Concerts are entertaining and social, although planning a successful one can be pretty stressful and truthfully full of surprises.
You will be juggling a lot of tasks such as booking bands and venues, organizing equipment, sales, and all other facets of concert planning.
And so, you cannot afford to add worries of unexpected events to your plate. That's where concert insurance comes in to help. In this guide, know what this is, what are its benefits, how much it costs, the best companies, and more.
Also read:
Concert insurance is a type of special events insurance plan underwritten for the risks associated with setting up a concert. Through this, you can avail general liability, cancellation insurance, liquor liability insurance, and other insurance policies for concerts.
There are numerous benefits to getting concert event insurance. For instance, it ensures that you can recover financial losses if the concert is delayed or canceled.
It also helps you secure venues for the concert. Concert insurance isn’t legally mandated. However, venue owners or managers require that you must be insured before renting or leasing their space.
Last but not least, it covers costs if someone sues after experiencing losses in the concert you established.
There are a number of music event liability insurance covers that you need. The first is general liability insurance you can use to cover third-party claims of personal injury and property damage.
Third parties in the language of general liability insurance pertain to attendees, vendors, and other persons who are not part of your concert’s workforce.
You use general liability insurance to cover the medical treatments of persons who sustained injuries because of your concert.
General liability insurance takes care of refunds in case the concert you established is responsible for the damaged property of third parties.
Finally, if the matter is taken to court, you can use general liability insurance to cover attorney fees, administrative costs, judgments, and other legal expenses.
In a nutshell, general liability insurance covers any of the following incidents that result in the injuries or property damage of third parties :
Objects falling on someone
Stampede
Slip and fall accidents
Concert performers or attendees causing mayhem
Unsafe venue conditions
Note that the general liability policy for concerts can be added with optional coverages such as:
Rented premises liability coverage-Rented premises liability coverage allows you to reimburse the losses of the owner or manager if the rented concert venue sustains damage due to a fire
Advertising injury coverage-Pays for judgments, settlements, administrative costs, attorney fees, and other related expenses if a lawsuit is filed for copyright infringement, slander, or libel
General liability insurance has a $1 million-$2 million per occurrence limit for bodily injuries and property damage. The aggregate is set at $2 million.
On the other hand, advertising injury coverage has a $1 million per occurrence limit. The per occurrence limit of rented premises liability coverage is $250,000.
There's quite the likelihood that alcohol will be served at a concert. In this case, you must have liquor liability insurance.
Liquor liability insurance protects you against any liability in the event that an attendee sustains injuries or property damage due to intoxication.
This also helps if someone files a claim against you after sustaining injuries or property damage because of the attendee who got intoxicated in the concert.
Liquor liability insurance for concert events has a $1 million per occurrence limit with an aggregate of $2 million. Note that it’s offered as a stand-alone policy or as an additional coverage to the terms of general liability insurance.
Attendees can buy food, drinks, and merchandise. Note that items bought from your concert are also reasons for a claim to be filed. Protect yourself with product liability insurance.
Product liability insurance covers costs if an attendee sustains a foodborne illness due to the drinks or food sold at the concert event.
This type of live music event insurance also covers costs if the souvenirs and other items sold in the concert have:
Design errors
Labeling errors
Manufacturing defects
The per occurrence limit of product liability insurance is $2 million. This is available not only as a stand-alone policy, but also as an additional coverage to general liability insurance.
Consider getting umbrella liability insurance if the $1 million-$2 million per occurrence limit of general liability insurance is lacking.
But even if your general liability insurance is adequate, we suggest you get umbrella liability insurance so that you’re sure to cover a lot of claims.
Umbrella liability insurance provides additional funds to general liability insurance. For example, if your general liability insurance has $2 million, then a $3 million lawsuit is filed; umbrella liability insurance will cover the excess $1 million.
You purchase umbrella liability insurance in $1 million increments. Most concert events need at least $2 million coverage. But note that it’s perfectly fine if you decide to get a $5 million umbrella liability insurance.
