Entertainer or Performer Liability Insurance is protection or coverage for you the entertainer.  It is to protection for you should there be any accident or situation where you are appearing or working.  If someone gets hurt, they may want compensations or seek damages against you.  Even if you are volunteering to perform or appear, you are open to liability should something happen.  Even if it is not your fault, someone could try to sue you.

RealSantas.com, generally require that everyone we sub-contract, or refer to a client, be covered by some form of entertainer, performer or business liability insurance. This includes Santas, entertainers, photographers, helpers, etc.

A child slips off your knee, trips over your boots, chokes on a candy cane or cookie, stares at you while walking by and trips over another child!  All of these have been grounds for lawsuits.

There are two ways to obtain this insurance.

1. You can contact your business or personal insurance agent and ask them to add, "Entertainer's or Performer's Liability" coverage to your business or homeowners insurance.
2. You can purchase insurance through an Entertainment Insurance Broker or an entertainers club or association.

Entertainer or Performer Liability insurance is to protect you.  The general minimum is $1-million $2-million in liability insurance through most associations and clubs usually costs somewhere between $120.00 and $215.00.  Check with your own agent to find our their prices.

RealSantas.com and other clients will often request a certificate of insurance (COI), naming them on the policy.  If you are contracted by RealSantas.com you must send us a certificate listing the following as a named insured:

The Kringle Group, LLC

dba: RealSantas.com

5205 Old Mill Road

Riverside, CA, 92504

For those Santas working on the November Photo Studio project , and only for that project, You must have your insurance agent email TKG a Certificate of Insurance, (COI)  to Jennifer@RealSantas.com , with the following wording:

“The Kringle Group, LLC, its employees and agents, and CPI Corp., its subsidiaries, employees and agents, and: Sears, Roebuck, and Co; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Toys “R” Us – Delaware, Inc; as applicable, plus any subsidiaries, employees, and agents are included as Additional Insureds with respects to the General Liability policy where required by written contract.”

The Photo Studio COI can be mailed to: The Kringle Group. LLC, 5205 Old Mill Road, Riverside, CA 92504.

Sometimes the location where you are working, may also ask for a COI naming them the property where you are appearing and even the landlord or management company.  That is why it is important to select an insurance company who will not charge you for additional certificates.  

Some insurance companies will charge a $25 or $30 fee for each additional COI.   These costs could add up.  So check around before buying your insurance.  You want to make sure you have insurance from a company that will supply all the certificates you need for free, at no extra charge. 

Entertainer's liability insurance is now required by almost every commercial venue where you might work. And, for your own protection you should also have insurance for those private parties and social events you attend. Even if  you are a volunteer Santa or performer, and the event is a non-profit or not-for-profit event where you are donating your services, you need to protect yourself, should an accident happen.   Even if you are not a party to an accident, someone may try to include you in their claims following an accident.

The following companies offer policies to protect you and in some cases extend the coverage to your spouse, a helper and even offer various additional coverage. You can also obtain your insurance through other associations and sources.  At RealSantas.com all we require is proof of coverage from your insurance agency.  

We do not suggest or recommend one insurance company over another, but do know that each of the companies listed below is company or association that hundreds of Santas and other entertainers depend on for insurance against any possible problems.  Check around and ask other Santas and entertainers, or contact your own insurance agent and ask about getting entertainer or performer's liability insurance.  Be informed.   

Should you have any question on these insurance carriers, please contact them direct. I am not an underwriter and really cannot answer anything that what you are reading here.

FORBS -                                                              $176.00 per Santa      $252.00 for Santa and Mrs. Claus

• via Kaercher Campbell & Associates and Philadelphia Insurance Companies.

• Must be a member of FORBS Dues are $25 a year.   

• One Million/Two Million personal/individual coverage = $176.00 a year    October 1, through September 30 next year.  This is your personal total coverage, no sharing with other Santas or entertainers.

• $100,000.00 rental premises coverage. 

• If you get your background check through the Kaercher and Campbell Insurance company and pass, they will add, Abuse & Molestation Coverage sublimit  at no addition premium if background checks on member and member assistants are completed and on file with FORBS.  "$100,000 occurrence/$300,000 aggregate per insured FORBS member"

• Coverage is for work in the United States only.

• Coverage only covers you when performing in costume as Santa or Mrs. Claus, Elf etc.  No other non-Christmas character, i.e. clown, face painter, Easter bunny, Magician, etc..

• Spouse or Assistant can be added for $75 each when purchased at the same time.

• Injury to yourself or other performers is not covered.

