How are vendors and artists selected?

We want to make this the best nerd market we possibly can! With that being said, we only have a limited amount of space, and there’s a lot of great people to choose from!

We are selecting vendors based on the following factors

• Residence (Duval/Jacksonville get first priority)
• Product quality
• Character (are you a “Good” person/business? That goes pretty far with us 💓)
• Photos provided
• Uniqueness
• Online presence and activity
• Attitude (we want to work with people who have a great attitude!)
• Booth Display
• Communication skills
• Engagement with customers in person and online
• How well you promote your products and other events online
  

Is there an application fee?

Nope. This is volunteer and community driven, so we just put the time in out of our commitment to the community.

Is there a fee to setup if  the application is approved?

$50 deposit, per table (which are provided), per day. Tables are provided, but feel free to bring your own :).

Within 7-10 business day of the event’s completion, vendors are privately offered the option to donate a portion of their fees to keep GAAM Good going, or a FULL REFUND. It’s up to you. 💓

When is the application deadline?

Please try to get in your application before September 28th. We’re getting a lot of applications, so the sooner the better. We don’t have a hard deadline, but we’re trying to confirm everybody by October 5th.

Is there rolling approval?

For the most part, no. With this going to 2 days, and with the idea being some vendors will only be there for 1 (as the 2nd day will have more activities), we want to try to be as accommodating as possible to people coming in from out of town (for example, if somebody wants to do 1 day and is out of town, we want to help them get back home that day and not have to incur additional costs staying overnight, unless you WANT to stay ).

Additionally we want to minimize the need for anybody to have to set up and breakdown multiple times.

We’re planning on sending out confirmations and approvals the week of September 29th, to give the vendors and the logistics team time to plan, and present the attendees with a cohesive vision.

When is the Vendor confirmation deadline?

Approved Vendors must confirm and pay by October 15th. If you were not approved, DO NOT use the payment link.

If payment has not been made by midnight of October 15th, it will be understood as you releasing your space, and we will proceed to go through the waiting list to fill the spot.

Instructions regarding payment were also sent to your email with the subject “Vendor Payment Form and Good News!”.

If you can’t make it, please let us know in advance. We would much rather hear it from you, than have to scramble.

Do you send out waiting list and rejection emails?

We only send out communications to vendors that are accepted. We’re not staffed for maintaining waiting lists and rejection lists, and the subsequent communications that would accompany that (we’re all volunteering and have day jobs, sorry 😭). We use those resources towards making the event better and to make it free for the vendors.

If we started charging the vendors, or charging vendor application fees, we could do it… but I don’t think anybody wants that 😅

If we achieve the needed level of funding in the future, that’s something we plan on incorporating, but right now, it’s a nope.

Will electricity be provided?

Electricity is available. Please bring extension cords and wall strips if you have electrical needs and let us know in advance through the sign up form.(dont copy this, or GAAM will know! MUHAHAHAHA))

What are the event hours?

Event hours are projected to be 12-5pm on Saturday, November 30th for the Main Market.
Hours for the Sunday Market are tentatively 12-5pm. There will be additional activities such as social mixers that will go on into the night for those that want to socialize.
A final time will be released leading up to the event.

Where is Aloft?

Aloft at Tapestry Park is located at 4812 W Deer Lake Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32246 (it’s pretty close to Tinseltown and right off Gate Parkway).

You can book a room there at https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/jaxtl-aloft-jacksonville-tapestry-park/.

When is set up?

Set up time for vendors and artists will be available the Friday before the event, starting at noon. GAAM Staff may not be there until 4pm, but hotel staff will direct you to the ballroom and you can set up in accordance to the floorplan.

If you are an outside vendor or Main Hall vendor, please do not attempt to set up until the day of, unless you can set up a table inside the ballroom, and plan to move it the day of.

On Saturday, set up starts at 8:30am and concludes at 11:00, so get there bright and early! If you do not show up by 9:30am, your spot will be forfeited and you will not be refunded.

Please unload at the front lobby, and then go park your car nearby.

If early set-up is available the day before, you will be notified ASAP. 

When is break down?

Breakdown starts at 5pm, and ends at 8pm. We gotta be outta there!

Do I need to bring my own table?

5 foot tables will be provided to all vendors. If you paid for multiple tables, they will all be provided, along with 2 chairs per table.

How many passes do I get?

2 passes, one for you and an assistant, unless fundraising goals are met.

What are the food options?

At least 2 food stations will be set up, and there’s a ton of restaurants (Mombays, Another Broken Egg, Starbucks, Yashi Sushi, Your Pie, Jimmy Johns, III Forks Steakhouse, Lime Leaf, Flame Broiler and more are within walking distance.

Bento, Mellow Mushroom, Pho, Larry’s Giant Subs and 15+ additional restaurants are within a 5-minute drive.

What if I need a 6ft table instead of a 5ft table?

If you need a 6ft table, please let us know, and as long as we have them, we’ll hook you up. (They will be on a first come/first serve basis)

If you need a 10ft table/more space, you’ll have to pay for 2+ 5ft tables.

What about parking?

Aloft has it’s own parking lot, and there is additional parking throughout Tapestry Park.

What else is there to do for attendees?

There will be crafting activities, a social mixer, gaming and holiday-themed selfie spots, lounge areas, food trucks, a toy drive, maybe Nerd Trivia and more!

When will I be featured on GAAM’s social media?

The current plan is to promote at least one business a day via posting on social, with a bigger push during GAAM Live on Sundays at 9pm.

If possible, we may add a second livestream to provide additional coverage.

Who do I look for during the event if I have a question/problem?

We will identify GAAM Team staff before the event via email or social media. You’ll also typically be able to find them at the ticket table.

How do I go about getting my business featured on GAAM Live before the GAAM Holiday Nerd Market?

Once you sign up and pay, we’ll use the information from your application to feature you. (Don’t worry, we’ll tag and let you know in advance. :D)

We’ll also reach out to you to see if you would like to appear on GAAM Live with us!

What If I don’t want to be on GAAM Live, but I want my business featured on GAAM Live?

There’s an option in the application to be featured on GAAM Live without having to go on the livestream.

Don’t worry, we’re not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do.

What’s the Vendor Code of Conduct?

The same rules that apply to attendees, also apply to vendors as seen here.

Additionally, theft of others work, drunkenness, inappropriate behavior to other vendors, attendees, the GAAM team, or venue staff will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal of the event, or revocation of Vendor Approval.

You will be granted a refund at that point at the discretion of the vendor managers. They will evaluate your actions, and the time and effort associated with dealing with the situation in making a determination of a refund.

Just be a decent human being, and everything will be ok. Don’t be a good person, and that’s grounds to not be a part of the event.

What should I bring?

Hopefully, you already know what to bring! 😂
But, we made a suggested little guide for you below to help. 💓

Vendor Packing Guide