The show must go on: events insurance that works for you

Working in the live events industry, you will be aware that often things can, and do, go wrong, and how important it is to have contingencies in place for when this happens. Insurance can be invaluable when things don’t go to plan, providing financial protection and support in getting your event back on track.

There are many important considerations for live events including the venue, performers, staging, and equipment required.

Events taking place in the EU/EEA area, or internationally, will also require policies that specifically cover these territories. It is important to check that policies are in place before travelling or setup as many travel policies have exclusions for certain territories that are considered high-risk due to war, terrorism, natural disasters and other perils. It is also important to check that all of your policies are valid wherever the events are being held, including equipment insurance and public liability insurance.

Although each event will have its specific risks, there are also some key covers for the Live Events industry that are either required legally or highly recommended to protect against some of the most common risks to events:

Event cancellation cover

Unforeseen scenarios, such as extreme weather, natural disasters and other risks can disrupt your schedule and lead to events being delayed, rescheduled, cancelled or abandoned. An event cancellation and abandonment policy can offer financial protection to cover additional costs to maintain the event, or loss of revenue if events can’t take place or continue. Event cancellation insurance can cover many situations including accident, illness or death of key persons, adverse weather, venue damage, unavoidable travel delays and national mourning.

Public liability insurance

Public liability insurance is an essential cover to protect you and your business. More often than not it is a contract requirement, and you will not be able to attend the event site without proof of cover.

If an accident occurs during an event or performance which injures a member of the public or damages third-party property, you may be held liable. Public liability insurance pays the cost of compensation and legal fees if a third-party claims injury or property damage. Even if you already have a policy in place, it’s important to check your policy covers all activities and territories where events are scheduled.

Employer’s liability

Employer’s liability (EL) is designed to protect you and your business if an employee claims that your negligence caused them an accident, illness or other form of injury.

Employer’s liability insurance is required by UK law and you might be fined if it is determined that you should have had cover in place. An ‘employee’ is defined as anyone working under your instruction (not only full time/salaried employees) – including, but not limited to; labour only freelancers, volunteers, family/friends and those on work experience.

EL insurance covers your defence costs and legal fees should a claim be brought against you, as well as a settlement or compensation awarded throughout the claims process.

Equipment cover

Essential equipment such as lighting and sound kit, instruments, staging and props need to be protected against theft and damage. Equipment on hire will also become your responsibility in the event of any losses – along with the rental companies’ losses whilst the equipment is being replaced. It is essential that equipment insurance is taken out on both owned and hired in equipment, allowing you to source replacements quickly and continue the event with minimal disruption. Enhanced cover for more specialist items can also be arranged where required, e.g., for vintage instruments or collectible items. 

Travel insurance and medical cover

Travel Insurance is essential when you are travelling for work and leisure. Cover should include medical cover and repatriation to support from small illnesses up to serious injury. A doctor’s or hospital visit for you, your family or your team will be an additional cost which is not in your budget, especially if you are travelling to North America or other areas where the cost of medical care is high. If you are unsure on the right amount of cover, guidance from an experienced insurance broker can be invaluable, and offer you peace of mind that you have the right protection in place.

Cyber insurance

It is highly advised to take out cyber insurance to protect against all costs associated with a cyber attack or data breach, including recovery and business interruption costs.  Any business that stores or handles sensitive data or personally identifiable information may be held liable, even if this is held on your behalf by a third party.

For those operating in the entertainment and events sector, confidentiality is of utmost importance and a business may suffer considerable reputational damage, in addition to third-party liabilities and legal costs, if client data is leaked.

Many comprehensive cyber policies also offer cyber breach response support, which can include crisis containment, PR and reputation management and independent legal advice.

About Tysers Live

Tysers Live is a market leading insurance broker for the Live Entertainment and Events Industry. We arrange cover for events of all sizes from local festivals to some of the biggest worldwide events in the calendar – if you need insurance or risk management advice for your next event, get in touch:

Bethan Perris BA (Hons) Cert CII
Associate Director – Client Service
Bethan.Perris@tysers.com

+(0)44 7568 105 322 / +(0)44 75 6810 5322

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