Karaoke Forums

It just seems like logical sence that it is at least good to have some kind of liability insurance to make sure some foolish drunk person can't walk away with thousands of dollars worth of equipment. I think the law is stated through negligence by some way the Owner can be held liable.

Now the worst thing I can think of really is people tripping over mic cables. This has actually happened at one of my few parties already. Their's not much I can do about it, except of course get like a wireless mic system or something. That would kind of defeat the purpose I had for getting the Karaoke equipment in the first place.(Already had the PA w/ 12 channels)

I guess I could tape everthing down real good, but then I'd think this would take away from the show. (You want people to feel unrestricted. etc.) Then again it may be the best thing. (Who really cares if the people are unrestricted as long as they don't sue my a_s right.)

Anyways they could still fall around or do something stupid (these are intoxicated people for the most part at least at some point in the night) like that and find a way to point the finger at me because of their stupidity. And I'd probably lose to because of the old theory of Murphy's Law "If it can go wrong it will."

What type of insurance do you guys use to protect yourself in this business? I've looked at renters insurance, but it seems that only $250 bucks of CDs are covered if something would happen to them off premises. Well I have more like $3500 dollars tied up in music and another $2000 tied up in the system. So that won't do.

Does anyone have experience with errors and ommisions insurance? If so please elaborate.

Thanks guys. I've actually talked to Insurance representatives about this, but I can't seem to get the answers I need on how I can protect myself and my equipment. It's pretty weird. Anyways thanks.

Liability insurance is a must IMO. In fact, some banquet halls have begun to require it for all DJs/bands performing in their facilties (probably as a result of someone suing them). The loss from equipment theft/breakage would likely be peanuts compared to an injury lawsuit. I would focus on acquiring liability coverage. There are some online sources (i.e., adja.org), or you might do well to go through a local agent. I thought the coverage I got through my agent (tacked on to my homeowners) was pretty competitive.

If you have drunks tripping over cables, I would recommend you keep hold of the mics between singers and hand them off as they come up. The last thing you want to do is give a drunk an expensive cordless to break. For other cables, secure with black duct tape. I also lay out a rubber backed carpet runner to cover the power and video cables to the TV if necessary. These actions may not prevent a drunk from still causing a problem (I one fall into a light stand and topple it at a wedding - fortunately it went away from the dance floor!) but they should lower the risk.

Good luck.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

what kind of a ball park figure did it cost to add it to your homeowners insurance??? just curious...-tig

Just out of curiosity, WHY do you think getting wireless mics would defeat the purpose for getting karaoke equipment>>>>??? If people are tripping on the cords, you either need to set the system up in a way that they can't trip or you go wireless - which MANY karaoke companies do.

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Sorry- had to comment here.

"Liability" insurance is going to cover you if someone gets hurt due to you running your KJ business, or if property is damaged. (unless you are covered by the bar's insurance)

Your "equipment" would be covered under a different type of policy. Well, could be the same policy, but under a different section.

Most homeowners or renters policies are not going to let you add the coverage on, because like auto insurance, they will exclude any property that is used "in a business". Most all insurance agencies sell a blanket marine policy to cover just the price of your equipment, liability sold seperately. Any little bit of coverage endorsed onto a homeowners policy is going to be very mininal with strict limitations. You really should check into getting it covered under a commercial policy.

On Errors & Omissions Insurance: Rather that "General Liabilty" this is more like a "Professional Liability" policy. You know, for like "failure of your work to provide as promised in your contract". I don't know how that would ever play into karaoke, but ya never know. It's not very expensive.

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I figure if you don't have cables, then they can't trip. That would cost extra though to get wireless mics. I run everything off a 12 channel powered mixer. I bought the Karaoke equipment (Songs, CDG, Stands, TV) after I had a PA system. The idea was that the songs and equipment was good deal so I went ahead and pursued it.

I'm thinking that wireless mics though would be a way of greatly reducing the need for some type of liability insurance. Although I will take the advise from others and look into this a little more. I could work out something so their is less slack on the chord.

I usually like to keep the setting as unrestricted as possible because I know I hate it when I go to sing karaoke and I can't even get the mic off the stand or I can't walk around a little with it. I guess it's a better idea to have it more restricted then to get sued because of some reason or another.

My coverage is shown the the declarations as "Off Premise Entertainment", with an additional premium based on annual receipts - the amount of coverage is applicable to home as well as the gigs (so that's costing me more too than had I not had the business). And it is true that many companies do not offer this. I had to make a few phone calls before finding it. Equipment loss or damage is NOT covered away from home (it's only covered within the limit of the personal property ceiling at home).

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

i don.t tape cords down, i have runner carpets, that way you can see that there is a carpet there, and people are a lot less likely to trip on the carpet.

also keep in mind, you need to ASK PERMISSION before taping anythign to anybody's floors. some places don't like that.

running without liability insurance is just a trouble waiting to happen, you need to get a 2 million dollar general liability policy. Which you can get from amny places, like ADJA, NAME, USODJA (no dues to join), DJNET, or your local agents.

Keep in mind, the DJ related organizations that offer insurance, their underwritters know what kind of business will be buying the insurance and it is tailord for the DJ and KJ business.

Also remember there are some exclusions of coverage, like some policies may not cover you if the incident is a result of Fog, bubbles, Pyro, or foam, as these have been show to be an area where they have found problems.

If you are doing ANY KIND of contest or part of your show where the guests are participating, you need to be covered.

For instance: Wedding reception bridal party scavenger hunt - you are announcing items that the bridal party has to go find, and are playing it kinda like musical chairs (remove 1 chair, last person back is out), what is somebody trips, falls and breaks a part of their body, falls into somebody else, breaks something of the halls'???????? Now who is going to pay for granny's broken arm when the best man knocks her down???

I learned from a more experienced DJ from Wiscon. that you too need to do your own CYA when doing any interaction. like for this contest, he makes it perfectly clear "THERE IS TO BE NO RUNNING DURING THIS CONTEST"

Right there he has made it clear to the participants that they are not to run to do this contest. Some will argue that if somebody runs and falls he has covered his @$$, some will say not.

I set my system up in a way that there are no cords that people will be tripping on. I set the TV stand right next to the end of my table, and the mic cord is ran to the stand right on the other side of the TV stand. if i have to run it out farther, i will run my wires, throw a runner rug over it, and tape the rug down with red duct tape, i will also warn people, "when you come up here, please watch your step, there are wires run under the carpet on the floor there"

As for mic cables I tape them on the run to the tv which is right beside my setup (on stage). They still have 15-20 ft. to move with which I move by the tv stand between singers. Most don't move around anyway so it's a rarity when I have to touch the cables at all.

As for insurance I've been pricing different policies lately and the prices from the professional organizations seem extremely competitive. I'd want coverage for missing a gig because of a car accident, etc, as well as if a speaker fell on someone. This is liability coverage and where civil damages typically fall - some of the most expensive damages.

As for equipment replacement you can either replace it yourself (uninsured) or look for loss replacement coverage. Stolen, club burns down, drunk pours beer into amp/mixer, etc. Remember that replacement of equipment is an inconvenience, being sued for $1,000,000 because a speaker stand collapsed and paralyzed granny is devastating.