> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getnowadays.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Start using the Nowadays API in under 5 minutes

## Getting Started

Follow these steps to begin using the Nowadays API for your event venue sourcing needs.

### Authentication

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion icon="key" title="Get your API key">
    To access the Nowadays API, you'll need an API key. Contact our team at
    [founders@nowadays.ai](mailto:founders@nowadays.ai) to get your API credentials. Keep your API key
    secure and never share it publicly.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="lock" title="Using your API key">
    Include your API key in the Authorization header of all requests:

    ```bash theme={null}
    Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Your First API Request

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion icon="calendar" title="Create your first event">
    Start by creating an event to begin the venue sourcing process:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -X POST https://nowadays.ai/api/northstar/events \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
      -d '{
        "name": "Q4 Company Offsite",
        "venue_type": "Hotel",
        "event_type": "Corporate Retreat",
        "start_date": "2024-10-15T00:00:00Z",
        "end_date": "2024-10-17T00:00:00Z",
        "location": "Miami, FL",
        "budget": 50000,
        "num_people": 100,
        "num_hotel_rooms_needed": 50,
        "decision_deadline": "2024-08-01T00:00:00Z"
      }'
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="building" title="Get venue options">
    Once your event is created, you can retrieve venue options:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl https://nowadays.ai/api/northstar/events/{eventId}/venues \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

Learn how to make the most of the Nowadays API.

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="Explore the API" icon="book-open" href="/api-reference/introduction">
    View our complete API reference documentation
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manage Events" icon="calendar-days" href="/api-reference/endpoint/create-event">
    Learn about all event management endpoints
  </Card>

  <Card title="Handle Venues" icon="building-columns" href="/api-reference/endpoint/request-proposal">
    Discover how to work with venue proposals
  </Card>

  <Card title="Track Quotes" icon="receipt" href="/api-reference/endpoint/get-quotes">
    Learn how to manage venue quotes
  </Card>
</CardGroup>