Karaoke Forums

Had a little chat with my State Farm agent the other day...  I wanted to find out if I could get insurance for my Karaoke Equipment.  Two reasons.  #1, in case my equipment was stolen or destroyed.  #2, in case my equipment hurt another person; such as a speaker falling over and crushing someone, or electricution, or even property damage.  My return call from State Farm- they do not insure DJs.  In addition, since I claimed my Business on my taxes last year, they would not cover any equipment even if it was stolen from my vehicle.

Does anyone else have liability insurance for their Karaoke/DJ business?  What would you do if all of your equipment was stolen or damaged?  What would you do if a speaker fell over and crushed someone and they decide to sue your a##?

I asked a friend of mine who had been doing this for 20 years, he has never had insurance...  Just kept "Playin' scared' as he called it.

Thawts?

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---wallyd

If a speaker falls on a customer at a bar it should be covered by the bars liability. As for equipment insurance good luck very hard to come by or extremely expensive.

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ROBDOG *WOOF WOOF*

You might want to check this site out as it directly addresses KJ/DJ Insurance Coverages  http://www.adja.org/member/insurance.asp

Hope this helps

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

A few years ago I pursued this.  I was able to get a rider on my homeowner's policy for "off-premise entertainment" which provides liability coverage at gigs.  Every agent I called didn't offer this coverage.  Finally I came across Country Insurance and they did - so I switched over to them.  It wasn't nearly as pricey as the association rates I saw.  Equipment is NOT covered when offsite.   If someone gets hurt, the lawyers will go after the venue and DJ (and anyone else they can remotely associate with the incident).  Equipment can be replaced; a medical/pain & suffering/lost wages/etc. claim would be much worse.  I've also come across a few banquet halls that require proof of insurance to perform.  It's worth it IMO, and of course, it's tax-deductible.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I have insurance on the equipment, liability and theft.    $$$$$$$   Inland marine policy covers the equipment from being destroyed or falling out of the van.   Liability covers if some drunkin' @#$%#*%^ falls under a speaker or trips over a wire.        Van insurance covers the van.   Didn't think I would need insurance until I was doing a kids party.   A 9-10 year old girl came running up all excited to sing.  She slipped on my wire and fell down flat on her back.   She jumped up real fast to keep from being embarrassed.    Nothing was ever said but the next day I called my guy.    Erie Insurance.    He did tell me if I ever leave the stuff overnight anywhere it won't be covered.     Do what you want, but beware.

Your friend is what I would call self insured, meaning that he will pay for damages out of his pocket.   If it's too much he loses his house and works the rest of his life to pay someone else.   What would have happened if the little girl had a fractured skull or drain bamage?     My definition of insurance is "something you hate to pay, may never need" but it only takes one time to save your house and your business.    Unless you're incorporated.

As far as the equipment insurance.   The stuff is only worth half of what you paid for it.     What do you think they will pay if you file a claim?     Insurance companies do everything they can to get your money and they work even harder not to pay any out.

One thing that I found is that even today when I insure my musical equipment (which excedes my condo value by at least 3-4X) it's covered AT HOME, and not in it's entirety, that's not affordable, assuming I tell them I want over 30 guitars alone insured, they don't want me as a client..unless I pay thru the nose..The amount they cover a newly reconditioned 1926 Steinway Baby grand for alone is rediculous, they need to see when it was rebuilt, and they knock off value for each year following the reconditioning so you get if lucky lowest retail on the thing assuming it burns in a fire, and if you wait over 30 years to have it rebuilt again, they practically pay  you nothing for it, because it's not worth much realistically as an old piano despite it's name to them. "Take out a commerical policy" they tell me..Commercial policies cost ALOT, to insure everything I have with floater's just isn''t doable (that would cost thousands a year, likely over 5-10K a year just for sitting at home never leaving the doors) but NOT cover me for working or professional use, just as a collector.. They don't like us collectors, big $$$$$, and they'd rather pawn us off to commercial policies....you can't hide you are a collector from them if you have alot of money invested, and wish to insure your toys....They find out you have a gold-mine of value in your home, they assume you are taking a policy with them to screw them or a theft case waiting to happen. THEY just HATE covering traveling musicians, and might cover stuff AT BEST "in your car out've site", "not in the bar", "if in your trunk and there is proof of breaking and entering and police report will be reviewed" etc... and I must designate "not for professional use", assuming I even say I go to friends homes to jam sometimes and transport it but not for profit, that even makes them skeptical, they really don't like covering ANYTHING in a bar or club environment..Seem's alot of prejudice exists towards bar environments..hehe.  It's VERY difficult to insure content's that excede the value of your dwelling with one floater anyway, and with several inland marine floaters you end up paying a rediculous sum of money, only to find ceilings, disclaimers, and tumult assuming you ever need to collect, it's just a VERY costly, tough thing to do when you perform out (insuring your merch. that is), sometimes your just better off with the homeowners policy, and in one or two cases make a claim that something else happened, being honest seldom pays assuming you ever want to collect on stolen or damaged goods away from home at a bar, just the way it is, not sure it's doable.. By the time a claim actually needs to be made, you might have paid out 60K/ year... and even a person today making 6 digit's seldom can afford to pay that for collections, (it's costly to live today in general). to collect a smaller sum with a hefty deductable anyway.. Than they will drop you anyway  :shock: . They hate lies, but make things not conducive to being honest...I don't have a conscience when it comes to insurance companies anymore...They DONT like performing artists and their equipment... ... yet there's also dishonesty much of the time in such claims too....so I see why...So assuming I ever need to make a claim from something stolen away from home, my homeowners has so many of my dollars, I won't hesitate to file a claim assuming something is stolen even away from home once. They know how to make money, and protect themselves quite well.... For vintage stuff (which is what I collect and made the mistake a few times of taking on the road) you are SOL if something happens even IN your home... they don't cover appreciation, they don't care about that... I explained once before the case of a person who had a comprehensive floater on his guitar's and amps for home leisure use.. Somehow the company found out he did a sit-in gig on NON-insured equipment sitting in on piano, nothing happened, he never made a claim, even though he wasn't using a guitar when playing out, they felt he was a liability risk because he was still performing in bars..  The company dropped him..  They DON'T like to insure musicians and performers that work in bar's PERIOD...They HATE too pay.. They don't make money that way, therefore those that really need the coverage are least likely to get it....Another reason I don't like taking my best stuff into crowded bars ever...Unless someone is there to baby-sit for it straight thru...

