Thread: "Licensed and insured"

You know how you sometimes see "licensed and insured" on plumbers trucks and stuff? What benefit, if any, do you think it would bring if you mentioned that you were licensed and insured. I was thinking about adding a little "disclaimer" type thing at the bottom of my booking page that says "Andalee is licensed and insured", but then I thought that was hokie. Whaddaya think? ..l;,

I hope this doesn't sound stupid but who would you be licensed by? I'm a licensed Interior Designer - I hold credentials from the NCIDQ and the state of Minnesota. I think people might wonder... but maybe that's just me.
Shannon

I'm getting liability insurance very, very soon, having been inspired by http://www.bhuz.com/forum/business-b...insurance.html. I think that it's something you *could* add to your site, but don't have to. When hiring a plumber, you would absolutely want them to be insured, but I'm guessing most people looking to hire a dancer don't give it a second thought.

However, I think it was Daniela who said the issue of insurance has come up for her a couple of times for gigs, so it may be one less question a potential client needs to ask. And you know how it is - the easier you make it for them, the more likely they are to actually call or email you.

Originally Posted by rscramer

I hope this doesn't sound stupid but who would you be licensed by? I'm a licensed Interior Designer - I hold credentials from the NCIDQ and the state of Minnesota. I think people might wonder... but maybe that's just me.
Shannon

I'm licensed by Durham to operate a business. Isn't that what people mean when they say that? Or do they mean they are licensed by a professional board of something or another. Perhaps I was being stupid! Cause now I am confused.

Originally Posted by kiyaana

I'm getting liability insurance very, very soon, having been inspired by http://www.bhuz.com/forum/business-b...insurance.html. I think that it's something you *could* add to your site, but don't have to. When hiring a plumber, you would absolutely want them to be insured, but I'm guessing most people looking to hire a dancer don't give it a second thought.

However, I think it was Daniella who said the issue of insurance has come up for her a couple of times for gigs, so it may be one less question a potential client needs to ask. And you know how it is - the easier you make it for them, the more likely they are to actually call or email you.

Interesting. I have group liability insurance through our professional dance association. I have to add an event to the policy each time I teach a class or go somewhere there might be a question.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Interesting. I have group liability insurance through our professional dance association. I have to add an event to the policy each time I teach a class or go somewhere there might be a question.

When I hear 'licensed & insured' I do think of occupations where a professional license is required to do the job - like plumbers, construction contractors, etc. I think I might would address it to venues as just a brief sentence, something like "Andalee is insured and is licensed to do biz by the City of Durham"

Licensed usually means you have a professional license. Licenses are required in certain professions -- massage therapy, plumbing and other home repairs, nursing, etc. Saying you're 'licensed' means you've met certain state minimum requirements for training, passed an exam, and continue to meet ongoing education requirements.

Your business license doesn't demonstrate anything to your clients. It just means you're complying with the law. Really, you might as well say 'I renew my license plate sticker and pay my taxes' because those are the equivalents.

There's no licensing for dance instructors -- the closest alternative is to be 'certified' as a group fitness instructor, which demonstrates you've been trained, tested, and have ongoing instruction.

Insurance.. hmmm.. I think getting hurt and having to sue the instructor/dancer is the last thing our clients think about (unlike plumbers, where you're afraid a bad one will make issues much worse and cost you a fortune) so I'm not sure how much value that carries.

You often see 'bonded and insured' for anyone who enters your home and could be in a position to steal something. Also not big bellydancer concern usually. (ever try to smuggle a large screen TV in a jeweled bra?)

Generally, our insurance and certification is of more interest to the clubs, rec departments and studios who hire us as teachers than it is to our clients and students.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Or do they mean they are licensed by a professional board of something or another.

That's what I usually assume when someone says they are licensed - that they are licensed by an organization within their industry to be able to legally advertise themselves as plumbers, carpenters, etc. For example, the drywall guy we used to build my studio also did carpentry work, but he was not licensed as a carpenter. Therefore he could only advertise his drywall services, even though he was perfectly capable of building the framework to hang the drywall on.

I do have on my website and cards that I am a member of MECDA - I'm not sure if that's made much of a difference to people hiring me, though.

This post was clearly written during a blonde moment...

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

This post was clearly written during a blonde moment...

not necessarily. if you were unclear about the meaning, surely others are/were too.

if dancers do fire acts, including shamadan or hand candles, advertising that you are insured can be a plus imo

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Perhaps I was being stupid!

This post was clearly written during a blonde moment...

Definitely not! You are way to smart for that. :Ahappy:

I think the insurance part of this, if worded correctly, is definitely a good thing. Especially, as Sabrina pointed out, for dancers who do some of the specialty props.

Originally Posted by rscramer

Definitely not! You are way to smart for that. :Ahappy:

I think the insurance part of this, if worded correctly, is definitely a good thing. Especially, as Sabrina pointed out, for dancers who do some of the specialty props.

Ditto! And as Lauren said, it is of more interest to venues and centers that hire for classes/workshops.

when i left my old dance studio and started working on my own, a strange thing happened. the first year i got quite a lot of gigs, cause i was like one of the first dancers they called that when they asked "can you bill us officially, we dont want to pay anyone of the books", i said, yes, OF COURSE. and by the way; i'm insured too!
i guess they had called a bunch of people before that didnt have a proper busuiness set up, nor insurance.

so, well, yes, i think that to some clients, this might be an attractice selling point. but it's just something i state when already talking about a gig, wouldnt put in on my website or businesscards or anything, cause to me it its pretty obvious

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

You know how you sometimes see "licensed and insured" on plumbers trucks and stuff? What benefit, if any, do you think it would bring if you mentioned that you were licensed and insured. I was thinking about adding a little "disclaimer" type thing at the bottom of my booking page that says "Andalee is licensed and insured", but then I thought that was hokie. Whaddaya think? ..l;,

I'm asked about insurance a lot. I dance with shamadan-always lit if the venue allows it and almost without exception people want to know if I have insurance and most ask me to bring the documents with me when I perform.

I think it might be nice to have "fully insured" or something like that on your website - not that I think it would make a huge difference in ultimate bookings....if a venue requires performers to be insured, I think a client would just ask!

Plumbers and other trades generally include those things in their advertisements because they are required to do so by law. In my state, Florida, they have to include their license number in any advertisements, including on their trucks. I think saying "licensed" on your business cards might be confusing and lead to questions about "licensed by whom?"