TRUE NORTH EVENT SYNDICATE, LLC
VENDOR & ARTIST AGREEMENT

This Vendor & Artist Agreement establishes the policies, requirements, responsibilities, and terms that apply to vendors, artists, makers, exhibitors, tattoo and piercing professionals, food vendors, organizations, and other approved participants at events produced by True North Event Syndicate, LLC (“TNES”). By applying for, registering for, or participating in a TNES event, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to comply with this Agreement, along with all applicable event-specific rules, venue requirements, load-in and load-out instructions, permit requirements, Vendor Hub information, and other instructions provided by TNES. Every event and venue is different, and additional requirements may apply to a specific event.

1. ELIGIBILITY, APPLICATIONS & REGISTRATION
Individuals, small businesses, artists, crafters, makers, tattoo and piercing professionals, food vendors, and approved organizations may apply to participate in TNES events. Informational-only booths are not permitted unless specifically approved by TNES. All exhibitors must first apply and receive an Acceptance, Waitlist, or Regret notification before registering. Acceptance does not reserve or guarantee vending space; a space is confirmed only after the exhibitor completes the required registration process and payment. TNES does not hold or reserve unpaid spaces.

TNES reserves the right to approve or reject any application based on event curation, available space, merchandise mix, past participation, compliance history, or other legitimate event-production considerations.

2. EVENT-SPECIFIC RULES & VENUE REQUIREMENTS
This Agreement applies to all TNES events. Event-specific rules, venue policies, floor plans, load-in instructions, parking procedures, health and fire requirements, permit instructions, Vendor Hub information, and reasonable operational instructions issued by TNES are incorporated into this Agreement when provided in connection with a specific event. If an event or venue imposes a requirement that is more restrictive than this Agreement, the event- or venue-specific requirement will control for that event.

3. DIRECT SALES & MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING (MLM)
TNES does not accept representatives of Direct Sales or Multi-Level Marketing companies, including brands such as Pink Zebra, Avon, Scentsy, Bath Fitter, LuLaRoe, Jamberry Nails, Origami Owl, Herbalife, Amway, Pampered Chef, or similar organizations. Anyone who registers while failing to disclose that they are representing a Direct Sales or Multi-Level Marketing company may have their registration canceled.

If TNES cancels a registration for this reason, the vendor will receive a refund less a 50% processing fee and may lose eligibility for future TNES events.

4. PROHIBITED MERCHANDISE, CONTENT & DISPLAY MATERIALS
The following may not be sold, displayed, distributed, promoted, or otherwise presented at TNES events: weapons, whether real or 3D-printed, including guns, knives, swords, and similar weapons; tobacco or nicotine products; alcoholic products unless specifically authorized by TNES and the venue; cannabis or cannabis products; illegal drugs or substances; blatant pornography; minstrel imagery; Confederate or rebel flag merchandise; Nazi or white supremacist materials; racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, transphobic, antisemitic, or otherwise discriminatory materials; MAGA or Trump-branded merchandise; Blue Line merchandise; politically branded or politically weaponized merchandise prohibited by TNES; merchandise containing weaponized political phrases, slogans, or messaging; prohibited AI-generated material; counterfeit merchandise; stolen artwork; unauthorized reproductions; knowingly infringing merchandise.

TNES has spent more than a decade developing events intended to provide a safe and welcoming environment for exhibitors, staff, artists, and attendees. These restrictions apply to merchandise, booth displays, banners, signs, clothing, hats, accessories, and other visible materials worn or displayed by exhibitors and their staff. TNES may require the immediate removal of prohibited materials.

Refusal to comply may result in removal from the event, forfeiture of vending fees, and restriction from future TNES events.

5. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE / GENERATIVE AI POLICY
TNES supports working artists, illustrators, designers, photographers, makers, and other human creatives. Prompt-generated AI imagery is prohibited throughout TNES events and in vendor marketing related to TNES events. Vendors may not sell, exhibit, distribute, or display artwork or merchandise created using prompt-based generative AI; use AI-generated imagery on banners, signs, posters, table coverings, booth graphics, or other promotional materials; or use AI-generated imagery in flyers, advertisements, social media graphics, promotional artwork, or other materials promoting their participation in a TNES event. If TNES determines that merchandise, signage, displays, or marketing materials violate this policy, the vendor will be required to remove them immediately. Serious, repeated, or intentional violations, or refusal to comply with a removal request, may result in removal from the event, forfeiture of vending fees, and loss of eligibility for future TNES events. Zero exceptions.

