I have an opportunity to be 'performing' at a local village fete/open day. One of my friends asked whether I needed to have public liability insurance. We discussed the whys and wherefores of it and couldn't decide yes or know.
So my questions to you fine people are

Do I need to have it ?

If it is not required is it still a good thing to have ?

Where is the best place to get it ?

I should have said, at this point this is a hobby for me not a job but you never know where theses things lead.

I used to have insurance for 2 million that was bought on a joint insurance with other entertainers, from memory it was about £125.
I have just joined equity & you automatically get 5 million cover with them + the help of there legal team.

The problem with not having insurance is if a balloon pops near a childs eye or the little ones bite them, to be honest not sure what to suggest, if your going out with no insurance I would think you need to tell the organisers as they may well have taken insurance out for the day themselves for other things and you may well be included on this.

Graham Lee

Face painters also have public liability insurance, not in case someone should react to the paint (the manufacturers have product liability insurance for that   ) but in case we should poke some in the eye with a brush for example.

I started with £2m through Blackfriars http://www.blackfriarsgroup.co.uk/ which cost around £90 for a year, but now I am a member of FACE I have £5m cover.  I have only on occasion been asked if I have it, but never been asked to show my documentation - having said that, a lot of my work is at kids parties, so parents are not normally aware that we even need it.  Its usually the corporate clients that ask  

In a similar way to my post about the costs of websites, I would only need one large party booking to pay for the insurance for the whole year  

How would one join equity? that seems like one way to go ?

I think you have to have three signed contracts for work. They approached me about joining at a showcase & saw me performing so I just got straight in.

If you google them I'm sure the details would be on there website.
Just found the address; http://www.equity.org.uk/

Graham Lee

I concur with Graham, Equity is the way forward. Public liability is covered for £10 million - should you ever need it. It covers performance and teaching what you perform.

They do other things like childrens entertainers directory - free to members! They help with all kinds of things so you get much more for your money than just public liability.

Ring equity up to join they will tell you how. It used to be hard but now its much easier to be in the union.

hope that helps,
Danny

Thanks guys    
I have checked out the website and I have their number and will ring them when I get the chance.

I have been doing balloons and my wife face painting at school functions, fates Christmas fairs for more years than I care to remember. I would not dream of not having insurance, even when I was shall we say an ammeter as one the school would not let me do it and two if anyone was hurt I would never forgive myself, as I would not only have hurt someone but my family would suffer due to the fact that I am bound to get sued and for a lot of money.

My wife works in insurance (aircraft) and if you saw some of the stupid little clams and the amount they can get you two would get insurance.

You could also look at http://www.nabas.co.uk/membership.html

If you can get 2 other jobs at £100 each in a year you have paid for your insurance.
For me it made me go and get those jobs when I started out.

I have looked at Nabas and the Equity sites, I may be stuck on both, it seems you have to have proof of doing jobs and be a 'professional' I feel I need insurance to do jobs and am an ameteur so this may be tricky, never the less I will give them a call and ask, after all if you don't ask you don't get or learn.
I have found a couple of firms as well to ring.
I will let you all know how I get on   :?

I have £5m public liability insurance for performing and disco work because most local authorities insist on it and I do quite a lot of school work.

If Equity or NABAS are not options try *this Company*

Ian

have you contacted your house contents policy - you may find if it is only a very small hobby you can get some cover added to it and probably instantly as you have the policy with them already

Pam

Have just has this flyer emailed to me & the price seemed competetive although for £120 you can join equity & have all the legal cover as well;

Dear Artist/Performer

Our Performing and Creative Arts Insurance is a specialist insurance scheme for the Entertainment and Art and Crafts Industries.

We have recently undergone an extensive review of our rates and premiums, which has resulted in over 40 occupations covered by the scheme having a reduction in premium.

It has been specifically designed to cover:

Public Liability        (£2 or £5 Million, including or excluding heat)
Employers Liability (optional)
Damage to Property (optional)

The insurance premiums range in price, depending upon your activities and experience, and can start from £67 for £2 Million Public Liability for the lower risk occupations (excluding heat).

Our scheme is able to cover around 280 occupations in the industry, including most acts that work with fire and, unlike some schemes, each policy operates for 12 months from the date of inception.

To obtain a quote, visit our website at:

http://www.insurance4performingarts.co.uk

where a full list of occupations and details of the scheme can also be found. Once there, please fill in the online fact-find form and we will get back to you with a quote.

Alternatively, if you wish to discuss your insurance requirements, please telephone 01686 626019.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Performing Arts Team

This scheme is provided by Rees Astley Insurance Brokers Ltd who are an appointed representative of Rees Astley Independent Financial Advisers Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. The aforementioned companies are wholly owned by Rees Astley (Holdings) Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales - 06452448 whose registered office address is 29 North Parade, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 2JN.

just to note:
With Equity you get £10 million cover, plus a whole load of other benefits too.

danny

For a lot of local authorities 5 million is OK but I know a couple who are asking for up to 10 million now

I've been on the equity website. I've had a look at the public liability bit, & as far as I can understand, you get a discount on the insurance, not something that comes with the membership, which is something I am understanding here. :x  agh my bwain hurts. :roll: