Are entry fees for a market absurd?

So I organise these things. I think. I organise pop-up events with either one big shop or craft/vintage markets with lots of smaller tables and stalls. Could be similar to what you saw. Entry fee £3 first hour/£2 rest of day. I’ll break down the costs: Venue hire: I am responsible for paying this so I have to raise anywhere from £500 to £3000 depending on the venue; town centres where you have better footfall & better chance of passing trade cost more. I’d say 90% of my regular venues have increase by £200+ in the last year, one of them whacked the rate up by £800 when the fuel/electric bills went up at the start of the year. Promotion: Online adverts are the main way to get your event out there, usually via Facebook/Instagram but also Google ads or TikTok. An event will need a minimum of £400 spent on promo, the more you spend the more you’re seen…in theory. FB/IG have changed all the algorithms recently and adverts just don’t reach people like they used to, presumably because they’re haemorrhaging money so they need to encourage people to spend more on ads. Organic promo comes from things like social media posts or email marketing; my email platform with a big built up database of relevant users charges £120 to send 500,000 emails. Social media posts don’t reach people naturally like they used to so again you’ve either got to pay for ads or be super creative to get your event seen for free. Flyers and posters can be useful for people to hand out and advertise locally in advance. Flyers used to cost me 1p each, they’re now 3p each this year. Doesn’t sound much but when you order 3000 at a time it all adds up. Table hire: depending on the venue you may have to hire tables to give to traders to use, again I have to pay upfront. Fence hire: same as above, a few security fences may be required to control the market border or any queues to get in. Public liability insurance: always better to be safe than sorry, this is covered by me as well as the venues having their own too. Staff: I need a few people to help run an event, showing traders where to set up, directing customers, be a contact point between traders and the venue, security and safety, an info desk for customers, someone to be on the door and take the £2. Usually myself + 2 others, maybe more depending on the size of the venue. I pay those wages. Plus my own wage for organising the damn thing. That comes from the entry fee. Any profit is used to pay towards the next event. It’s a full time job so I have to book everything, advertise, secure traders, secure customers, manage social media, create all the content and promo etc. I can’t speak for what you attended, but for me and many others it’s a full time job. Obviously some do much less work than me just to generate some extra pocket money from the entry fees, but if it seems well put together and well organised then be mindful that it could be someone’s livelihood.