All forfeited vending fees will be donated to local arts organizations.

6. 3D-PRINTED MERCHANDISE
TNES strongly prefers original, artist-created 3D-printed designs. Vendors selling 3D-printed merchandise are expected to primarily offer designs they created themselves or designs they are legally authorized to produce and sell. Vendors whose inventory consists overwhelmingly of widely available downloadable files, mass-distributed templates, reproduced public files, or identical designs commonly sold by unrelated vendors may be declined, required to remove affected merchandise, or denied participation in future events.

TNES retains final discretion in determining whether a vendor's 3D-printed inventory meets the creative and curatorial standards of the event.

7. COUNTERFEIT, STOLEN, UNAUTHORIZED & MASS-PRODUCED MERCHANDISE
TNES does not allow counterfeit merchandise, stolen artwork, unauthorized reproductions, or mass-produced merchandise falsely represented as handmade, original, or artist-created. Merchandise purchased from mass-production marketplaces or wholesalers such as Temu, Alibaba, AliExpress, SHEIN, or similar sources may not be resold as original, handmade, or artist-created merchandise. This policy applies regardless of the website, marketplace, wholesaler, distributor, or manufacturer involved.

Vendors found knowingly selling stolen artwork, counterfeit goods, unauthorized reproductions, or prohibited mass-produced merchandise may be required to remove the merchandise and may be removed from the event, forfeit vending fees, and lose eligibility for future TNES events.

8. HANDMADE JEWELRY
Jewelry represented as handmade must actually be handmade, hand-forged, fabricated, substantially designed, or otherwise meaningfully created by the exhibiting vendor. Purchasing completed jewelry from Temu, Alibaba, AliExpress, overseas wholesalers, domestic wholesalers, or similar sources and reselling it does not qualify as handmade. Minimal assembly of wholesale components does not automatically make a product handmade. We don't make the rules. We just enforce them like a mofo.

Please be prepared to share production videos/images if requested.

9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Each exhibitor is solely responsible for ensuring that the merchandise, artwork, photographs, graphics, logos, characters, designs, trademarks, copyrighted materials, and other intellectual property they sell or display are owned by them or used with proper authorization. TNES does not review, authenticate, approve, or guarantee an exhibitor's ownership or licensing rights.

By participating in a TNES event, exhibitors represent that they have the legal right to sell and display their merchandise and accept responsibility for claims involving copyright infringement, trademark infringement, unauthorized reproduction, counterfeit merchandise, or other intellectual-property violations arising from their products or displays.

10. VENDOR FEES, CANCELLATIONS, CREDITS & TRANSFERS
As a general rule, TNES does not provide cash refunds once an exhibitor has registered or paid a deposit for an event. Vendor spaces are curated, marketed, mapped, staffed, and held based on confirmed registrations, and cancellations create production and administrative costs.

If you are unable to attend an event, you may request to transfer your registration to another vendor at least 14 days before the event. The substitute vendor must be approved by TNES before assuming the space, and private resale or transfer of a vending space without TNES authorization is prohibited. If you would instead like to transfer your vending fees as a credit toward a future TNES event, your request must be made at least 30 days before the event. Approved credits may be applied toward another TNES event occurring within one year of the original event date and are subject to availability and TNES approval. Requests made less than 30 days before an event may not be eligible for a future-event credit, and requests made less than 14 days before an event will not be eligible for a vendor-to-vendor transfer, future-event credit, or refund.

If an event is canceled by TNES, all vending fees will be credited toward a future TNES event. Cash refunds are not provided under any circumstances. In the event of a postponement, all vendor credits will be applied to the postponed events new date.

