Woodinblack Posted November 26, 2023 Share Posted November 26, 2023 One of the places we play has just contacted us to say that all bands playing there need to have Public Liability insurance. Now I personally have public liability insurance though new moon as part of my instrument insurance, but that obviously doesn't cover the rest of the band (the PA and everything is mine though). In the previous 7 years of this band noone has ever asked before, and we have never done anything about it. Now I look it seems to vary between £30 and upwards for a band, but what constitutes a band legally - we are not any specific entity, have no accounts or anything. Whereas I suppose the simple answer would be not to play this one venue, if it is only in the £30 region then it would be a no brainer thing to have anyway, not that we have ever needed it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted November 26, 2023 Share Posted November 26, 2023 (edited) I don't think the band has to be a legal entity as such, as long as the person who organises the insurance is a member of the band and the band always performs under that name, that should do. I'm in no way an expert though. For the sake of pretty low premiums we considered it a no-brainer. We got ours through insure4music. Edited November 26, 2023 by asingardenof 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHM Posted November 26, 2023 Share Posted November 26, 2023 (edited) We took out an annual Allianz policy for about £80 - so, £20 each in our band. Money well spent; thank god we haven't needed it so far. Very easy to complete the paperwork, no tricky questions. Edited November 27, 2023 by NHM spelling 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 Look at the small print on your policy, if you haven't already. It may cover you. It may be wise for all your members to get their own insurance anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 Music guard allow you to add up to 4 named people who regularly perform or help you. Presumably at an extra cost. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted November 27, 2023 Author Share Posted November 27, 2023 Hmm.. maybe but I don't really want the rest of the band to be insured through me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 has anybody ever needed public liability insurance? shouldn't the venue have it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted November 27, 2023 Author Share Posted November 27, 2023 14 minutes ago, PaulWarning said: has anybody ever needed public liability insurance? shouldn't the venue have it? We are being asked for it, so yes and no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 (edited) 21 minutes ago, PaulWarning said: has anybody ever needed public liability insurance? shouldn't the venue have it? It would only protect them from the actions of their employees. Their insurance won't cover you if you injure someone but their insurance will cover their legal fees if someone is injured on their property and tries to sue them. You'd then need legal cover yourselves. The cyclist who badly injured a pedestrian who stepped out in front of him tried to represent himself, failed, and then lost £40k. Although I think his insurance company helped him out in the end. All it takes is for someone to get drunk, come up on stage and trip over a lead and you're involved. Regardless of blame you have to defend yourselves. Edited November 27, 2023 by TimR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 3 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: We are being asked for it, so yes and no. when the speaker stand from your PA falls on someones head then yes you will need it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 21 minutes ago, PaulWarning said: has anybody ever needed public liability insurance? shouldn't the venue have it? The venue will have it. And if the venue can argue that it wasn't their fault they will try to pass that onto the band instead. The Venue's insurance does not cover negligence by the band. Denials of liability on the grounds that the actual negligent act was due to another person / entity is extremely common. Examples are: Venue not responsible for actions of bouncers that are provided by a security company. Venue not responsible for food poisoning when the food was provided by a catering company. Insurers do not cover anyone other than their own policyholders. The venue insurers will act in the best interests of the venue, and usually that means against the band. The other reason for it - if the band think the venue are at fault, then the band's insurance will push liability to the venue. They have the money to do that. The band alone usually does not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 ok I'll rephrase, has anybody claimed on their Liability Insurance? (not saying you shouldn't have it, I know the reasons) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 59 minutes ago, PaulWarning said: ok I'll rephrase, has anybody claimed on their Liability Insurance? (not saying you shouldn't have it, I know the reasons) The band I'm currently in - yes. I don't run the band, I just play so I wasn't dealing with it. But a bit of the stage collapsed and somebody broke an ankle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 1 hour ago, fretmeister said: The band I'm currently in - yes. I don't run the band, I just play so I wasn't dealing with it. But a bit of the stage collapsed and somebody broke an ankle. so was that your stage? if it was the venues surely it's their reasonability? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 I was at a gig in an old building that had a bank downstairs. The dance style of the day was 'vertical' and the resonant frequency of the poor old timber floor was reached. The modern ceiling in the bank downstairs suffered. I am sure nobody tried to sue the band, but maybe they would if it happened today??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 4 hours ago, PaulWarning said: so was that your stage? if it was the venues surely it's their reasonability? That's the point where your legal insurance comes in. Let them argue whose fault it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 My local had a character who fell over and injured themselves badly, wasn't insured for time off work, so went to the pub and "slipped" over. Like a real life Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted November 28, 2023 Share Posted November 28, 2023 14 hours ago, PaulWarning said: so was that your stage? if it was the venues surely it's their reasonability? Yup. Our stage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.