 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: contragirl
Date: 2005-06-13 05:27
Ok, who here has their instruments insured?
As of now, my clarinets are covered under my parents' homeowner's insurance(Nationwide).
But like I mentioned before, I am going overseas and will be playing on a borrowed instrument, which the homeowners may not cover.
So, through my research, I have come across Clarion Associates, Inc and National Musical Instrument Insurance. Both say they cover borrowed instruments.
I've never heard of these companies personally, but then again, I don't know anything about insurance! But they seem to be underwritten by reputable companies.
What do you guys suggest? Who is good, who is not good?
Thanks,
Contragirl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-06-13 11:50
I haven't thought about getting insurance on my clarinet before hehe. Though it would be a good idea..perhaps if you don't know anything about them you should just play it safe and ask someone who does have insurance and ask their what company their using.
I'm just saying that because they're can be a lot internet gimmicks. If these companies are over the internet that is.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-06-13 14:51
Check carefully to find what your parents' insurance covers. Often, homeowners policies don't cover losses outside the home, or from a car, or for instruments used professionally.
Clarion Insurance specializes in musical instruments. However, their premiums are rather high. Clarion writes only for US citizens (a recent change).
Merz-Huber writes less expensive instrument insurance. You can get it by joining the American String Teachers Association ($74.00), as a woodwind member, or the Music Teachers National Association. Note that they won’t write a policy outside the US, and it's unclear whether they cover for travel outside.
State Farm writes a personal articles policy that covers instruments, but, again, check to make sure it covers professional use, and be sure to keep the values updated.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-06-13 15:01
Also, don't think that you can go the personal use route and then somehow slide by with professional use. The companies do investigate losses of horns, and they are wise to most ever scam that's ever come down the pike.
It cost precisely twice as much to insure horns through my homeowners for pro use as it did for non-pro use. Professional use is defined as using them in performance for pay, not just as a contracted musician in an orchestra. I've been told that working for "expense money" (such as many schools pay for folks who play in their pit orchestras) doesn't count as pro use, but I've also been told by my company (Allstate) that it does.
There were no restrictions on the locations of the horns in my policy, so loss from the trunk of a car, or an orchestra pit, or my home would all have been equally covered. But, I've had the pro coverage for years when playing as a contractor so I've welcomed the "peace of mind" that it offers. (It's also deductible against the income that you make, should you itemize your taxes.)
Once we started the group, I picked up a commercial policy for the group as a whole, in which my personal instruments are also covered. But, that's a different arrangement that's not likely to fit those who are playing on their own.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2005-06-14 02:53
My wife and I were in Eastern Europe last summer, and first made sure our instrument coverage was good everywhere we would be.
If your tour is being coordinated by an agency that normally coordinates music tours, they will have experience in this area that you should check out *first*.
In general, the best bets for insurance are:
1) an "inland marine" rider on your homeowner's insurance policy. This is what I do. If you have a good insurance carrier, this can be quite reasonable.
2) the American Federation of Musicians coverage (whose carrier also provides all risk coverage on ham radio gear through the American Radio Relay League.) This is also reasonable.
Either of these sources might have some ideas about borrowed instruments. Ask about listing the owner as the beneficiary.
In any case, make sure the instruments are correctly identified on your policy by make, model, serial number, date of manufacture and anything else that uniquely indentifies them. Make sure the cases and accessories are insured, too.
Regards
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
