Couldn't here .. we don't have DJ business licenses in CT. And don't need a dba unless you're opening a bank account in the name.
$5 million dollar coverage required now?
- Thread starter rickryan.com
- Start date
House Insurance is certainly a must due to natural disasters and weather. Car Insurance is Required by Law. You are driving with Millions of other motorists on the road. Totally different situations than DJ Equipment Liability Event Insurance.
Your Speakers, and lights are not going to hurt or kill anybody.
Who walks along the walls at an event where up lights are placed? I doubt a claim has ever been put in by someone who tripped over an up light. I doubt a claim has ever been put in where a Speaker fell into a guest.
If the guest is drunk, and dances straight into the speaker stand, and get's hurt, your insurance company will deny that claim.
Now if you were shooting off pyrotechnics from your set up, and caught a guest's hair on fire...well...they have a legitimate claim against you. Maybe insurance is a good idea if you are using pyrotechnics in your shows.
The liability part and the equipment part are two separate issues. I don't insure my equipment, but I cover the possibility that someone might believe I am liable for something due to my gear or actions. If someone dances into your stand and it falls and hurts someone, you WILL be enjoined in the suit from someone. You need to talk to your agent or your lawyer.
Remember .. it's not what Ricky thinks ..
+1 - Just like home and vehicle insurance - you have them 'just in case' and not because you plan for things to get ruined.
Your argument of that's wear and tear of the facility is where you would lose valuable ground. How is it your decision what someone else's 'wear and tear' is?
Regardless of the scenarios, in each of these, you would have to take time out of your day to attend to and deal with these issues. This is time that you could be making money.
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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!
Your contract doesn't mean people cannot or will not sue you - and if the judge sees there is a case, then your contract means squat. Does your contract specify the exact manner in which you will conduct the limbo? If not, you may be at fault for an injury. All it will take is one person to prove your insurance worthy.
If people destroy your stuff, and you can prove it, then yes they are responsible. If whatever you do causes harm or damage, then likewise, you are responsible.
Ricky, so you carry no liability insurance on your property or car, you know if some one is in your yard even with out your permission and gets hurt you are liable
So who should pay for these?
Curtis Mayfield Injured in Stage Accident
Video: Lights crash to floor at prom, injuring 13
Woman Injured By Crowd-Surfing Celebrity DJ Seeks Millions From Hard Rock Cafe At Trial
Remember, modern times, we are living in a litigious society where common sense does not prevail. You've heard of people suing to get money back from events because you didn't fulfill their requests - what makes you think they wouldn't sue if they got hurt?
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I couldn't either, my county didn't require one with the revenue I put up last year. This year I will need one. But they accepted my application to use a Fictitious Business Trade Name form as documentation that I wasn't a schlep of a fly-by-nigher.
In August I do a car show finale in the park here in town. They ( the town ) requires me to have a 1m dollar policy which is no problem cause I do. What in boils down to is the town wants me to be the first one someone sues then they will go after the town second
Not sure they get to decide who gets sued, but they want to make sure you can cover most issues if you were at fault.
In the case of Curtis Mayfield, it was an outdoor concert with a big scaffold set up. High wind gusts (WEATHER) was the cause of the problem. Curtis Mayfield's health insurance will take care of his medical bills. It was his show...who is he going to sue unless another company was responsible for setting the stage and lighting up.
Ultimately, it's a freak accident. You can't sue the production company for negligence. Very unfortunate.
With the Prom, That was poor decision making on the DJ/Event company. Better safe than sorry. Why set up truss that goes over the dance of a bunch of students? The additional money earned from this type of set up DOES NOT set off the potential pitfalls. Hopefully that DJ company had insurance. It was a school related event...Maybe the school's insurance is going to pay for it.
That article was from 2008...I am willing to bet the DJ company was using fixtures that were simply too heavy for the Truss they had installed.
Steve Aoiki: The DJ threw himself on the crowd. Sue the DJ. DJ Liability insurance WILL NOT protect a DJ who is throwing themselves on a crowd during a performance. Yes, Steve Aoki should have consulted with his lawyer before performing such stunts.
Of course they are trying to sue the hotel to get whatever money they can. I bet that case was either resolved, or the Judge dismissed it.
Whatever you say, it will not change my mind regarding Mobile DJ Liability Insurance. It's something we purchase in order to send a certificate to 1 or 2 venues a year. We are paying to play, and we can add that little tidbit to our marketing "We are fully insured!" ..."Don't hire a DJ who doesn't carry insurance..."
DJs were operating in the 70s, 80s, and as far as I know the 90s as well without ever hearing of DJ Insurance. There won't ever be a real need for it.
If you are causing damage to a floor during load in, perhaps re think how you load into venues. You are doing something wrong. If your cart broke, you obviously overloaded it with too much weight.
If the floor is historic and must be preserved at all costs, then the venue should have a clear policy of no carts and dollies to be used on site. The DJ will have to carry everything in...problem solved. ...If no policy is in place, and the DJ wasn't told about it, then the DJ didn't know and is not responsible. The Venue let the DJ in on their own accord. If you let someone into your house, and they go number two in your toilet and stuff it up, and a plumber has to be called...who is responsible for that bill? You or the guest you invited in?
Ah, yes. It was inevitable that a "contract" would come up.
1. My carrier requires that I have a contract in place even for freebies. I'm glad because it's the freebies (and family events) that sometimes can be the biggest PITA and most flagrant of excesses and expectations.
2. For the 5M part in the original posting, I can get it however the up-charge will be on the client, to wit:
1. My carrier requires that I have a contract in place even for freebies. I'm glad because it's the freebies (and family events) that sometimes can be the biggest PITA and most flagrant of excesses and expectations.
2. For the 5M part in the original posting, I can get it however the up-charge will be on the client, to wit:
Shameful but I never pass an opportunity to show contract language and how the back flap on my long undies have a Lock-Tite zipper no just two buttons.
The part that makes me mad if someone trips in a hole that's already there they will go after me first then the town because I am the one putting on this event
And I will also add that an "Additional Fees" clause in the contract is one of the most important clauses in your agreement with the client. Ever since Cap shared that Clause a couple years ago, it has been in my agreement! Thanks Cap!
I'm still chuckling at your "screwed so much I was afraid I was pregnant" comment. Classic.
You can certainly sue the production company .. someone should have known about the potential for high winds .. any lawyer will state that.
There's always a NEED for insurance .. whether it's used is a separate issue. Everything is a compromise and only you can determine if the potential penalty is worth the cost savings.
Sure, it is a freak accident, but if injury is involved, there will most likely be a lawsuit somewhere. It may be 'his' show - but it's most likely not his lighting or equipment. If you read the article, his son says it was gross negligence on the part of the promotor. Look at The Station incident, EVERYONE got sued, to include manufacturers of products.
Again, if the electrician wires up your new super duper ceiling fan and burns your house down, are you going to let him off?
Who knows what the actual reason was - but it happened - and accidents do happen. That's what insurance is for. Clubs, skating rinks, etc have lighting directly over people's heads. Insurance covers those incidents.
No one knows - but I guarantee the lawyers went after whoever had money. I doubt the judge just dismissed it.
I think we're suggesting that you don't ignore the obvious. Accidents can and do happen. As you have seen, one of our own is suing for damages because of a sidewalk. Most of us probably would not, but he is.
Sometimes equipment just fails.
Maybe .. maybe not. Maybe the venue thinks the people have a little bit of common sense. If someone clogs my toilet, it is my discretion as to who I charge. If I want to make a 'stink' of it. I'm billing the user - and some places have stipulated as such.
