Public Liability insurance for gigging (on a very small scale!) musicians.

Andrew_McP · Sunday at 20:02

I'm only doing care homes and dementia groups, usually for no money at all, but someone has asked the awkward question so I finally have to grow up and be An Adult, even if paying for the pleasure of giving away my time for free is anathema!

A fellow care home pesterer has suggested https://www.insure4music.co.uk/ (they don't sell PC hardware, so I think I'm safe with the link!) but I have no experience of this stuff whatsoever. If anyone has, I'd appreciate their thoughts. I'm not insuring kit, just public liability for "elf & safety gorn mad" purposes.

arty · Sunday at 23:12

MU? Might not be worth it if you’re not earning from gigs.

Andrew_McP · 2025-03-10T00:42:03+0000

arty said:
MU? Might not be worth it

My total guaranteed (ish!) income is £50 a month. £23 a month to the MU seems... a poor investment, free insurance or not. :-D

The rough quote from the above place was £29 a year. It pains me to pay to play, essentially, but... it's the first thing I've done in my life that I enjoy and feels worthwhile. And I like beans on toast a lot, so....

It does occur to me that 1M worth of cover wouldn't go very far if I burned a care home down with my battery operated amp. But maybe I'll try not to burn anywhere down? It ought to cover someone tripping over my gear and getting legally upset though. Hopefully.

arty · 2025-03-10T10:08:34+0000

Oh, fair enough. Definitely not worth paying the MU if you're doing so little!

I think £1m of cover is a pretty standard basic level for liability insurance, and I've mainly heard of cases like speakers falling on people or audience members tripping over cables (which happens quite a lot when alcohol is around), that sort of thing. It's a bit like PAT-testing: the insurance is mainly a requirement of the venue's own insurance policies, not usually the venue staff themselves!

A friend of mine often does care home gigs, so if you like I could ask her what she uses.

Andrew_McP · 2025-03-10T10:42:19+0000

arty said:
A friend of mine often does care home gigs, so if you like I could ask her what she uses.

Thanks. I need to get something sorted out today. Comparison sites are no good for stuff like this, so I think I'll take a punt at the one above. "Taking a punt" and insurance are probably not easy bedfellows. But looking at the way they respond to their one star reviews gives me a little confidence. Famous last words.

But if I avoid putting my guitar through a window or poking an old lady in the eye with my razor sharp wit, I will hopefully be ok!

All sorted, for better or worse. :eek: