The After Dark Market will be an NSFW friendly variant of the Artists Alley held during adult hours on Friday & Saturday in the Tynehead hallway.

This will be our first year holding the After Dark Market, so if you have any questions or concerns please send your inquiries to (vendors@vancoufur.org) for more information.

What is the After Dark Market?

The After Dark market is an after hours NSFW friendly place for vendors to show off their NSFW artwork and wears. The entryway to the market will have someone checking ID so you can freely show your art. Unlike in the Dealers Den and Artists Alley where all NSFW work must be in a concealed binder as those spaces are meant to be family friendly.

Table Price & Dimensions

  • Full table – 6’x2′ $45 CAD/Night

Apply for an After Dark Market Table

Rules

  • Be in compliance with the hotel rules at all times
  • Must be 18+ and provide valid ID to prove it. Fake ID or attempts to enter the space as a minor will not be tolerated and will result in removal from the After Dark Market. Repeated attempts to ignore this will be enforced as seen fit.
  • Vendors and Assistants must have their con badge visibly worn at all times inside of the After Dark Market.
  • The consumption of alcohol and drugs is prohibited in the con space – including the After Dark Market.
  • Vendors and Assistants are not allowed to handle business transactions if they are under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
  • Wares must be in compliance with the rules outlined in the “What can I sell in the dealer’s den?” section below.
  • Be kind and respectful to the staff, dealers, and attendees – if they don’t respect you back, contact staff.
  • Subletting, or the renting of your table is prohibited.
  • All sales at your booth must be legal in Canada and the province of British Columbia.
  • You are liable for the behavior of yourself and your Assistants while they are in the After Dark Market.
  • If there is a mask mandate in effect during the event you will be required to wear your mask at all times. 
  • We also ask to abide by social distancing rules and to minimize contact as best as possible. 

Failure to comply with these rules will result in disciplinary action, not limited to warning strikes, ejection from the After Dark Market and loss of your booth, loss (pulling) of your convention badge, banning from Vancoufur, contact of police, and potential legal action. Disciplinary actions are effective immediately upon issuance. Appeals for actions will be handled according to convention rules.

A Vendor who has their convention access revoked will also be ejected from the After Dark Market without compensation. This applies to the primary owner of the table.

Assistants who have their convention access revoked will not be allowed to enter or be in the After Dark Market for the remainder of the convention, under any circumstance.

What can I sell?

Vendors must sell only items which they are legally entitled to sell. Please be aware that if you have pirated, or materials that infringe copyright in an illegal manner we will require you to remove the items from your table. Failure to do so will result in being removed from the Market.

It must be your Artwork, handmade items, and merchandise with your artwork/creations on them. You cannot resell merchandise, or products you had no part in making. We require that vendors have items they created to sell, not just for advertising a product that does not exist yet or for demos (such as video games in development, or games in development). If you want to just advertise, or demo something, please contact us about alternatives.

NSFW items are permitted to be shown at your booth without need to be concealed. All attendees who access the ADmarket will be age verified.

Please Note: Unfortunately, we are no longer allowing the sale of Food Items in the After Dark Market to be in compliance with Hotel/Catering agreements and policy.

Vendors found in non-compliance with these rules will first be asked to rectify the problem. If on follow-up the problem persists, the vendor will be ejected from the After Dark Market.

How to Reserve a Table in the After Dark Market?

We will need to be provided with the following information to complete your After Dark Market application:

  • You MUST already be registered to attend the convention.
  • Must be 18+ to purchase a table with valid ID. No minors will be permitted into the After Dark Market.
  • Desired listing name (For the Market)
  • Detailed description of what you intend to sell.
  • Links to your website or hosted galleries with pictures of your products, if possible. Show us what you sell!
  • Contact Information.
  • If you are planning on having an After Dark Market Assistant (NOT A TABLE SHARE) and who. 
  • Assistants MUST be 18+ and have valid ID.
  • You need to fill out the form in full.

Subletting your table (receiving payment from another dealer for space at your table) is not permitted. Please apply separately if you intend to sell your wares. To facilitate faster setup and teardown each day, we request that After Dark Market  table displays not exceed 2′ in height (two cube display height), and not extend beyond the edges of the table.

Please note: Dealers from outside of Canada should also make sure that they are in compliance with the requirements to sell their wares in Canada.

How do I apply for a table?

To apply for an After Dark Market table, you will need to fill out Vancoufur’s Online After Dark Market application. You will be sent an email when your application has been received and approved, declined, or waitlisted. Tables may also be available at con if they are not all sold in advance, they will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

Payment of fees is not due until the day of con. You will pay for your table when you check in at the ADM assistant table to claim your space. Check in will begin at 8:30pm for ADM artists with reservations. Reservations will only be held until 9pm, after which, tables will be sold first come, first served. Please note payment is CASH ONLY. You may not take your seat until you have paid. If you cannot make it in time to claim your table, you MUST contact the vendor coordinator at vendors@vancoufur.org to let them know you will be late and how late you will be.

