LIST: When people approach me to produce a new swap I add them to a planner list. The list has low traffic and is mostly a way for me to broadcast big announcements that affect swap-o-rama-rama producers.

COMMONS LICENSE: Swap-O-Rama-Rama is tied together and protected from corporate take overs (yes there have been efforts) through a Creative Commons License that allows me to share it with anyone I wish and it lets me choose the groups as well. It excludes corporations although they can ask me permission and I can grant it though this is rather unlikely. This does not prevent you from earning money producing your event(s), it just gives me a way to keep out the corporate monsters and maintain some level of consistency by asking that events called Swap-O-Rama-Rama actually have the elements that make it more than a clothing swap. Please read and understand the license here: LINK As a swap-o-rama-rama producer you'll be required to carry this same license and to post certain information in your promotional materials.

WEB COMMUNITY: I use this website to promote all the swaps around the country and make them easy to find for the world community. This is very helpful in getting everyone press and promotion as it's easy for the outside world to find everyone in one neat spot on the web. If you dont have a web site, I can make you one on my site. If you do have your own I'll simply link to it. Similarly if you dont have email list functionality, I can make one for you and make you the moderator of it so you can manage your lists and capture people who are interested in your swap who find you through my site or through any means.

WHAT MAKES A SWAP-O-RAMA-RAMA: I do ask for a few things to be attempted from each swap so that it IS a swap-o-rama-rama and not just a clothing swap. The elements are: do-it-yourself stations (sewing, hand sew, silk screen, knitting, stenciling, any thing that transforms used clothing - these are just examples you can have any you like) - as many as these as you can muster and of course sewing machines run by people who have sewing machine skills. Swap-O-Rama-Rama's do not have mirrors. This causes people to meet on another when they turn and ask their neighbor how does this look? It's essential that people can MAKE modifications and transform their new/used garments at the event. I also ask that nothing be for sale at the event. Swap-O-Rama-Rama's have no vending! Once people pay to get in, everything needed to modify clothing should be free. I can give you tips on where to secure notions and creative materials for free from reuse centers.

There are other great things you can add if you can pull it off such as a fashion show but this will depend on how your event comes together and the resources you have. I What is important to me is that we dont create more consumerism but rather that we teach people to make things and in turn people towards recycling used clothing as a creative process.

NON-PROFIT: Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a non-profit by way of fiscal sponsorship by New York Foundation for the Arts and Sierra County Arts Council. This extends to you if you produce an event and you will be able to use this to help get in - kind donations of materials etc. Anyone who donates to your event will be able to write their donation off on their taxes.

ART: I also share the art work that I've had made for the swaps. It's great for flyers and posters. You can view it here: Swap Art

TOOLS: I've also secured a sewing machine sponsor, the company is called Janome. They will ship you as many machines as you need for your event. You will be required to ship them back the day after the event. They pay shipping to you, you pay the return via UPS. Thank you Janome!

TEXT: I can provide you with well massaged text for your "open call" in which you seek staff and help for your event and also text for general announcement of your event. This test works well believe me! And you are welcome to use it rather than reinvent the wheel.

SIZE OF EVENT: Your swap may be small - 10 people in your apartment, or huge - hundreds of people in a large venue. Size is not an issue it's up to you and your skills. I'll help you with advice in either case. If you choose to produce these on goingly you'll find they naturally build very quickly!

SUPPORT: I invite each group to act independently, meaning you can pay yourselves and hopefully those who've helped you, you can use Swap-O-Rama-Rama as a community developing event or a fundraiser for a local non-profit in your area. Im always happy to have groups make donations back to our own non-profit, back to Swap-O-Rama-Rama as its needed here too to support our infrastructure. The only people I require support Swap-O-Rama-Rama are for profit groups who I grant permission to run events. For them their donation to Swap-O-Rama-Rama is tax deductible.

My goal is to continue to have a fully functioning egalitarian project that demonstrates that a community can work together, outside of corporations, and have a highly functioning project that remedies various issues in society: consumerism, textile waste etc.. I'd like to prove that we dont have to become a franchise but rather can be a healthy community formed of common goals where no one hordes and all share.

There are three links at the bottom of the Start a Swap Near You which I recommend you read before joining our list and becoming an organizer.