Public Liability: recommendations and avoids?
Having accidentally found myself in a covers band, which is inevitably going to get more traction than my solo originals stuff, I've started looking at PLI for the band.
I can't see it ever being more than pub gigs, and a lot of those Sunday afternoon/evening rather than Friday late night rowdy piss-ups - partly because of how we're positioning ourselves, and partly because of the pubs where we already have an "in". But even so, it only takes one person to trip over a speaker pole etc.
A quick peruse of past conversations on here, and a web search has thrown up insure4music.co.uk and ampband.co.uk as potential providers. We're not looking for gear insurance or bells and whistles, just reliable PLI so we're covered "just in case" because it's prudent. So lowest cost for someone that won't suddenly refuse to pay out because the singer's hair is too short or whatever random tiny clause we miss.
Any positive recommendations, or explicit sharks to avoid?
Comments
Just had a look at their policy wording chief, points to note are:
Cover does not apply if crowd exceeds 1,000 unless agreed in writing by the insurer.
Excludes wilful, malicious or unlawful act, standard condition but means if you get sued for kicking someone who gets too close to the rig etc you'd be up the swanny.
Excludes contractual liability, if you sign a T&C with more onerous terms than apply in tort (general law) then you are not covered - also a standard condition.
Excludes financial loss, so you are covered against hurting third parties or damaging their stuff but not for a general loss - eg people left because you screeched like Joe Pasquale. Also standard condition.
Liability arising from the sale or supply of goods, if you sell merch which blinds your public then you are on your own.
The key thing with all policies is you have a legal duty to tell the insurer everything they need to know to set premiums etc - so if you don't mention you have a Bez and he whirls into the crowd hurting people they are entitled to throw the claim out and void the policy from inception meaning you then have a legal duty to tell all other insurers until you die that you have had a policy cancelled for breach of conditions.
Don't have nightmares....... : )
Cover does not apply if crowd exceeds 1,000 unless agreed in writing by the insurer.
Excludes wilful, malicious or unlawful act, standard condition but means if you get sued for kicking someone who gets too close to the rig etc you'd be up the swanny.
Excludes contractual liability, if you sign a T&C with more onerous terms than apply in tort (general law) then you are not covered - also a standard condition.
Excludes financial loss, so you are covered against hurting third parties or damaging their stuff but not for a general loss - eg people left because you screeched like Joe Pasquale. Also standard condition.
Liability arising from the sale or supply of goods, if you sell merch which blinds your public then you are on your own.
The key thing with all policies is you have a legal duty to tell the insurer everything they need to know to set premiums etc - so if you don't mention you have a Bez and he whirls into the crowd hurting people they are entitled to throw the claim out and void the policy from inception meaning you then have a legal duty to tell all other insurers until you die that you have had a policy cancelled for breach of conditions.
Don't have nightmares....... : )
Also, doesn't cover you for claims arising from smoke machines etc.
Insurer is Aviva who are as good/bad as anyone.
Insurer is Aviva who are as good/bad as anyone.
Thanks @munckee, much appreciated. I didn't expect that much detail, just "Oh, AMPband, they're scum" or "Oh, AMPband, they done me proud so they did".
The band is just four old blokes who don't move around much mostly playing to their geriatric friends, and will likely stay that way. The most enthusiasm we've had is from the singer's 2 year old granddaughter, who gets up and boogies by his mic stand. No plans for nude live shows, performative self-harm, or twatting anyone with an instrument. If we ever play to in excess of 1,000 people I will be extremely surprised indeed :)
Have a look at the Musicians Union PLI
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/membership-benefits/public-liability-insurance-for-musicians
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/membership-benefits/public-liability-insurance-for-musicians
We use Ampband... never had to claim or had a claim against us so ultimately not tested. Decent price though & hasn't risen much in the last 3 years.
Thanks both.
I don't think the MU is going to be a viable route, as it would need all of us to join, I guess, and that's not going to make economic sense. Totally support what the MU stands for, but at £21 each a month it's OTT at this point in time, and I'm not currently prepared to do it just as a principled stand :)
If we end up getting more prestigious gigs/better pay-days, or I suddenly find myself a highly rated solo artist (ha!) that could change.
I'll put the i4m and Ampband options to the boys and see what they want to run with. May as well get it in place before the next gig.
I use insure4music as it’s £25 a year and I have to have something to email the venues, along with PAT spreadsheet
I suspect if they had to pay out they would fight tooth and nail not to, I’m just playing the game and meeting the criteria so I can play the venues
I suspect if they had to pay out they would fight tooth and nail not to, I’m just playing the game and meeting the criteria so I can play the venues
+1 for insure4music as good value, but never had to make a claim.
The guys in my band were not interested in insurance but i wanted to be protected personally for both public liability and damage to my equipment - i have used allianz for 8 years but never had to claim.
Fortunately we're all agreed we need it as a collective, so that's one hurdle removed.