Artist Application

Please review the following Product Expectations, Vending Contract, and FAQ before applying.

STEP BY STEP

FAQ

  • Yes — as long as it fits our Product Expectations! We welcome RVA and surrounding area artists to apply. Your items must be:

    • Small enough to fit inside the vending machine (exact dimensions can be found in our Product Expectations. )

    • Priced at $20 or less.

    • Non-edible, non-melting, and non-perishable (no food, wax, soaps, or pet treats — basically nothing that can spoil, melt, or leak in front of a sunny window).

    • Durable enough not to shatter when vended. Think sturdy, protected packaging and secure construction.

    • Dropped off in-person at the host location. We do not currently accept mail.

    • You must agree to the terms within the contract.

    If your work checks those boxes, we’d love to see what you’ve got! 🎨✨

  • We use a screened lottery system to keep the process fair, accessible, and bias-free. Here’s how it works:

    1. All applications are reviewed to be sure they meet vending guidelines (no meltables, perishables, or anything over $20).

    2. Approved entries are added to a random drawing pool.

    3. A diverse mix of artists is then selected from that pool for each 3-month vending cycle.

    Not selected this round? No worries, you’re always encouraged to apply for the next one!

  • Payouts are made between the 1st and the 5th of each following month during your 3-month vending period. You’ll receive your total sales (minus the 5.95% card processing fee for any sales made through the card reader) via Venmo.

    We’ll reach out at the end of each month to confirm your sales and total before sending your payout

  • It’s $20 per month to rent a spot in the vending machine during your 3-month vending period. This fee covers your spot and inclusion in our marketing materials.

    Payment is due between the 1st and 5th of each month via Venmo.

    Please note: This vending fee does not include credit card processing fees for any sales made through the machine’s card reader.

  • The maximum price for any item in the machine is $20.

    We recommend price points like Free, $1–$5, $5–$10, and $10–$20 so shoppers have options, but your items just need to be $20 or less to qualify.

    Heads up: Items also need to fit the machine’s size requirements, survive the drop without shattering, and follow our vending guidelines — you can find all those details in the Product Expectations

  • Yes and no!

    All of your items within a single vending machine must be priced the same, but you can have different prices across multiple vending machines.

    For example:

    • If you’re in one vending machine, everything in your slot needs to be priced at the same amount (let’s say, $X).

    • If you’re in two machines, you could price your items at $X in one and $Y in the other.

    The machines can’t handle multiple prices for one slot, so you’ll want to choose a price that best reflects your work, effort, and talent. Pick one that feels fair and true to the value you bring!

  • Yes and no!

    Here’s the scoop: everything in your slot within a single vending machine must be the same type of product. But you can switch it up across multiple machines!

    The golden rule: Your slot needs to stay consistent. So it’s all sticker packs, or all zines, or all keychains — not a mix of everything.

    For example:

    • If you’re in one vending machine, all the items in your slot must be the same kind: like all sticker packs, or all zines.

    • If you’re in two machines, you could do stickers in one and zines in the other. Double the fun!

    But what if you want variety?

    • You can offer different themes or designs, as long as they’re the same type and same value. For instance:

      • A food-themed sticker pack and an animal-themed sticker pack? Great!

      • Different crochet critters? Perfect, as long as they’re equal in size and value.

    Want to mix up totally different products?

    • You’ll need to package them as “blind bags.”

      • Every blind bag must have the same total value inside.

      • Each bag must fit neatly in your slot — no wildly different sizes.

      • Example: If you want to sell a mix of stickers, zines, and keychains, package each into a blind ba so the surprise stays consistent for everyone.

    Pro tip: Think about the experience. If you were standing in line behind someone who just vended your product, would you be excited to get the next one? Keep that “heck yeah!” factor high.

    If you’re ever unsure, just ask ! I’m here to help you keep things fun and fair!

  • The vending machine rotates artists every 3 months to keep things fresh and fun!

    You’re welcome to apply each round. However, submitting multiple applications for the same round will not increase your chances of being selected.

    If you aren’t picked this time, definitely apply again next round. We love seeing new and returning artists in the mix!

  • No, each artist can only have one spot per vending machine per cycle to ensure equal opportunities for everyone.

    If your item takes up a larger space in the machine, that will still count as one spot.

  • Yes!

    We currently have 2 locations- SCRAP and Gold Lion Cafe. You can apply to be in both of these machines, or just one.

    You can specify which machine(s) you would like to be in within your application.

  • Currently, we’re only accepting artists based in Richmond and the surrounding areas. Stay tuned for future opportunities!

  • If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out via email at discobunnyofficial@gmail.com or check out our detailed step-by-step guide above. We're happy to help!