11. EVENT CANCELLATION, POSTPONEMENT, RELOCATION & FORCE MAJEURE
TNES may cancel, postpone, relocate, shorten, reschedule, modify, or otherwise alter an event when reasonably necessary because of severe weather; natural disasters; government orders; public-health emergencies; venue closures; utility failures; labor disruptions; transportation disruptions; civil unrest; acts of terrorism; security emergencies; fire or structural emergencies; acts of God; or other circumstances beyond the reasonable control of TNES. If TNES cancels an event, vending fees will be credited toward a future TNES event unless TNES expressly announces otherwise. Cash refunds are not provided unless specifically authorized by TNES. TNES is not responsible for travel expenses, lodging, transportation, inventory costs, staffing expenses, lost income, lost profits, or other costs incurred by an exhibitor because an event is canceled, postponed, relocated, shortened, rescheduled, or modified.

12. EVENT CHANGES, FLOOR PLANS & SPACE ASSIGNMENTS
TNES reserves the right to make reasonable changes to event hours; floor plans; entrances and exits; vendor placement; table or booth orientation; load-in and load-out procedures; parking procedures; security procedures; programming; entertainment; attractions; food service; venue access; and other operational elements. Specific placement is not guaranteed unless expressly agreed to in writing by TNES. Vendors may request placement near or away from another exhibitor, but TNES cannot guarantee placement requests. Changes to a floor plan, vendor location, entrances, neighboring vendors, programming, or other event operations do not automatically entitle an exhibitor to a refund or credit.

13. SUBLEASING & SHARING VENDOR SPACE
TNES events are curated, and vendors may not sell, rent, transfer, sublease, or share any portion of their table or booth with an unapproved vendor. Every business, artist, maker, organization, or exhibitor occupying vending space must be approved by TNES. Unauthorized sharing or subleasing may result in removal of both parties and forfeiture of vending fees.

Vendors who would like to be placed next to another approved exhibitor may submit a placement request, and TNES will do its best to accommodate the request when possible.

14. SALES TAX, LICENSES & LEGAL COMPLIANCE
Each exhibitor is responsible for complying with all federal, state, county, municipal, and local laws and regulations applicable to their business, merchandise, and activities, including applicable business registrations; sales-tax registrations; seller permits; professional licenses; health permits; cottage-food registrations; insurance requirements; product licenses; and other legally required documentation. Vendors are solely responsible for collecting, reporting, and remitting applicable sales taxes. TNES does not provide tax advice and is not responsible for a vendor's failure to register, collect, report, or remit taxes. Vendors must also comply with applicable venue rules, fire codes, health regulations, licensing requirements, and instructions issued by authorized government officials or inspectors.

15. FOOD VENDORS & HEALTH PERMITS
Vendors selling prepackaged or other regulated food products must comply with all applicable health department requirements. When temporary health permits are required as part of a TNES event, TNES will file or coordinate the applicable temporary permit on the vendor's behalf when the event's permitting process allows promoter filing. Vendors remain responsible for providing complete and accurate information and satisfying all requirements of the applicable health authority. Vendors should be prepared to provide food or cottage-food licenses; commercial kitchen documentation; commissary agreements; co-packing documentation; health reports; product labels; insurance; and any other records requested by the health department. Failure to satisfy health department requirements does not entitle a vendor to a refund.

16. TATTOO & PIERCING PROFESSIONALS
When temporary tattoo or piercing permits are required for a TNES event, TNES will file or coordinate the applicable temporary health permit on behalf of participating shops or artists when the jurisdiction permits promoter filing. Each participating artist and shop remains 100% responsible for passing inspection and satisfying all health department requirements. Tattoo and piercing professionals must be prepared to provide current liability insurance; Bloodborne Pathogen certification; applicable professional licenses or registrations; sanitation supplies; sharps containers; and all other documentation, equipment, or materials required by the inspecting authority.

If an artist or shop cannot operate because they fail inspection or fail to provide required documentation, insurance, certification, equipment, or licensing, their vending fees and space may be forfeited.

17. INSURANCE, INVENTORY & PERSONAL PROPERTY
TNES is not responsible for loss, theft, breakage, disappearance, injury to, or damage involving merchandise, equipment, inventory, displays, vehicles, personal property, or other property belonging to an exhibitor while loading in, participating in an event, loading out, transporting inventory, or otherwise participating in a TNES event.

