The Festival of the Photocopier is a zine fair organised by a zine shop. Therefore, 80% of the items on your table should be zines. For example, if you have four (4) different zine titles on your table, you will be allowed to have one (1) print, pin or other non-zine related item. We understand that many of you are multidisciplinary artists. If you have one or two enamel pins at your stall with your zines, that's fine. If most of your table is stickers / pins / prints / patches / not zines, we will ask you to remove these items. Sticky Institute is a zine shop that gets funding to run this zine fair once a year because it is the biggest zine fair in Melbourne. It is important that this event continues to be a zine fair for zines and not a maker's market or craft fair.
Stallholders are prohibited from selling, trading, or giving away t-shirts, plants or food. You can have a bowl of sweets on your table if you want to.
We will allocate you a full or half-standard-sized trestle table (180cm x 75cm). Everything you are selling must fit on this table space.
Everything you bring on the day must fit in your allocated space. Free-standing racks and stands are not permitted.
Only individuals who have registered as stallholders are permitted to table. We will provide each table with enough chairs for the registered stallholders. No additional chairs will be provided.
Sticky volunteers can mind your table if you need a quick break. No one but yourself or a Sticky volunteer should be behind your table throughout the fair.
Seating will be pre-allocated by Sticky and will not change once confirmed.
If you are tabling for both days of the festival, you cannot leave anything at the venue overnight. You will need to be able to pack up your stall and take everything with you when you go on Saturday.
Use of power outlets in the venue is not allowed. We understand that it is tempting, but our contract states that all items plugged into a power outlet must be tagged and tested - and your items will not be. Bring a power bank if you need to charge devices throughout the day. We will confiscate any devices found plugged into an outlet during the event until the end of the day.
Meat Market is not a dog-friendly venue. Don't encourage anyone you know to bring a dog to the fair.
Bringing pets to this event under any circumstances is strictly prohibited. This includes but is not limited to dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, rats, mice, and lizards. Do not suggest someone take their dog on a walk to the fair - the dog must be left outside on the street. The fair is unsuitable for animals not familiar with crowds and noise. Trained service animals are permitted, provided they are appropriately signed as such.
You are responsible for disposing of your rubbish at the end of the day. Every year, our volunteers have to pick up after people who think it's okay to leave their loose paper off-cuts and empty coffee cups at their table. We know the zinesters who do this and do not appreciate their lack of responsibility.
Incense, candles and open flames are prohibited at all times. If you need a little illumination, you are allowed a string of battery-operated fairy lights. Only battery-operated lights are permitted; nothing can be plugged into any power outlets or lit with a flame.
Food and drink are allowed inside the venue. If you have any food or drinks, be mindful of how and where it is left, as you are responsible for cleaning up any spills or mess.
If you want to pop out for a smoke or a vape at any point during the fair, you must be at least five (5) meters from any door per government regulations. Meat Market is a government-owned building, and we must respect health laws.
The Festival of the Photocopier is an all-ages event, which means it is an drug & alcohol-free. This rule applies to everyone - no exceptions. Anyone who breaks this rule jeopardizes Sticky Institute's abiopportunity to run this fair in the future. If you do not feel you can refrain from drugs or alcohol for the duration of the fair, please let us know so we can take you off the list.
On the day
If you have questions or need anything during the fair, come to the Sticky Institute stall or speak to a Sticky Institute volunteer in a fluro pink vest. You can ask a volunteer to mind your stall if you need a break.
Stallholders can check in to the venue to set up from 11am onwards at the entrance on Blackwood Street. There is no need to line up for hours; all stallholders have been allocated a table.
All registered stallholders need to check in at the start of the day.
Check-in procedure
When you arrive at the venue, provide your legal name to the Sticky volunteer to check in to the event.
You will receive a wristband with your table number for stallholder identification. Do not remove this wristband until the end of the day.
Empty tables will be removed at 12:30 pm. Stallholders who arrive after this time will not be allowed to table at the fair.
If you are tabling on both days of the fair, you must check in each day.
The fair will open to the public at 12pm and run until 5pm.
Non-gendered toilets are at the back of the venue, and a water station will be available to keep you hydrated. Remember to bring snacks and dress appropriately for the weather.
The Festival of the Photocopier is an all-ages event. Children will be attending - both as customers and stallholders. Please be mindful of how you display any graphic or NSFW work.
You are responsible for your possessions and float. There have not been any reported theft cases during past fairs. However, we advise that you securely store any cash and belongings on your person.
Come prepared with lots of change for your float – notes and coins. Someone will want to pay for a $2 zine with a $50 note.
If you use a mobile POS, read the instructions and test the device to avoid disappointment during your first sale. Remember, you will not be able to use the power outlets at the venue to charge any devices. We recommend bringing a power bank to charge your mobile POS if the battery doesn't last all day.
