This year we are splitting our vending area into two separate regions: the Maker Square and the Vendor Square, situated at either end of the BCIT Grand Hall.
The Maker Square is for anyone selling goods they crafted or designed themselves, or goods based on items they crafted or designed (including but not limited to artwork, crafts, clothing, jewellery, cookies, authored books, etc.).
The Vendor Square is for everyone else wishing to sell items at the event.
A Maker must be able to demonstrate their creative process, either by working on pieces at their table or, when the craft is not suitable for on-site demonstration (e.g., a glasswork artist who can’t bring their equipment with them), by providing images or video of their process. The one exception is authors selling their own work — including anthologies containing their work — though if they want to bring a laptop and work on their next piece, they are certainly welcome to do so.
We also support community organizations who would like to promote their organization to VCON 44 attendees. All Community tables are FREE.
Anyone who qualifies as a Maker may request a table in the Vendor Square, but Vendors may not request Maker Square tables.
You can express interest in having a table in the Maker Square or Vendor Square by filling out the Vending Interest form.
Space rates range from $70–$200 for 3ft or 6ft tables; the exact amount depends on the vending area.
RATES
| Table Option | Maker | Vendor | Community |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Space (3ft Half-Table) Includes: • 1 comped ticket • 1 table assistant | $70 | $90 | — |
| Single Space (6ft Table) Includes: • 2 comped tickets • 2 table assistants | $120 | $150 | FREE |
| Double Space (2 x 6ft table) Includes: • 3 comped tickets • 3 table assistants | — | $250 | — |
| Table Assistant | $25 | $25 | $25 |
Yes, we are open to table swaps with other events with an attendee audience similar to our own.
If you are interested in this option, please email events@wcsfa.org to discuss it.
Yes! Please note this when you register and pay fees so we can arrange to leave your space empty during room setup.
Yes! Please note this when you register and pay fees so we can place you appropriately.
Some tables will be by power outlets, but we can not guarantee placement near one. We recommend that you ensure your devices are fully charged before the event.
Wi-Fi will be available. Login information will be provided at the event.
Food: Vendors are allowed to sell food items, subject to the following restrictions and requirements:
- VCON is an unlicensed family-friendly event, and so alcohol, cannabis or THC-related products are prohibited.
- Food that is not commercially prepackaged must have an ingredient list available, either provided with the item, visibly posted at the table, or by request.
- If food samples are being served, the vendor must also comply with all manufacturing, labelling, licensing, and insurance guidelines for food products, and must have all appropriate permits in place and presented to VCON staff before the event.
Vendors are allowed to sell visual artwork that is adult / “not safe for work” (i.e., that depicts overtly / excessively sexual or gory subject matter), subject to the following restrictions and requirements:
- As VCON is an all-ages event, all NSFW items must be hidden until requested by an adult customer (age 18+) and promptly removed from public view once the customer has finished viewing them.
- If found to be in violation of this policy, the vendor will be warned once.
- A second violation will lead to the policy violation actions noted below.
Vendors are prohibited from selling real weapons, but are allowed to sell weapon-like props, subject to the following restrictions and requirements.
- BANNED: All weapons forbidden or restricted by local, provincial or federal law (e.g., live firearms — including airsoft, pellet, or paintball — tasers, spring-loaded batons, mace, switchblades, and butterfly knives), metal blades regardless of sharpness (e.g., knives, swords, katanas, axes, daggers), weapons that fire projectiles (e.g., bows and slingshots), blunt/heavy weapons (e.g., brass knuckles, nunchucks, metal batons, heavy hammers), or sharp pointed weapons (e.g. spears, javelins) are banned from being brought into the event or sold.
- Weapon-Like Props: Weapon-like props may be sold but will be subject to a security safety check before the event starts.
- Items that fail the check must not be displayed or sold at the table
- Approved items that are large and unwieldy or that could cause damage if misused must be displayed securely, such that they cannot be picked up or grabbed easily by attendees without the vendor’s assistance.
Stolen works: Vendors are prohibited from selling copied, traced, AI-generated, plagiarized, or otherwise stolen works in any media.
Counterfeit works: Vendors are prohibited from selling counterfeit merchandise of any kind, including, but not limited to, bootlegged media, unauthorized replicas of props or costumes, unlicensed action figures or toys, knockoff collectibles, and imitation autographed memorabilia.
If a vendor is found to be in violation of the food sales, NSFW material, weapons, or stolen / AI / counterfeit policies, they will be asked to remove all offending items from sale at their table.
- For stolen or counterfeit works, this applies even if the vendor was initially unaware that the items in question were stolen or counterfeited.
- The vendor will not receive a refund even if they have few to no acceptable items remaining.
- A vendor who refuses to remove the offending items will be removed from the event immediately, without refund, and may be banned from vending at some or all future WCSFA events.
We strongly recommend that vendors make absolutely sure they know and can prove the provenance of anything they are selling, especially if it’s not something they designed or created themselves.
WCSFA† is the West Coast Speculative Fiction Association, VCON’s parent non-profit organization, dedicated to promoting speculative genre media in British Columbia. This includes, but is not limited to: science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal, romantasy, gaming, costuming, and more.
WCSFA members receive a $5 discount on General Admission to all WCSFA events.
To learn more, explore the WCSFA website
† Pronounced WICK-sfa
We encourage cosplay of all kinds at VCON! However, please keep it appropriate for all ages, as this is a family-friendly event.
At this time, masks are not required, but are heavily encouraged, for the health and safety of other vendors, attendees, and our volunteers. We recommend well-sealed N95 (or better) masks. Should BC Public Health adjust requirements in the future, VCON will comply with all requirements.
Contact us at events@wcsfa.org as soon as possible before the event for a refund. Please do not attend VCON if you are sick.
BCIT is located in Burnaby, BC, just south of Hwy 1 at 3700 Willingdon Ave. All parking areas are public spaces on Saturdays (i.e., you can ignore any “staff only” notices), and have a flat one-day rate of $9.60 after taxes. Please download the BCIT site map from the link below for more information:
Load-in time begins at 8:00 am. Vendors must be completely set up by 9:50 am (10 minutes before the event starts)
Load out time begins at 6:00 pm. Vendors must be completely torn down and out of the space by 8:30 pm