---
title: "Take food, drink and market trader applications for your event | Ticket Fairy Guides"
description: "Open an application page for food, drink, merchandise and market traders, set your pitch fees and how they are taxed, let Fai rank the applications against the mix you want, then approve, waitlist or decline each trader for your event and invoice the ones you approve."
canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/take-trader-applications-for-your-event"
---

# Take food, drink and market trader applications for your event | Ticket Fairy Guides

1. [Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/)
2. [Guides](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides)
3. Take food, drink and market trader applications for your event

Running the production

# Take food, drink and market trader applications for your event

At a festival or market you pick your traders from dozens or hundreds of applications, balancing the food mix, pitch sizes and power. One application page, one list ranked against your mix and an invoice raised as you approve means nobody retypes a trader's details into a spreadsheet.

Open an application page for food, drink, merchandise and market traders, set your pitch fees and how they are taxed, let Fai rank the applications against the mix you want, then approve, waitlist or decline each trader for your event and invoice the ones you approve.

For:  Choosing and invoicing the traders who sell at your event

Takes:  11 minutes

- [Open Vendors](#step-1)
- [Set up the application page](#step-2)
- [Add your pitch fees and extras](#step-3)
- [Choose how trader invoices are taxed](#step-4)
- [Open applications and share the link](#step-5)
- [Rank the applications with Fai](#step-6)
- [Open an application](#step-7)
- [Choose the pitch and extras before you approve](#step-8)
- [Approve, waitlist or decline](#step-9)
- [Check the trader is trading](#step-10)

## Before you start

- You need an owner, admin or producer role on the event to set up and decide. Other roles on the event can read the list through Fai or the Ticket Fairy CLI.
- Card payments must be working on the event for traders to pay their invoices by card.

1. ## Open Vendors

   Open the event, select **Management**, then select **Vendors** in the list of sections.

   **Note:** If Vendors is not in the list, select **More sections** and open it there. The list opens on **To review**, with the applications waiting for you.
          ![Ticket Fairy Vendors section with applications to review, Fai's reading of each, the application link and totals for power and water](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-traders--vendors.png)    Management, Vendors.
2. ## Set up the application page

   Select **Set up**. On **Application page**, enter your **Welcome text** and **The mix you want**, then list the **Certificates every trader must upload**.

   **Note:** The page already asks for the business, contact, what they sell, pitch, power, water and photos. Add anything else under **Your own questions**, and set **Close applications on (optional)** for a closing date.
          ![Ticket Fairy Set up traders panel on the Application page part, with the welcome text, the mix you want, required certificates and your own questions](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-traders--set-up-application-page.png)    Set up traders, Application page.
3. ## Add your pitch fees and extras

   Select **Fees**, then **Add a pitch fee** for each pitch size and **Add an extra** for power, water, passes or parking.

   **Note:** A pitch fee can also take a share of sales and a deposit charged when you approve the trader, and prices are in the event's currency. Traders see the fees on the application page and choose their pitch there.
          ![Ticket Fairy Set up traders panel on the Fees part, with pitch fees, extras and the choice of how trader invoices are taxed](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-traders--set-up-fees.png)    Set up traders, Fees.
4. ## Choose how trader invoices are taxed

   Under **Tax on trader fees**, choose how trader invoices are taxed.

   - **Same tax as your tickets**: Trader invoices add the same tax as the tickets for this event.
   - **No tax**: Trader invoices add no tax, for pitch fees that are not taxed where you trade.
   - **Choose a tax rate**: Trader invoices add the tax rate you choose from your tax rates.
   **Note:** Invoices already raised keep the tax they were made with.
5. ## Open applications and share the link

   Close the panel, select **Open applications**, then select **Copy application link** and share it on your website and social pages.

   **Note:** Traders apply from their phone with no account, and each gets an email with a link to their own trader page. **Close applications** stops new applications and keeps the ones you have.
          ![Ticket Fairy public trader application page for Harbour Lights Festival, with the business, what they sell, pitch, power and photos](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-traders--application-page.png)    The application page a trader fills in.
6. ## Rank the applications with Fai

   Select **Rank with Fai**. Fai reads each application against the mix you want and marks it **Strong fit**, **Possible fit** or **Weak fit** with her reasons.

