend.
Wait, you make all vendors and volunteers agree to this mission? What if they don’t?
Then we don’t want you to join us :)
What is Camp Unirondack’s Queer Youth Advocacy Retreat?
The Queer Youth Advocacy Retreat is a weekend designed to bring together young Queer and Trans leaders, advocates, activists, organizers, school club members, and aspiring allies. The weekend offers a place for young people to connect with one another, exchange ideas, build knowledge and skills, think critically, and work together toward LGBTQIA+ justice. It is also a place to build friendships with like-minded people and experience a celebration of Queer community, Queer joy, and the magic of being together in the great outdoors. Oh, and it is FREE with transportation! As our Founder says, the Queer Youth Advocacy Retreat is one of the very few places where LGBTQ+ and gender-expansive youth can see hope in action in our state.
You talk a lot about equitable market practices, what does that mean at this event?
To us, it means centering the needs of our vendors, volunteers, and attendees first and foremost with a focus on non-exploitative market practices. We charge a sliding scale fee between $10 to $100 not to make a profit but to provide our vendors snacks and drinks at our events, food for our Glizzies Tent during our summer market which raises funds for Camp Unirondack, first aid materials, accessible port-o-potties, marketing materials, and more.
We see our vendor fee as an investment back into the event to ensure we are organizing successful markets with accessibility and our core mission in mind. And, we do have a hardship policy that if you are a new vendor or cannot make the vendor fee - we will cover your vendor fee with no questions asked. We do not charge an application fee on top of this vendor fee - once you apply and pay the vendor fee you’re a part of the market. We will only turn away vendors if we have maxed out our location’s capacity and if we have to cancel the event - all vendors can transfer their fees to the next market they can attend.
Finally, being equitable to us also means having a firm commitment to creating an accessible market for ALL. We choose our market location with an eye toward the details of mobility, sensory needs, and more. We are consistently striving to gain input from our disabled community to make the market a place where they are welcomed, always. Equitable market practices benefit us all and exclude no one.
Speaking of accessibility, what are A Big Gay Market’s accessibility notes?
We have chosen Washington Park’s Knox Street Mall as our outdoor market location because it is a flat gravel terrain with little elevation even in the grassy areas. There is parking throughout the market around the perimeter with the closest parking at the Hudson Avenue Entrance. This section of the market is surrounded by trees with ample shaded areas with benches every couple of feet. All benches are NOT blocked by our vendors and are accessible for all attendees of the market. We ask our vendors to set up as close to the gravel path to ensure those with mobility devices can access our vendors. We also have only accessible toilets that are ample in size for those with mobility devices on the premise of the market for everyone to use.
When it comes to COVID-19 Protocols, we encourage our vendors, volunteers, and attendees to mask or unmask based on their personal comfort levels. We try to create as much space as possible to avoid crowding the market - which is why we have our vendors on the grass versus on the gravel path. We recognize that we are in an ongoing pandemic despite what federal, state, or local officials might say or lack to regulate. Our markets remain outdoors with a potential indoor market during the month of December. We will have specific protocols for the indoor market that will be shared once the permit and locations are secured.
If you have any suggestions to make our markets more accessible, please email C at c@abiggaymarket.com. We will always strive to be better!
I want to volunteer with A Big Gay Market! Who should I contact?
You can contact C at c@abiggaymarket.com and we will connect you with our volunteer opportunities! Thank you for joining us <3
Who can I contact for media/press inquiries or for any other concerns or thoughts I may have?
You can contact C Romeo at c@abiggaymarket.com. Please note that this is NOT C’s main job and do not expect a response immediately. C will get back to you at most between 48 to 72 hours if you are NOT a vendor or volunteer contacting them.
Vendor Specific
What is the vendor fee? Once I submit my application and pay my vendor fee, am I accepted?
Our vendor fee is a sliding scale of $10 to $100 to match where you’re at. Once you pay the vendor fee and submit your application, you are automatically accepted! Welcome to A Big Gay Market Fam!
I want to attend the market but I cannot make the vendor fee. Can I still attend?
Yes! Please email us directly at c@abiggaymarket.com. We will not ask any questions and want you to be with us :)
What if the market is canceled, even the rain date, because of some reason? What if I can’t attend any more? Do I get a refund?
We will honor your vendor fee for the next market you are available to attend! We do not issue refunds because vendor fees for each market go directly into our costs to ensure the market actually happens. If you cannot attend any of our future markets, we will ask you to consider donating your vendor fee to Camp Unirondack’s Queer Youth Advocacy Retreat or to a vendor who wants to attend and cannot make the vendor fee.
Can I unload/reload from my car in front of my spot? Where do I then park after I am done?
You can park on Washington Park Rd during the duration of the fair. You can ONLY unload/reload your car inside the Market area during the designated set up / breakdown hours. You can enter the Market to unload/load up where the Vendor Check-In/Info Booth is located. Our volunteers will guide you.
Okay, I am a vendor. I need you to give me all the logistic details for the day of. I need to know it ALL!
All vendors will receive a lot of communications from me leading up to the event! But, I will also include those details here for you :)
Set-Up will begin earliest at 9:30 AM for vendors. We will be there around 7:30 AM to set up the vendor check-in / informational booth and the community/kids tent.
Vendor Check is at the north end of Knox Mall Rd indicated on the map - you can drive up from this location the easiest.
When you first arrive, please head to the information booth to check in and receive your signage - your signage will include the information you provided and it will be laminated for your booth.
There are NO pre-assigned booth spaces - it first comes, first serve. All booths are standard 10 x 10.
Please note that by signing up as a vendor, you are committing to being present or having someone at your booth for the duration of the event.
If you need coverage if you are vending alone, please let us know at the informational booth and a volunteer can cover for you temporarily!
Break down will begin earliest at 3:00 PM and end around 4:30 PM latest. You CANNOT bring your cars up until 3:00 PM for safety reasons.
Please clean up all garbage and throw them away in the public garbage pails scattered around the area before you leave. Help us volunteers and our public parks!
I sell THC and/or CBD-infused products. Can I be a vendor in this market?
Yes! But we have some policies for those with THC/CBD products to ensure that children - since this is a family-friendly event. Your products must be displayed in a closed case that only you can access too from your end. All packaging must indicate clearly and loudly that this product contains THC and/or CBD and be easily identifiable. You CANNOT sell these products to minors during this event and you will be banned from this event if you did since this is a legal liability. If you follow these protocols, you can sell at this event.
I have a question that isn’t on this list!
Please email C at c@abiggaymarket.com and we will answer all your questions :) Thank you for joining us!
**This FAQ will be updated periodically as more questions are asked!