One of my clients, a chain of nursing homes, is demanding that I have insurance.

What's the cheapest insurance I can get as an entertainer?

Beakybird

I have a liability umbrella policy for $2,000,000.00. It combines vehicles, home and other liability issues (say, a customer pulls over a speaker on their head and sues either me or the venue). The cost is about $350.00 per year over the cost of the regular coverage.

The agent had to look at a lot of companies to get peresonal liability under the unbrella.

More venues and clients are requiring this. As a supplier of brochures and films, I'm asked to provide proof of liability coverage to protect from claims in the event someone claims injury as a result of applying a product per directions in my collateral piece and getting injured.

Just start with whomever supplies your homeowners insurance. If that doesn't work, try a firm that specializes in commercial lines.


Good luck!


Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 03-12-2009).]

Slightly OT (as in not answering the question directly) but I assumed everyone (especially in the U.S.) had to have Entertainment/Public Liability Insurance - no????

It's mandatory in Australia for professionals (as far as Agents & Venues are concerned) and has been for a few years now.

I've never heard of anything like that.
I have to have Public Insurance on my Studio which covers me if customers fall or whatever, but outside that, they don't have to have anything.

Same goes got any public place, pub, club or any venue. Public Insurance covers it all.

Regards.
James.

A year or so ago a client, (nursing home/upscale retirement community) informed me that I needed to provide liability insurance in order to continue being employed by said client.

Some things to know:

1) Generally speaking, its not guys like us they really have in mind. Any repair service techs, construction, installation, Delivery guys, etc. type people who have reason to be in their business. If a over head light fixture falls out of the ceiling, they need to know who to come after.

2) I spoke directly to the main office and explained that one man shops aren't geared to carry large lines of insurance coverage, if any. They agreed and said this wasn't meant for entertainers...

3) The above may not apply in your situation, but its worth making sure you're name didn't just pop up from a vendors report and now you have this problem.

4) Ask your AD what insurance other entertainers are providing. Check out their rates...

5) Another possibility is to explore a group rate. If all of a sudden all entertainers have to have this, maybe if you join together on this issue, you can get a better deal (ie: rates) than you could individually.

Let us know how it turns out...

I have insurance on my equipment. I'm covered for just about anything up to 15K at a annual cost to me of about $90...

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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 03-12-2009).]

Thanks for the replies. I will talk to the activity directors. It's not worth it for me to get insurance if this is the only client requiring it. I might get $1200 in business from them, but if I have to pay $350 to get insurance, then forget it.

Beakybird

F-ing office weenies! Corporate bullsh*t at it's finest...

Next they'll be asking the janitor to provide his own liability insurance, even if he is working for THEM...

As if the profits in the medical industry weren't already obscene, they try to scrimp and save every last dime to pad their bottom line. No matter what the cost to their employees or customers.

It's a national disgrace.

The bureaucrat must have spoken with her superior.

I called her to ask to talk to her superior, and she said to me, "Actually, you don't need liability insurance since you're an entertainer."

She never bothered to call me. I was thinking of buying a policy which would have cost $325 a year.

Beakybird

There's another issue here, folks. Even if the venue doesn't require it, we're all risking getting sued because someone trips over a cable and falls while we're working. Liability coverage is a good thing to have, if you don't want to risk your ASSets.

R.

Thing is, don't these venues already HAVE liability insurance?

If the janitor leaves the floor wet, and someone trips, isn't their liability covering that? Why should we be any different..? No-one follows the janitor around night and day, just in case he does leave something wet. They hire trustworthy janitors, and then get insurance just in case... they sure DON'T make the janitor buy his own

If they use a janitorial service, then the cost of the insurance is factored into the price the service charges. But you can bet your bottom dollar that a NH that insists on you getting liability insurance WON'T be happy if you raise your price to cover the additional expense

I think the main issue - in our situation at least (I mean personally) - is that if you as an Entertainer/Act invite people up on the floor either directly ("Come on everybody get up and dance!") or inferred (simply playing known, popular, dance music or styles of Dance) and someone falls on their ass, that person is entitled to sue whoever they can come after.

Could be (and most likely will be) the Venue.
Could be (and possibly might be) the Artist.

I want to be covered for the second possibility, and professionally, apparently, I HAVE to be.

Let's face it ... in this litigious society of ours, ANYONE will sue ANYONE ELSE for ANYTHING, and they will find a lawyer to take the case ...
In the musician's case, forget the 'tripping on a cable' (I always try to make sure mine lead behind me or they are covered with duct tape), as hellboy said, if someone is dancing to your music and falls, you stand as much chance (maybe MORE) of getting sued as the venue does, whether it's a club, NH, whatever ...
You may not NEED the insurance to work in a particular place, but you may WANT it, no matter where you work ...
... AND no, I do not have it ...

t.

BTW ... If you are covered for any and every occasion/venue with your own insurance policy, might it not be a worthwhile deductible business expense???
t.

Around here,....
No Liabilituy Insurance = No Work period.

Donny ... is that YOUR choice, or a requirement? ...
t.

Anybody actually been sued around here, or is this just us getting our panties in a wad?

I know in New York if you do something for hire (make money at it) it changes everything. This includes using your vehicle to transport equipment. Your not covered if you are getting paid to do it so vehicle insurance would not cover you or your equipment if in an accident.... I would think this would be the same for an private umbrella policy with your home policy.... Not sure 100 % but worth checking into....

Requirement I'd say in 50-75% of the establishments..client is asked upon booking the affair if the Dj/Band is insured & a copy of policy is to be kept on record & produced beforee you start playing to the banquet manager. Especially in the high end places.All gigging musicians should definitly have it...don't be a fool.




[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-15-2009).]

In 14+ years of performing upwards of 350-400 shows a year, I've NEVER been asked for proof of insurance. I've played at all the biggest, swankiest places in the Dayton Metro area, including large upscale affairs at Major Hotels, Banquet Ctrs., WPAFB, etc.

I was asked once at a retirement community, but they quickly rescinded the request saying entertainers didn't need to provide it.

I also think you could've made your point without calling people who don't carry liability a fool.

Cheers-




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Bill in Dayton

Bill....
every state is different.....liability insurance is liability, Murphy's law, people dance, people drink, people fall & get hurt, people name you in a lawsuit,.....once you & the establishment get sued you'll be glad you have it or yes a fool for not, plain & simple. It's an inexpensive protection not to have it required or not.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-16-2009).]

Insurance is for your protection....You guys are playing 350 jobs a year..just spend the $300....