Vendor Policies
Applications are now being taken for Vendors for the 2023 Steampunk Market!
Please read through the Vendor Policies below. When you are ready, please fill out the Vendor Application Form.
Applications are due by March 30, 2023. Vendors will be notified of acceptance and invoiced no later than April 14, 2023. Booth space requests are a first paid-first assigned basis. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@cogsandcorsetsIL.com.
Location:
For 2023, the Vendors will be in the Ballroom of the Bloomington Performing Arts Center (BCPA) at the north end of downtown Bloomington. There are 37 booths available, some with access to electricity.
Bloomington is about a 3 hour drive from Chicago, St Louis and Indianapolis. Amtrak and Central IL Regional Airport are convenient options for guests traveling a little farther. Hotel Rooms are available for $129 + tax (including breakfast) when you ask for the Cogs and Corsets rate at The Chateau Hotel, 309-662-2020. The Bloomington-Normal area offers hotels, Air BnBs and campgrounds to fit a variety of budgets.
Booth fees:
- Booth sizes: 10’x10′
- Booth cost: $175
- Limit: 2 booths max per vendor
We have limited spots with electricity, which can be added to your booth reservation for an additional $25 charge (one electrical per vendor). Electricity is standard voltage. View a map of the vendor booths in the Ballroom.
Loading, Setting Up and Parking
Load-in and load-out
- Fri – load in starts at 12 noon
- Sun – starts at 1 pm – must be out by 3 pm
Market Hours
- Fri, 6/2 – 4 pm – 9 pm
- Sat, 6/3 – 9 am until Doors open for event in auditorium
- Sun, 6/4 – 10 am – 1 pm
Parking
Vendors can park in the free parking lot south of the BCPA on the corner of East Street and Market, just north of Abundant Thrift. Parking is also on the surrounding streets.
General Policy:
Vendors will be able to sell wares in the Steampunk Market area only (walking the street selling wares is not permitted). Cogs & Corsets is a family-friendly event. Anything being displayed in your booth needs to be appropriate for all ages.
Cogs & Corsets is a member of the American Association of Steampunk Conventions (AASC) and the AASC Code of Conduct will be enforced. An updated version of the Code of Conduct will be posted shortly.
Cogs & Corsets has no general admission fee.
Payment and Billing
Upon receipt and approval of your application, we will email you a Paypal invoice to the email address provided. You can also opt to pay via check, but please remember that your space is considered reserved only after your payment has cleared. Checks should be made out to ‘Cogs & Corsets’. Bounced checks will be charged a $50 processing fee.
DO NOT MAIL A CHECK UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED. Thank you.
Checks should be mailed to:
Cathy Sutliff
402 E Mill Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
All vendor space sales are final regardless of weather or turnout. Refunds may be considered on an individual basis and must be submitted 45 days prior to the event (April 18), to give us an opportunity to fill your spot.
Should the festival be canceled due to a change in state regulations related to COVID-19, vendors who signed up for onsite vending will be refunded the registration fee less 3% for processing.
Your information will not be sold or distributed outside Cogs & Corsets.
Sales Use and Tax
Vendors shall be responsible for obtaining documentation (licenses, permits, approvals, etc.) required by international, federal, state and local law. Cogs & Corsets, the City of Bloomington, the McLean County Museum of History, and the Downtown Bloomington Association will not be held accountable for a vendor’s failure to follow these procedures.
Vendors shall be responsible for collecting, reporting, and remitting proper state sales tax for any items or merchandise sold by the vendor at the event, in addition to obtaining the appropriate state sales tax rate and any local sales tax rates for any and all merchandise sold by the vendor at the event. And agrees to indemnify and hold Cogs & Corsets and its staff, the City of Bloomington, McLean County Museum of History, and the Downtown Bloomington Association harmless in any action arising from the vendor’s failure to collect, report, and remit federal, state, and local sales tax for goods sold by the vendor at the event.
Any goods or services deemed illegal under the laws of the United State of America, the state of Illinois, McLean County and the City of Bloomington are prohibited. Sales and display of working firearms, weapons, or ammunition are prohibited.
Promotion
Promotional material in digital form will be available upon request. Please contact info@cogsandcorsetsil.com. We encourage all vendors to promote the event to their customers.
Cogs & Corsets cannot guarantee that each vendor will have their name, products or services listed in any of the promotional materials including posters, postcards, and press releases. Vendors registered with the Steampunk Market at Cogs & Corsets grants the festival organizers the rights to use their name, logo, and description of their products and services for promotional purposes.
Indemnifications
The vendor agrees to be responsible for, indemnify and hold Cogs & Corsets and its staff and volunteers, the City of Bloomington, the McLean County Museum of History harmless from any and all claims of any nature, losses, damages, costs expenses (including attorney fees), personal injury, death, and/or any other claims arising from or related to any act or omission by the Vendor or his/her property, agents, representative or employees in contravention of is obligations (under this contract) or any applicable law governing the vendor’s activities at the event.
The vendor also agrees to be responsible for, indemnify, and hold Cogs & Corsets and its staff, the City of Bloomington, McLean County Museum of History and its employees and volunteers harmless in case of theft of the vendor’s property both during business hours and after hours.
Cogs & Corsets reserves the right to refuse anyone or any business. All times, dates and locations are subject to change.