You will need staff for a concert. Accidents can happen while they’re accomplishing tasks, and you must provide compensation.
Workers' compensation insurance allows you to cover the following costs when an employee sustains a work-related injury:
Medical expenses-Workers compensation insurance will cover ambulance fees if an employee needs to be rushed to the hospital after an accident. It will also pay emergency room fees and other related medical expenses
Hospitalization-You can claim workers compensation insurance to get money for covering bills if an employee of your concert event is admitted to the hospital for days, weeks, months, or years
Medication-An employee of your concert event can receive money from workers compensation insurance so that he or she can buy prescription medicines
Rehabilitation-Workers compensation insurance allows you to cover the rehabilitation of your concert event’s employee who got impaired due to a work-related injury
Lost wages-Workers compensation insurance covers lost wages of your concert event’s employee who can’t work due to a work-related injury. The employee will receive a weekly allowance equal to two-thirds or 67% of the average weekly wage
Funeral expenses-Workers compensation insurance takes care of the funeral of your concert event’s employee who died due to a work-related injury. The dependents will also receive an allowance from the policy
Most policyholders use workers' compensation insurance to cover the cost of their employee’s work-related injuries. But know that you can also use this if the worker of your concert event experiences a work-related disease.
Workers' compensation insurance only covers paid employees and contractors. Volunteers working for your concert event aren’t covered.
Failure to get workers' compensation insurance will spell trouble. States impose stiff fines and penalties, except Texas. Here are some examples:
Illinois-Failure to get workers' compensation insurance is punishable by a $500 fine for each day of non-compliance
Michigan-Failure to get workers' compensation insurance can result in imprisonment
New York-Every 10-day period of not having workers' compensation insurance is punishable by a $2,000 fine
California-Non compliance is punishable by a $10,000 minimum fine and a one-year imprisonment in the county jail
Insurance companies include short-term commercial auto policy in concert event insurance. This is useful if you’re using flatbed trucks or cargo vans used in transporting concert equipment.
Short-term commercial auto insurance only lasts for days or weeks. And unlike an annual commercial auto policy, it only has auto liability coverage, underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage, and rented/hired non-owned auto liability coverage.
You will surely hire equipment for the concert. That said, consider buying rental equipment insurance to cover costs if something happens to the equipment you rented out.
Rented equipment insurance is a specialty coverage for lighting, sound systems, and other equipment you hired for the concert. It offers the following coverages:
Equipment breakdown coverage-Covers repair expenses or reimburses the owner if the equipment rented to you sustained damage due to employee error, electrical surge, and other covered perils
Theft coverage-Theft coverage pays for repairs or provides reimbursement if the equipment you rented sustains damage or becomes lost due to theft committed by an employee or third party
Inland marine insurance recovers your losses if the equipment for the concert becomes lost or damaged during delivery due to:
Malicious mischief
Jettison
Theft
Vehicular accident
Are you wondering how much coverage you can get from inland marine insurance? The policy provides a $125,000 minimum coverage.
Entertainment insurance companies underwrite band tour insurance for bands and other musical performers for concerts. Purchase this insurance if:
You’re performing with colleagues as an independent band
You own an entertainment agency for bands and other music professionals
Similar to concert insurance, band tour insurance is composed of several business insurance policies. Let’s quickly discuss each of them:
A general liability policy is also included in band tour insurance. This covers costs if the band is sued for injuries and property damage.
The general liability insurance for bands has a $1 million-$5 million per occurrence limit with an aggregate of $3 million-$5 million.
Bands will find general liability insurance useful if a viewer sustains injuries or property damage during their performance. So can this really happen? The answer is yes. Here’s an example:
A fan sued a legendary rock band after sustaining dental injuries when she was hit by the microphone the vocalist threw
Note that the general liability policy in band tour insurance has advertising injury coverage, which takes care of expenses if the band is sued for slander, libel, and copyright infringement.
Imagine the losses if one or two of the band’s members can’t perform. This is why insurance companies include a loss of income coverage in band tour insurance.
