How many of you have insurance out on your gear for gigging?

[Gary75]

Im starting to use some expensive equipment, that would be a specialist repair should anything happen to it and am considering insurance for playing out. How many of you are doing that and if you have needed to claim, have successfully done so without some small detail screwing your claim up like 'No persons over 180lbs allowed within 10 feet or claim is void' That kind of thing

 

I know I keep having nagging thoughts telling me I should really have it done, but I just wonder how easy these people are to claim from and am I just wasting my money?

[mcgoo]

talk to the agent that carries your homeowners and / or auto policy about an Inland Marine policy. If you're making money with your gear, a simple homeowner's policy won't cover it if it's ripped off in a club.

[DanS]

Back in the day my insurance company wouldn't even cover me for playing out. I don't have any now, just the basic fire & theft from the house. The add on rider I had at one point was stupid expensive, and kept increasing every year even though I had no claims.

[Gary75]

I see specialist music insurance companies, but I bet they are 'specialist prices' too. I move my gear myself, so I have no fear of anything happening in transit or moved from vehicle to stage, the only accidents I can see happening are somebody spilling something or knocking my gear over in a club. I suppose the easiest and cheapest option is to make sure no one goes near your stuff. But it's the worry I have even just going to the toilet for 2 minutes and not having my gear in sight.

[DanS]

Ask your bandmates to keep an eye on your stuff when you're off tinkling.

[keysplease]

Keyboard has advertised Clarion insurance...they say they offer a discount for subscribers.

[mcgoo]

I see specialist music insurance companies, but I bet they are 'specialist prices' too.

 

that's I why I said to talk to your agent that carries either home or auto policies. Inland Marine, which is a policy that covers equipment used in your profession, is high risk insurance- translate- expensive. A company that already has some of your business is more inclined to want to make you happy (& keep your business) by being a bit more competitive on such a policy.

[Sven Golly]

It might be important to take note that the O.P. lives in the U.K., where situations might be different than those of us here in 'the colonies'.

 

My insurance is through my musician's union membership, covers lots beyond just my gear (liability, if my keyboard stand falls on the mother of the bride at a wedding, I'm covered ).

 

Sure, it's more expensive than regular homeowner's insurance, much as Greg's reference to "Inland Marine" is, but we're in a specialty market here, folks. Frankly, I'd say if you consider yourself a professional musician, that means you are a business owner, and not having insurance is just plain ignorant (and, depending on the situation, criminal).

 

As our esteemed moderator says, though, YMM, of course, V.

 

[Ian Sharrock]

Try the M.U. They have info for gigging musicians.

http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/site/cms/searchresults.asp

[DanS]

Frankly, I'd say if you consider yourself a professional musician, that means you are a business owner, and not having insurance is just plain ignorant (and, depending on the situation, criminal).

 

Thank goodness I'm only an amateur.

I wonder if

had dental insurance?

[HammondDave]

I have used MusicPro Insurance for about ten years. They insure the equipment against almost anything. Even if some drumk spills beer in yout keyboard. All my equipment was stolen one night and they paid up with no questions asked. All they wanted was a police report. And they insured it for replacement value!

 

I have about $10,000 worth of equipment insured for $101 a year.

[B3bluesman59]

Sven Golly said: My insurance is through my musician's union membership, covers lots beyond just my gear (liability, if my keyboard stand falls on the mother of the bride at a wedding, I'm covered ).

_________________________________________________________________

I also get my equipment insurance thru the AF of M. I have almost $8,000 in coverage and the cost is around $85 a year. And I have a $2,000,000.00 liability policy (many of the high end venues I work require it)and the cost is $250 a year. If you are not a musicians union member then look for an insurance broker who writes for many different companies. You can find insurance but you will pay more. The lowest quote I could get on my liability insurance was $1300 a year from a non AF of M carrier.

 

[jimmymio]

I have used MusicPro Insurance for about ten years. They insure the equipment against almost anything. Even if some drumk spills beer in yout keyboard. All my equipment was stolen one night and they paid up with no questions asked. All they wanted was a police report. And they insured it for replacement value!

 

I have about $10,000 worth of equipment insured for $101 a year.

 

I've had MI insurance for the past 25 years with various companies. Currently with Muisc Pro and it's the least i've ever paid. It's a no brainer for me.

JP

[suraci]

Anyone here encounter the growing scourge of hotels , parks ( Seaworld) etc , not hiring you unless you have one million in liability- in case you get hurt on their property, they are covered./?

I have had bandleaders give me the bad news that they cannot hire me unless I have the million dollar coverage on myself

[Steve Force]

suraci, FWIW--I have such coverage for my business and it only cost $500 a year.

[JeffLearman]

if my keyboard stand falls on the mother of the bride at a wedding, I'm covered

 

... and if the keyboardist falls on the bride, well, then she's covered.

[Steve Nathan]

A benefit....

From the Musician's Union

That can't be.... Can it??

 

I've got nearly 60K insured through the AFM. It costs less than $600 a year. About a third of what a daily trip to Starbucks costs.

They also get me discounts at retailers (including many gear and electronics dealers), offer lower interest loans, better term credit cards and lots of other stuff.

Plus, they make sure I get paid, and make sure it's a fair wage when they do. They collect additional money for me to cover health care, collect additional record company money for me in lieu of royalties, and they provide a pension when I retire.

 

It's amazing what can be accomplished when musicians work together as a group to raise the tide for everyone, instead of backbiting and undercutting each other over single gigs.

 

 

[B3bluesman59]

Suraci said: Anyone here encounter the growing scourge of hotels , parks ( Seaworld) etc , not hiring you unless you have one million in liability- in case you get hurt on their property, they are covered./?

