Please ensure you read all the terms and conditions, including our cancellation terms.

PAYMENT TERMS

• WE DO NOT HOLD A DATE, OR CONFIRM A BOOKING, WITHOUT RECEIVING PAYMENT

To confirm a booking, and secure a time slot, the following payments are required within 2 working days of our invoice date (or by any date specified on our invoice / quote).

• If your booking is made, or your payment is made to us, 14 days or less before the event date, you will need to make 100% non-refundable payment into our bank account to confirm a booking.

• If your booking is made, or your deposit is paid 15 or more days before your event date, you will need to pay a 50% deposit into our bank account to confirm a booking.

• Any remaining balance owed, after your deposit has been paid to us, MUST be paid into our bank account no later than 14 days before your event date, and proof of payment emailed to info@bigtop.co.za. Should we not receive proof of the balance payment 14 days before your event date, we reserve the right to treat that as a client cancellation, and your deposit may be forfeited.

Electronic transfer (EFT) or ATM cash deposit are our ONLY accepted payment methods.

We do not usually accept cash deposits at a branch. However, if you choose to pay by an over the bank counter cash deposit at an FNB branch, you will be charged an additional fee to cover the bank charges incurred by the account holder. This fee will be calculated at current FNB rates (minimum R90).

***We do not accept payment by cheque, credit card, Zapper, eWallet etc***

Please note that completing a booking form does not guarantee a booking.
All bookings are subject to performer availability at the time that we receive a fully completed booking form.

Once we receive a completed booking form we will be able to re-check our availability.

If our performers are available, we will send you an invoice, with our banking details.

Please be advised that after sending you our invoice, we only hold a date for a maximum of 2 working days, to enable you time to make payment.

If your proof of payment is not received within 2 working days of our invoice date (or by the date / time specified on our invoice), we will be unable to guarantee the availability of our performers, as we will open the timeslot up again for other bookings.

CANCELLATION TERMS
For the purposes of the terms and conditions on this invoice, ‘client cancellation’ means a cancellation made by the client of Big Top Entertainment. ‘Advance costs’ means money spent by Big Top Entertainment in advance, for the purpose of making your booking (for example, but not limited, accommodation costs)

Cancellations (of all or part of the booking, for any reason whatsoever, INCLUDING ADVERSE WEATHER) made:
14 days or less before the event date will be subject to 100% PAYMENT as a cancellation fee.
15 – 45 days before the event date will be subject to a 50% cancellation fee for the entertainment (plus 100% of any advance costs incurred)
46 – 75 days before the event date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee for the entertainment (plus 100% of any advance costs incurred)
76 – 105 days before the event date will be subject to a 15% cancellation fee for the entertainment (plus 100% of any advance costs incurred)
106+ days before the event date will be subject to a 0% cancellation fee for the entertainment (plus 100% of any advance costs incurred)

If your deposit payment is more than the cancellation fee we will refund the difference. If your deposit payment is less than the cancellation fee we require you to pay us the difference within 7 days of your cancellation request. If multiple dates are booked, each date will be treated separately for calculating cancellation fees.

Our cancellation terms are in place as once we have confirmed your booking Big Top Entertainment, and the performers booked for your event, will start turning away all other work for that time slot. Once you have paid us a deposit we commit 100% to your event and in return we expect the same from you.

Your booking with us is for the above time slot. If your event is delayed, for any reason whatsoever, Big Top Entertainment will endeavour to accommodate your booking. However, your event may not be the only function or commitment our entertainers have on this date. If the delay results in an entertainer not performing at the event, due to leaving to attend another commitment, Big Top Entertainment will treat this as a client cancellation, and the fee will remain payable in full.

Postponements/date change requests/time change requests, for any reason whatsoever, INCLUDING ADVERSE WEATHER, will be treated as a client cancellation for the date/time originally booked, and our cancellation fees will apply. Should the client wish to book entertainment for a new date/time, the client will need to make a new booking with Big Top Entertainment, and pay a new deposit/invoice. All new booking requests will be subject to performer availability.

For outdoor functions, in the event of adverse weather forecast on the booked event date, it is the client’s responsibility to provide a suitable alternative indoor or covered/weather proof area at the venue, for the date and time of this booking. If a suitable alternative area is not provided by the client, for the date and time booked on this invoice, this will be treated as a client cancellation and the fee will remain payable in full. The suitability of the alternative performance area must be approved by Big Top Entertainment. (Adverse weather conditions may include, but are not limited to, wet weather /strong wind/excessive heat). Kindly note that having an outdoor event, with no suitable adverse weather plan in place, is at your own risk. For fire entertainment bookings, which can only be performed outdoors, our performers will try their best to continue with the performance, if conditions allow. However, if our fire entertainers are unable to perform due to adverse conditions the fee will remain payable in full. Some fire entertainers may be able to provide alternative indoor entertainment (not fire), if a suitable space is available. If the client is offered alternative indoor entertainment and refuses the option, we will treat it as a client cancellation, and the fee will remain payable in full.

