 The Doublers BBoard
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2007-03-04 15:44
The last pit orchestra gig my wife and I participated in we had five instruments between the two of us. We had to crawl up in a loft and shimmy under two 5" diameter pipes that were ~4 foot high with these instruments. Everyone that didn't need their instruments for another gig left their instruments in the stands as we played 3 to 4 nights a week for a month.
If an instrument had gotten stolen, or five!, would my homeowners insurance have coved my instruments? I'm actually afraid to call the insurance company because I have over 35 instruments amongs the four players in the house. Some of these instruments are near irreplaceable.
Has anyone found a great way to insure their instruments? Terry Stibel talks about using your home owner's policy here: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=164693&t=164690
But I'm just not sure what to do about vintage, irreplaceble instruments and whether home insurance companies will actually pay off if you are performing at a paid gig.
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
Post Edited (2007-03-04 15:57)
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Author: Bret Pimentel
Date: 2007-03-04 18:43
I highly recommend these folks:
http://www.musicins.com/
Reasonably priced and excellent coverage. My flute was stolen about a year ago. I made one five-minute phone call and a check was on the way.
I have no affiliation with them except as a satisfied customer.
Bret
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2007-03-04 23:51
Regardless of the source, you should carry some coverage on your horns - especially when you leave them somewhere. Friends are all well and good, but we've known more than a few fellow musicians over the years who have succumbed to temptation and lifted a horn. When that happens, it's hard to get them back, and then its too late.
With my homeowners (Allstate), there are two rates. One is the one for "non-commercial use", the other is for commercial use. The rates are precisely double for commercial use.
Register with the policy issuer as a "non-commercial use" musician (to save the money), and later trying to show up claiming a casualty at an obviously commercial is going to be a non-starter. Insurance companies are pretty good at sniffing out fraud, don't forget. Get the commercial version of the policy and play it safe.
Other sources assume that you are going the commercial route - this is what the policy issued by an affiliate of AFM offers.
If you make money from your musical efforts, the purchase of a policy is a no brainer. And, it can be written off as a work related expense (for tax purposes, thereby reducing the amount upon which you pay taxes), another benefit.
(Of course, if you don't report the income, then you don't reap the benefits. But, your horns are still covered from loss. And, not all loss is theft - I had a good friend who had a Mark VI tenor totaled by an errant actress wandering through the pit area at a theater. The policy writer's choice paid off in six days.)
If you're just playing for fun, it's another matter. However, once the horn is gone, it's gone. Keep that in mind.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-03-11 11:50
For now my instruments (only three of them actually) are insured with the home insurance, but it isn't great. When flying with them it covers only very few of the bad things that could happen, and they are not covered as long as they are in a car (and some other places).
A friend of mine has her contrabass insured with this company www.larkinsurance.co.uk and she says it covers everything possible, including leaving it in the car and the car get stolen, etc. I'm going to look into getting it also.
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Author: CK
Date: 2007-08-23 02:44
On insuring your instruments, if you are a member of the AFM
they have great rates . Also Clarion insurance specializes in
instrument Insurance.
http://www.clarionins.com
Your homeowners insurance probably wiil not cover damage or theft on a
gig.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2008-12-23 20:07
One should never leave a valuable instrument in a car or locker or where someone could access it if at all possible.
At home, it makes sense to keep instruments in a closet with a strong lock. Burglars often look for cash or pawnable items and don't like to spend time breaking locks. I leave a $50 bill out on a dresser to allow them not to leave empty handed, although I've never been burglarized. Good Luck!
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2008-12-26 23:42
Once again, while the AFM offers insurance, make sure to compare their rates with those offered by others. I did a survey of a number of companies, and found that my homeowners, even at the double premium commercial rate, was a better buy with superior coverage over the AFM contract product. Other companies may differ, but you won't know if you don't ask.
Just make sure that, if the horns are used for "play for pay", you don't get caught off base with non-commercial insurance while you are playing at a paid gig. Their investigations aren't the most rigorous in the world, but they do look into casualties and woe betide someone who's playing a Broadway show when filing a claim on non-commercial insurance.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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