You can easily understand how loss of income coverage for bands works. If a member can’t perform, loss of income insurance will supplement the money the band would’ve earned from their act.
Band tour insurance includes an inland marine policy. This can be used to protect the rented/owned equipment of the band from damage or loss during the trip. Perils covered are theft, jettison, malicious mischief, and error.
Trip delay and cancellation insurance will kick in if the band's trip is canceled or delayed. Particular costs covered are lodging, food, and extra expenses for resuming the trip. Note that the availability of this insurance depends on which company you decide to work with.
Purchase music venue insurance if you own any of the following venues that can be used for musical performances:
Concert Hall
Private park or garden
Theater
Auditorium
So what policies can you avail from live music venue insurance? Policies you can get from it are general liability, commercial property, workers compensation, and assault & battery insurance.
General liability insurance provides coverage if clients or their employees sustained injuries or property damage due to your music venue. This provides a $2 million aggregate limit and a $1 million per occurrence limit.
Similar to the general liability policy for concert events, general liability insurance for your music venue also has advertising injury and rented premises liability coverage.
Rented premises liability coverage provides $100,000, whereas advertising injury coverage gives $1 million to cover the cost of claims.
The tailored coverage for your music venue has assault and battery insurance. Assault and battery insurance covers costs if a fight breaks out during the event and the concerned parties compel you to take responsibility.
In practice, the assault and battery policy in concert venue insurance will pay for the medical treatments and losses of individuals involved in the commotion. Note that coverage for legal defense is excluded in the terms of the policy.
Commercial property insurance protects your music venue against the unexpected. This insurance helps you by:
Recovering financial losses if the structures of your music venue sustain damage
Recovering financial losses if your music venue is destroyed
You must understand that commercial property insurance only works if your music venue got damaged or destroyed because of:
Fire
Theft
Vandalism
Malicious mischief
Sinkhole collapse
Volcanic action
Riot
Civil commotion
Impact
Sprinkler leakage
Vehicle
Aircraft
Lightning
Snow
Hail
Winds
Commercial property insurance has contents coverage. And so, it will also reimburse losses if sound systems, furniture, lighting, and other valuable items inside your music venue got damaged or destroyed due to the perils above.
Reimbursement for financial losses is provided by commercial property insurance as a replacement cost or actual cash value basis:
Replacement cost-Reimbursement for financial losses is based on the original market value of the covered property
Actual cash value-Reimbursement for financial losses is based on the depreciated value of the covered property
Commercial property insurance for your music venue starts with a $10,000-$25,000 limit. But for adequate coverage, we suggest you get at least $30,000-$60,000 coverage.
Concert promoter insurance is meant to protect the concert promoter from liability. The risk that most carriers offering this type of coverage insure you against is non-appearance. If a performer happens not to show up due to uncontrollable events or travel issues, the non-appearance clause that's part of the concert promoter insurance coverage comes in handy.
Additionally, some insurers will include employers' liability coverage as part of the concert promoter coverage. This protects you in the event of legal action being taken against you by any of your employees, including part-time, temporary or contract staff.
A concert event cancellation insurance recovers non-refundable costs and pays for extra expenses if your concert is canceled due to:
Missed delivery of items
Errors in schedule
Weather
This protects your investment in the concert, making sure that you are reimbursed for the costs you have already incurred. In the event you have aggrieved vendors, the policy is able to reimburse them as well.
Overall, the concert cancellation policy ensures that losses are minimized and vendors receive indemnification if the concert is canceled.
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Concert insurance cost depends on the type of concert, number of attendees, policy limits, the length of coverage, and more. But on average, expect to pay $159.54 per day to cover a concert with 100-200 attendees.
If you are on a budget, consider searching for cheap concert insurance quote online. Start by clicking the get quotes button and providing some basic business information.
