Hypothetical Situation - What do you do?

[RickEverhart]

So last night I lay in my bed thinking about magic as I sometimes do and a thought pops into my mind.

Let's say a parent hires you for a teen birthday party / graduation party / etc. and the kids present are between the ages of 16-25. It is in the evening and the adults leave as you begin your show. Now..you've already been paid and you start into your show. Now normally adults stay but lets say in this case they head out.

Within minutes alcohol is brought to the party by some other underage teens.
Or...maybe older brother or sister shows up to the party with alcohol and underage kids are now drinking as well.

Do you?
A.) Immediately tell the kids that you will not continue the show and will leave with no refunds.
B.) Not say a word because you have been paid and try to keep things under control.
C.) Ask that all kids of age take it elswhere?

Any way you look at it...you are the adult at the party (asuming you are my age, 31) Couldn't you be held liable or not?

Anyone on here ever encounter a similar situation...if so please tell.

Remember: This is not something that has happened to me but just a hypothetical situation that I thought of last night.

 

[aJohnson]

I'd tell them to take it elsewhere, I will not leave as they paid me for a show.

 

[The Tumbleweed]

I'm 16, and I actually do these types of parties.

Thankfully, I have some sense, and don't drink. (Laws are there for a reason, right?)

I perform to those who aren't drinking, and they love it. I leave the other guys alone.

 

[chriswiehl]

i dont think that would happen. because little children who think it is cool to drink will drink much later at night. if they dont know u then they prly wont drink in front of you

 

[RickEverhart]

Chris, I am not talking about little children. I am talking more like kids in their late teens such as 16-20 who are older but are still underage.

Maybe they wouldn't drink in front of me since they don't know me but whose to say they aren't thinking, "The magician isn't going to tell us no, and he has been paid so who cares?"

Maybe they would wait until I leave. Oh well. It was just a hypothetical situation that I wondered if anyone has come across.

I was just worried that if underage drinking was happening that I would be the adult liable if the cops show up.

 

[LuseifHo]

Hm..
thats odd..
when ever my friend have drinking parties at a house, they usually get extremely wasted near the end.
So If i we re in this situation... I would just... tell the ones who are drunk out of their mind to take it else where and keep the slightly drunk ones here (makes easy reactions).
"name a card"
"2 of hearts"
"it came to the top! and I CHANGED IT!"
"OMFG! WTF NO WAY! WHAT! DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT! THAT WAS AMAZING! You... YOU!.... YOUUUUU my friend... is... is.... is.....like... de..... de..... de.......MERLIN!!!! WOOOOOO!"

 

[DannyT]

Tough call.
I couldn't see how a magician can be held responsible though. He's not a professional babysitter, he's a performer.

On the other hand, how bad would it look if a parent came back and saw you with a bunch of underage kids drinking while you were still performing.

"I didn't see them" wouldn't be a good enough excuse.

I'd probably do the uncool thing and tell them to go somewhere else.
I'd say something like, "Guys I can't let you do that in front of me. Either stop or take it somewhere else."
Whatever happens after that is not my problem, since I told them to stop and it was their decision to drink somewhere else.

 

[William Draven]

Seeing as how I'm an adult, my answers are going to be diffrent than some forum contributers, as I am over the age of 18 and legally could be held accountable for the actions of the minors in this case.

First off, if the majority of the attending party was over the age of 21 and between the ages of 21 and 25 as your situation suggested, I'd continue the show and let the minors deal with the temptations. I'm hired to do a job. Bottom line.

Now let's assume the worst case senereo here and assume that the majority of the attending party are all underage. As an adult that would not be a comfortable situation for me to be in, just an entertainer or not should the police get called in for what ever reason. I would ask the offending people to kindly take the alcohol elsewhere until the show is complete. If they refuse, I would not finish or do the show at all. I would leave. I would also take the money for the paid gig with me, however it is very rare to be paid in full prior to the completion of the event.

I wouldn't leave the money behind if for no other reason than someone could steal it/ spend it, and I'd have no proof that I left it there. The refund for the show would have to come out of my own pocket. Hells to that.

Once I left the house, I would contact my client and inform them of the situation. Not to tatle, but purely out of business. I did not complete my end of the deal and the client should know why. I would offer them a slight refund, but I wouldn't return ALL the money paid. 1) I did have to drive to the location and back. 2) it's no fault of MINE that they were poor parents and did not chaparone the event, and 3) it's no fault of mine that someone decided to bring/ let alocohol into the event.

Also calling the parents to inform the of the situation moraly releases me from the actions of the party.

I would not stay at the party no mater what. I'm being hired and paid as an entertainer, not a baby sitter.

So last night I lay in my bed thinking about magic as I sometimes do and a thought pops into my mind.

Let's say a parent hires you for a teen birthday party / graduation party / etc. and the kids present are between the ages of 16-25. It is in the evening and the adults leave as you begin your show. Now..you've already been paid and you start into your show. Now normally adults stay but lets say in this case they head out.

Within minutes alcohol is brought to the party by some other underage teens.
Or...maybe older brother or sister shows up to the party with alcohol and underage kids are now drinking as well.

Do you?
A.) Immediately tell the kids that you will not continue the show and will leave with no refunds.
B.) Not say a word because you have been paid and try to keep things under control.
C.) Ask that all kids of age take it elswhere?

Any way you look at it...you are the adult at the party (asuming you are my age, 31) Couldn't you be held liable or not?

Anyone on here ever encounter a similar situation...if so please tell.

Remember: This is not something that has happened to me but just a hypothetical situation that I thought of last night.

 

[magyk11]

D) have some your self

 

[RickEverhart]

Thank you William. That is the exact type of response I was hoping to get from another adult in this situation. I would definitely not continue the show if the offending underage drinkers refused to listen to me.

I think I would pack up and leave the house and keep a portion of the money....and contact parents late that night or the following morning regarding the uncomfortable situation they had put me in.

Danny T...you are exactly right....if the cops do show up...you are the only adult there and no excuse is going to get you out of the mess. Also yes, if the parents return to see you continuing your show while under age kids are drinking, that makes you look like a poor adult in the situation and unprofessional as well.

I wonder if we have any legal personel / cops on this forum that could shed some light on the legality issues as to if the performer is liable for the underage drinkers should no other adults be present.