Policies and Terms of Service

Location
Perfect ParTeas comes to your home. While we are happy to provide parties at private locations anywhere in our service area, clubs and restaurants will usually not permit outside food, tables, and china. Please ask them before confirming your location. If your party is scheduled in a community room, please remember we need two hours of set-up time, and 45 minutes of clean-up time over and above the actual length of the party. Due to permit and security issues bookings planned for venues such as parks, zoos, museums, skating rinks, etc. may be subject to additional fees. 

Party Space
The party schedule requires three distinct areas:
     1. An area for the tables, chairs, and the food table. 
     2. An area for dress-up.
     3. An area for craft, activities, and games.
Ideally these areas should be adjacent to each other. Access to an electrical outlet is needed for our music. Space requirements vary by theme and the number of guests invited.
 
Booking
Parties are booked on a first come, first serve basis. All themes are available by appointment only, and are subject to performer availibility. Parties may be scheduled January through December, seven days a week, between 11 AM (we arrive 8:30 AM) and 4 PM (we depart 7 PM). The Traditional and Princess ParTeas are available indoors only. Keiki Luau and Wonderland ParTeas may be scheduled outdoors from May 1 through September 30 with advance notice.

Each Perfect ParTea is two hours in length and requires 2 to 2.5 hours of set-up time and 1 hour of clean-up time. Our entertainment, including organized activites and tea service, requires a two-hour continuous time period. If you plan other entertainment or activites during this time period (including swimming, bounce houses, pony rides, etc.), independent of Perfect ParTeas, we cannot guarantee we will be able to complete contracted activites by our scheduled end time. We will begin our clean-up, including return of costumes and break down of tables, after the two hour party time is up. Supervised overtime use of our equipment (costumes, tablesettings, props, etc.) must be arranged, and will be billed, in advance.

Fees
All party fees are based on a party size of up to eight (8) children. Additional children may be added to a maximum of twelve (12) total. If less than eight children attend, the group rate still applies. This number includes the birthday child/guest of honor. There is a charge of $10 for each addition birthday child/guest of honor to cover the cost of birthday childs/guest of honors special gift. 

All prices are subject to change without notice. Clients with a signed Performance Agreement are exempt from all such increase in price. Posted rates are valid only within our established service area. Additional travel charges may apply outside the established service area. A non-refundable Reservation Fee, representing 50% of the total balance, is due upon booking in order to hold your selected date and time. Failure to return the signed Performance Agreement and Reservation Fee by the specified date will result in rendering the Agreement null and void, and checks or money orders paid toward the Agreement as a Reservation Fee shall be returned to the client. Reservation Fee may be paid by business or personal check or money order drawn on a US financial institution. Final balance is due to Sterling Entertainment, or it's representative, on the day of the event. Final balance may be paid in cash or by personal or business check or money order drawn on a US financial institution. Returned checks are subject to a $30 service fee, per occurance.

Cancellation and Rescheduling
Once the reservation fee has been paid, your party may only be postponed. We will gladly work with you to find an alternate party date, based on availibility, within a three month period. If you request to reschedule with less than one weeks (7 days) notice you will be responsible for reimbursing Sterling Entertainment for any food or perishable items already purchased on your behalf for the original party date. Should it be necessary to re-send invitations there will be an additional charge. If you choose to cancel, your reservation fee is non-refundable. 

In the event of severe, dangerous weather or other acts of God, Sterling Entertainment reserves the right to reschedule your party at no liability to the client.

Snow/Rain Dates
A dedicated rain or snow date can be arranged in advance for a non-refundable 50% additional fee.

Adult Supervision
The client must have at least one adult present at all times during the event.
Parties are designed for girls and boys ages four (4) and up. Items used during the party have small pieces and may pose a choking hazard to children three and under. For safety reasons children age three (3) and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times where access to Sterling Entertainments food, costumes, props, equipment, etc. can reasonably be expected.

Invitations
Eight custom, theme specific invitations with envelopes are included in your party package. They are addressed and include regular first class postage. Invitations cannot be sent to you until we receive your signed Performance Agreement, reservation fee, and invitation list with contact information. Please allow 48 hours for your invitations to be hand-crafted. Once they are ready your invitations will be sent to you via three day Priority mail. There will be an additional postage charge if we need to overnight your invitations to you.

Privacy
We value our clients privacy. Names and contact information provided for your invitations will never be used for solicitation purposes, nor given, rented, or sold to any company or individual for any purpose without permission. Photographs of the party and its guests taken by Sterling Entertainment Services of New York shall not be used in any media without a release signed by the client. Parents of party guests who wish to have an authorized photograph of their child at a client's party removed from this site may contact us at info@perfectparteas.com  

Final Confirmation Count
A final count confirming the number of guests attending (including the birthday child/children) is due to Sterling Entertainment one week prior to the party date. You may decide to have us prepare for a number of guests greater than those who have actually RSVP'd. You will be billed based on the final confirmation count whether or not additional guests attend the party.

Parking and Loading
Please allocate a parking space as close to the party area as possible for efficient  loading in and out. For our safety, and to prevent any damage to your home, please remove any obstacles like child gates during the loading process. To make the set-up period as fast and safe as possible please keep children away from the dress-up area and tablesettings until the party start time. Once our set-up is complete the birthday child will be permitted to select her dress-up outfit before the other children arrive.

Late Arrivals
Guests should arrive at the party start time stated on the invitation. Your party will begin promptly at the scheduled time. Our parties are based on a schedule, and they work best when all guests arrive on time. Those guests arriving late may join the party at whatever point it has progressed to. This means a late arrival may not be able to participate in activities the other children have completed (craft, dress-up, face painting, etc.). This is necessary in order to provide the least amount of disruption to the party, and your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

No-Shows
We prepare your event based on your final confirmation count, and all payment must be made based on that number. You will receive the exact number of party favors as your final count.

Non-Participation and Behavior Problems
We are at your event to entertain, but once in a while we come across a child who simply does not want to be at a party. We understand that sometimes children can be overly shy or cranky. We guide and encourage the children to join the group activities, but we do not force them to participate. Behavioral problems and disciplining of guests is the responsibiltiy of the client. We suggest any child who is behaving in a disruptive manor be escorted from the party area by a parent or other adult until that child is ready to rejoin the group.

Illness
Tending to any child who becomes unwell or emotionally distressed during the entertainment is the responsibility of the client.

Parents
Space permitting, parents are always welcome to stay and watch the fun; however, tables, chairs, tablesettings, and food are provided for the birthday child and his or her invited guests only. Food, beverages, glassware, plates and chairs for adults and non-participating siblings are the responsibility of the client. For maximum enjoyment of the entertainment by the birthday child and her guests it is suggested a separate gathering area be provided for parents of guests and non-participating siblings to socialize.

Non-participating siblings and unexpected guests
Party packages include only the guest of honor and his or her invited guests. Siblings and children of any age who are not included in the confirmation count will not be permitted to use any equipment, costumes, props, etc. provided by Sterling Entertainment. Unfortunately we cannot accomodate uninvited siblings or unexpected guests, since we prepare for our events based on the final confirmation count given to us one week prior to the party.

Food Allergies and Special Diets
At this time Sterling Entertainment is not able to accomodate special diets including nut-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, vegan, or Kosher dietary restrictions. While we will try to work with you to eliminate foods that trigger problems, we cannot guarantee all the food products we use to be free of reaction causing ingredients. If a guest has severe allergies we recommend that either the client or child's parent or guardian provide a safe altenate menu for that child.

Outdoor Parties (Keiki Luau and Womderland themes only)
For the comfort of the children a clean, shaded area (porch, patio, garage, etc.) is required outdoors. We can provide a 10' x 10' canopy tent for an additional fee. The yard must be grassy and free of thorny plants. Please do not water the lawn for 24 hours prior to the party so the ground is not muddy. Sterling Entertainment reserves the right to determine if the outdoor area is suitable for our equipment. We request clients arrange an alternate indoor location in the event of excessive heat (above 76 degrees) or inclement weather. Client and guests are responsible for providing their own sunscreen and bug repellent at outdoor events.

Pets
Sterling Entertainment requires pet owners to restrain or remove pets during loading, prep, and event time. The homeowner is responsible for any injury or damage caused to Sterling Entertainments representatives or equipment by unrestrained pets. Sterling Entertainment assumes no liability in the event injury or damage to our representatives or equipment caused by an unrestrained pet prohibits us from fulfilling our contractual obligation.

Gratuities
Gratuities, while greatly appreciated for a job well done, are optional and at the discretion of the client.

Clothing
The dressing area will be shared with other children. To protect the childrens modesty, and to facilitate costume changes, girls are encourages to wear a sleeveless, tank, or camisole style shirt with shorts, a sleeveless leotard, or a swim suit. Boys costumes for the Traditional, Princess, or Wonderland themes may be worn over most existing clothing. For the Keiki Luau theme boys are encouraged to wear a tank, sleeveless, or short sleeve tee shirt with slacks, shorts, or swim trunks.

Makeup (Traditional and Princess ParTeas)
Soft colored eye shadow, lip gloss, and glitter dust are lightly applied using individual, disposible applicators.

Face Paint
We use only Mehron Paradise, a water soluable makeup formulated exclusively for face painting.

Craft
Under construction.

Additional Policies
Sterling Entertainment and its contractors assume no responsibility or liability for accidents or damages. 

Sterling Entertainment and its contractors are not responsible for allergic reactions, or any other medical condition, arising from the use of our decorations, accessories, props, equipment, and costumes, or from our menu. In the event of liability or financial renumeration stemming from such reactions or conditions the liability lies solely with the client.

All decorations, accessories, props, equipment, and costumes provided by Sterling Entertainment for use during the event are the property of Sterling Entertainment, and remain the property of Sterling Entertainment unless specified in the Performance Agreement. In the event of damage or loss to Sterling Entertainments decorations, accessories, props, equipment, and/or costumes the financial responsibility lies entirely with the client. 

Sterling Entertainment Services of New York provides a complete account of our policies and terms of service on the reverse side of your written Performance Agreement with the assumption you have read, and agreed to, the aforementioned policies before signing it. If there are any questions regarding the above policies, please contact Sterling Entertainment prior to returning your signed Agreement and  Reservation Fee. 


Client Obligations

• To provide a safe, clean, and physically comfortable area for dress-up, activites, and eating.
• To have at least one adult present at all times.
• To provide a smoke-free environment.
• To provide a parking space as close to the party area as possible for efficient loading in and out, and for safety reasons to remove any obstacles during the loading process (child gates, etc.)
• To keep children away from party area during loading and set-up.
• To provide adequate space for our physical set-up and activities, with access to a standard electrical outlet.
• To allow the use of  your refrigerator or oven for items requiring them, and kitchen counter or table space for pre-plating food.
• To restrain or remove animals from the party and prep areas for the duration of the event.