Booking Agreement
Please note: this form is for confirmed clients only. If you want to contact the mermaids please do so using the contact form on the left, not this form. Thank you.
· Payment of all remaining fees is due at the event, and can be paid to the assistant.
Cash or check is fine. Checks can be made out to “Canadian Mermaids Inc”
· If you decide to add a second or third mermaid last minute, that additional fee will be due
at the end of your event. Second mermaids must be booked if your party has more than 10 children for safety reasons. We must be informed 1 week prior to the event if you need a second mermaid.
· Please let the pool staff/beach staff (if applicable) know that you have booked the Halifax Mermaids. Most pools have hosted us before and have things they do that help transitions.
· During indoor pool parties, mermaids are able to secure private areas to change so your child does not see us out of costume. If you have us booked for an outdoor pool party, or a private home party, you must provide mermaids with a private area to change.
· We ask that you not enter the pool until your booked time as venues typically allow mermaids to enter early and be waiting for the party guests. If the event is in your home, please keep the children together in one area until the mermaids are ready.
· Lifeguards are not babysitters. They are available to protect your child, but there are no eyes like your eyes when it comes to your child in the water. We ask for your cooperation in supervising the children, and being sure ratios are maintained (lifeguards will inform you of the ratio), and all pool (or beach) rules are respected by all guests.
· Similarly, while mermaids are present for entertainment, they do not count as adults in the ratio that must be maintained. Mermaids will use a variety of redirection strategies should children be acting in a manner that is unsafe or breaks pool rules, and we ask for your support, understanding, and if necessary assistance with this. We do not force children to participate or stop play experiences. If a child won't engage the mermaid we try to engage them in what they're interested in. (e.g. slides, rope swings, climbing walls, floaties, etc.)
·
· When the swim part of the party is finished we ask for your patience while we transition to the party room (or area that you have designated for the party). Depending on the venue this can sometimes take up to 15 minutes. However, it generally takes that long for children to change into their dry clothing. If for some unforeseen reason the transition time is too long, mermaids will stay longer for your party whenever able.
· If you have paid for photography services, our assistant Sean will be the person taking photos. Please point out the birthday child(ren) to Sean. We frequently post 1 or 2 photos from our birthday parties to either our website, or Facebook page. We post them with privacy in mind. If there is a guest who does not want to be in an image that may appear online please let us know. If you give us permission to share a few of your images, you maintain the right to change your mind at a later date and we will comply. Occasionally we have the opportunity to publish images in local media. If this is an opportunity for us we will contact you directly about the specific photo to obtain your written permission. We do not force kids to stop playing for photos, but we'll pose as a group at the end.
Please refer to our photo FAQ
· Children are not forced to touch or sit on Mermaids. We believe in bodily autonomy and will not force your child to do anything.
Behavior Guidance Policy
Mermaids are used to dealing with many behaviors in all age groups of children. However, if you see a child harming us in any way (pulling at our hair or earrings, biting, hitting, spitting etc), or being destructive to our costumes (gentle touching and pulling of tails is encouraged, biting, picking apart, or ganging up to pull the costumes off is not), or trying to pile more than 1 or 2 children on a mermaid (we give mermaid rides and will go over those rules with the children) we ask for your support, understanding, and assistance in redirecting the behavior. Occasionally if a child’s behavior is severe enough and redirection is not working, mermaids may break character to enforce safety and listening. Mermaids may also involve other parents or lifeguards for help. Children may also be approached by our assistant to help encourage respect of the mermaids.
It is not necessary that the children believe the mermaids are real. However, we ask for your help in maintaining the idea because we strive to encourage imagination and play. It can be extremely undermining to an event if adult guests start asking loud questions about our costumes, or burst the bubble by announcing the mermaids aren't real. We have found in the past that this will often lead to behavior problems where children will gang up on mermaids and the main focus of the event instead of having fun, is heckling the mermaids about being real. We want your kids to pretend and play. We have strategies in place if a child does not believe. We often encounter them one on one and if it becomes clear they aren't willing to play along we simply ask them that if they choose not to believe or not to use their imagination, that they don't ruin the fun for younger children who enjoy it. This usually works. If you see a child who is fixated on this topic to the point it is distracting the mermaids from being able to entertain guests, we ask that you intervene in a similar manner or redirect the child.
