The insurance IS NOT FOR THE VENUE .. it's to cover YOU. Making it visible to the venue is just a plus.
$5 million dollar coverage required now?
- Thread starter rickryan.com
- Start date
One of my close friends had a t-bar full of light fall and land on two guests, severe laceration on one and knocked the other unconscious, two ambulance rides, two emegency room visits and one overnight hospital stay, He was pretty happy he had liability insurance
Don't assume it will get thrown out. Look at some real cases, such as The Station fire that killed 100 people (also listed in previous post). Read that again, at least $115 million - because of someone's negligence.
Last edited:
I'm no lawyer but I'm fairly certain the case will not just be "thrown out". All parties will be enjoined and each will have to retain legal representation. If you feel you're not pertinent, you can have your lawyer to request to be removed but that call is up to the judge. He, just as likely, may decide that you're partially responsible. After all, what's to say that you razzing up the guest didn't partially add to them tripping over the catering cart or ordering that extra booze? I do see the insurance policy as a pay to play, in general, but it is a viable business liability which can be blunted by a $200/year policy. Again, my whole issue in this case is the excessive requirement of a $5 million policy, which isn't even available.
Incidentally, I just got a call from the client. She's a fireball and took my side. The venue agreed to an exception of a $2mil policy and the company is going to pay the $100 for the hotel staff to plug our equipment into a wall socket. My client told me she's taking it out of another line item. She was pretty raw that this hotel, with whom they do multiple events, is pulling this crap.
That part makes sense. This is also a Marriott property, so perhaps it's not a pay-to-play scheme. Still, I fault them for trying the $5mil coverage provision.
I have had three separate incidences for liability coverage. Two were handled by the insurance carrier (Traveler's) before they ever got off the ground. (1. Rolling in a hand truck with speakers, one inexplicably fell off the top and struck a guest on the back off their calves causing them to crumble to the ground. 2. A kid fell backwards doing the limbo during a mitzvah contest and cracked his head open. Head wounds always bleed profusely so it looked worse than it really was. )
The third ( a hand truck loaded with gear got away from me when I was opening a double and slammed into the rear quarter panel of a Chrysler 300 putting a huge dent in the rear quarter panel) was submitted to the less expense HRH (the NAME carrier) and they screwed me around so much I thought I'd get pregnant. After costing me $800.00 out of pocket, I dropped them a fast as I could. Now, I am with another carrier with greater coverages at the same cost of a DJ group membership + policy costs combined.
The third ( a hand truck loaded with gear got away from me when I was opening a double and slammed into the rear quarter panel of a Chrysler 300 putting a huge dent in the rear quarter panel) was submitted to the less expense HRH (the NAME carrier) and they screwed me around so much I thought I'd get pregnant. After costing me $800.00 out of pocket, I dropped them a fast as I could. Now, I am with another carrier with greater coverages at the same cost of a DJ group membership + policy costs combined.
Maybe so for the "group" insurances. It's the only way they can offer an across the board price for everyone.
Commercial entities can write it for whatever amount you wish to pay for. Try The Hartford or Traveler's or Fireman's
Wood floors have scratches all over the place, and occur frequently. It's all part of the wear and tear of the facility. If a Venue staff/manager even sees said DJ somehow scratch a floor and wants DJ to pay for it. The DJ will again, pay out of pocket if they agree to do so. Insurance isn't going to cover it unless it can be proved that the DJ caused the damage. Claim will be deflected. Wear and tear on flooring is up to the venue.
The Liability won't be on the DJ if guests are unruly and knock into your equipment. If your car is parked, and two people start pushing each other, and one of them get injured due to being pushed into your parked car, is your car insurance responsible for paying the person's medical bills? The answer is no.
Your liability insurance will not cover their claim. Deflected again.
His liability covered the claim, he either set up the stand improperly or there was a part failure, just because you want something to work a certain way doesn't mean thats how it actually is going to work. I have had a wheel come off a cart in a gymnasium causing a deep gouge in the floor, that was a $4500 repair I paid out of pocket as it was before I had insurance and it was the impetus for me getting insurance
I find that hard to believe. Sounds like bad T bar placement. How did the T Bar collapse? Objects just don't fall on their own accord on people.
Also, LED Lighting weighs a lot less than lights did years ago. I don't see 30 lbs of plastic lights falling on people and sending them to the hospital.
T Bar stands should be out of the way of guests, and I just don't see how a stand can fall on someone without said person severely falling into the stand legs tipping the stand over.
T Bar Stands should be set up behind the DJ Table for maximum safety. Or away from dance floor far enough where the stand is not disrupting foot traffic.
The only reason I carry insurance is because there is that 1 venue a year that requires it. Wont ever have a situation arise where it is needed.
