Insurance

hotpickups

I'm sure this may have been discussed before but my kit is quite a sim now when I gig and thinking of insuring it. What do you guys do and who do you recommend etc?

Don't want to be joining any unions etc though

not_the_dj

https://www.newmooninsurance.com/Quote/musical-instrument-insurance

https://www.musicguard.co.uk/musichome.asp?Product=Music&gclid=CI3oiviT9csCFUefGwodbMENxw

http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/?gclid=CK2C-_uT9csCFQmNGwod4g8Diw

hotpickups

Thanks I'll check them out.

ESBlonde

Also make sure the 'band' or you personally have some kind of public liability if you own anything of value. You could lose your house/car/gear if someone gets hurt and the insurance companies come looking for compensation.

It's cheap enough given the outside risk.

hotpickups

ESBlonde said:

Also make sure the 'band' or you personally have some kind of public liability if you own anything of value. You could lose your house/car/gear if someone gets hurt and the insurance companies come looking for compensation.

It's cheap enough given the outside risk.

Yes I was looking at these insurance quotes last night and the public liability was an option. I'm sure the other band members won't be up for it but I think I'll go for it. 

Do you think the average pub band goes to this extent? I don't know of any who would to be honest

ash96

For mine I just pay a top up on my membership with the MU, I believe thats with hencilla canworth or allianz!

There's a really cheap place to get public liability insurance (£10M cover). works out about £70 or something.

www.Ampband.co.uk

The website looks dreadful, but can confirm its legit. I've used it the last year or 2. Its actually with Hencilla Canworth / First Act.

If anyone does decide to go with them and fancies using my referral number (62297) I'll get a tenner off my renewal!

(I'm in no way affiliated with them/work for them other than I've got my PLI through them already)

simonk

hotpickups;1026947" said:

ESBlonde said:

Also make sure the 'band' or you personally have some kind of public liability if you own anything of value. You could lose your house/car/gear if someone gets hurt and the insurance companies come looking for compensation.



It's cheap enough given the outside risk.












Yes I was looking at these insurance quotes last night and the public liability was an option. I'm sure the other band members won't be up for it but I think I'll go for it. 

Do you think the average pub band goes to this extent? I don't know of any who would to be honest

Public liability is a must and a lot of places will insist on it now. We use AmpBand too.

hotpickups

Thanks Guys. I think I'll be going down that PL route when I get some gigs lined up. I have a free gig lined up at the Party in the City event in Bath in May but think I'll just pay for a one off payment for that gig which I think you can do. No point paying for any kind of insurance unless you actually need it etc.

Which brings me onto the subject whose Public Liability policy does one claim on if there's an accident, the venues or the band's. What if it's a free gig and no one was getting paid etc?

As for insuring the kit itself i believe most household insurances will cover in transit so being vigilant at gigs and never leave the kit unattended can't be beaten really can it

not_the_dj

hotpickups said:

As for insuring the kit itself i believe most household insurances will cover in transit so being vigilant at gigs and never leave the kit unattended can't be beaten really can it

Someone spills a pint on your pedalboard....drunk dancing bloke falls into PA stand and knocks it over....your drummer brushes by your guitar on it's stand and knocks it over......

Being vigilant at gigs is a must, and avoiding leaving things unattended, but accidents happen (shit I sound like an insurance salesman).

I have my gear covered. I was with Music Guard for years, now with New Moon, and with PLI as part of my policy.

hotpickups

not_the_dj said:

hotpickups said:

As for insuring the kit itself i believe most household insurances will cover in transit so being vigilant at gigs and never leave the kit unattended can't be beaten really can it

Someone spills a pint on your pedalboard....drunk dancing bloke falls into PA stand and knocks it over....your drummer brushes by your guitar on it's stand and knocks it over......

Being vigilant at gigs is a must, and avoiding leaving things unattended, but accidents happen (shit I sound like an insurance salesman).

I have my gear covered. I was with Music Guard for years, now with New Moon, and with PLI as part of my policy.

Makes one fear to go out the friggin' door nowadays don't it Something else to pay out for for what is in essence a hobby for me

djspecialist

For those who have insurance - do you have to itemize everything?  Or can you just provide a total amount?

I'm wondering how itemizing would work when buying new pedals, or when taking a couple of guitars (from a larger collection) out of the house to a gig.

not_the_dj

djspecialist said:

For those who have insurance - do you have to itemize everything?  Or can you just provide a total amount?

I'm wondering how itemizing would work when buying new pedals, or when taking a couple of guitars (from a larger collection) out of the house to a gig.

I had a chat with New Moon about this as I swap and change pedals a lot, so I've got a listing called "Various pedals Full Pedalboard with Power Supply"

My facebook friends will confirm that I tend to take rig shot photos at gigs and post those, I'm sort of assuming that's evidence of what I had with me each time!

As for guitars I have all mine (10) listed as individual items, I gig them all so I want them all to be covered.

There was an option with Music Guard to list everything but then pay a premium based on say 50% of them being covered out of the house at any one time. That way I was paying less as I would never take more than a couple to a gig.

Catthan

@djspecialist,

I don't know about other providers but with Allianz I itemise everything.

Give part numbers etc.

Also, if you have niche gear, like a 1-off builds or items that are not in production any more and therefore demand more than paid price to replace them, or there are long lead times involved to replace an item which means you would actually pay a bit more if you found a replacement in the used market in order to get back up and running faster, it is worth to insure such gear for a bit more than what you paid to get some cover in case smth happens.

Your premium would go up  by a few quid but IMHO it's worth it. 

I used to itemise even speakers in my cab as I used to swap and the Neo ones I use cost more but now I just give an overall higher value for the whole cab as I doubt anyone would steal a speaker out of the cab. 

When I have only 1-2 boutique pedals I itemised those but now a have 8 cheaper ones which I didn't bother with.

Depending on what you have, itemising and being thorough won't hurt.

Liability insurance and unguarded car cover on top of the basic deal is advisable.  

hotpickups

Top tip from a gigging musician I know. Never give out your Public Liability policy number to the venue owner before a gig. He did once and was blamed for a scuff on the dance floor that he categorically didn't do he said. However, they had his policy number and claimed on his policy. 

simonk

hotpickups;1028428" said:

Top tip from a gigging musician I know. Never give out your Public Liability policy number to the venue owner before a gig. He did once and was blamed for a scuff on the dance floor that he categorically didn't do he said. However, they had his policy number and claimed on his policy. 

I can't really see how that would be covered by PLI to be honest.

djspecialist

I just got quotes from New Moon, MusicGuard and Allianz.  The premiums for the last two are similar, but New Moon is way cheaper.

Obviously I'm going to read the small print - but does anyone on here have experience of claiming from New Moon?

Here is what I quoted for:

Value insured: £4,870

- Zero excess

- UK-wide cover, including unattended vehicles

- No union membership

- PLI £1m

Annual premiums:

New Moon ("Harmonic" policy): £70

Music Guard: £150

Allianz: £182

Removing vehicle cover makes little difference for NM and MG, but a big difference for Allianz:

New Moon: £60

Music Guard: £130

Allianz: £133

I want to keep the vehicle cover, since load-in / load-out seems a likely target for thieves.

Removing PLI drops the cost by about £30 in each case.  At the moment I'm not playing paid gigs and haven't been asked for PLI up to now.  In any case, presumably the whole band would need cover if it was required - so I'm inclined to remove this.

sw67

I would keep the public liability - you dont need the full band covered. If you have any assets its got to be worth having even if you only gig now and then

FarleyUK

djspecialist said:

I just got quotes from New Moon, MusicGuard and Allianz.  The premiums for the last two are similar, but New Moon is way cheaper.

Obviously I'm going to read the small print - but does anyone on here have experience of claiming from New Moon?

Here is what I quoted for:

Value insured: £4,870

- Zero excess

- UK-wide cover, including unattended vehicles

- No union membership

- PLI £1m

Annual premiums:

New Moon ("Harmonic" policy): £70

Music Guard: £150

Allianz: £182

Removing vehicle cover makes little difference for NM and MG, but a big difference for Allianz:

New Moon: £60

Music Guard: £130

Allianz: £133

I want to keep the vehicle cover, since load-in / load-out seems a likely target for thieves.

Removing PLI drops the cost by about £30 in each case.  At the moment I'm not playing paid gigs and haven't been asked for PLI up to now.  In any case, presumably the whole band would need cover if it was required - so I'm inclined to remove this.

I also gave it a try, and Allizn (who I am with now) is a LOT more expensive...!

I'd also be very interested in people's experiences with New Moon....

Moe_Zambeek

I use New Moon, no claims though - but it's underwritten by Hiscox who do have a good reputation in insurance circles AFAIK.

not_the_dj

I'm with New Moon as well after years with Music Guard. Never claimed from either though.

fretmeister

Never drop the PLi element. While your band mates are facing court orders to sell Their houses from under them, you'll be protected.