Juggler's Insurance 

 

The International Jugglers Association has a general liability policy for members of the association. The policy contains a minimum premium of $150, no deductible for bodily injury, and $250 deductible for property damage.  

 

Coverage is for damage and injury the insured becomes legally liable for as a result of the insured's business operations. Premises owners are automatically included as additional insureds, and there is no charge for additional insured certificates.  

 

Exclusions include pyrotechnics, fireworks, animals, contingent business interruption, inflatable rides, mechanical devices, fire used for a performance inside a building, and audience participation involving fire or any type of sharp object. While some of these exclusions do not on the surface appear to be hazards specific to juggling, many jugglers perform some magic tricks as well or may set up some small carnival type rides.  

 

The policy contains comprehensive liability limits of $1,000,000/$2,000,000; products and completed operations limits of $2,000,000; personal and advertising injury limits of $1,000,000; and $300,000 for fire legal liability.  

 

General Performer's Insurance 

 

The Specialty Insurance Agency provides a policy for performers and vendors of the United States underwritten by Lexington Insurance. Applicants must be a member of the Performers of the United States Association. Coverage is for injury or property damage to others during the insured's training or performance in the United States, Canada, or U.S.-owned islands.

 

Exclusions are for fireworks, pyrotechnic devices, animals, mammals, fowl, athletic participation, business employees or subcontractors, trackless trains, moonwalks, jump houses, other amusement rides and attractions, and hypnotists doing the “human bridge.”

 

A code of ethics must be agreed to as part of the application. The performer must agree to keep the act/performance in good taste while performing for the public, protect the audience from harm by complying with known safety standards, and hypnotists must complete a safety class and submit a certificate of completion with the application. In event of a claim, an accident and investigation form must be completed, and fire performers are encouraged to obtain permits from local authorities, have safety staff present, and keep open containers and fire away from the public.  

 

Policy limits are as follows: each occurrence $3,000,000; damage to rented premises $300,000; medical expenses $5,000; personal and advertising injury $3,000,000; general aggregate $5,000,000; products/completed operations aggregate $5,000,000.  

 

There is no deductible, and premiums for hypnotists are $260; fire performers $230; and all other performers $220.  

 

Fire Performer's Group Insurance 

 

Fractured Atlas is an organization that supports the arts and helps provide coverage for members with different artistic talents. One of the coverages they provide is fire performer group insurance. This is liability insurance provided by a variety of carriers, with a $2,000,000 aggregate limit, $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 personal and advertising injury. Premiums for smaller groups generally run from $700-$1,300 annually. The policy has no deductible.  

 

Magician's Insurance 

 

The International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) provides coverage for individual magicians through Employers Fire Insurance Company. It is a blanket policy and is written for members of the I.B.M. Limits are as follows: general aggregate, $2,000,000; products and completed operation aggregate, $1,000,000; personal and advertising injury, $1,000,000; each occurrence, – $1,000,000; fire damage (any one fire), $50,000; and medical payments (any one person), $5,000. Premiums are based on annual gross receipts and range from $111 annually for receipts of $25,000 or less to $681 for receipts from $175,001 – $250,000; receipts over $250,001 are referred to the carrier to determine the premium cost.

 

Exclusions include hypnosis, hot air balloon events, circuses, overnight camping, tractor pulls, rodeo/roping events, motorized events, mechanical amusement devices, inflatables, rock climb, bounce houses, laser tag, sky diving, and competition racing. Other exclusions include pyrotechnics/explosives/fireworks (although concussion effects and flash paper, flash pots, and smoke pots are acceptable). Animals other than doves, dogs, and rabbits are excluded, as are musicians and disc jockeys except clowns/magicians who engage in these activities as part of their act. Copyright infringement is excluded and so is throwing objects, although juggling is acceptable.  

 

Safety Concerns 

 

Since performing with fire has its own special safety concerns, the North American Fine Arts Association provides detailed safety procedures that include standards for the performer including capabilities, practice, and costumes; safety personnel including guards, spotters, first aid training, and equipment; tools including wick attachment, handle attachment, connectors, checking, and fueling; and fuels including storage and transport, back stage fuel, open onstage fuel; and performance including separation from the audience, flame toxicity, and performance area; and lastly cleanup. The full list of recommendations can be found here. 

 

There are also safety concerns for hypnotists—this is a unique exposure since hypnotists are dealing with volunteers and directing their behavior. The stage should be secure with no trip hazards, secure stairs, and chairs situated so that fingers, hands, or arms will not get caught. A disclaimer is recommended stating that individuals who are pregnant or have any head, neck, or back injuries should not volunteer, and that those who do volunteer are giving permission to be on any recorded videos.  

 

Along with basic volunteer safety precautions, such as being sure they navigate the stairs safely and stay away from the edge of the stage, are recommendations for the interactions between the hypnotist and the volunteers. The hypnotist should be aware of phobias and should not create phobias as part of the act. Allergies are a concern because if a volunteer believes he is experiencing an allergen—bees, food allergies, diabetic issues, and such—he will react to it as if it is real. Likewise, creating pain or excessive fear could create heart problems and are actions that should be avoided. Volunteers should be led to respond only to the hypnotist and no one else, and they should be instructed to put on an imaginary seat belt to keep them in their seats. It is not wise to have volunteers running around the stage under the influence of the hypnotist. 

 

Finally all suggestions must be removed from volunteers at the end of the show, and they should be fully five-counted awake. This is the count used to bring someone out of a hypnotic state and back into a normal state. No one should be allowed to leave the area while under the influence of the hypnotist. Even with these precautions, it is recommended that the hypnotist work the area after the show to detect any problems with a volunteer who still may be under the influence of suggestion.