On an additional note, here are the rates of the best concert insurance companies:
| Cost | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $15.84 | Cheap and fast monthly or annual general liability insurance for concerts and other music entertainments |
| CoverWallet | $38.91 | Concert special event insurance quotes comparison online |
| Tivly | $120 | Highly tailored coverage for concert events |
| Allianz | Allianz doesn’t state an average cost of its insurance for concerts | Comprehensive concert insurance |
| Thimble | $241.25 | Hourly and daily concert insurance coverage |
| Progressive | $264 | Concert insurance with refunds |
| One Day Event | $325 | Rap and hip hop concert events with pyrotechnics |
As a concert planner, working with a concert insurance company ensures that you concentrate on the planning as you have someone covering unexpected occurrences.
Here are the best concert insurance companies in the market today. Read to know their pros, cons, and rate for a $1 million general liability policy for concert events.
Best overall
Issues a proof of insurance online you can easily show to anyone
Fastest GL online
Great customer service and reputation
Outstanding value for money
Bundle two or more policies and get a 10% discount
No one-day coverage
NEXT has music entertainment insurance, and you can get covered through it if you want an annual policy. Policies for your concert are general liability, workers' compensation, commercial property, and professional liability insurance.
Your certificate of insurance from this company can be sent in many ways easily through its mobile app.
Note that your music entertainment insurance will primarily have general liability insurance, but additional coverages can be added at a very cheap price. For example, you can avail commercial property insurance at $205 per year.
Best for: Cheap and fast monthly or annual general liability insurance for concerts and other music entertainments
Average cost: $15.84 per month
Our rating: 10/10
You can add terrorism coverage to your general liability insurance
Unlimited certificates of insurance
Has an online quotes comparison platform you can use to find companies selling concert event insurance
Doesn’t underwrite an insurance plan especially underwritten for concert events
CoverWallet doesn’t sell a concert event insurance plan. Nonetheless, it covers concert events through its special events insurance. Policies offered are general liability, rental equipment, liquor liability, and hired/non-owned auto liability insurance.
Best for: Concert special event insurance quotes comparison online
Average cost: $38.91 per day
Our rating: 10/10
Create your insurance program from scratch
Call and compare quotes over the phone
You need to talk with a representative to start the quote process
You have to call Tivly (formerly CommercialInsurance.NET) to see if your concert event is covered or if it sells related business insurance products such as concert promoter and band tour insurance plans.
But note that if the company is open to the idea of insuring you, you’ll enjoy more than 10 types of business insurance policies. Also, you get to build your coverage from scratch, meaning that the protection you’ll enjoy is highly tailored to your needs.
Call Tivly now to know if you’re covered and compare quotes over the phone.
Best for: Highly tailored coverage for concert events
Average cost: $120 per day
Our rating: 9/10
Easy-to-file
Quick resolution
Customers can leverage Allianz global assistance for concert tickets
All documentation and information pertaining to the claim can be found on the website under claim filing confirmation
Allianz representatives are available 24/7 for customer assistance
You can purchase the insurance and file claims online or via the phone
Poorly designed user interface of the Allianz website
Online Allianz concert ticket insurance review point to a slow refund process
Customer service might be relatively slow, with customers being asked to wait for 7 to 30 days
Allianz has been in the entertainment insurance business since the silent film era in the 1890s. With over 100 years of experience, Allianz covers a broad portfolio of events including music tours, festivals, and concerts.
The insurer specializes in entertainment policies and is well-equipped to resolve evolving risks facing the entertainment industry.
The team at Allianz is made up of expert entertainment underwriters, claims adjusters, safety experts, and auditors experienced in the specialty insurance business. Additionally, the insurer has dedicated risk consultants adept at handling all risk issues associated with concerts.
With Allianz insurance for concert tickets, you get 100% reimbursement for the ticket prices, including taxes and shipping charges. As the ultimate event ticket insurance, you are covered from financial loss as a result of:
Covered illnesses or injury-If you suffer an illness or injury that prevents you or your event companion from attending the event, you will be sufficiently covered. Further, if you have a family member that is hospitalized or requiring of your care, you will get reimbursed
Carrier delay-If your plane or other carrier experiences any covered delay while going to the event
Home or business issues- If your home or business becomes uninhabitable due to fire, flood, vandalism, burglary or natural disaster
Work relocation – If you are relocated by your employer miles from the venue of the concert
Mechanical breakdown- If your car was to break down miles from the venue
Other events that you will be covered for under the Allianz insurance for concert tickets include military duty, death, care for a family member, jury duty, or death.