Apply for an After Dark Market Table


After Dark Market FAQ

How are tables approved?

After Dark Market tables are approved on a “First come First served” basis by registration in advance, and at con in a first come first served method. Please make sure you are pre-registered for the con prior to applying for a reservation. Please note that you do not need to pay for your table registration until your table has been approved, but you do need to be in our system.

What happens if I don’t get a table?

After Dark Market applicants who do not receive a table will be put on a waitlist, sorted by their time of application. If a table becomes available, waitlisted Vendors will be contacted in the order their name appears on the list.

If no response is received within two days, the table will be forfeited and the next applicant on the waitlist will be contacted, SO BE SURE TO WATCH YOUR EMAIL AND SPAM FOLDER. The waitlist is for table reservations only, and does not carry over once the convention starts. There is also our Thursday Night Market and Artists Alley

How can I improve my chances of getting a table?

After Dark Market tables are assigned on a First Come First Served basis, to registered convention attendees. To have the best chance of getting a table you should:

  1. Make sure you are registered BEFORE the applications go live.
  2. Be sure to be following our social media, and be aware of the exact time and date the application will go live. Set yourself a reminder.
  3. Make sure you have your information required ready, including things like gallery or social media links.

If you haven’t registered when you submit your After Dark Market application, you will be given a link to the Vancoufur Registration site and asked to register. Your name will not be placed on the applicants list until you are registered to attend, however you do not have to pay until you are accepted. You just must be in the system.

Payment of Registration and table fees is not due at this time, but is required before you take your seat in the After Dark Market.

Can I request a specific location in the After Dark Market?

Unfortunately, we are unable to take requests for locations in the After Dark Market this year.

Is electricity and/or Wi-Fi available?

We are unable to guarantee electricity or wifi will be available at After Dark Market tables. If you are near an outlet, you may make use of it, but power bars are not permitted. If you are found to be using a power bar you will be asked to remove it.

What if I want to leave?

Leaving? Not a problem! Just make sure you inform the After Dark Market check-in table that you’re leaving.

Closing up? Let us know at the check-in table that you are not returning. This lets us fill in that spot with the next person on our wait list.

Taking a break? Let us know this too. So that we do not mistake your table as a spot to give away. We can also inform people that you are away, and will be returning later.

Please ensure you make arrangements for the supervision of your table during any breaks. You are responsible for the safety and security of your own merchandise, property, and personal belongings in the After Dark Market.

I reserved my table, now what?

You should receive an email within a few days of filling out your application letting you know that we’ve received it. You will receive another email once it has been approved, denied, or waitlisted. Once you are approved for a table, the balance due will be shown on your Vancoufur registration.

What days is After Dark Market open?

The After Dark Market will be open Friday, & Saturday this year

After Dark Market open times

Friday – 9:30pm – 1am

Saturday – 9:30pm – 1am

Is there a check-in/sign up time?

We ask that everyone check in with the After Dark Market Check-In desk by 9:30 at the latest. Checkin and setup begins at 8:30pm

What if I miss the deadline for my reserved spot?

If you do not arrive by 9:30pmon the day of your reservation, it will be forfeit and sold to another vendor. If you are running late, please contact the Vendor Coordinator in advance to let them know.

Can I put signs on the walls/tables?

If you wish to add signs, please ask the After Dark Market Check-In desk for the proper tape, and assistance. We are guests, and do not wish to destroy hotel property. If the signs are NSFW they will be confined to the Market space only and removed after the market closes. 

Signs and displays on top of tables must not exceed 24” or 61cm in height, and must not extend beyond the edge of the table. Signs may be attached to the front of tables as long as they do not touch the ground. Please speak to the Check-In desk for the proper tape.

If you are unsure about any signs or displays you want to use, ask the Artist Alley team, and they can help you. 

Can I leave my stuff on the table if I am returning the next day?

No, even if you have reserved a table for multiple days, you must pack up your table at the end of each day. A new table will be assigned to you when you check in in the morning. Reminder: We are not responsible for stolen items or merchandise. Please make sure you take everything with you when you check out for the day.

I didn’t reserve my spot, will there still be tables available at the con?

We cannot guarantee that After Dark Market tables will be available for purchase at con, though we do try to keep a few available for First-come-first-serve on the day of, we can’t make any promises. Priority will be given to waitlisted applicants. If any tables are available after the waitlist is exhausted, they will be made available.

What if all the spots are filled?

If you do not get your reservation in before the After Dark Market fills up, your name will be placed on a waitlist. As soon a spot becomes available we will contact you. This waitlist is only for reservations, and not carry over to at con. If you are interested in purchasing an After Dark Market table at the convention, come to the After Dark Market Check-In desk after (2 hours after the dealers den has closed) each night. Any unclaimed tables will be available for sale.

Is there anything else I should know?

There will be no refunds, or transfers for paid tables.

I have more questions, how do I contact the After Dark Market team?

If you need to contact the Vendor Coordinator, please email (vendors@vancoufur.org) and they will get back to you as soon as possible.