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Post by littlebobby on Oct 7, 2022 16:29:02 GMT
So time to renew contents insurance. Suddenly it’s a problem to insure guitars for use outside the house. After checking up my broker informed me that the company will consent to insure them but only when they are not being used. Excuse my French (sorry Michael) but I’ve never heard anything so f**k**g stupid in my entire life.
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Oct 7, 2022 16:42:37 GMT
Ask him what "being used" means.
Does it mean actually being played with both hands in use and music issuing forth from the instrument?
Mind bending innit?
Ever heard of an insurance company losing money?
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Post by littlebobby on Oct 7, 2022 17:16:46 GMT
I suspect I’m dealing with a bunch of knuckleheads. Shopping around instead.
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Post by snakehips on Oct 8, 2022 5:55:08 GMT
Hi there !
From my previous experience of insuring my instruments, “being used” meant instruments used for gigs that you get paid a fee. ie. A gig is seen as a business (whether solo act or band) - and your instruments are used in that business - so, those instruments can’t be insured WHILE outside the home, on your home insurance.
Doesn’t matter how much you get paid either - £1or £200 for a gig, OR even how often you gig those instruments (eg. Once a year or twice a week !).
If your instruments are being used for gigs then they can’t be included in your home building & contents insurance WHILE THEY ARE AWAY from your home.
So, to clarify though, you can insure everything in your home, but if your instruments are stolen/damaged while at a gig, they will not be insured there
My problem, is that playing an occasional solo gig, duo, trio & band gigs, requires different gear for each type of gig. Piano & organ for band gigs, 1-4 guitars for solo/duo/trio I don’t want to have a 2nd lot of insurance for ALL my gear that I MIGHT take to a gig in the course of a year, for a full year’s out of the home insurance.
The advice I therefore got was insure everything you have for in your home, AND when you have a gig, contact your insurers for a temporary insurance cover for just the gear you are taking to a gig. That apparently doesn’t cost much. That’s easy enough to do if you only have the occasional gig. The more gigs you have the more difficult it will be to remember to contact your insurance company in advance of EVERY gig !
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Post by richclough on Oct 8, 2022 6:32:22 GMT
I use Hencilla Canworth - recommended by the MU - and if you are a member of the MU you'll get £1k insurance coverage free. I've never had to claim though.
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Post by leedscitystompers on Oct 8, 2022 19:23:39 GMT
Martyn here.
I’m a pro doing 150+ gigs a year.
I use Clegg Gifford who are a broker that specialise in musicians/creatives etc.
I insure my gigging gear separately on a policy with them (2 PA’s, 3 Guitars, Banjo, Uke, Double Bass, Bass Amp, Foot Drums, Lights, Mixer) for when I’m out gigging as it amounts to around £15k replacement value. It’s about £4 a week. I also get 30 days EU cover per year too.
Everything else is itemised on household insurance and it’s my responsibility if I take the nice vintage stuff out of the house to keep it safe.
The company also does my public liability and car insurance which is considerably cheaper when listing occupation as ‘musician’ than all the usual comparison sites. Saves £100s.
Great to deal with and good value.
Might be an idea if you’ve got nice stuff that needs a specialist take on insuring.
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Post by littlebobby on Oct 23, 2022 12:20:26 GMT
So after some head scratching and several conversations with the broker, who was not the most articulate, it turns out that the guitars are insured at all times unless I’m actually playing them onstage. I said that I’m not planning on any Richie Blackmore shenanigans but she didn’t understand.
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Post by snakehips on Oct 23, 2022 19:00:01 GMT
I would want in writing a clearly defined "line in the sand" where & when your instruments are covered, AND where & when they are not insured, between you loading up your car at your home, going to the gig, and arriving home again.
I had been advised in the past, with respect to my instruments covered on my Home&Contents Insurance, that they are not covered on occasions they are used for gigs. It was never defined if they were only not covered once they left my car, at the gig venue, to when they were returned to my car after the gig, OR was it the moment they left my house. Subtle difference, that an Insurance company will no-doubt want to argue the toss on, so they don't have to pay.
Some gigs I do, where there is an actual gig contract to sign, with lots of detail in the contract, will often have a disclaimer on any damage to my property (ie. including my instruments), while it is in their venue, including damage done by their staff.
I had one festival gig where I was playing e.piano and electric organ (portable keyboard sized version of a Hammond organ). After the gig, they wanted our gear not only off the stage but OUT of the venue within 20minutes of the end of the gig.
There was only one set of stairs up to the stage from the side entrance of the venue, where I had my car parked. We had been led onstage through a curtain at the back of the stage. After we had set up our gear to do the soundcheck, I hadn't noticed that the sound guys had set up a set of stage lights at head height, over that set of stairs, on the side of the stage.
We did our gig, and got hurried up to pack up our gear and leave the venue. In the rush, and with the stage lights still off, I picked up my cumbersome & heavy dual-manual organ, under my arm and proceeded to aim for the side stairs off the stage. At this point, I bashed my head heavily into the solid metal stage lights casing - and nearly dropped the 16kg organ on my toes. I was furious at being harassed to hurry up, essentially putting my health at risk.
Question is though, IF I had dropped my keyboard onto the stage floor, then it fall another 5 foot off the stage, and smashed up my circa £3k organ keyboard, would the venue or the festival (& it's contract) have cared less ? It would still have been ME that dropped it !
Don't EVER let yourself be rushed around !
At least it wasn't a 160kg Hammond organ I nearly dropped on my toes !!!
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