Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig

Subject: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: matt milton
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 08:16 AM

I'm hiring a room for a gig, and the venue says I need to supply them with a certificate of Public Liability Insurance.

I've used a couple of "Compare The Market" type websites, to get a quote, but almost all of them are geared towards businesses needing long-term Public Liability Insurance for employees or contractors (eg on building sites).

My event is a single event, an acoustic, non-amplified event in a bar, with a seated audience of about 50 max. Frankly, it's not worth my hiring this particular venue if a PL certificate is going to cost more than £40.

Has anyone else ever got one of these certificates for a concert or function? Any recommendations/links to websites you could share?

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: matt milton
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 08:16 AM

oh, this is for the UK by the way.

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 08:22 AM

My advice - find a different venue, one which has its own PLI certificate. It's not worth spending money for a one-off gig. Our band is a member of the EFDSS and, I believe, we get PLI through that organisation. You may want to check that out as I don't deal with them and I don't know the procedure.

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 08:40 AM

Make sure you understand what they are asking you first.

They probably have PLI, but they may be requiring that any artists performing has PLI incase of accidents caused by them.

Go back and ask them if they have PLI for people coming onto the property. I would be very surprised if they hadn't. If they do have PLI, ask them if the PLI they require is to cover artists who are performing.

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 08:53 AM

However, if you do need to get cover, thne this may be of help to you. http://www.eventinsurancedirect.co.uk/one-day-event-insurance

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: matt milton
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 08:54 AM

"Our band is a member of the EFDSS and, I believe, we get PLI through that organisation. You may want to check that out as I don't deal with them and I don't know the procedure."

Thanks - that's very helpful. I've looked into it and, yes, membership of the EFDSS does indeed include PLI as one of the benefits. Given that single membership of EFDSS costs £40, and I've thought of joining EFDSS once or twice anyway, that's what I'll do.

I did ask the venue for more info about PLI, and how one goes about getting it. To which they mentioned they believed joining the Musicians Union might help, and that, alternatively, I should shop around for the best insurance company deal.

If I were to tell you what the actual venue was, you would find a certain comic irony in the fact that they utterly failed to mention that EFDSS membership includes PLI.

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: Vic Smith
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 08:59 AM

When our band has been asked to produce PLI certificates to play in various venues we have always shown them our EFDSS ones and the one from the one band member who is a MU member. These have always been accepted.

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: alex s
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 01:20 PM

We also sometimes get asked for a risk assessment. We cobbled one together from various kind sources.

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 05 Mar 12 - 01:58 PM

Just came on a reference to this company as being affordable by UK dance caller Thomas Green. (His first recommendation is EFDSS.) I've updated the address and there's a contact form at the web site; the phone number is not given there.

Musicians Insurance Services
PO Box 12122
Cannongate House
Firs Parade
MATLOCK
Derbyshire
DE4 3RU

www.musiciansinsurance.co.uk

They offer insurance on individual instruments, as well.

~ Becky in the USA

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Mar 12 - 06:31 AM

I was going to suggest asking the Musicians Union for advice- you are in the MU, aren't you? *BG*

RtS
(Retired member UCU)

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Mar 12 - 07:20 AM

Musicians Union and Equity both have P L I as part of the deal for members , but I dont think that would cover venues

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: doc.tom
Date: 06 Mar 12 - 07:32 AM

Public Liability insurance is to insure the holder (you as an individual) against any claim that may be made by a member of the public (any punter who comes to the event). The venue is trying to make sure that if anyone sues they can pass the liability on to you.

We always use the MU cover - I've never trusted the EFDSS member's cover since they were unclear whether the event had to be for the benefit of EFDSS (they may have changed, but be very, very,sure before you rely on it!).

It is relatively easy to get yourself public liability insurance - which is all you are actually being required to produce evidence of - but make sure it also covers you organising an event.

Subject: RE: Public Liability Insurance for 1 gig
From: GUEST,Gozzer
Date: 06 Mar 12 - 07:42 AM

Another good source of PLI is musical instrument insurance (via agencies such as Musicguard). It comes automatically as an extra with this, but of course, that is for the individual performer or group who perform. If you were going to compare the event and perhaps open with a few songs yourself, that should cover you.

Hope it goes well.