Speaker stands, light rigs and other electrical equipment at festivals are usually installed by professional engineers who are trained and experienced. They usually have their own insurance policies in place to cover such accidents. Any festival organiser worth their salt would not use an unlicensed or uninsured engineer/company to install stage equipment. If you, as a performer, set up your own PA speakers and lights, then the liability is with you. If you attach your equipment to a system that is already in place, you may well invalidate the insurance policy of the original equipment and your own, so it's always best to check.

And don't forget that insurance goes two ways. If a member of the public injures or damages you or your equipment then you'd want some compensation from them wouldn't you?

As has been said before, it's all good fun until somebody loses an eye.

LTS