Saturday

SOMA Second Saturdays!

Information for Exhibitors, Artists,
Gear Swap Participants, and Volunteers

Click here for general information about the event 

Click here to apply for a booth for June 10!

Essential Info:

    • Date:  The Second Saturday of Each Month:
      • June 10, July 8, August 12, and September 9, 2023.
      • A special SOMA Second Saturday will also be held on October 14, in conjunction with the Bearrison Street Fair.  
      • Dates contingent upon City regulations.
    • Time:  12:00 noon to 5:00 pm
    • Location:  12th Street between Folsom and Harrison
    • Organizers:
      • The LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District,
      • Folsom Street, and
      • The SOMA West Community Benefit District.
    • Main public information page: sflcd.org/show/
    • Facebook Page: Coming Soon
    • Printable Poster and other graphics :  Click here

Exhibitor Info:

    • We welcome all booth applicants, but will give priority to:
      • Makers of leather clothing, “gear”, or queer or kinky merchandise,
      • Local artists, artisans and craftspeople, and
      • Local or regional clubs and organizations, especially those organized around queer, leather, kink, fetish, motorcycle, body-positivity, or similar themes.
    • A donation is requested from booth exhibitors, on a sliding scale of $40 to $140 per booth. 
    • A booth is a 10′ x 10′ space. 
    • You may also request, for a donation of $35: 
      • A pop-up tent,
      • One or two tables, and
      • Two or three chairs  
    • A deposit of $40 (without tent & furniture) or $75 (with tent and furniture) is requested to confirm your attendance.  
    • Please do NOT pay until your application is confirmed.  
    • You can pay your deposit here, or contact us for other payment options.  
    • To apply for a booth:
    • Please apply soon; we will get in touch to discuss details and confirm.  
    • You must sign up and pay for each monthly event separately.
    • Please read the “fine print” below.

Artist Info:

    • Artists are welcome to request a booth to show and sell their work, as per the Exhibitor Info above.
    • You can share your booth with additional artists if you wish.
    • Individual local artists who cannot afford a booth are also invited to show and sell their work. Display options include a “grid wall” display (quantities are limited) or a tent shared with up to two other artists, with a sliding scale donation of 10% to 25% of their gross sales.
    • Preference will be given to artists from queer, kinky and marginalized communities, whose work reflects kinky or queer themes.
    • Please contact manager@sflcd.org to sign up for this option.
    • Please read the “fine print” below.

Activities Info:

    • Individuals or organizations who wish to provide free entertainment or activities for guests should contact manager@sflcd.org to discuss and schedule.
    • A 4’x8’x18″ platform and other facilities may be available if requested. 
    • There is no charge for this, and compensation for artists’ time and materials may perhaps be available through a city grant.

Volunteer Info:

    • Volunteers are typically asked to work in one of two shifts:  from 12 to 2:30 pm or from 2:30 to 5 pm.  Other shifts are possible.  
    • This volunteer position entails standing for most of the shift.  We plan to assign volunteers in pairs so one can periodically sit down at the assigned entrance.
    • 12th street can be windy; it can also be sunny and hot.  Please dress accordingly.  
    • Snacks, supplies, and access to bathrooms will be offered. Distributing bottled water is not permitted by San Francisco ordinance. Please bring your own container; we will have a cooler of water.
    • Please write to manager@sflcd.org if you are interested in volunteering.

Gear Swap Info:

    • Anyone in our community° is welcome to bring items to the Gear Swap, and we will help you sell them to others at the event.  
        • This excludes folks who are actively engaged in retail sales of these kinds of items.
    • We encourage you to bring items that will be of interest to the folks who come to this event, such as leather or rubber clothing, lingerie, fetish wear, kinky gear, adult toys, etc.
      • Damaged but reparable gear is acceptable.   
      • Please refrain from bringing anything dirty, moldy, or unsafe.  
    • You can choose to receive all the cash that is collected for your items, or to donate any or all of it to support SOMA Second Saturdays and other similar events.
    • You should mark or tag each item you are selling with your name or initials, the date, and the price you want to get for that item. 
      • You may also attach additional information (size, item history, etc.).
      • If you are selling a lot of items, please prepare a list of the items and prices.  
      • If you are donating 100% of the proceeds from an item, do not include your name on the tag; pricing is optional.   And thank you!
    • Bring your items to the Gear Swap booth in Eagle Plaza, on Saturday morning, June 10, between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm.
    • We will display your items and attempt to sell them for you.  
        • We will have table space, a grid wall to hang items on, and a clothes rack.  Also chairs.  
        • We will display your Venmo QR code, and any additional information you wish to print out and give us.  
        • We will only accept the price you set. 
        • We will accept cash payment and hold it for you.
        • We will also accept verified Venmo payment to you, as displayed on the buyer’s phone. 
      •  If you wish to “hang out” at the Gear Swap booth, you are very welcome to do so.  You may chat with potential buyers, and you may, if you wish, negotiate a different price for your item.  
      • You must return to the Gear Swap booth by no later than 5:00 pm to retrieve your cash and unsold items.  
      • Items not picked up by 5:30 pm will become our property.  
    • Selling or donating items that no longer fit your body or lifestyle is a wonderful thing to do:  folks who might not afford to buy these things new will appreciate them, and give them new kinky life!  
    • The organizers of this event, including their staff and volunteers, cannot be responsible for items lost, stolen, or damaged.   
    • Please read the “fine print” below. 
    • Questions? Please contact Cal or David. 

Fine Print

    • Official event time is 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.
    • We recommend that exhibitors arrive to begin setup no sooner than 10:30 am.
      • Tents, tables and chairs will be delivered to your booth location by 11 am.
      • Please complete your setup by 11:45 pm, remain open until 5:00 pm, and then tear down promptly.
      • You are responsible for the security of your materials.
      • You are responsible for your own transaction security.
    • A 14-foot fire lane needs to be maintained down 12th Street.  It will be marked with safety cones.  Please do not place objects in the fire lane at any time, even during setup or teardown.
    • Booths north of Bernice must be entirely in the street.  Do not block or put anything on the sidewalk.
    • Traffic will be stopped, and parked cars removed from our block of 12th Street, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
    • Parking near the site is limited, and meters and 1-hour limits are enforced.  Consider using Soma Hub at 288 12th Street.
    • WiFi access cannot be guaranteed, but mobile data coverage is excellent in this location.
    • Please be prepared for the possibility of high winds or rain.  Bring sandbags or suitable weights to secure any structures or tables that you bring.  
    • Please comply with SF guidelines regarding masks and social distancing, as of the date of the event.
    • If you sell merchandise more than twice in a calendar year, you should obtain a California Seller’s Permit. Go here for info or to apply. 
    • Event may be cancelled due to weather, changes in city guidelines and permit regulations, or other reasons.
    • If you have questions, please contact manager@sflcd.org.
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