Hey guys,

I'm working on booking a big gig in an auditorium, but they require me to have insurance. Does anyone have any recommendations of companies that do a "per show" arrangement?

I know nothing on this subject. I can't even begin to wonder what the premiums would be.

~Mike

I carry full liability insurance and get mine through the S.A.M. I know both SAM and IBM have liability insurance you can get through them at a decent price. Look into them if you are a member.

You will find most larger laces like theaters, malls and festivals all require you to have insurance. I paid around 150-ish for one year and 1 mil in coverage.

Kyle

I have mine through the IBM. It is worth joining so you can get the insurance. I just give the client a copy of the insurance certificate and that generally does it for me. I have not had to add a client as an insured, but if you do it is only an extra $30.

Peter

I get mine through the Clowns of U.S. Pluses over SAM and IBM; 1. You don't have to join anything. 2. With the initiation fees and dues of SAM and IBM the Clowns insurance is cheaper. 3. Two Million dollars coverage with CSA vs one million with IBM/SAM. 4. Free unlimited "additional insured" certificates (SAM and IBM either limit the number of certificates or charge you for them). 5. Clowns insurance covers "products" such as balloons or give away toys.

You can find them at http://www.clownsoftheus.com/
Edd

I forgot the one con of the Clowns of the US policy. It runs from April to April each year. So, if you were to join in March you would still have to pay the full price even though you only get 1 month of coverage.

Edd

That's the same with any of these policies. IBM runs from August 15 - August 15. I don't know what SAM's policy year is. They buy one blanket policy and every one is issued it at a group rate.

Martin

I have found thought that many places do require you to carry insurance. I rented out theaters for shows, and they all requested it as well as having it for the festivals I perform at. Many of them last year requested insurance.

In most cases all you need to do is give them a copy of the insurance statement and you are good to go.

Kyle

I've never joined SAM or IBM. I know one of them you have to have several magicians sign you into it. Does either of them not have that requirement?

Both require signatures from 2 members in good standing and that is easy to acquire at your local ring or assembly meeting. You can also try your local magic shop and you should be able to get the required signatures there. I'd still suggest the http://www.clownsoftheus.com website. They don't having sliding scales on your premium according to income and they provide $2,000,000 vs $1,000,000 liability cover for that premium.

Martin

You can join SAM online without any signatures. That's how I joined. Before finding out their insurance doesn't cover balloons.
Edd

Why would insurance be needed? What could happen that it would be needed?

Joe,

Many large festivals and theaters will not be responsible for anyone or anything happening due to anything from your show etc. They there for ask that every performer has and carries his or her own insurance to cover situations. It is just the way it is.

The point is that many of these people do not know your show or what you do in it. In the event a person gets hurt due to a prop, illusion, fire or any other accident from your performance, the palce that hired you will not want to be responsible for it. This is why they require you to have liability insurance.

Kyle

This insurance is neccesary for one thing... Some dumb - @#! that will slip in a pool of soda that he just spilled on the floor and breaks his collar bone.

You and I get to pay for all the stupid people to exist. : )

The only real reason to carry any insurance is to protect yourself. We carry it through the IBM and have never had to use it, however we do know a member who has. I will use his occurance to hopefully shed some insight as to a big why you need it. He was doing a show at a brand new bank, which had a very large area with brand new carpeting with a unique pattern, approximately 60 feet by 40 feet. He was doing a trick he has done for over 25 years with never an error when the flash paper caught a small place in the carpet on fire burning about a 1-2 inch spot in part of the pattern. His fee for the show about $750 would not even dented the repair cost of $3500 he was given which he submitted to the insurance which paid for full repair. If you are doing just one performance in any pubic venue, with any spectators at all you can not afford to be without it. For us its part of being in the business and we wouldnt be caught without it.

Now, I heard the same rumor before about SAM not covering balloons. I recently asked SAM about the balloon coverage by email, because I wanted to make sure about that.

From what I was told, SAM DOES cover balloons!

The reason I am thinking of going with SAM over Clowns of America is because I want the option of using animals, and Clowns of America won't cover them, whereas SAM does.

Does anyone else have any knowledge where SAM stands on the balloon issue? Also, a magician acquaintance of mine that is heavily into balloon twisting recently told me that the rumor about SAM is false.

I would love to hear other's first hand knowledge on this....

I would say to any of you that the clowns of the US is far better then anything you could get through SAM or IBM. Those policies are a bit vague when it comes to what they are actually going to cover. They might tell you that they cover fire but sometimes those planket policies do not and you are left out to defend yourself, it has happened to a friend of mine. If you are any type of working act and you do not have insurence you are just being plain stupid. Any real venue will require you to have insurence, I work in the fair market as well as theaters and nightclubs and if you don't have at least 2 million they won't touch you. You use to be able to get away with 1 million but it is moving up all over the country. The clown policy is great and they don't charge you for any additionally insured certificates. For $180 a year you can't go wrong, it will be the best piece of paper you have if something goes wrong.

You performers in USA have it tough!!

Downunder all theatres run as a business pay insurance for performers -any accidents are covered by ACC -accident compensation

We also are not allowed to sue people if accidents happen due to ACC being provided

We still have to ensure people can exit stages with safe stairs etc but in general anything goes unless strict fire regulationsd are in place

I have only played 1 venue in 15 yrs where fire was not allowed

Some people might have the odd concern about situations-but if your sensible -never a problem

If some idiot runs/sprints to the stage & trips & hurts himself which students do-Thats his lookout-nothing more will come of it!! Obviously we will ensure there ok but that's as far as it will go.

If your a touring theatrical show for eg -insurance can be advised to take out

In general never a problem & have never been asked about it!

You guys would love performing here!!

I would say so, I'm coming there. You can't even thin about doing shows in some of the venues I play without it. In the state people are sue happy, they want to take you for everything if they are offended or if they get a scratch. Kuddos to your country for doing that I wish it were as easy here.