TNES strongly encourages exhibitors to carry appropriate event, general liability, and product liability insurance. Certain activities, venues, vendor categories, or events may require proof of insurance as a condition of participation.

18. LOAD-IN, ARRIVAL & CHECK-IN
All exhibitors must follow the load-in schedule and instructions provided by TNES. Vendor registration and check-in may end before public doors open, and exhibitors arriving after the designated cutoff may be denied access if continued load-in would interfere with public opening, venue operations, security, or safety. Vendors running late must immediately contact the day-of TNES contact provided in the event instructions.

We're generally pretty good at helping when we know what's happening. We're much less magical when nobody tells us anything. Failure to arrive in time to safely complete load-in may result in forfeiture of the vending space and vending fees.

19. REMAINING OPEN THROUGH EVENT CLOSE
By registering for a TNES event, exhibitors agree to remain fully set up and open until the published vendor closing time unless TNES instructs otherwise. Vendors may not pack up or leave early simply because business is slow or they would prefer to leave. Early breakdown creates safety issues, affects neighboring vendors, blocks aisles, and diminishes the attendee experience.

If an emergency requires a vendor to leave, they should contact TNES staff before breaking down whenever reasonably possible. Emergencies happen. We're here to help, not hinder.

20. DISPLAY SAFETY, AISLES & VENUE PROPERTY
Exhibitors are responsible for maintaining a safe and stable vending space. Tables, racks, shelving, backdrops, signs, merchandise, lighting, equipment, and other display elements must be appropriately secured and may not create a hazard to attendees, staff, neighboring exhibitors, or venue property. Aisles, exits, fire equipment, electrical panels, doorways, emergency access areas, and other required clearances may not be obstructed. TNES, venue management, security, the Fire Marshal, or another authorized official may require a vendor to move, secure, modify, or remove a display or item considered unsafe or noncompliant. Failure to correct a safety violation may result in closure of the vending space.

21. ELECTRICITY
Electrical service and equipment must comply with venue and Fire Marshal requirements. Vendors may only use electrical connections, extension cords, power strips, appliances, lighting, and equipment permitted by TNES or the venue. Vendors may not overload circuits; daisy-chain unauthorized power strips; connect equipment to electrical service assigned to another exhibitor; run cords through aisles without authorization; or create an electrical hazard. TNES or venue personnel may disconnect equipment determined to be unsafe, unauthorized, or noncompliant.

22. OPEN FLAMES, CANDLES, INCENSE, TENTS & CANOPIES
Open flames are prohibited unless expressly approved by TNES, the venue, and the applicable Fire Marshal. Vendors may sell candles and incense but may not burn them during indoor TNES events. Look, we love a little patchouli as much as the next Gen Xer. Not everyone does, so let's not do that. Indoor tents and canopy coverings are also prohibited unless specifically approved by the venue and Fire Marshal. Empty canopy frames may be permitted when they comply with venue regulations, but canopy tops or coverings may not be installed without authorization. Fire Marshals hate indoor tents. We have learned not to argue with Fire Marshals.

23. EXHIBITOR CONDUCT
Exhibitors and their employees, assistants, artists, contractors, and representatives are expected to behave professionally and respectfully toward attendees, TNES staff, venue employees, security personnel, performers, and other exhibitors. Harassment; threats; fighting; intimidation; discriminatory behavior; excessive intoxication; abusive behavior toward staff, attendees, or other vendors; deliberate interference with another vendor; refusal to follow reasonable TNES, security, venue, health department, or Fire Marshal instructions; or conduct creating a safety hazard or substantial disruption may result in removal from the event and other enforcement action. TNES reserves the right to remove any person whose behavior materially threatens the safety, operation, reputation, or atmosphere of the event.

24. MARKETING, FLYERS & SOCIAL MEDIA
TNES may provide exhibitors with official event graphics, flyers, posters, and other promotional materials. Vendors are encouraged to promote their participation and use current official event information provided by TNES. Vendors may promote other upcoming events from their own vending space provided the promotion is tasteful, does not interfere with event operations, and complies with TNES policies. Flyers promoting outside events may not exceed 5" × 8" unless TNES approves otherwise. Posters promoting outside events are not permitted.

