Before your session

Event Intake and Acknowledgment

Please complete this before the session begins. It helps us look after you, and it covers a few things everyone in the room needs to agree to.

01

About You

02

Anything We Should Know

Check anything that applies. We use this only to adjust volume, placement, and pacing for you.

03

Comfort in the Room

You can change any of this at any point, including during the session. Just tell your facilitator.

04

The Space You Are Entering

So that nothing takes you by surprise:

  • The lights go down. The room is dim or dark for most of the session. Your eyes will adapt, but moving around before they do is how people trip.

  • The floor is the furniture. Mats, bolsters, blankets, cushions, bags, water bottles, and other people are spread across the floor with narrow paths between them.

  • Instruments and cables are live obstacles. Gongs on stands, bowls, chimes, speaker stands, and power cords sit around the perimeter and sometimes between rows. Please do not step over or touch them.

  • Shoes come off. Socks on a hard or polished floor are slippery. Bare feet or grip socks are safer.

  • You will be lying still for a long time. Blood pressure drops. Standing up quickly at the end can cause dizziness or fainting. Roll to your side, sit, breathe, then stand.

  • The sound is loud and physical. Gongs produce high volume and low frequency vibration you feel in the body as much as hear. Ear protection is available on request.

  • The room gets cool. Body temperature drops when you are still. Bring layers or ask for a blanket.

Exits, restrooms, and the water station will be pointed out before we begin. You may leave at any time, quietly and at your own pace.

05

Please Confirm Each of These

Check every box. Your facilitator will not begin until this section is complete.

06

Assumption of Risk and Release

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS IS A RELEASE OF LEGAL RIGHTS.

I participate voluntarily and knowingly assume all risks of participation, known and unknown, including the risks described above and those arising from the ordinary negligence of the Released Parties. “Released Parties” means StartwithPause, its owners, facilitators, employees, contractors, and agents, together with the owners, operators, lessors, and staff of any venue where a session is held.

In consideration of being permitted to participate, I release, waive, and covenant not to sue the Released Parties from any and all claims, damages, losses, and expenses, including attorney fees, arising from my participation, including injury, illness, death, or property loss, whether caused by their ordinary negligence or otherwise, and I agree to indemnify them against any claim brought by me or on my behalf. This release does not apply to gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct, or to any liability that may not be released under applicable law.

I waive California Civil Code section 1542, which reads: A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party. This agreement is governed by California law with exclusive venue in Los Angeles County, remains in force if any provision is held unenforceable, and applies to every session I attend unless I revoke it in writing.

I HAVE READ THIS DOCUMENT. I UNDERSTAND I AM GIVING UP SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE. I SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY.

07

Signature

If the participant is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign, consenting to participation and agreeing to Sections 5 and 6 on the minor’s behalf and their own.

Typed name and electronic submission constitute a binding signature under the ESIGN Act and the California Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. StartwithPause, Santa Clarita, California · hello@startwithpause.com