Insurance question

[Art Hovey]

My band has been asked to play for a wedding reception at a VERY classy country club in a neighboring state. The club management requires that the band have a megabuck of liability insurance and workmen's comp; they say that this is standard practice. We have played hundreds of weddings but have never run into this before. One insurance agent recommended by the local AFM wants to sell us a year of liability coverage, but says w-comp is out of the question. We just need coverage for a day, not a year.
-Any suggestions?

[windshieldbug]

I wonder if someone's figured out, like with tune royalties, it's the employer's responsibility. Then they worry about exposure. Offer to sign a waiver.

[tofu]

My small 5 piece jazz band has done lots of Country Club gigs and have never run into this request. I would talk to the family and maybe you can just donate your services & asked to be classified as guests of the wedding party. Afterwards they can pay you by making a "donation" to you.

One of our requirements is that we be fed so we end up with our own table at these events and are treated just like any other guest of the event.

So we are in effect just performing guests. Kind of like when at any of my family's weddings my Aunt Dorothy's 3rd husband (who thinks he is the recreation of Caruso) gets sloshed and starts strolling and singing. I mean is the country club going to make him provide evidence of liability & workmens comp on the spot?

[LoyalTubist]

The insurance through the AFM is pretty decent. However, if you do any travel outside the country, you are liable yourself for any damages. I used to buy a seat for my tuba on airplanes but I learned that, since the tuba is not a living person, the liability of the airline is just the same as if I had the tuba checked as luggage underneath the plane. So rather than go through the expense of paying for a ticket for the tuba, it's better, in my mind, to pay for an "indestructable" case. When I used to pay for my tuba as a passenger I used a gig bag. I was entitled to a meal for the tuba but I never took advantage of it. A couple of times, after getting off the airplane, my tuba was damaged because of the lack of protection a gig bag gives. Some people can be so rude, ramming my tuba with their luggage! Some airlines in remote parts of the world will not allow you to buy a seat for your tuba.