________________________________________________________________

In the area I live and work almost all the upscale venues including the country clubs require you to have at least a $1 million dollar liability policy. This really has nothing to do about you getting hurt...it is about you or your band or equipment injuring one of their patrons. Maybe one of your group gets drunk and punches out a staffer or guest. Or maybe you or one of your group leaves a cigarette burning in a dressing room and starts a fire. Perhaps a patron trips on a cord that has been carelessly left on the floor or maybe one of your speakers/speaker stands collapses and hits someone. Or you hit somebody while backing up to load in/load out. These things happen all the time and if someone is injured or property is damaged everyone within 10 miles will get sued. So the venues want you to have another layer of protection, mainly for them. But it does protect you too in case you are negligent because you will also be named in the lawsuit. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have a $2 million dollar policy thru the musicians union for $250 a year. I protects me and also shows the high end venues that you are a serious businessman and professional. And besides, you won't get hired unless you have the policy. So you might as well bite the bullet and get coverage.

 

[david.edwards8]

I'd never thought about insurance until I was asked to dep for a band going to do a (short) tour in mainland Europe. I insured my Electro through a specialist music equipment insurance co. for next to nothing. When I get my PC3 I'll insure that too. I've never made a claim, but IMHO good cover isn't expensive.

[musicbysterling]

As mcgoo stated, you can get an inland marine rider with the company that doing your homeowner's insurance. My rider covers 24k of gear for $100.00 a year.

[suraci]

I am too old maybe

but lawyers and their warnings and suits are proliferating like a new comely hooker in a Navy town- or something like that.

 

None of this crap is "natural" to me. But thanks for the reality update.

 

Hey Steve Nathan, i had a distinct feeling that you are intimate with the musicians union. I have been a near lifetime member till about four years ago.

 

I will never pay back dues- what is the cheapest way i can cut a deal with the union- a new membership, non retro style??

thanx

[MikeT156]

I find it interesting that "high end" establishments want you to have liability insurance to protect THEM. I wonder if they take that into consideration when they are negotiating what you are going to charge them. Liability and instrument insurance cost adds up. I hope they aren't trying to pay you 50 bucks a man like most places where I live. Around here, they haven't gotten the message that its the 21st century.

 

Mike T.

[Jim Alfredson]

I posted about this back in this thread last year.

 

http://www.musicins.com/

 

Now, this is mainly for very expensive instruments like violins and hand-crafted guitars, but if you have a minty Hammond B3 or beautiful grand piano in your home, it would be worth it to get it insured in case anything happened.

 

Reading about what the AFM offers almost makes me want to join.

[B3bluesman59]

MikeT156 said: Liability and instrument insurance cost adds up. I hope they aren't trying to pay you 50 bucks a man like most places where I live. Around here, they haven't gotten the message that its the 21st century

________________________________________________________________

"High end" venues to me mean just that...upscale places that want good talent and are willing to pay for it. Makes sense to me to pay $250 a year for my liability insurance. One club that requires it just hired me as a solo for 9 dates at $350 per gig, gigs that are only 2 to 3 hours and usually include dinner if I want it. And I know there are good musicians here who won't get those gigs because they don't have the insurance. It is not the venues who set the pay scale, it is the musicians and if guys are willing to play for $50 a night so be it. If the musicians would stick together and demand at least $100 per person then the venues would pay it...or go without music which is unlikely, at least in this market.

[jimmymio]

As mcgoo stated, you can get an inland marine rider with the company that doing your homeowner's insurance. My rider covers 24k of gear for $100.00 a year.

 

This is either a fantastic deal or you're not fully covered. I'm assuming it covers your gear away from your home. Do they realize that you play music professionally? etc

JP

[Gary75]

I got a quote for £111 a year(about $190) for £1 million public liability, £10000 Personal Accident cover and instrument cover for £4000 ($7500 roughly) And that's for being out of the home as well.

 

musicbysterling's quote seems very cheap!

[Steve Force]

I am thinking seriously about gear insurance, and was wondering if this information is still current. Or, are there other options out there?

 

Thanks.

[Meisenhower]

I have all my gear covered and scheduled on my homeowners policy for both of my homes. When I say "scheduled", they have detailed photos, serial numbers, bills of sale and current and replacement valuations on big items like my Yamaha C7 Grand, 1957 B3, Protools C24/HD system, etc. Actually, all of my equipment is documented in this fashion.

 

For my gear that leaves the house & studio, I have an inland marine policy (also through the company that has my homeowners/masterpiece policy) and it becomes very competitively priced, as opposed to a stand alone policy. This covers damage and theft ANYWHERE for any reason.

 

In this instance, it is way better to have it and never need it than . . . . . you know the rest.

 

Also, if you don't carry a personal "umbrella" policy nowadays, you're likely underinsured, even of you're carrying the max limits for the type of coverage you're purchasing. A $1M umbrella is pretty reasonable, on top of all your other coverage and given litigious nature of our society and our total lack of tort reform in the US, it's really "peace of mind".

 

If you have any appreciable assets, investments, savings, retirement, college funds, et al , and you want to keep them in the event of a litigation, buy an umbrella policy with a limit high enough to cover ALL your assets.

 

YMMV.

[Steve Force]

I remember asking my insurance company about such policies back in the early 1990s, and at the time they didn't offer it. However, perhaps now they might.... State Farm.

 

Good info, meisenhower.

[B3bluesman59]

Force,am said: I am thinking seriously about gear insurance, and was wondering if this information is still current.

________________________________________________________________

I get my gig equipment and liability insurance thru the Musicians Union. I pay $250 a year for a $2,000,000.00 liability policy and pay $84.00 for approximately $10K worth of gear (piano keyboards, organ, JBL powered speakers, mics, lights, etc.) These are current prices.