If any intentional harm is brought to the mermaids by children (after a reasonable effort to get them to stop) or intentional damages to our costumes occur (e.g. pulling off fins, breaking flukes by stomping on etc) you may be liable for additional fees for repair compensation.
The mermaids will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment from guests or clients.
Failure to follow our behavior guidance policy may result in the mermaids leaving a booking before it has ended, and clients being charged the full amount plus damages.
The mermaids are like any other professional you would hire and are required to be treated with respect at all times to ensure their personal safety. The best way to enforce this is to be watching children during the party and make sure parents understand the expectation of involvement. Feel free to forward them our booking agreement.
Communicable Disease Policy for Clients
Performers and their assistants may wear facemasks in situations where they deem necessary for their own personal safety when not in the water.
If a performer has a contagious illness or signs of covid 19, or tests positive for covid 19, they will be replaced with the next available healthy performer.
All clients are expected to do their own due diligence within reason to limit the spread of contagious illnesses. This may include ensuring that all guests are healthy enough to participate without spreading illness to other participants or the Halifax Mermaid company. Participants are welcome to wear facemasks outside of water if they prefer. We encourage clients to become familiar with the communicable disease policies for their venues.
Disclaimer
· IMPORTANT: By agreeing to hire the Halifax Mermaids you agree and understand that there are inherent dangers when either swimming in a pool, at a lake, or at the ocean, and also when swimming with a mermaid. While life guards, other adults, mermaids, and our assistant all work together to ensure the safety of your children, when it comes to the Halifax Mermaid company, you understand that mermaid participation is at your own risk, and you accept all responsibility. You agree to not bring any charges or claims against Halifax Mermaids. Halifax Mermaids is fully insured.
Cash or check is fine. Checks can be made out to “Canadian Mermaids Inc”
· If you decide to add a second or third mermaid last minute, that additional fee will be due
at the end of your event. Second mermaids must be booked if your party has more than 10 children for safety reasons. We must be informed 1 week prior to the event if you need a second mermaid.
· Please let the pool staff/beach staff (if applicable) know that you have booked the Halifax Mermaids. Most pools have hosted us before and have things they do that help transitions.
· During indoor pool parties, mermaids are able to secure private areas to change so your child does not see us out of costume. If you have us booked for an outdoor pool party, or a private home party, you must provide mermaids with a private area to change.
· We ask that you not enter the pool until your booked time as venues typically allow mermaids to enter early and be waiting for the party guests. If the event is in your home, please keep the children together in one area until the mermaids are ready.
· Lifeguards are not babysitters. They are available to protect your child, but there are no eyes like your eyes when it comes to your child in the water. We ask for your cooperation in supervising the children, and being sure ratios are maintained (lifeguards will inform you of the ratio), and all pool (or beach) rules are respected by all guests.
· Similarly, while mermaids are present for entertainment, they do not count as adults in the ratio that must be maintained. Mermaids will use a variety of redirection strategies should children be acting in a manner that is unsafe or breaks pool rules, and we ask for your support, understanding, and if necessary assistance with this. We do not force children to participate or stop play experiences. If a child won't engage the mermaid we try to engage them in what they're interested in. (e.g. slides, rope swings, climbing walls, floaties, etc.)
·
· When the swim part of the party is finished we ask for your patience while we transition to the party room (or area that you have designated for the party). Depending on the venue this can sometimes take up to 15 minutes. However, it generally takes that long for children to change into their dry clothing. If for some unforeseen reason the transition time is too long, mermaids will stay longer for your party whenever able.
