The good old United States of America, whether you admit it or
not, is a severely litigation-obsessed society. Basically anyone
in this country stands a chance to be sued for any or whatsoever
act that is proven to be his or her fault. Arm chair
sociologists call it simply as the deep pocket syndrome.
When one is doing public shows, especially the ones that deal
with magic, the very best thing anyone could do to stay in the
safe side is to buy an insurance for your act. It is not an
option. It is a need for goodness sake.
One of the good insurance that some entertainers have has a one
million dollar liability. It came from an agent from the Farmers
Insurance Group.
Having an insurance is like having a fire extinguisher. It is so
much better to have one than not have it at all. You feel safe,
protected and covered. One million dollar tops and is quite
enough to give you a sleep-heavy night and a wake-up-fresh
morning.
It has been said that the Society of American Magicians has the
kind of insurance of this type. It is very important that you
get an insurance. If you have one or if you are planning to
purchase one, make sure that the insurance policy you have a
product clause.
This works well just in case you use balloons for your act, or
birds for that matter. If one of the audience members happen to
take it home with them and they accidentally choke on the
balloon or get bitten by the bird, you have nothing to worry
about because you are definitely covered.
For your information also, if you have performer's insurance and
you happen to perform a magic act while you were not in your
costume, most likely you are not covered.
If you have liability insurance and while you are performing, a
child insists that he or she wants to touch or to have one of
your props, make sure that you make it clear and known to
everyone concerned - as they may be potential witnesses - that
you are giving the prop or props to the parent. Hand it over to
the parent. Doing so transfers the liability on the hands of the
child's parents.
There are also magic tricks performed by clowns. Currently, it
is highly unadvisable - fortunately or unfortunately - for
clowns or any performer to hug children or to get close enough
unless it is to shake hands.
These days you really cannot be too careful. And being too
careful is still the best way to go.
It is best that prior to doing a magic act or any public show
for that matter, that you - as a performer - tell all the adults
and children in the audience about some specific props that you
might be distributing to them during the course of the show. If
for example you will be using balloons, announce beforehand that
children's mouths and balloons do not mix. Doing so keeps you
from any liability and your audience safe from choking
unnecessarily.
One performer has an existing one million dollar liability, it
also includes five hundred thousand dollars worth of product
liability. The insurance also covers any event wherein the
performer and his or her employee is entertaining. However, it
does not cover any contractors that are independent from the
performer which the performer has hired. If the performer needed
to hire someone outside, the performer always requested for an
'additional insured' from the insurance company.
Make sure though that once you get an insurance, that insurance
company should be able and willing to give you a rider that will
be able to cover you if in case you are working or need to work
off premises and on a particular client's house, business
office, facility, or any other area that is different from where
you regularly and usually work in. It is a standard item and
there should not be that much fuss over it. Any good insurance
company should be able to do it.
All you need to do is be persistent. It is an item that is
almost always considered a standard on many insurance policies.
About the author:
Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and
sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to
Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today!
http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com
