Insurance by Performer Type

Every act below has its own page because venues do not treat them the same. A harpist and a fire spinner both need a certificate, but the questions underwriters ask about them barely overlap. Pick the closest match to what you actually do.

Music, DJs and Bands

Acts that bring their own gear into a room they do not control.

• Musicians & Bands
  Solo players, duos, and full bands working bars, weddings, and festivals.
• Band Insurance
  One policy covering every member of the group instead of five separate ones.
• DJs
  Mobile DJs hauling speakers, lighting trees, and subs into venues.
• Karaoke Jockeys
  KJ hosts running weekly bar nights and private parties.
• Harpists & String Players
  Ceremony musicians moving expensive instruments through tight spaces.
• Mariachi Bands
  Cultural acts booked for restaurants, quinceañeras, and street festivals.

Kids and Party Entertainers

The acts most often asked for a certificate before a birthday booking.

• Clowns
  Party clowns working birthdays, fairs, and corporate family days.
• Face Painters
  Face and body artists applying product directly to skin.
• Balloon Twisters
  Balloon artists at parties, storefronts, and school events.
• Character Entertainers
  Princess parties, superhero visits, and costumed meet-and-greets.
• Magicians
  Close-up and stage magicians, including illusion and fire effects.
• Puppeteers
  Puppet shows in libraries, schools, and theaters.
• Ventriloquists
  Solo acts working comedy rooms, cruises, and corporate stages.
• Caricature Artists
  Live-draw artists at weddings, trade shows, and parties.

Circus, Aerial and Physical Acts

Higher-risk acts where venues scrutinize the certificate most closely.

• Circus Performers
  Cirque-style acts, tumblers, and multi-discipline performers.
• Aerialists
  Silks, lyra, trapeze, and rigged apparatus work.
• Fire Performers
  Fire spinning, eating, and breathing, indoors and out.
• Jugglers
  Club, knife, and torch juggling at festivals and street pitches.
• Contortionists
  Flexibility and balance acts on stage and at private events.
• Stunt Performers
  Falls, fights, and rigged work on set and at live shows.
• Belly Dancers
  Restaurant sets, private parties, and cultural events.

Stage, Comedy and Hosting

Acts whose exposure is the crowd and the room, not the equipment.

• Comedians
  Stand-ups working clubs, private bookings, and corporate rooms.
• Emcees & Event Hosts
  MCs running weddings, galas, and conference stages.
• Celebrity Impersonators
  Tribute acts and lookalikes at casinos, parties, and events.
• Psychics & Fortune Tellers
  Tarot, palm, and medium readings at fairs and private events.
• Street Performers
  Buskers needing permit-compliant coverage for public pitches.
• Escape Room & Scare Actors
  Immersive and haunt performers in close contact with guests.

Dance

Instructors and studios, which carry different exposures from each other.

• Dance Instructors
  Independent teachers renting studio time or traveling to students.
• Dance Schools & Studios
  Studios with a lease, staff, and an annual recital.

Event Services

Vendors the venue treats the same way it treats performers.

• Photographers & Videographers
  Event shooters with gear in aisles and on stands.
• Photo Booth Operators
  Booth rentals with props, backdrops, and power runs.
• Trade Show Models
  Brand ambassadors and promotional staff on exhibit floors.

Seasonal Work

Short seasons where an annual policy may not be the right shape.

• Santa Claus Performers
  Mall Santas and private-visit Santas working a six-week season.
• Holiday Characters
  Easter Bunny, Halloween, and other seasonal character work.

General Liability by State

Requirements for public-property permits and venue minimums vary. These pages cover the three states we get asked about most.

• California
• Florida
• Texas

If Your Act Is Not Listed

The list above covers the acts we get asked about most, not the limits of what can be written. Aerial yoga teachers, sword swallowers, living statues, drone light-show operators, and mentalists have all come through the same form. Use the general entertainer page and describe the act in your own words.