Thread: Performer's Insurance?

Huh? I've never been asked this question before -

I am dancing at a catering hall next weekend for a birthday party, and the client just called and said the catering hall won't let me perform unless I have insurance. What kind of insurance are they talking about/

I understand the idea of teachers carrying insurance, so if a student gets injured they don't get sued out the wazoo. But, shouldn't the venue carry liability insurance for those in it? It's a catering hall - shouldn't they have liability insurance for all the people who come to parties and dance on their slippery floor?

I have my own health insurance. If I get hurt, I'd use that to take care of myself. Isn't that enough? I have to call the client back. What do I tell her???

So...anyone? I need to call my client back today, but I'm stalling until I know what she's talking about.

The venue isn't your employer, the client who is renting the catering hall is, so I doubt insurance of the hall would cover you, a non-employee/indy contractor . . .

You don't say if your health insurance is through an employer or if you've gotten it on your own. Either way, make sure it covers you if you are working [another] job when you are injured. It should, but check to be sure.

The catering hall might be worried about whether you carry liability insurance for any injury/damage you might cause during your act -- as dancers can fall onto someone else, or loose control of a prop such as live-flame prop, sword, stick/cane -- even zills that fly off can be pretty damaging if they connect with a nearby skull!!

If you wonder what the catering hall is demanding, maybe just call them directly and ask . . .

Oh -- and I don't think I was ever asked that either when I was dancing out and none of my students who dance out have ever indicated they've been asked that either (but I did/do carry liability insurance as well as health and disability).

I have private health insurance, not connected to my job in any way. It will cover me for injuries no matter where they occur.

I'm a lawyer and I've never heard of this. I just called another lawyer friend who works in the insurance/personal injury arena, and she said that a lot of places now are requiring vendors to carry their own insurance, so that they will not be responsible for any injury to the vendor.

I have been performing professionally for 4 years and have NEVER been asked this question. I am not going to buy liability insurance for myself for this one job. I will sign a waiver stating that I will not sue if something happens to me, and if that is not enough, I won't take the job.

The cost of buying the insurance would almost cancel out what I would make in the job anyway, so it's pointless.

Thanks for your help.

:-) I've worked in the lawfirm where I work now (non-atty) for 39 years, some of that time as a personal injury paralegal. One of the things I learned doing that is that who-has-the-insurance is a top question when someone is injured. I still think the catering hall is more interested in your having liability insurance in case someone is injured because of your act (or property damage which might occur) than they are of whether you have insurance to cover any injury you might sustain while performing. So, while they might be very happy to have you sign a release as to your own injuries -- they still might want to know if you have liability insurance to cover injuries to another or property damage. . . .

Good luck! I agree that the cost of the insurance is dear compared to what most of us can make doing this type of work.

Kat

I had a venue last year that wanted us to have liability insurance in case anyone attending the show got hurt. As it was explained to me, they weren't worried about any property damage, (outdoor event) but they were worried about spectator injuries. Luckily we were able to get a waiver for that under the main event we were performing at but I'm on the hunt for some type of liability insurance just in case it ever comes up again. And yes I was totally puzzled on how anyone could get hurt sitting to watch one of our shows, maybe a dancer falling off the two inch raised platform into their lap? LOL! I tried to get insurance through my own home/car carrier but according to my agent they have to insure the building we practice in (owned by the city so umm, no) and all costumes and props (personal property of each dancer so agian, not mine to insure). All I can figure was she just didn't understand what it was I was trying to find. If anyone has any leads on where I could find spectator libablity insurance I'd love to know.

Yep, my client called the venue and they are worried about guests getting injured during my show (maybe my sword might fly off my head and land on someone 5 feet away?) and suing them. So, they will not accept a waiver because apparently they don't really care what happens to me.

I called my insurance agent, and he said to get a policy like this, it will cost me about $500 a year. Not gonna happen, at least not right now. So,he's looking into "event" insurance, to just get me covered for this one event, since my client is willing to pay for the insurance, as long as it's not a crazy amount.

On a side note - I got an email from ANOTHER client yesterday asking me if I had insurance, because she was just reading her contract with her catering hall and it said all vendors must have their own insurance. I filled her in on what was going on and she called her venue. They said not to worry about it - that clause is there for djs and bands and other vendors that will be there the whole night, and have lots of opportunities for guests to get injured because of something they did. He said for a 20 minute dance show, he wasn't worried about audience members getting hurt just watching. At least that man had some sense!

My insurance guy did say that this is a new trend though - venues will not let vendors step foot in them without their own insurance, because our country is sue-happy. So, I'm sure it will be a necessary expense eventually.

I've never heard of this and have never been asked about insurance... yet. Let us know how much the event insurance costs, Daniella. Just as a reference, it's good info to know. Thanks for posting about this!

Get yourself a fitness/dance instructors policy that travels with you.
It runs about 185.00 a year for 100,000.00
It covers you and anyone you may injure in your dance or teaching.
I know it sounds crazy but more and more places and people are asking for it.
Get online and google around. Sorry I dont have any recommendations as we are trying to find a new insurance carrier now. I will let you know if I find a good rate and coverage.

OK, so now my question is this: is there a need for insurance for dancers who perform at restaurants, private parties, bellygrams, etc. Theoretically, during audience participation, a customer could hurt him/herself while dancing with the dancer, right?

Yes, there is apparently a need for it if you perform anywhere, period.

I did some google searches and came up with some carriers that would insure me as a performer (one even mentioned they cover bellydancers!), but I didn't end up buying a policy because I wouldn't have had it in time (the client ended up purchasing event insurance through AllState, which was $175).

Also, the policies I found only cover performing, not teaching. If I'm going to get a policy, I'd like it to do both. And since this seems to be the new trend, I'm going to get a policy.

Does anyone have any suggestions for performance/teaching liability policies?

this country really sucks in its sue-happiness.

Originally Posted by sumayasaahir

this country really sucks in its sue-happiness.

I agree! If it weren't for the sleazy lawyers that take on frivolous lawsuits, we wouldn't be in this expensive mess!