Quick Start: Set Up Your First Event

A practical first-event route for organisers who want applications, participants, payments, compliance, portals, and event-day records working without a messy launch.

Article guidance

This is the shortest sensible path from a new account to a usable event. It does not cover every optional setting, but it prevents the most common early problems: missing participant types, unfinished pricing, public forms with the wrong questions, and payment details that nobody checked.

Set up the reusable basics first

Create participant categories if useful: Use categories when you have groups such as Food, Retail, Charity, Exhibitor, Performer, Supplier, or your own structure.
Create participant types: Add the types applicants and staff will recognise. Connect required and optional compliance documents to each type.
Create document types: Add clear names such as Public Liability Insurance, Food Hygiene Certificate, Risk Assessment, or Trading Licence. Use expiry dates only where the document genuinely expires.
Create pricing catalogues if needed: Add reusable pitch sizes, power, equipment, add-ons, or other chargeable choices before building the event form.
Connect Stripe if card payments are needed: Open Settings > Payments and complete Stripe Connect before relying on card payments in participant portals or ticket checkout.

Create the event

Open Events or Trader Manager: Choose Create Event and add the event name, venue, address, dates, times, and description.
Choose one-off or recurring: Use one-off for a single event record. Use recurring series for repeated dates where the recurring feature is available.
Enable the modules this event needs: Trader Manager is the usual route for participant-led events. Add Ticketing, Stage Manager, Site Plan, or other modules only when you are ready to configure them.
Set participant setup, pricing, forms, payment methods, and branding: Work through the setup tabs. Save as Draft while checking public wording and operational details.
Open the event: Move the event to Open only once forms, pricing, payment wording, terms, and required documents are correct.

Before you share links

Submit one test application using the same public form applicants will use.
Check the total price, catalogue choices, coupon behaviour, terms wording, and confirmation message.
Open the created participant record and check answers, payment state, document requirements, and portal behaviour.
Send a test invoice or reminder only after checking the payment methods and invoice wording.