Etiquette for shooting an event while sick

Hi guys,
I have a shoot scheduled for tomorrow afternoon - I'm shooting a little boy's first birthday party at a baby gym. I have never been sick for my shoots, and now I have a cold. I would say on a scale of 1 (totally healthy) and 10 (horrible flu can't get out of bed), I'm about 5-6. Probably the worst symptom being my throat, totally hoarse and can't really talk all that much. I usually like to mingle a bit with the folks at the parties so won't be doing much of that at all. I am physically able to shoot, but I am wondering if it's not NICE to show up sick to a baby's party? If I were just a guest, I would totally not go. Easy. However, since the shoot is tomorrow, they already paid me, plus I feel I can really shoot it (I do these events all the time plus I've shot at that exact same venue before), I should go right? Should I get one of those paper masks or something? Share your stories of shooting events while being sick!
-Sue

call your doc. If there's even the smallest chance of getting the baby or other kids sick, try to find somebody else that can go for you. Call the parents too, see what they say. Getting sick is out of your control, I'm sure they'll understand. But getting the kid(s) or parents sick is in your control. I'd be very mad if somebody I hired for something like this would spread a cold around.

That's what I'd do at least.

^^^^ I agree w/ phantelope!! At least let the parents make the decision; I would, as a dad, want to atleast hear/see you to make the call. Good luck and FEEL BETTER!!

B-

Call your doc, get swabbed. There are a couple strains of strep making the rounds the last couple weeks that aren't presenting the expected way. You're probably fine, and kids tend to catch a whole lot more at daycare but it would be good to know for sure and to check in with the parents.

If they are uncomfortable, it's time to send your backup.

Interesting. While I would be horrified if I made any of the people there sick I would expect to come away from a kid's party with everything up to and including bubonic plague.:p

bpiper7 wrote in post #16381279
Interesting. While I would be horrified if I made any of the people there sick I would expect to come away from a kid's party with everything up to and including bubonic plague.:p

This is a fact. Having a three-year-old I can't remember coming home from a birthday party where the monkey DIDN'T get sick within a couple days.

How would you feel if you were the parent of a kid at that party? Yes, kids spread their sickness to each other, but that happens unknowingly. In this case, you already know that you can/will get others sick. I would tell the parents and if they are still OK with you shooting the party, I'd use a telephoto lens and stay far back if possible. The mask should be worn as well.

If you have a cold what about wearing a face mask as you see in Japan?
Explain to the parents that you are doing everything to reduce the risk of passing the bug on. Dose yourself up with Paracetamol so you don't sneeze.
Should get away with it.

Hey Sue. I think the right angle can totally make this work. I'd call them and explain the situation, definitely making fun of yourself in the process. On the day of the shoot consider bringing a mask as suggested above. But, again, I'd in fact emphasize the mask thing by explaining it to the kids; and consider maybe drawing something funny on the mask--a strange mouth, perhaps ? Have fun with it.

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #16381429
Hey Sue. I think the right angle can totally make this work. I'd call them and explain the situation, definitely making fun of yourself in the process. On the day of the shoot consider bringing a mask as suggested above. But, again, I'd in fact emphasize the mask thing by explaining it to the kids; and consider maybe drawing something funny on the mask--a strange mouth, perhaps ? Have fun with it.

Christopher, I think you're on to something. It's very close to Halloween so why not decorate the mask with fangs and be a vampire?

syclarac wrote in post #16381044
Etiquette for shooting an event while sick

Suck it up. I mean, literally, suck it up.

No matter what it is, and no matter how much it tries to come out of your body - just try as hard as you can to keep it inside where it belongs . . . until the event is over . . . then you can have a "bodily fluid exorcism"!

Go shoot it and don't say anything.
Parents with kids send the sick brats out to infect everyone else, with out a care. So its all fair.

Christopher, that's pretty much what I did..

Frugivore, love the fangs idea! Though it might be either totally lost on one year olds or scare them, ha!

Fester, the thing is I literally can't say anything except to whisper because of the sore throat!

But good thing is other than the throat & feeling tired I have no other symptoms to speak of like sneezing, coughing, runny nose, fever, headache - nothing. Sent the client an email explaining the whole thing. Just went to the doctor and she gave me the OK to shoot tomorrow & wear the mask only if I wanted to but said it's not required. Just waiting to hear back from the client....

My client OK'd me! I will let you know how it goes tomorrow!
-Sue

good luck and get well!