Meet Patrick Sanders | Curator for Hangin’ N Slangin’

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrick Sanders and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrick, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always enjoyed being around and working with people. I ran local concerts in Texas from 2009-2012 so I had experience with event running, and coordinating. So, in 2021 there weren’t too many opportunities for local businesses to pop-up around town. We were coming out of COVID, and we had the rules on how to be able to integrate back into society. However I wasn’t seeing availability to get out there to sell, and connect with folks again. This was something I really wanted to do as I also sell vintage clothes. So I started reaching out to local businesses to find venues for selling opportunities for me and my friends. Fast forward 3 years later and we are all over town throwing around 55 events a year.

What should our readers know about your business?
Hangin’ N Slangin’ is a local popup event hosting multiple events a month across the city of Denver. I strive to make HNS a place where smaller and local vendors have an easy set of places to be able to sell their creations and finds. I started out by planning concerts in East Texas and national tours for bands, so it’s been a long road but throughout the last 15 years we’ve ended up in Denver with Hangin’ N Slangin’ and I couldn’t be happier with where the road as taken me.

I’m most proud of the fact that I started this projectin Q3 of 2021 and we are up to 50-60 events a year in some incredible venues around Denver. For this upcoming season we will be hopping around 5 different locations.

Locations and experiences for 2024 include:

Mile High Spirits 2201 Lawrence St, where we will have different themed markets where the best costume will win some prizes, themes include; Comicon, Mean Girls, Shrek, Nightmare Before Xmas, Y2K and more. Come catch us from 2-8p dates vary throughout the year.

The Infinite Monkey Theorem 3200 Larimer St, where we host a “POPUP MALL” bringing in all of the best parts of the mall without going to the mall, instead you get a glass of wine and enjoy the inside of a winery with 30 local vendors and live music. Come catch us from 3-8p most 2nd Saturdays but check our Instagram for dates.

The Red Barber Rooftop Bar 3770’Walnut St, this is our “HaHa Bazaar” where we have a market and comedy show in the middle with local comedians coming to perform for a set during the market. Come catch us the 3rd Saturday of each from 3-10pm

The Bird Lot 2571 Larimer St which is a cute little lot off of Larimer, where we are throwing the “RiNo Flea” in which 30+ local vendors of all types setup to find you your next favorite local vendor. Come catch us the 3rd Sunday of each month from Mar-Nov at 12-7p

Lot on Larimer 2631 Larimer St, which is the parking lot next to Denver Central Market. We are here TWICE a month on the 2nd Saturday and last Sunday of each month.

The 2nd Saturday is something new and aweosme for me as it’s a Farmer’s Market in RiNo which that area desperately needs in my opinion. Come catch us from 11-6p.

The last Sunday (except March 24th not 31st due to Easter and none in April) this is our vintage market, I sell vintage and this was missing for me having a market solely dedicated to vintage items. Come catch us here from 12-7p

I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is about communication, I used to be a restaurant GM and that’s a huge part of that job. Working with people hearing them out, and making sure you give them all of the proper communication up front. When throwing events you are essentially a person who other people are investing into, their business, time, psychical and mental being, and so much more. So you want to make sure you’re fair and doing everything you can marketing wise, creatively, and morally to make sure that you’re giving everyone the best chance to make money.

The most important thing I can give from Hangin’ N Slangin’ is that it’s a free event for the community of Denver, and I love that I am able to use this platform to try and help others make their businesses grow and be successful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Okay this is a fun question! I’m gonna start with food places I think you gotta hit when you come around this way. Denver Biscuit Co is a MUST, Blue Pan Pizza is the best Detroit style I’ve ever had. El Tequileño in Lakewood for great Mexican food. Bastein’s for the sugar steak on Colfax is a MUST hit. Then a few little hidden gems to throw out are; Manuel’s Tacos, it’s a little food trailer on Bruce Randolph and Clayton, hands down best quesadillas and tacos in town. Crown Burgers on S Colorado Blvd, they have the best onion rings, and the grilled cheese is to die for no even kidding.

As for places, I always take people to Ratio Beerworks in RiNo, Brutal Poodle for Tuesday Metal Karaoke it’s the best. Santa Fe and RiNo art districts are a must to see all of the incredible artwork Denver has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Growing up in East Texas there wasn’t a lot of opportunities to do too many artistic outlets. As someone who was a screamer in a metal band in the buckle of the Bible belt playing shows in our hometown wasn’t the easiest thing to come across. Meanwhile in Dallas there was a fellas named Mike Ziemer who runs an independent concert promotion company called “Third String Productions”. Mike has always been a big help to me in many ways, be it opportunities for my band to play back in the day, helping my booking process, throwing me bigger tour packages that we normally wouldn’t see in my area or having me on as a vendor for his current festivals.

Website: https://linktr.ee/hanginnslangin

Instagram: @HanginNSlangin

Twitter: @HanginNSlangin

Facebook: HanginNSlangin