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

My insurance is from wedj.com With a Silver or Gold listing you can by libility insurance for about $175 a year.

You can also buy equipment insurance for about $150a year for each $10,000 in equipment.

With prices that low there is no reason not to have insurance.

I don't have insurance - If something destroyed all my equipment I can just
hope my system was in my car or at home. Yes I would be a bad girl
and say it was for home use. If it wasn't my whole system I would suck it up and just replace it. Just being honest.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

If you had 5 big diamond rings in your house and they get stolen or lost in a fire  I'm guessing they will not be covered.  They will want you to insure them in an add on policy.  Just like your system.

I suppose your right. But what if someone had an expensive stereo
system. Do they have to have extra insurance? I'm talking out my butt here because I have no idea.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I might very well be wrong, but that sounds like an add-on content's floater to your homeowner's policy, and would not cover you as a professional entertainer ESPECIALLY if they find out you work bars with this equipment, or it even leaves your home..  Depending on loss they research.  Depending on overall value there are limit's and ceilings... I couldn't get such a policy.. My contents value excede my property value. That's a red flag for most companies..

For what limits of coverage ?  I need to fine-comb thru the exclusions (as well as contingencies alike listed in this policy). I want to see what this is based upon, for what type usage ?  "Professional performer" OUTSIDE of principle location of residence, or tenancy ?   Somehow I doubt it. I find it difficult to believe they'd cover your equipment knowing it's in a bar for pro use at such an "add-on" policy rate.  I'm curious about how this works.



I can think of a few personally, and I've seen it happen.  You call to make a claim, they tell you  "Your merchandise was covered as an extension to your homeowner's policy !  We were insuring this as home electronic's equipment which only is in affect provided the damaged/stolen equipment was IN your principle place of residence, which has a brick exterior, hallway sprinkler system, security doors, third floor fixed location, non-mobile, and NON-professional use.  This equipment is NOT to leave your alarmed home which is the agreement you signed.  As someone who we insured for 3 auto's, as well as with a homeowner's policy, you are entitled to our add-on Jewelry/ content's floater policy which give's you added coverage up to XX, XXXX with a $1,000 deductable and is based upon your home-owners policy with us which does not cover loss and liability in a professional or work setting. The coverage is for HOME CONTENTS ONLY, or in your car locked in the trunk and NOT visible... You lost your equipment in a bar fire, and you didn't tell us you were using it to entertain in a bar... That's NOT covered.  The floater covers ........... based upon ........ being.........of ............. leisure home usage under XXXXXX floater assuming XXXXXXX.  The bar that burnt down, and was vandalized is not your home, and you told us you were an accountant.  We didn't know you were using this equipment for PROFESSIONAL mobile use in :clubs:....  These rates are based on contents UP to ........ and ............. under terms .......... ONLY in the state and county of.............. but you can possible collect under................

Sorry,  "claims dept"

As of midnight April 26th 2006 this policy has been cancelled."



(But if I'm way off base, please let me know... Yet these are always rates based upon an individuals county, and other little things..  yet $150/ 10K yearly PRO use, coverage away from home ?  That doesn't sound right to me... Sound's too good to be true.. Especially if you can itemize only 10K as being used professionally assuming you own ALOT more)

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I have my equipment covered for $30,000.  This is just for the equipment not the van.    The van is a different policy.    When I had three systems  it was a one time lose, unless I lost one on three different days.    If I lost all three the same day they would only pay out $30,000 one time.     They take my money every month so is it covered?

The eye-opener for me was at a wedding where I played "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" - not one I usually do, but it was requested.  Great time to hit the restroom as well.  As I was walking back in, I saw it happen.. someone (intoxicated of course) dived right into a light tripod and knocked it over.  Fortunately, they didn't pull it forward onto the dance floor and clobber somebody.  A banged up out-of-square Mystic (light), two lamps, and a couple gray hairs was the cost, but that convinced me about the liability coverage.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

That guy would have been at the magistrate's office if there was any damage.    Wedding or not.