A neat feature of the Allianz coverage is the Allianz Global Assistance Event Ticket Protector.
Suppose a covered medical issue, jury duty, traffic accident or any other covered reason were to keep you from attending the event. In that case, you are assured of 100% reimbursement of the ticket price, including taxes, fees, and delivery charges up to the plan limit within your policy schedule.
When it comes to the cost of the concert insurance, Allianz isn't as forthcoming with the information. You will have to request a custom quote from their website. The cost of your concert insurance will primarily depend on the type of concert.
Best for: Comprehensive concert insurance
Average cost: Allianz doesn’t state an average cost of its insurance for concerts
Our rating: 9/10
You can cancel the policy at any time
Fast and efficient quote process
Scalable model plan
Your event insurance policy is fully refundable so long as you cancel the concert before it commences
Daily and even hourly coverage is available
You can extend and modify your policies right from your phone
Thimble concert insurance doesn't cover event cancellation
Customer support is only available online
Thimble’s concert event insurance is offered in partnership with Tivly. Concert liability insurance from Thimble covers non-employee third-party bodily injury, property damage, and liquor liability.
For short-term concert coverage, you will pay between $150 and $350 without liquor liability. For small concerts with less than 50 attendees, you will pay between $150 and $159. For medium-sized concerts with between 200 and 300 attendees, you will pay $228 and $243. Finally, for larger concerts of between 750 and 1,000 attendees, you will pay between $307 and $342.
Thimble's liability limits start at $1 million per occurrence with a $1 million aggregate. Depending on the risk you face, you are allowed to increase the liability limit to $2 million with a $2 million aggregate. Note that damage to premises rented attracts a limit of $100,000.
Best for: Hourly and daily concert insurance coverage
Average cost: $241.25 per day
Our rating: 8/10
Covers a wide range of concerts such as rock, techno, rave, blues, chamber, and more
Get a $76.64 refund if you cancel your coverage
5% discount
Doesn’t sell cancellation insurance for concerts
Progressive covers more than 5 types of concerts in partnership with EventHelper. The company only offers a general liability policy with advertising injury coverage. Nonetheless, Progressive is worth the try because you get a $76.64 refund if you cancel your concert insurance at any given time.
Best for: Concert insurance with refunds
Average cost: $264 per day
Our rating: 8/10
Covers concerts with pyrotechnics
Online quotes
Free certificate of insurance
Doesn’t provide you an instant estimate of concert event insurance rates
One Day Event’s hip-hop and rap concert insurance offers a general liability policy with rented premises liability and liquor liability coverage.
Your rap and hip-hop concert insurance from this company can be bought as an instant coverage that provides protection for one day or more.
One Day Event provides coverage even if your hip hop or rap concert uses fireworks, flame effects, and other pyrotechnics.
You can get an online quote. However, the estimate of your rates isn’t provided immediately. Representatives will email your quote once it’s ready.
Best for: Rap and hip hop concert events with pyrotechnics
Average cost: $325 per day
Our rating: 7/10
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1 / 5
Use anyone except Employers. Period. They are non-transparent and shameful. After I complained long enough to warrant a call from a supervisor, the supervisor called back from a PRIVATE NUMBER (no caller ID), left a message that they are not reversing their decision (without any communication with me), and failed to leave a phone number for me to call back. She was hiding! They also fact find via email and phone calls, which is terrific for speed and communication. However, after setting a precedence of email or phone calls, they send time sensitive information via email, without any heads up... they are hoping you miss it and forfeit via expiration. Evil policies. Go elsewhere.
1 / 5
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
1 / 5
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
5 / 5
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
5 / 5
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
Not all those who wander are lost.
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