andydye Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Hiya all, Not sure where to put this but as it's gig related I'll stick it here until told otherwise Our band are playing a wedding evening do for some friends at a new (to us) venue (cutlers hall in Sheffield), the venue are requiring us to take out public liability insurance up to £5million, has anyone else had to do this? Is this standard for venues? or is this onerous and to be challenged? Help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 This happens. Make sure the PLI is only to cover the band and not the venue or anyone else; they should have their own PLI cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmer61 Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Yes had to do this, you can argue the need, but ultimately the cost needs to be weighed against the gig fee. Alternatively, get the bride / groom to pay. Dead easy to arrange though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 thanks guys, I'll ask for clarification of the cover required but will then go and get some. thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 This is the usual if you're normally playing in these venues..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 if you are a M.U. member you get oodles of Public Liability Insurance for free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 [quote name='MacDaddy' post='1344618' date='Aug 18 2011, 05:21 PM']....if you are a M.U. member you get oodles of Public Liability Insurance for free....[/quote] ...well, for the price of the MU subs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' post='1344636' date='Aug 18 2011, 05:32 PM']...well, for the price of the MU subs.[/quote] tru dat. but the yearly sub total is often cheaper than some PLI quotes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonbass Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 I've been looking around for PLI recently for exactly the same reason as the OP. I would love to know if anyone has any suggestions of companies that will insure a band rather than individuals? Everyone I spoke to would only insure members individually and had to be for a full year. As we're an 11 piece this makes it pretty unfeasible! I get the impression though that venues really just want to see a piece of paper to say they've ticked a box. One way to get this is to insure some equipment with a musician specialist insurer. I think the cheapest I saw was £30 for a year to insure £300 of equipment. But obviously this wouldn't actually cover anything other than injury due to that item of equipment. In short it does seem difficult to get what most bands need, ie: whole band cover for the occassional one off gig where PLI is needed. Solutions on a postcard please. A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 MU seems the way to go, just treat all the bands gear as your own if something goes tits up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 [quote name='moonbass' post='1344680' date='Aug 18 2011, 06:13 PM']I've been looking around for PLI recently for exactly the same reason as the OP. I would love to know if anyone has any suggestions of companies that will insure a band rather than individuals? As we're an 11 piece this makes it pretty unfeasible![/quote] We are only 7 but we're looking at... [url="http://www.performingartsinsurance.co.uk/"]http://www.performingartsinsurance.co.uk/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 [quote name='MacDaddy' post='1344618' date='Aug 18 2011, 05:21 PM']if you are a M.U. member you get oodles of Public Liability Insurance for free [/quote] Anyone who performs publicly should seriously consider MU memebership.Worth it for the PLI alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nottswarwick Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 [quote name='skidder652003' post='1344737' date='Aug 18 2011, 07:26 PM']MU seems the way to go, just treat all the bands gear as your own if something goes tits up.[/quote] That is a bit dodgy in my opinion. Even the MU told me that their cover is for individuals, and that in the event of a claim you would not be covered unless ALL member of the band were fully paid up MU members ( and thus all had the cover), OR you need a PL policy in the name of the band. Ours cost £170 for a year I think. Well worth the cost since we do 70-100 gigs per year, and is often required for these types of venues. That and up to date PAT testing certificates are the main costs of running the band, but a little aside from each gig easily covers it. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonbass Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 [quote name='nottswarwick' post='1344895' date='Aug 18 2011, 09:45 PM']Ours cost £170 for a year I think. Well worth the cost since we do 70-100 gigs per year, and is often required for these types of venues. That and up to date PAT testing certificates are the main costs of running the band, but a little aside from each gig easily covers it. Chris[/quote] Which company did you use Chris? Cheers, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nottswarwick Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Ill dig it out tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilmour Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 It's quite normal to have to get PLI if you're doing a lot of these gigs, but a right PITA if you're only doing them from time to time or a s a favour to a friend. I'm pretty sure our PLI was less that £200, we were able to name all of the band members deps and guests we might have, so there's about 15 names on the list even though we go out as an eight piece. my wife looked after it as she works in and arts centre and was able to ask the performers there who they use. If you're struggling drop me a PM and I'll see if I can find the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 The MU offers something like £20m PLI as well as £2,000 unspecified gear insurance, free legal advice and various other perks. Seriously worth taking out a membership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nottswarwick Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I used Richard Weston, 020 8543 6166 It was £198 incl ins tax. 5 piece band but an open policy to include any un named deps, and playing as 2 different band names. Laser use is conditional on putting a sign at the venue entrance as a warning. Was the best I could find. it is for £5M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algmusic Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 MU has it's faults, but public liability, music insurance and advice on problems surrounding being musician and earning from it.. you can't go wrong. If you gig regularly, you should get it really, if it's your band. If you gig once in blue moon, then I'm not sure I'd bother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civictiger Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 I vote MU. The ONLY bad thing is when you join the UM, your a 'member for life'. You CAN stop the payments to then, thus ending your membership temporarely, but if you had say a 5 year gap and then want to rejoin the MU, you'd have to pay 5 years worth of membership as a lump sum to rejoin - that is just about its only fault. I think its just under £100 a year, and like someone mentioned you get a massive PLI, and 2k worth of insurance on your gear from theft + the le gal advice is amazing.... If you don't get paid for a gig, tell them your an MU member and I guarantee they'll sh*t a brick and the monies yours. If they dont, well, let's just say the MU will get it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civictiger Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Also, here's a link to their website which shows the benefits of being an MU member. [url="http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/join-the-mu/benefits/"]http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/join-the-mu/benefits/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 [quote name='civictiger' post='1347378' date='Aug 21 2011, 06:59 PM']I vote MU. The ONLY bad thing is when you join the UM, your a 'member for life'. You CAN stop the payments to then, thus ending your membership temporarely, but if you had say a 5 year gap and then want to rejoin the MU, you'd have to pay 5 years worth of membership as a lump sum to rejoin - that is just about its only fault.[/quote] Really? I was a member in the early 80s but ended my membership when the band I was in at the time split up. I rejoined some 10 years later and never had to pay anything extra for the "missing" years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanark Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 [quote name='civictiger' post='1347393' date='Aug 21 2011, 07:12 PM']Also, here's a link to their website which shows the benefits of being an MU member. [url="http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/join-the-mu/benefits/"]http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/join-the-mu/benefits/[/url][/quote] Whhoooooo - for a ten piece band, £165 each for the year is too steep for us at the moment, I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civictiger Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Maybe they changed the contract, so your initial one it isnt effective, but for my old Bass Teacher he had to pay 3 years worth of payments in one go to rejoin.. But he HAD to have it for this cruise ship gig so he payed it regardless as a lot of venue's such as ships and hotels/weddings really require this. And well yeah, Lanark, the only bad thing is that all members of the band need it. We were thinking of getting PLI as a band somewhere else, for cheaper, but we wouldn't mind using the legal advice for personal issues anyways, they can also give you career advice e.t.c and the £2,000 gear insurance is definitely worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisd24 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 My band used victor knight, 5mil public liability insurance for up to 10 band members and was about £170. [url="http://www.victorcknight.com/"]www.victorcknight.com[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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