          Insurance Details at: http://www.forbsantas.org/MemberServices/FORBS_Insurance.html

          Background check details at:  http://www.forbsantas.org/MemberServices/Background_Check.html

• Your documents will come from FORBS.  Be sure to check your computer for accepting emails from: president@FORBSantas.org.
• Send any correspondence to CorrespondingSecretary@FORBSantas.org
  

K & K Insurance -                                                                         $200 per person      $$400 per couple

• You can buy your insurance on-line: http://www.kandkinsurance.com/Entertainment/Pages/Entertainers-Performers.aspx

• You can specify the date you wish coverage to start

• One/Three million personal/individual coverage for  $200.00 a year, incomes under $30,000.  This is your personal total coverage, no sharing with other Santas or entertainers.

• Assistant or Spouse coverage is also $$200 each.

• The rental premises coverage is $300,000

• $5,000 medical coverage per incident.  This medical coverage is not for you or anyone working for or with you.  It is for a child or guest who gets hurt as a result of your action.

• Coverage is for  United States only.

• No Charge for certificate naming additional insured's

• Injury to yourself or other performers is not covered.

Society Of Santa (SOS) –      Steve Patterson  303-256-8494               $120 per person    $240 per couple

• Offers insurance via Associated Excess and Scottsdale Insurance Companies. Information is on their web site at http://www.societyofsanta.org   Click on "New Member" tab.  Download the form fill it our and mail it with your check for $135.00 to:  Society of Santa,  4019 Perry Street, Denver, CO 80212-2171

• YOU MUST HAVE PROOF OF A BACKGROUND CHECK BEFORE YOR CAN JOIN WHICH INCLUDES THE INSURANCE.

• One Million/Two Million personal/individual coverage = $135.00 a year from January 12 through January 11 of the following year. This is the personal total coverage. Every performing member, spouse, helper, etc., must have insurance coverage, no sharing with other Santas or entertainers.

• $100,000.00 rental premises coverage.

• Abuse & Molestation Coverage of $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate per insured SOS member is included at no addition premium.

• Coverage is for work in the United States only.

• Coverage is from portal-to-portal when performing in costume as Santa or Mrs. Claus, Elf etc. including other non-Christmas characters, i.e. clown, face painter, Easter bunny, Magician, witches and goblins etc., throughout the year.

• Injury to yourself or other performers is not covered.

• A Certificate Of Insurance in PDF format will be E-mailed to each insured. There is no charge for a copy of the named insured certificate or to add a client as an additionally covered entity.

• The SOS has no yearly dues. However, performing membership in the SOS does require insurance. Membership is open to all Santas, real bearded or theatrical and designer bearded; Mrs. Claus, Ms. Claus, Helpers, Elves and other persons playing any other Characters are most welcome, including the Easter Bunny, Uncle Sam, Wicked Witch of the East, etc.  Except for honorary membership, all potential and existing performing and non-performing members must complete either a renewing or a new membership application every year. Colorado residents who have lived in Colorado for at least 10 years must pass a Colorado Bureau of Investigation Background check. Otherwise, passing an FBI background check by out-of-state members is required as a condition of membership in the SOS.

• If a spouse assists a performance outside the home in any way, he/she must also become a Performing Member. This includes driving or assisting another Performing Member to and from appearances and other entertainment venues.

Specialty Insurance Agency - –                                                       $215.00 per person.   $430 per couple

• Their link is: http://www.specialtyinsuranceagency.com/about-us.html

• Coverage is from from April 25 to April 25.

• Three Million/Five Million Policy for $215.00 per person.   $430 per couple

• This is a Group Policy or Umbrella Policy which means that the total coverage is $5-million for the hundreds of Santas, Clowns and other entertainers who have to share the coverage.  Each incident or claim reduces the total coverage.

• October 25 to April 25 coverage is $150.00 processed one week prior to the start date.

• Assistant or Spouse coverage is also $215 each

• Coverage is for U.S. and Canada

• No Charge for certificates naming additional insured's.

• Injury to yourself or other performers is not covered.
   

World Clown Association  (WCA) -                                                139.00 per person.  $278.00 per Couple

• Their link is: http://worldclown.com/?page_id=37 

• Coverage is from from May 1 to April 30.  This Program is designed for Clowns and Magicians.

• One Million/Two Million Policy for $139.00 per person.  $278.00 per Couple

• Assistant or Spouse coverage is also $139 each

• Coverage is for U.S. and Canada

• $30 fee for each certificate naming additional insured's.

• Injury to yourself or other performers is not covered.