For bookings which include services that require plug points/power (for example, but not limited to popcorn/candy floss machines) kindly note that we do not provide generators. Working plug points must be located a maximum of 20m from the set up area. Should no suitable plug points be provided, or should there be a power outage/load shedding we will not be held responsible for being unable to provide the service(s) booked, and no refund will be given, and the fee will remain payable in full.

If a performer / representative of Big Top Entertainment arrives at the venue and the required space is not available, or for a fire booking they are told fire performance is not allowed, or for a face painting booking they are told that face painting is not possible due to another supplier not allowing face paint on their equipment (e.g. Jumping castle), or our technical requirements / terms and conditions have not been fully adhered to, we may not be able to perform. This will be treated as a client cancellation and our fee will remain payable in full.
In the event of death, injury, illness, car trouble or any unforeseen circumstances keeping the artist from performing, every effort shall be made by Big Top Entertainment to find a replacement, although the fee for the job may have to change. This will be agreed upon by the client and Big Top Entertainment before the event. Failing agreement or the option of a replacement, Big Top Entertainment shall refund the deposit for the entertainer that is unable to perform. We shall not be liable for any sums which you have paid to any other persons in connection with your booking, and we will have no further liability to you for the cancellation of your booking.

CANCELLATIONS DUE TO FORCE MAJEURE
In the event of a Force Majeure event (an unforeseen event, outside of the control of both parties, an ‘Act of God’) which makes it impossible and / or dangerous for the booking to go ahead as planned, and the booking needs to be cancelled or postponed, then a different set of cancellation fees applies. Force Majeure events include, but are not limited to: War/Strike, Lockouts, Social Unrest, Riot/Pandemic, Disease, Epidemic, Quarantines/Hurricane, Flood, Earthquake, Volcanic Eruption, Fire/Shortage of, or interruption of supply of electricity, fuel, or other materials/Road closure or lack of access to roads due to a force majeure event.
In the case of a Force Majeure event we will split the loss with the client. So the cancellation fee will be reduced to 50% of the usual cancellation fee, should the client have chosen to cancel under normal circumstances. This is because Force Majeure circumstances are outside the control of both parties. This includes postponements or date changes due to Force Majeure.

Our performers are not child minders. Unattended children may not be left with our performers. Parents and care givers are responsible for their children at all times.

Our face painters use professional quality, water soluble face paints. These are skin safe non-acrylic face paints that are easily removed with soap and water. However, as with any type of make-up product, this does not preclude an individual suffering from an allergic reaction. Big Top Entertainment and its face painters will not be liable for any allergic reactions to the paints / products used by our performers. For health and safety reasons our artists reserve the right not to paint anyone, who in their opinion, seems to be suffering from an infectious skin condition (e.g. cold saw) or anyone suffering from cold/flu symptoms. They are also unable to paint over open cuts, grazes, and conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Our face painters also reserve the right to refuse to paint anyone who is intoxicated/ abusive. Face paints generally wash out of clothing easily. However, Big Top Entertainment, and our performers, will not be liable for any damage to clothing or property.

Should a representative of Big Top Entertainment be required to attend a site visit/supplier meeting/venue induction (whether in person or online), pick up accreditation in advance, we will also invoice you for the extra time/travel expenses.

The Client shall indemnify and in perpetuity discharge Big Top Entertainment together with their owners, the officers, employees, representatives, volunteers, entertainers, independent contractors and delivery agents, of all or any of them (“the indemnified parties”) against all and any claims, liabilities, loss, loss of business, loss of profit, loss of reputation, direct, indirect, special or consequential loss or damage, costs, actions, damages, fines, judgments, awards, expenses, howsoever arising, including, but not limited to, all attorneys’ fees and disbursements:
a. arising out of Big Top Entertainment being unable to provide any or all of the booked services, due to death, injury, illness, car trouble or any unforeseen circumstances.
b. arising out of the damage to any personal property of, or personal injury to (including death of), any persons, the Client, the venue or any third party, whether associated with the event or not, resulting from Big Top Entertainment managing and providing products, services or rented equipment; or resulting from the clients use or misuse of the rented equipment.
c. arising out of any negligence, action or inaction, which is related to Big Top Entertainment managing and providing the services, of any of the indemnified parties which results in personal injury to (including death) or damage to property belonging to the Client, the venue, or any third party, whether associated with the event or not.
For client’s of Big Top Entertainment who are booking on behalf of a third party, it is your responsibility to ensure you pass the terms and conditions stated on this invoice on to the third party.