· If you have paid for photography services, our assistant Sean will be the person taking photos. Please point out the birthday child(ren) to Sean. We frequently post 1 or 2 photos from our birthday parties to either our website, or Facebook page. We post them with privacy in mind. If there is a guest who does not want to be in an image that may appear online please let us know. If you give us permission to share a few of your images, you maintain the right to change your mind at a later date and we will comply. Occasionally we have the opportunity to publish images in local media. If this is an opportunity for us we will contact you directly about the specific photo to obtain your written permission. We do not force kids to stop playing for photos, but we'll pose as a group at the end.
Please refer to our photo FAQ
· Children are not forced to touch or sit on Mermaids. We believe in bodily autonomy and will not force your child to do anything.
Behavior Guidance Policy
Mermaids are used to dealing with many behaviors in all age groups of children. However, if you see a child harming us in any way (pulling at our hair or earrings, biting, hitting, spitting etc), or being destructive to our costumes (gentle touching and pulling of tails is encouraged, biting, picking apart, or ganging up to pull the costumes off is not), or trying to pile more than 1 or 2 children on a mermaid (we give mermaid rides and will go over those rules with the children) we ask for your support, understanding, and assistance in redirecting the behavior. Occasionally if a child’s behavior is severe enough and redirection is not working, mermaids may break character to enforce safety and listening. Mermaids may also involve other parents or lifeguards for help. Children may also be approached by our assistant to help encourage respect of the mermaids.
It is not necessary that the children believe the mermaids are real. However, we ask for your help in maintaining the idea because we strive to encourage imagination and play. It can be extremely undermining to an event if adult guests start asking loud questions about our costumes, or burst the bubble by announcing the mermaids aren't real. We have found in the past that this will often lead to behavior problems where children will gang up on mermaids and the main focus of the event instead of having fun, is heckling the mermaids about being real. We want your kids to pretend and play. We have strategies in place if a child does not believe. We often encounter them one on one and if it becomes clear they aren't willing to play along we simply ask them that if they choose not to believe or not to use their imagination, that they don't ruin the fun for younger children who enjoy it. This usually works. If you see a child who is fixated on this topic to the point it is distracting the mermaids from being able to entertain guests, we ask that you intervene in a similar manner or redirect the child.
If any intentional harm is brought to the mermaids by children (after a reasonable effort to get them to stop) or intentional damages to our costumes occur (e.g. pulling off fins, breaking flukes by stomping on etc) you may be liable for additional fees for repair compensation.
The mermaids will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment from guests or clients.
Failure to follow our behavior guidance policy may result in the mermaids leaving a booking before it has ended, and clients being charged the full amount plus damages.
The mermaids are like any other professional you would hire and are required to be treated with respect at all times to ensure their personal safety. The best way to enforce this is to be watching children during the party and make sure parents understand the expectation of involvement. Feel free to forward them our booking agreement.
Communicable Disease Policy for Clients
Performers and their assistants may wear facemasks in situations where they deem necessary for their own personal safety when not in the water.
If a performer has a contagious illness or signs of covid 19, or tests positive for covid 19, they will be replaced with the next available healthy performer.
All clients are expected to do their own due diligence within reason to limit the spread of contagious illnesses. This may include ensuring that all guests are healthy enough to participate without spreading illness to other participants or the Halifax Mermaid company. Participants are welcome to wear facemasks outside of water if they prefer. We encourage clients to become familiar with the communicable disease policies for their venues.
Disclaimer
· IMPORTANT: By agreeing to hire the Halifax Mermaids you agree and understand that there are inherent dangers when either swimming in a pool, at a lake, or at the ocean, and also when swimming with a mermaid. While life guards, other adults, mermaids, and our assistant all work together to ensure the safety of your children, when it comes to the Halifax Mermaid company, you understand that mermaid participation is at your own risk, and you accept all responsibility. You agree to not bring any charges or claims against Halifax Mermaids. Halifax Mermaids is fully insured.