Use a contract. Contract states: " The Purchaser hereby assumes responsibility for his/her guests, customers, staff, and agree to maintain conditions that will not inhibit the performers, nor cause loss or damage to the artist or their equipment"
If a guest at a event falls into my TriPod causing it damage, they or the client are the ones who need to fork out $$$ for replacement...It's not the other way around.
In Cap's case with the kid with the cracked head. Why should insurance have to pay anything out? The Clients signed off on having the game at their event. If a Kid cracks their head by falling doing a limbo game, you the performer DID NOT cause that injury.
If you send your child to school, and the school has Recess, and your child falls off the monkey bars at recess, do we go after the school's Insurance policy because our child got injured playing on their monkey bars during recess? The answer is NO.
Sorry Little Johnny got a booboo playing Limbo. He should have been more careful. Kids fall and get hurt all the time...Put a cold compress on it, and a band aid or two, and keep on truckin'
Now If I accidentally whacked the kid in the head with a hard limbo stick then yeah...that's definitely on me.
...That is why I use a blow up inflatable limbo stick
Maybe it is a good idea to bring a rubber or soft safety mat to put on the floor where the limbo is taking place for additional protection!
My step daughter got injured playing sports, schools insurance covered all expenses, school is liable for injuries at all school sanctioned events
You should carry insurance because one drunk dancer falling or tripping onto your speaker stand or light stand or uplight or cable on the ground .. could cost you 100 times what the insurance policy costs .. not because it's required by a venue.
I do very few events .. and many are free .. I still carry insurance.
I do very few events .. and many are free .. I still carry insurance.
ASK about that first.
I've had to provide proof of insurance, no problem, even add the venue on the proof - fine. And free for me.
However, back in July I had a public park (barn in a community park) insist they be added as 'additional insured'..my insurance guy never said nuthing..then 4 months later (last week) i get a bills for $35 for that. WTF?
So if you're required to add a venue as 'additional insured' be sure to ask more questions and about the cost too. Easy enough to charge the client before the event, but 4 months later? hardly.
As for paying to have your gear plugged in for you (or even taken from the dock to the hall) i've heard of that in some hotels and convention centers - union thing. Don't know of a way around it.
Maybe have them sign something saying they're liable for damages to your gear if they touch it? LOL
Ask to be added to THEIR insurance policy incase something happens in the hotel you want to be sure they'll cover you!
I've had to provide proof of insurance, no problem, even add the venue on the proof - fine. And free for me.
However, back in July I had a public park (barn in a community park) insist they be added as 'additional insured'..my insurance guy never said nuthing..then 4 months later (last week) i get a bills for $35 for that. WTF?
So if you're required to add a venue as 'additional insured' be sure to ask more questions and about the cost too. Easy enough to charge the client before the event, but 4 months later? hardly.
As for paying to have your gear plugged in for you (or even taken from the dock to the hall) i've heard of that in some hotels and convention centers - union thing. Don't know of a way around it.
Maybe have them sign something saying they're liable for damages to your gear if they touch it? LOL
Ask to be added to THEIR insurance policy incase something happens in the hotel you want to be sure they'll cover you!
It's a false narrative belief. Pay for the insurance to feel safe, but you will never need it outside of presenting the certificate to a venue that requests that you have it. The situation will never arise. When you stop deejaying way into the future you will look back and say "Wow, I spent money on liability insurance for all those years, and never needed it!"
Even Cap had an insurance company deny the claim, and give him the run around when his cart got away from him and hit a car. He wanted them to pay for it...they told him to go kick rocks and pay for it himself. ...Go Figure.
A drunk guest is responsible for themselves. Them running into your light on the floor will be denied by your insurance company. If anything, they are responsible for causing damage to your light if it breaks. Present the client with a bill for the light's replacement since they are responsible for their guests actions.
It's also agency specific .. RV Nuccio doesn't charge for creating an additional insured document .. I can do it myself online.
How is it possible to know you'll never need it? I haven't needed my homeowners insurance in 30 years. I only needed my car insurance once. But if I have an accident, I could be out 1000s .. and if my house burned, I could be out 100s of thousands. If a speaker tripod fell on someone, I could be out more. Doesn't take an attorney long to critique every possible thing .. wrong stand, not protected enough, too high, too much weight on top, cables improperly laid, etc., etc. .. there is no way you can deduce ahead of time what you might have done differently.
If you wish to put your livelihood and potentially your family in jeopardy .. be our guest.
I don't mind the insurance request at all. I'm happy to provide it, and I get why they ask for it. I was surprised they were asking for a business license.
I wasn't applying for a loan, just trying to show up and serve a mutual client. I got them what they needed, but that was the surprising part for me.
Ricky do you have liability insurance on your car, on your property, have you ever used it if not then why do you have it