Public reference · Version 1.0

The event vendor compliance standard

Most event marketplaces never tell you what “verified” means. This is the full requirement set Picnyk holds vendors to, published in the open — 76 requirements across 20 vendor categories, with the exact insurance minimums for each. Read it, cite it, or hold your own vendors to it.

The underlying table holds 81 rows across 21 category keys. Some keys are aliases that carry an identical requirement set, so they are merged here to avoid counting the same standard twice.

76
Requirements
20
Categories
$500K–$1M
Insurance minimum
7
Insurance mandatory

Where enforcement actually stands

Publishing a standard and having enforced it are different claims, so here is the real state of the platform. The standard below covers 85 of 95 vendors in the catalog (89%). 0 compliance documents have been submitted and 0 vendors have completed full verification — document collection is still rolling out. We publish these numbers because a compliance claim you cannot check is worth nothing.

Categories still awaiting a defined standard: venue (10).

The registry

Every requirement, by category

Requirements are grouped into document verification, liability insurance, certification checks, background screening, content moderation. “AI-verifiable” marks requirements that can be checked automatically from an uploaded document; the rest need human review.

Showing 20 of 20 category standards

AV Technician

av-tech

$500K min2 required · 1 optional4 vendors

  • Equipment Inventory

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    List of AV equipment

    Document verification

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Bartender

bartender

$1M min4 required2 vendors

  • Background Check

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Background check clearance · renews every 365 days

    Background screening

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance — minimum $1M · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

  • Tips Certification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    TIPS or equivalent alcohol service certification · renews every 730 days

    Certification checks

Caterer

caterer

$1M min6 required2 vendors

  • Background Check

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Background check clearance · renews every 365 days

    Background screening

  • Business License

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Valid business license · renews every 365 days

    Document verification

  • Food Handler Card

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Valid food handler certification · renews every 730 days

    Certification checks

  • Health Department Permit

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Health department food service permit · renews every 365 days

    Certification checks

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance - $1M minimum — minimum $1M · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Decorator

decorator

$500K min2 required · 1 optional4 vendors

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Portfolio of past work

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance (recommended) — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Desserts & Cakes

desserts

$500K min3 required · 2 optional3 vendors

  • Food Handler Card

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Valid food handler certification · renews every 730 days

    Certification checks

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Portfolio of cake/dessert designs

    Document verification

  • Cottage Food Permit

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    Cottage food permit or commercial kitchen certification (if applicable) · renews every 365 days

    Certification checks

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

DJ

dj

$500K min2 required · 2 optional1 vendor

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Demo mixes or event videos

    Document verification

  • Equipment Inventory

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    List of equipment owned

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance (recommended) — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Entertainer

entertainer

$500K min3 required · 1 optional3 vendors

  • Content Review

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Content rating for family-friendliness · renews every 180 days

    Content moderation

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Video samples of performances

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Event Coordinator

coordinator

$500K min2 required · 1 optional17 vendors

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Portfolio or references from past events

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance (recommended) — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Florist

florist

2 required · 1 optional5 vendors

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Portfolio of arrangements

    Document verification

  • Business License

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    Valid business license · renews every 365 days

    Document verification

Hair & Makeup

hair-makeup

$500K min3 required · 1 optional3 vendors

  • Cosmetology License

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    State cosmetology license · renews every 730 days

    Certification checks

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Portfolio of hair and makeup work

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance (recommended) — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Kids' Entertainment

kids

$1M min4 required3 vendors

  • Background Check

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Enhanced background check for working with minors · renews every 365 days

    Background screening

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance — minimum $1M · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Portfolio or videos of performances

    Document verification

Musician

musician

$500K min2 required · 1 optional10 vendors

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Audio/video samples

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance (recommended) — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Other / Specialty

other

$500K min2 required · 1 optional4 vendors

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Portfolio or samples of work

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance (recommended) — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Performer

performer

$1M min4 required0 vendors

  • Content Review

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    AI content analysis for appropriateness · renews every 180 days

    Content moderation

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance — minimum $1M · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

  • Performance Samples

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Video/audio samples of performances

    Document verification

Photo Booth

photo-booth

$500K min2 required · 1 optional3 vendors

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Sample photos and booth setup images

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance (recommended) — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Photographer

photographer

$500K min2 required · 1 optional7 vendors

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Professional portfolio with at least 10 photos

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Private Chef

chef · alias: private_chef

$1M min4 required · 1 optional6 vendors

  • Background Check

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Background check clearance · renews every 365 days

    Background screening

  • Food Handler Card

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Valid food handler certification · renews every 730 days

    Certification checks

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance - $1M minimum — minimum $1M · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

  • Servsafe Certification

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    ServSafe Manager certification (recommended) · renews every 1825 days

    Certification checks

Rentals

rentals

$1M min3 required · 1 optional4 vendors

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Inventory List

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Inventory of rental items

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance — minimum $1M · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

  • Business License

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    Valid business license · renews every 365 days

    Document verification

Transportation

transportation

$1M min5 required3 vendors

  • Background Check

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Background check clearance · renews every 365 days

    Background screening

  • Commercial Insurance

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Commercial auto insurance - $1M minimum — minimum $1M · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

  • Drivers License

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Valid commercial drivers license (CDL if applicable) · renews every 365 days

    Certification checks

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Vehicle Registration

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Current vehicle registration · renews every 365 days

    Document verification

Videographer

videographer

$500K min2 required · 1 optional1 vendor

  • Identity Verification

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Government-issued ID

    Document verification

  • Portfolio

    RequiredAI-verifiable

    Video portfolio with at least 3 event videos

    Document verification

  • Liability Insurance

    OptionalAI-verifiable

    General liability insurance (recommended) — minimum $500K · renews every 365 days

    Liability insurance

Use it

Vetting a vendor yourself

Step 01

Ask for the certificate

Request a Certificate of Insurance naming you as additional insured. Check the coverage limit against the minimum for that category above.

Step 02

Check the dates

A certificate is only valid for its policy period. Confirm the event date falls inside it — expired coverage is the single most common gap.

Step 03

Verify at the source

Certificates can be edited. Confirm the policy directly with the listed carrier or agent, and verify licences with the issuing authority.

How to read a Certificate of InsuranceHow Picnyk enforces it

This standard reflects Picnyk's own platform requirements. It is not legal advice and does not describe the law in any specific city or state — municipal permit and licensing rules vary, so confirm local requirements with the relevant authority. Last updated August 19, 2026.