[SML] Severe weather cancellation of performance

[Bill Sapsis]

Tim

Force Majeure is a legal term, and, as with most legal terms, the interpretation of the term can be varied.  That being said, unless it’s an usual event like an earthquake, or maybe a hurricane in Chicago, I suspect Force Majeure won’t be applicable.

Glad to hear they shut the show down.  The weather sounds brutal.

Bill S

bill at sapsis-rigging.com<mailto:bill at sapsis-rigging.com>
267.278.4561 mobile


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From: Stagecraft <stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net> on behalf of "stagecraft at theatrical.net" <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Reply-To: "stagecraft at theatrical.net" <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Date: Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM
To: "stagecraft at theatrical.net" <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Cc: Tim Catlett <tmcatlett at gmail.com>
Subject: [SML] Severe weather cancellation of performance

Hey all,

It's been a long time since I've had the need, but I feel like I need to ask a question here of all of my various venue/event friends...

The question is this:
Is a "Force Majeure" event only valid if the performance is literally impossible to be undertaken? In other words, if the artist is ready to perform, and a minimal staff is available, would a cancellation be valid due to severe weather conditions?

I am being told that "Force Majeure" would likely not legally hold because the artist was "ready to perform", even though the venue made the decision to cancel for reasons which include the following:
1. Severe blizzard conditions
2. Multiple municipalities official notifications to avoid travel at all costs
3. Multiple AHJs indicating "life-threatening" conditions
4. Multiple anecdotal indications from house staff, artist staff, and potentially present patrons that travel and function is actively unsafe (ice covered roads, dangerous winds, dangerous temps, etc.)
5. NWS and NOAA designations of severe to dangerous weather conditions

(The venue did cancel out of an abundance of caution, for the above reasons, but additionally due to the liability question raised due to the average age of ticket buyers being 60+.)

Am I mistaken in my assertion that, from an event safety perspective, the life safety of all participants is a valid consideration in determining whether a "Force Majeure" condition exists, especially based on the above factors?

TIA for all thoughts and assistance!

Tim Catlett
(414) 975-4424
tmcatlett at gmail.com<mailto:tmcatlett at gmail.com>
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