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The phone call you pray never comes.....

#64
blindeddie said:
wow, sorry bro. i hate to hear that. hey, i live in Knoxville, what bar/venue was it? and that's sucks about the 300T, i used to have one of the SUNNO))) versions of the same. loved that amp, would like another one.
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It was the "V" club in Rocky Top (Lake City). They hope to have it reopened in 4 to 6 weeks.
 
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#67
I'd be looking very closely at the venue's insurance policy and seeing if the band gear is covered... and I would expect the bar to be more than willing to help you guys out in any way necessary to get back on your feet.
 
#68
lfmn16 said:
When I talked to my insurance man he told me if you're playing gigs, you aren't covered.
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This is my experience.

My best friend and guitarist had his house broken in to a couple years ago. Insurance company did not want to pay him out for any of his guitar or studio gear because he was in a gigging band and had a Facebook page set up for his little home studio projects (he had no paying clients). They said it was all business tools and not covered by his homeowners. They were hardcore about it and handed sent him a list of every gig we had played for the last two years in our main band as well as some sub gigs he played with others. They even had recordings from his home studio facebook page of stuff he recorded for friends that they sent him as evidence against his claim.

He quit gigging and fought them on it for almost a year, and ended up getting maybe 20% of the value of the gear that was lost. We are talking thousands of dollars he lost.

Check those homeowners policies carefully!
 
#70
JimmyM said:
Depending on your policy and how many times a week you gig, you may not need insurance because it could be covered by homeowner's. I have had stuff happen to me occasionally, even had a bar fire that took out my 73 V4B and SVT810 in 1989 or 90, and it was covered by homeowners' insurance, but there was a $500 deductible so I didn't get much out of it. Same thing happened when I had a couple small amps stolen out of a practice space I had gear stored in a few years later. I've got real mixed feelings about insurance. I see a need for it for some folks, but why pay for it if the total value of the gear I lose is only a little higher than the deductible? It's really legalized gambling, isn't it? I gamble I'm going to have a problem, and they gamble that I'm not. The vast majority of the time, they are right. The house always wins.
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True stuff here.

To the OP: If you have damage or loss, at least go to the trouble of checking your Homeowner's policy, and with the club owner's. Bottom line, they are responsible if they are found negligent in any way. See if you can get a copy of the Fire Marshall's report.

Way back when I was in a traveling bar band, I had a rider attached to my homeowner's insurance. I insured a specific list of equipment with exact models and serial numbers. I listed everything that ever went into the trailer. I think it costs me like $75 a year for replacement insurance with a low deductible.
 
#73
JimmyM said:
Depending on your policy and how many times a week you gig, you may not need insurance because it could be covered by homeowner's. I have had stuff happen to me occasionally, even had a bar fire that took out my 73 V4B and SVT810 in 1989 or 90, and it was covered by homeowners' insurance, but there was a $500 deductible so I didn't get much out of it. Same thing happened when I had a couple small amps stolen out of a practice space I had gear stored in a few years later. I've got real mixed feelings about insurance. I see a need for it for some folks, but why pay for it if the total value of the gear I lose is only a little higher than the deductible? It's really legalized gambling, isn't it? I gamble I'm going to have a problem, and they gamble that I'm not. The vast majority of the time, they are right. The house always wins.
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Mine is also covered under my homeowner's policy. You really do need to read the fine print since hobbies are typically covered but a business that makes a substantial amount of your yearly income is usually not - the key term in my policy is substantial amount of yearly income. I forget the exact percentage (it is something like 30-40%) but I am covered as long as the hobby / business makes less than that (which has fortunately or unfortunately depending on your viewpoint never been an issue for me).

JimmyM is also right that you need to do the math to see what amount of coverage and deductible works for you. The policies have limits on stuff like jewelry, stereo equipment, and musical instruments - meaning how much they will pay out for a single item and for all the items. If you have really expensive stuff (or a lot of it), you would need additional insurance riders for extra coverage (the limits are usually lower than you would expect, around the $2000 mark for individual items). This is just like health insurance in terms of how you want to be covered - comprehensive or catastrophic. I would recommend that everyone at least have catastrophic (high deductible) which is pretty reasonable in cost. Another thing to think about with insurance is to make sure you have pictures of everything (including serial numbers) and get appraisals from your local music store or other acceptable expert - especially if you have had a lot of work / upgrades done to instruments (I have been bad about this last bit).
 
#74
RoadRanger said:
If they can prove you got paid for any gigs they'll classify it as a "business". If you lie and get caught they'll have you arrested - I know someone who got caught :( .
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Unless the policy spells that out specifically, it's a little more complex than that, and I imagine tax records would come in. You can get paid for something, but if you take a loss on it for more than a couple years in a row, the IRS might make you start calling it a hobby and won't allow the loss deduction any longer.
 
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#75
This happened to some friends of mine in Cambridge, MA in the 80s. They lost everything (including a really nice early 60s strat). They weren't even allowed to pick through the wreckage. I can't remember the name of the club off the top of my head, but it was a great place to play.

Sorry to hear about your strife!

I highly recommend Heritage Musical Instrument Insurance out of Pennsylvania. They cover your gear on the gig, or even locked in your car, and their rates are extremely reasonable. For about $300 a year I cover all my bass gear and recording gear, which is tens of thousands of dollars. Major items, like instruments, have no deductible. They specialize in this, so they know what we deal with as musicians.

Renter's or homeowner's insurance will deny you if you gig with your gear. I know this from first hand experience. If the gear doesn't leave your house for money, iow, if it's a hobby and you are just jamming with friends when your gear is lost or damaged, you'll be covered, but otherwise you are SOL.
 
#80
The homeowners policy I had back in the '80s covered all of my gear, regardless of where it was or what I was using it for. After I divorced and lived the life of a perpetually broke musician for several years, I never had insurance on my equipment. Fortunately, I never needed it either. I remarried a couple of years ago, and this came up in a conversation with our new insurance agent. He told me pretty much the same thing; If I own it, it's covered. Period. No special riders needed.

Bottom line; check with your agent, then confirm what he tells you by reading the policy. You may be covered.

Glad no one was injured, Jeff, and hope your gear is OK, too.
 

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