I've a small band, and we perform a lot of gigs. Some venues insist on us having public liability insurance, which we currently don't have.

Any recommendations for a cheap insurer?

(we just wanna tick the "insured" box, really, nothing more... Peace of mind is not very rock and/or roll).

Thanks in advance!

Andy

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www.thediplomatz.com

Got mine with Aviva.

£40 for £1,000,000 cover for a year.

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I'm All Ears.

Hi Andy,
You might find it better to talk to an insurance broker and moreover one who is "muso friendly"!

I would bet you a 5mtr XLR cable that your kit is not insured under many and several circumstances as you move it from home to venue! It would also be unlikely to be covered on your normal home contents policy. A broker can go though all these matters and come up with a good deal. I do not think it costs you anything to get such a quote?

And NEVER tell a "normal" insurance company that you are a gigging musician, as far as most of them are concerned you are all a load of irresponsible crackheads!

Dave.

I was going to say join the MU because they throw in £10m PL cover... but then I saw the annual fee was £177... COuld be worth it for the other benefits and activities, but I suspect a good broker could do a better rate for PL insurance.

hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

The MU also offer a substantial discount on musical equipment insurance (via Hencilla Camworth), so that combined with the free public liability insurance still makes it cost effective to pay the MU subs (which you can pay monthly...)

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~~~ A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with! www.feline1.co.uk ~~~

Am I right in thinking for the MU Public Liability insurance to apply to a band, every band member would also need to be a paid up MU member?

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http://www.partyfearsthree.co.uk

Forget "Rock and Roll" this could seriously bite you.

I have PLI and gear insurance organised through the MU. The "free"/£177 issue Hugh quite rightly mentions should however be seen in context. The combination of PLI and the "free up to a certain value" gear insurance (that can in turn be used to cover the excess in any policy you might be offered) that comes with membership may make a significant difference.

Don't forget there are several perfectly proper ways to minimise your premiums, for instance if there are items of gear that never leave your house they do not require international cover. Your guitar might. It's perfectly possible for several policies to cover different levels of risk.

I consider insurance to be, like a driving licence, one of those basic elements that make gigging possible.

With decent cover you will qualify for gigs others won't. Factor that into your sums.

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Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".

Quote Steve A:

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Am I right in thinking for the MU Public Liability insurance to apply to a band, every band member would also need to be a paid up MU member?

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I believe the correct answer is that MU members are forbidden from working with anyone who is not a union member, unless you drive round their house and spraypaint "SCAB" over it. Or something. NOTE: this answer may be wrong.

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~~~ A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with! www.feline1.co.uk ~~~

Quote feline1:

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Quote Steve A:

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Am I right in thinking for the MU Public Liability insurance to apply to a band, every band member would also need to be a paid up MU member?

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I believe the correct answer is that MU members are forbidden from working with anyone who is not a union member, unless you drive round their house and spraypaint "SCAB" over it. Or something. NOTE: this answer may be wrong.

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I believe that's been updated to a burning (c) on the lawn.

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Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".

Quote ken long:

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Got mine with Aviva.

£40 for £1,000,000 cover for a year.

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That sounds like a good deal - I'll have a look!
Thanks!

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www.thediplomatz.com

Quote The_Big_Piano_Player:

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Quote ken long:

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Got mine with Aviva.

£40 for £1,000,000 cover for a year.

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That sounds like a good deal - I'll have a look!
Thanks!

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yes it was... but I half read your post (giltee m'lud!). I don't gig.

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I'm All Ears.

Musicguard are also cheap. It costs me £40 to insure my keyboard for £1000000 cover

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http://best-headphones.org.uk

+1 for musicguard. You can do it all online too which is pretty handy. I've insured the gear for my rehearsal facilities with them for about 6 years now. £150 per annum with £1m public liability included

Thanks for the update! I was somewhat disappointed with the initial lack of replies!

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www.thediplomatz.com

And the vote goes to musicguard! I'm looking for one too actually and I'm still shopping for the best one here in our place. Hope I'll get a nice quote when I do.

(spam signature link removed )

Edited by zenguitar (23/09/12 11:39 AM)

I've used Simply Business for a few years, they always throw up some good bargains. Dave

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My head hurts!

Quote turbodave:

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I've used Simply Business for a few years, they always throw up some good bargains. Dave

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+1

They can go from sweet-shop to multinational and have great deals and are linked to the other 'simply' companies, such as Simply Books.