Playing the saxophone Public Liability Insurance - What do gigging bands need ?

[Colin the Bear]

Ha Ha. I must have hit the big time. Just been asked for my Public Liability insurance to play a Birthday party in a restaurant. It's part of a chain with a young (sounding) assistant manager. Corporate policy. Sounds like a fun place to work. Surf surf surf.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Joined the union £15/month includes instrument ins and all sorts

 

[kernewegor]

Almost eighteen months ago this happened at a venue in Guildford when a steel door fell on a singer and a tour manager, killing them : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21426938

 

[Tenor Viol]

Once upon a time, local councils and venues carried the insurance themselves. Some bean counters decided they could save money by pushing the costs on to users. It's nonsense of course as the overall costs have increased. The number of providers of PLI has dropped dramatically pushing up costs too.

The only way for small groups/bands/choirs/orchestras is to either use Making Music or via MU - which brings the premia down.

 

[Profusia]

Just to update...

We took out our PLI insurance by joining AMPband in the end.
A years' membership included £10m of PLI cover. We joined in May and it was straightforward and problem free. Although I should point out we've never had to make a claim.
I think membership starts from around £69 (maybe less for solo artists/duos not sure). We paid £79 which lets us name up to 10 members which we can swap/edit any time we like so we keep all our deps and even our 'roadie' ('er indoors) listed for simplicity, and simply update the list online if/as personnel change permanently.

If you sign up for it and would be so kind as to quote our reference number 61077 it would earn us a £15 discount off next years renewal price and would be much appreciated. But even if you don't quote that I'm still recommending it as so far its been the cheapest, simplest, and most flexible way of getting plenty of PLI cover that I could find.

Find them at...

http://www.ampband.co.uk

And once again (sorry) our referral number is 61077 😱)

Thomas

 

[Tenor Viol]

That's good news. PLI is frustrating - I have been involved with many groups which have had to sort this out since the early 90s (which is when councils etc stopped providing it for their premises). The cost to small groups is horrific (especially if you're not able to buy into a collective type scheme). The need for it also deters those who are inexperienced or unfamiliar with the process. The end result is fewer community groups and activities all for the sake of saving a few pounds on the council's insurance bill (which we pay for through taxes anyway).

In all of my time with local and national groups, running to membership totals of thousands, I have never encountered anyone who has had to make a claim. This tells me that it is RARE. However, sometimes things do go wrong, so we have to have it.

I believe this is another aspect of the insurance industry which needs investigating as it has in effect become compulsory, which means that the market is immediately distorted (as it is with motor insurance) and so not operating in the interests of the consumer. Another aspect of the law of unintended consequences...