Touring Musicians Need Insurance
It’s inevitable. If we go on our, musicians, we run the risk of having our equipment stolen. One must have auto insurance to drive a car, and I think a touring musician must have insurance to cover their touring gear, if not all of their gear at home in case of a fire.
Here are two sets of insurance one can use to protect myself:
1. Homeowner’s Insurance Plans: Call your current auto insurance company, and add homeowner’s insurance that will cover business stuff in your car. For $300 a year, you can get homeowner’s insurance from a carrier like Progressive that will cover $5000-7500 of your equipment stolen from your car. However, ask important questions:
- Does this cover my gear in my car if there is no sign of break-in? (This might be an odd story, but read this blog as a reminder how easy it is for stuff to get stolen.) Does this cover my gear if it’s stolen at a venue?
2. Get additional coverage for gear from a company like Heritage Insurance Services, which specifically works with musicians. These plans can cover your instrument if it is stolen–or damaged–at a gig (Example: Drunk person falls over onto your guitar or someone spills their beer on your pedal board.) Here’s their information:
Robert A. Gallo, Jr.
Account Executive
Heritage Insurance Services, Inc.
826 Bustleton Pike, Ste. 203
Feasterville, PA 19053
800-289-8837 x 103
(215) 322-5854 FAX
rgallo[at]musicins.com
Also, make an Excel spreadsheet listing all of your equipment with these items
- Item name
- Serial number
- Estimated value price used
- Market value price new
- How much you paid for it (for your own records, wink, wink.)
- Interested marks that make it identifiable
Take a picture of all of your gear, including the serial numbers, and keep it in a folder on your computer.
* * *
Lastly, I’m going to risk sounding like my father saying this, but if you have a priceless piece of equipment that can’t be replaced, don’t take it on the road. Some instruments are for studio recording sessions only. They don’t need to go on tour.
I take my live sound seriously, but one must be reasonable. For example:
- Your audience will not tell the difference between an Analogman modified Tube Screamer TS (replacable) and the original Tube Scream 808 (difficult to replace).
- Your audience will not tell the difference between a really newer Fender guitar and a 1965 Jazzmaster.
- Have a a 1960s Gibson semi-hollowbody made in Kalamazoo? I’d take your Epiphone on the road instead.
If you can’t afford to replace it, don’t tour with it. Don’t take your vintage stuff on the road, especially if you are just starting to tour!
Mike V. & Michael Chambers laying down tracks for "Kalamazoo" at Catherine North Studios.
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