   **Note:** Fai never decides; you do. **Best fit first** puts the strongest fits at the top of the list.
7. ## Open an application

   Select a trader to open their panel with what they sell, their pitch, power and water, their answers, photos and Fai's reasons.
          ![Ticket Fairy trader panel for Smoke & Salt BBQ with Approve, Waiting list and Decline, Fai's reading, the pitch and fees, paperwork and history](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-traders--trader.png)    One trader's application.
8. ## Choose the pitch and extras before you approve

   Under **Pitch and fees**, enter the **Pitch**, choose the **Pitch fee** and set how many of each extra they need.

   **Note:** The invoice is made from these, so an approval with no pitch fee raises no invoice.
9. ## Approve, waitlist or decline

   Select **Approve**, **Waiting list** or **Decline**, check the email and invoice the dialog lists, then confirm.

   **Note:** Turn off **Email the trader** to decide without emailing. When you approve, **Raise the invoice** makes it from the pitch fee and extras, or the deposit when the pitch has one, and **Send the invoice now** emails it with a link to pay by card.
          ![Ticket Fairy Approve dialog for Smoke & Salt BBQ listing the email that goes to the trader with a link to their trader page and the invoice to pay by card](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-traders--approve.png)    Approve a trader.
10. ## Check the trader is trading

    Select **Trading**. The trader is listed with their pitch, and their invoice shows **Unpaid** until they pay it, then **Paid**.

## Try these steps on your own event

Create a free account, build your event and follow the steps above in your own dashboard. It takes a few minutes and you do not need to book a sales call.

    Your email address    [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo)

No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required.

## Or have it done for you

Fai lists your traders and applications with her reading of each, sets up the application page, fees and tax, adds a trader you already know, and approves, waitlists or declines an application. She shows you the email and invoice first and waits for your yes.

### In your dashboard, with Fai

Show me the trader applications for \<EVENT NAME\> that best fit our food mix, and approve Smoke & Salt BBQ on the 6m pitch with the invoice

### From your own assistant, over MCP

Connect your assistant to [our MCP server](https://www.ticketfairy.com/mcp-server) and ask it:

The copied MCP configuration includes `--read-only`. Remove `--read-only` only when you want your assistant to make changes. Routine changes run when requested; destructive actions ask you in a compatible client. If your client cannot ask, make the change in your dashboard.

Find my event \<EVENT NAME\>, list the trader applications still to review with Fai's reading of each, and ask me before you decide any of them

## From your terminal

Install the CLI from [our CLI page](https://www.ticketfairy.com/cli), sign in with `ticketfairy auth login`, and choose the brand you are working on with `ticketfairy brand use <BRAND_ID>`. `ticketfairy brand list` and `ticketfairy event list` show the IDs the other commands use.

Use the CLI to list an event's traders, read one application and approve, waitlist, decline or cancel a trader. The application page, fees and invoices are set up in the dashboard or through Fai. You need an owner, admin or producer login on the event to decide.

### List the traders and applications on the event.

ticketfairy event-os traders list \<EVENT\_ID\> --view to\_review --sort fai

### Show one trader's application, fees, paperwork and history.

ticketfairy event-os traders show \<EVENT\_ID\> \<VENDOR\_ID\>

### Approve a trader, email them and raise and send their pitch invoice. This asks you first unless you add --force.

ticketfairy event-os traders decide \<EVENT\_ID\> \<VENDOR\_ID\> --decision approve --raise-invoice --send-invoice

## Let Fai do it for you

Fai works inside your Ticket Fairy dashboard. Create your account, open Fai and paste the prompt above.

   [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo)

No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required.

## Add a trader you already know

1. ### Add them without an application

   Select **Add trader**, enter the business and contact, then select **Add trader**.

   **Note:** Tick **Already agreed** to add them as approved. Nothing is emailed or invoiced until you choose.

Fai adds a trader to the event from the details you give her, after you confirm.

### In your dashboard, with Fai

Add \<BUSINESS NAME\> to the traders on \<EVENT NAME\> as already agreed, contact \<NAME\> at \<EMAIL\>

## Raise or send an invoice later

1. ### Raise the invoice from the trader's panel

   Open the trader and, under **Pitch and fees**, select **Raise and send invoice**, or **Raise invoice without sending** to send it later with **Send invoice**.

   **Note:** Each trader has one live invoice of each kind, and it also shows in Bulk Invoices. Cancel an invoice in Bulk Invoices before you raise another.

Fai raises a trader's invoice and sends it after you confirm.

### In your dashboard, with Fai

Raise and send the pitch invoice for \<BUSINESS NAME\> on \<EVENT NAME\>

## Cancel an approved trader

1. ### Cancel them

   Open the trader, select **Cancel this trader**, then select **Cancel trader**.

   **Note:** They lose their place and their load-in time. No email is sent, so tell them yourself; invoices stay as they are in Bulk Invoices.

Fai cancels an approved trader after you confirm.

### In your dashboard, with Fai

Cancel \<BUSINESS NAME\> as a trader at \<EVENT NAME\>

### From your own assistant, over MCP

The copied MCP configuration includes `--read-only`. Remove `--read-only` only when you want your assistant to make changes. Routine changes run when requested; destructive actions ask you in a compatible client. If your client cannot ask, make the change in your dashboard.

Find my event \<EVENT NAME\> and the trader \<BUSINESS NAME\>, show me their status and ask me before you cancel them

## Questions you might have

Can I change my mind after declining a trader?:  Yes. A declined trader can be approved or put on the waiting list, and a cancelled or withdrawn trader can be approved again. An approved trader can only be cancelled.

What does a trader see after they apply?:  A thank-you page, and an email with a link to their trader page, where they add certificates, their menu and staff. Once you approve them, the same page shows their pitch, their invoice, your trading terms and the load-in times.

Why did an approval raise no invoice?:  The trader had no pitch fee chosen. Choose one under **Pitch and fees**, then raise the invoice from their panel.

Can a trader apply twice?:  No. A second application from the same email address on the same event is refused, and the trader is told you will be in touch.

Can I send applicants through my own event form instead?:  Yes. A form on the event can add each person who sends it to your traders as a new application.

## Still have a question?

Book a demo and we will answer it on a call, on your kind of event. Or create your account and see it for yourself.

   [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome)

No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required.

## Related guides

- [More ways to use Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features)
- [Get your traders ready for show day](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/get-your-traders-ready-for-show-day)
- [Add everyone who sends your event form to your volunteers, traders or crew](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/add-form-applicants-to-your-event-teams)
- [Run ticketing for a county, state or renaissance fair](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-fair)
- [Run your event from its Today page](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-your-event-from-its-today-page)
- [Find any performer, stage or day on your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/find-any-performer-stage-or-day-on-your-event)
- [Build the running order for your event day](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/plan-your-event-production)
- [Track every artist booking for your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/book-and-brief-your-artists)
- [Keep the jobs behind your event moving](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/keep-your-event-tasks-on-track)
- [Balance your event team's workload](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/balance-your-event-teams-workload)
- [Read your event's email in one inbox](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/read-your-event-email-in-one-inbox)
- [Take notes on your event calls with Fai](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/take-notes-on-your-event-calls-with-fai)
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- [Share your event's rooming lists with hotels and pickups with drivers](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/share-rooming-lists-with-hotels-and-pickups-with-drivers)
- [Plan your run of show and who calls it](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/plan-your-run-of-show-and-who-calls-it)
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- [Settle a show with an artist after your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/settle-a-show-with-an-artist)
- [Send your event contracts and get them signed online](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/send-contracts-and-get-them-signed-online)
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- [Give your event volunteers their own page and track their hours](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/give-volunteers-their-own-page-and-track-hours)
- [Report and handle incidents at your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/report-and-handle-incidents-at-your-event)
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- [Keep a risk register for your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/keep-a-risk-register-for-your-event)
- [Message the crew, volunteers and traders working on your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/message-the-people-working-on-your-event)
- [Send your event lists to your team on a schedule](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/send-your-event-lists-to-your-team-on-a-schedule)
- [Publish your event line-up and set times](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/publish-your-line-up-and-set-times)
- [Every Ticket Fairy guide](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides)

## Do this on your own event

Create your account, build your event and follow the steps in your own dashboard. You do not need to book a sales call.

  [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo)

## Sell tickets with Ticket Fairy

Everything in these guides is in your dashboard from the day you sign up.

- Set up your event in minutes
- Free events are free
- Fai, your co-pilot, is built in

 [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome)

No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required.

## See it on a call

Book a demo and we will show you how Ticket Fairy handles your kind of event.

 [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) [More ways to use Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features)

### Tips for selling more tickets

Practical advice from organisers who sell out, and every new guide as it is published.

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---

This page is on Ticket Fairy, a ticketing, marketing and operations platform for live events and the venues that host them: festivals, club nights, concerts, conferences and tours, and night clubs, beach clubs and concert venues. It grows revenue with fan rewards that turn an audience into a sales channel, and runs the money side with payments and payouts, Vault business banking, and working capital advanced against ticket sales. [How Ticket Fairy ticketing works](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing) · [Ticket Fairy for AI assistants](https://www.ticketfairy.com/llms.txt)