Vendors may not create unofficial Facebook Events or similar public event listings that could reasonably be mistaken for an official TNES event listing. Multiple competing event pages create confusion and may contain outdated or incorrect information. Vendors should use official TNES event listings when promoting their participation. TNES may require unofficial or misleading event listings to be removed.

25. COMMUNICATIONS & VENDOR HUB
Email is TNES's primary method of communicating with exhibitors. Vendors are responsible for providing a valid and correctly spelled email address and for reviewing event communications sent by TNES. Important information may include Vendor Hub access; load-in details; floor plans; parking information; day-of contacts; marketing materials; permit information; venue requirements; event updates; and other operational information. Vending-related questions should be submitted using the official TNES contact method provided in registration materials, confirmation emails, or the Vendor Hub. Personal social media messages are not an official vendor communication channel and may not receive a response.

26. PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO & RECORDING
Smile. We're probably taking your picture or filming you. By participating in a TNES event, exhibitors authorize TNES to photograph, film, record, or otherwise capture their booth, table, merchandise, signage, employees, representatives, and participation in the event. TNES may use this material for promotional, advertising, archival, editorial, social media, website, print, television, video, and other marketing purposes without additional compensation.

27. NO GUARANTEE OF SALES, ATTENDANCE OR RESULTS
Participation in a TNES event does not guarantee attendance levels; customer traffic; sales; revenue; profit; specific vendor placement; particular neighboring vendors; media coverage; social media exposure; or future acceptance into TNES events. TNES is not responsible if an exhibitor does not make a profit, recover expenses, or achieve an anticipated level of sales or exposure.

28. ENFORCEMENT
TNES reserves the right to enforce this Agreement and all applicable event, venue, government, health, safety, and operational requirements. Depending upon the circumstances, enforcement may include verbal instruction; written warning; required removal of merchandise, signage, or displays; modification of a vending space; suspension of activity; closure of a vending space; removal from the event; forfeiture of vending fees; or restriction from future TNES events. Whenever practical, TNES may allow an exhibitor to correct a minor violation. TNES is not required to provide advance warning when a violation involves illegal activity, safety, harassment, prohibited merchandise, stolen or counterfeit goods, serious misconduct, deliberate policy violations, or refusal to comply with TNES, venue, security, health department, or Fire Marshal instructions.

29. AUTHORITY TO ENTER THIS AGREEMENT
Anyone applying or registering on behalf of a company, studio, shop, partnership, organization, collective, or other entity represents that they have authority to accept this Agreement on behalf of that entity. The person completing registration is responsible for ensuring that employees, assistants, artists, contractors, and other representatives working within their vending space understand and comply with this Agreement.

30. INDEMNIFICATION
To the fullest extent permitted by law, each exhibitor agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless True North Event Syndicate, LLC, its owners, officers, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, and representatives from claims, demands, liabilities, damages, judgments, losses, costs, and reasonable attorneys' fees arising out of or relating to the exhibitor's merchandise, displays, activities, employees, contractors, acts, omissions, negligence, violation of law, infringement of intellectual-property rights, or breach of this Agreement. This provision does not require an exhibitor to indemnify TNES for claims resulting solely from TNES's own gross negligence or willful misconduct to the extent prohibited by applicable law.

31. SEVERABILITY & WAIVER
If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect to the greatest extent permitted by law. Failure by TNES to enforce a provision on one occasion does not waive TNES's right to enforce it in the future. An exception made for one exhibitor, event, venue, or circumstance does not create a permanent exception or entitlement for another exhibitor.

32. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

33. AGREEMENT TO TERMS
By submitting an application, completing registration, making payment, or participating in a True North Event Syndicate event, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Vendor & Artist Agreement and agree to comply with its terms, along with applicable event-specific rules, venue requirements, government regulations, permit requirements, Vendor Hub instructions, load-in information, and reasonable directions issued by TNES in connection with the event. TNES may update this Agreement from time to time, and the version applicable to an event will be the version provided, linked, or otherwise made available in connection with that event's registration.

We now own your souls. Booyah.