Frequently Asked Questions

 

1  How long has the market been running?
The BBB has been running 10 years as of September 2009 .

2  How and by whom did it get started?
Dave and Barb started the BBB on September 16 1999 because there
was nothing happening scene wise in the Midlands. So they thought they would
try and make something happen.

3  Where does it take place? I don't know Birmingham at all. Is it right in the centre, or on the outskirts?
Is it in a residential area, or near to other shops?
What is the venue like?
The Bazaar is held at the Nightingale Club on Kent Street in the Chinese Quarter of the City. It is not right in the city centre but it is only a 2 minute walk from New St. Station.

It is a night club that we rent for the day.
There are three floors, two floors of stall holders, a self-contained restaurant on the first floor,  two bars, a cloak room, a disabled lift and the demo/workshops are held on the top floor.

4  How many people come along to each one - stallholders and browsers?

Do people come from miles around, or is it mainly for locals?

Do you get a good mix of people?
There are 34+ stall holders with 600-700 people through the doors on the day.
We get people from all over England, Scotland, Ireland and America.
There are people from 18 - 80 males’ females, gay, straight, TV, TS, swingers, married, single.  Every sexual orientation you can think of attends.
It is open to all fetishes and genders as long as you are over 18 years old.

5  What do the visitors wear? Do they dress up?
People wear everything from jeans and trainers to full body rubber gear,
PVC tape and leather chaps. A business suit to lingerie, the outfits are all encompassing.
Wear what you are comfortable in, as long as no birthday suits.

6 What types of sights would I see there? People being led round on chains? What's the atmosphere like?
You may see some people being led around on a chain, you may see a couple that
looks like your gran and your grandad coming from Sunday lunch, or you may see a gorgeous 6 foot blonde off the cover of a magazine. The atmosphere is very friendly; people are smiling and just having a good time. From the feed back we have had, people that delay coming because of nervousness are kicking themselves because they didn't attend sooner.

7  Do you go along as visitors or organisers, or do you sell fetish goods yourselves? If so, what items do you sell?
We attend the Bazaar as all three, organisers, stall holders and customers..
We are there to make sure everything runs smoothly. But we are also there to
shop and see what we would like to add to our ward robe or our toy box
but we also have a stall selling medical fetish gear  and coloured bondage rope and tape.

8   Does the market cover the whole range of fetishes? Is it just BDSM , or is it also for trannies,
swingers, sploshers? Is there something there for everyone?
Yes it does, there is something for everyone and
EVERYONE is welcome! It doesn't matter what your sexual preference or lifestyle is...
ALL ARE WELCOME!! Please attend with an open mind.
Just because someone else's kink isn't your kink - we ~expect ~ everyone to ~respect~ each other while at the BBB.
Intolerance of someone else's lifestyle is not tolerated.

9  Could you tell me about any of the demos that are mentioned on your website?
The demos are always informative, and entertaining that people still attend
even when it's not their particular thing. Keith runs the demos/workshops for the BBB.
They are of such high quality that they have set the standard for demonstrations in the UK.
Keith is a lifestyle Dom who helps educate people on the lifestyle. So yes we are very fortunate to have Keith as our Demo Organiser.

10  What type of items would I find for sale?
Every thing from a hand crafted leather, to Adult baby clothing, Rubber garments, leather clothing,  corsets, jewellery, medical fetish gear, restraints, all sorts of accessories. If it is of an adult nature and a bit fetishy, then you will find it on sale.

11  Are there any items for sale that are way, way out
there? What's the strangest item? What's new? What do
you give to the fetishist who has everything?
There is a Metal Deprivation helmet that I have never seen anywhere else.

12  Is it for the serious fetishist only, or is it a good place for first-timers, for the curious?
It is for both serious players and couples that wish to spice up there lives a bit. A brilliant place for the first timer, you can come dressed in your jeans and have a browse around. Whereas if you went to a club for the first time you would have to attend wearing something to comply with the dress code.
You can meet some people that are into the scene, attend the demos and find out if this is what rocks your boat.
But then again there are serious fetishists  that arrange their holidays around the BBB and have never missed one!

13  What type of support groups attend?

None at the moment, there are different groups from informed consent that meet up and groups from the rubberiest also meet on the day.
 
14 Is it couples-oriented? If I was into BDSM and my wife wasn't, would it be a useful place for me to take her to try and get her to understand my fetish?
No it is not couple oriented, it is for everyone. However it would be a very useful place for you to take your partner to try and get them to understand your fetish because it is very non-threatening.

15  Is it gay friendly, or is it mainly hetero?
It is one of the place where gay and hetero are shopping side by side quite happily.

16  How important is the social aspect? Is there a large communal area where people can just sit and chat?
It is a social event like no other!
There is a back garden where people sit and chat, there is seating  in the restaurant on the first floor and also seating on the ground floor near the bar. People sit and chat in the restaurant, outside, upstairs. It is just a great day out!

----------------------------Feedback from customers----------
"My friends, both of whom had not been before enjoyed themselves immensely -
the one that lives in Brum (Lorelei in the silver and black PVC skirt and
corset) is going again next month purely for the relaxed and friendly social
atmosphere - her mum who is in her early 80's wants to come too! In fact
the one thing all our group commented on was the openness and warmth of the
event. Our group are all heavily involved in pagan activism in one form or
another and everyone felt that the event was much more tolerant and friendly
than most pagan events we attend/organise."
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17 Is it a good place to meet a potential partner, one who shares your fetish?
You could meet a potential partner there, but we ask people not to come to the BBB for only that reason. If you are coming alone we suggest you introduce your self to meeters and greeters and start networking. Enjoy the atmosphere, make some friends. That partner just may be part of the group. :-)

18  Are all the stalls for sellers of goods, or are there any service providers there? I'm thinking
professional dominatrixes. Could a sub find a Dom there?
All the stalls are sellers of goods, however, once again, we suggest you get networking, people in the scene know where and how a professional dominatrix could be contacted.

19 Why Sunday afternoon? It seems a funny time for a fetish market?
Sunday is traditionally the day for Alternative markets in England. and it seemed to be the best time to be able to rent a nightclub.

20 Has anyone ever stumbled in by mistake, thinking it was a car-boot sale or a craft fayre?
Yes as a matter of fact, we had several people come in because there is a car boot sale around the corner. Not knowing there was a market going on and ended up staying all day because it was such a friendly atmosphere. And have continued coming back month after month! :-)

21 What do you love most of all about the market?
The thing we love most about the BBB is looking out over hundreds of happy smiling faces. To look at the  people that are attending the Bazaar for the first time and the realisation on their faces that other people have the same fantasies and are enjoying like minded conversations.
...and thinking to ourselves " We DID THAT! The knowledge that we made that happen"