Does your band carry liability insurance?

**bassman_al** · #1 04-13-2009, 07:07 PM

Recently my cover/wedding/private event band lost a gig because we don't carry liability insurance and we would not agree to a very poorly worded "hold harmless" document in which the customer, a shopping center, wanted us to waive our right to agree not to hold anyone accountable for any damage done to our gear, no matter what. In 20 years of playing shows, I never had been asked to provide insurance or sign such a waiver. I was too nice and agreed to refund the deposit since the gig was still several months away.

Anyone carry insurance? We have played many similar venues. I would think that the venue's insurance would cover such events as my amp landing on someone's foot, or little Johnny electocuting himself after pouring his Slurpee over my amp.

Thanks for your responses

Febs · #2 04-13-2009, 07:32 PM

Yes. Many of the venues we play require us to have liability insurance.

b_carville · #3 04-13-2009, 08:04 PM

My main band has had to carry it.

The sound company we use carries it too.

Nowadays most country clubs,catering halls,county/municipal parks,etc.require it to work their venues.It goes up cost wise every year.

Somebody at a wedding/private party jumps on stage & injures themselves,drunk or not,they will be looking to see if they can get anything out of it.Or at least their medical bill paid.I hate having to pay for it but an insurance company usually knows how to handle that situation should there be a problem.

We have had people trip over cables,fall into the drumkit,fall over monitors & all kinds of stuff.We try to bring a stage if there isn't one & we try our best to keep anybody who doesn't belong off but that sure doesn't stop some people.Weddings can really be brutal.People can be really stupid grabbing mikes,drumsticks,etc. Once in a while somebody gets hurt because they did something stupid.

Nakedfish · #4 04-13-2009, 08:15 PM

Yes. Our entertainers liability insurance covers the band up to £5M ($7.5M). It costs us around £200 ($350) per year, but we feel it is well worth it. We're an 8 piece band so the cost is negligible when split between us. A small price to pay for peace of mind.

Some of the venues we play at require it, but many don't. The way things are going, more and more will.

**Stumbo** · #5 04-14-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman_al

I would think that the venue's insurance would cover such events as my amp landing on someone's foot, or little Johnny electocuting himself after pouring his Slurpee over my amp.

If you have insurance, the venue may get out of using their insurance. Also, they can sue you if they get sued.

You also can ask the venue for a hold harmless clause for any damage that your band or equipment may cause to the venue.

Febs · #6 04-14-2009, 02:26 PM

They can sue you regardless of whether you have insurance.

frestivo · #7 09-20-2010, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nakedfish

Yes. Our entertainers liability insurance covers the band up to £5M ($7.5M). It costs us around £200 ($350) per year, but we feel it is well worth it. We're an 8 piece band so the cost is negligible when split between us. A small price to pay for peace of mind.

Some of the venues we play at require it, but many don't. The way things are going, more and more will.

can u please contact me asap. my band needs insurance and i want to see if you can give me your inurance companys info. thanks. my name is frank and you can email me at jake0509@hotmail.com thanks bro

Nakedfish · #8 09-20-2010, 11:34 AM

Hi Frestivo. I'm not sure where you're located. I live in the UK.

This is the company that handles our insurance -

http://www.hencilla.co.uk/

bassbully · #9 09-20-2010, 12:09 PM

No, but you made me think about it. We did a few shows with contrcts and they all had us not holding the venue responsible for damages to equipment or injury to us but thats it.
I always thought the venue was insured against if someone gets injured at the show since they are putting on the show,promoting it and holding it on their grounds and property. I guess I could be wrong??????

RNV · #10 09-20-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frestivo

my name is frank and you can email me at jake0509@hotmail.com thanks bro

I'm not sure why, but this made soda come out of my nose. LOL

Stick_Player · #11 09-20-2010, 12:45 PM

You're in the U.S., anyone can sue anyone for any reason.

Kael · #12 09-20-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

You're in the U.S., anyone can sue anyone for any reason.

Hey now. I don't like the tone of your post. Them there's suing words.

busmandan · #13 09-20-2010, 03:37 PM

I've never used them, but you can get liability insurance from http://www.musicproinsurance.com

thomashawk · #14 09-20-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frestivo

my name is frank and you can email me at jake0509@hotmail.com thanks bro

Quote:

Originally Posted by RNV

I'm not sure why, but this made soda come out of my nose. LOL

NO DOUBT!!! That's some good old fashioned abstractionist humor right there!

Qvist · #15 09-20-2010, 04:20 PM

Wow, I'm from Denmark and I don't even know the danish word for sue! I feel bad for you guys. Usually people are nice enough to pay for what they've damaged around here, but I bet there of course must be exceptions.

crijan · #16 09-20-2010, 05:04 PM

I've gotten artist liability coverage for a single event through CSI Entertainment Insurance for a reasonable price. www.csicoverage.com

The policy was required by the client in order for them to contract the date with us.

Matt Dean · #17 09-20-2010, 05:07 PM

I voted no because out of the three bands I play with, none carry liability insurance.

However, I do carry a lot of extra auto insurance (1mil.) because I drive so much and because my day job clients require me to.

warnergt · #18 09-20-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman_al

...lost a gig because we don't carry liability insurance...
...a shopping center, wanted us to waive our right to agree not to hold
anyone accountable for any damage done to our gear, no matter what...

There may be some confusion here (and it could be on my part). From
this limited bit of information, it appears that the shopping center is
not requiring you to have liability insurance; they are simply asking
that you agree not to sue them if something of yours is damaged. That's
not entirely unreasonable.

Liability insurance covers damage that you cause; not damage to your property.

MatticusMania · #19 09-20-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qvist

Wow, I'm from Denmark and I don't even know the danish word for sue! I feel bad for you guys. Usually people are nice enough to pay for what they've damaged around here, but I bet there of course must be exceptions.

In the US there are a lot of 'exceptions'

Raymeous · #20 09-21-2010, 12:48 PM

Although my general belief is that insurance is just gambling against yourself and throwing money away I can see how the "CYA" aspect of it makes sense. I hadn't really thought of it in a band context before but now that the seed has been planted....