Performer Insurance

[iloveglee]

does anyone know if there is insurance available against a singer being unable to perform due to illness or other unforeseen events.

[factor-fiction]

Are you asking on behalf of a singer or on behalf of the organiser of an event?

[iloveglee]

sorry should have made it clear. on behalf of a singer. a friend is a singer and has signed a contract to sing at a function. she would have to pay them compensation if she defaults, presumably for any reason, and wondered if it was possible to insure herself, mainly against being ill and unable to sing.

[Buenchico]

If you google for 'performing arts insurance' you'll find lots of relevant links. Well, at least some of them will be relevant anyway. (Quite a few are for venues and promoters, rather than for actual performers, but what you're seeking is in there somewhere).

[twix123]

A good local insurance broker should be able to research the market to find appropriate cover for your friend.

[iloveglee]

cant find anything relevant online at all. loads of policies for public liability and loads for insuring instruments against damage, theft, loss etc. nothing at all about insuring a performer against having to cancel due to unforeseen events, most particularly illness. would have thought there would be loads of these available, can't imagine what singers who take on work and then find they lose their voice due to illness do when the person who is employing them to perform has the option to sue for non-appearance.

[boxtops]

It's the person who has booked them who has the insurance - they'd be able to take out cover in the event of an act being ill, and having to refund the tickets t the audience. I've never heard of an act being sued for loss of earnings of a promoter, because the act was ill.

[EDDIE51]

boxtops is right, the venue can insure against the act not being able to perform.
Not the performer him /her self.

[iloveglee]

I understand that the 'employer' could cover themselves for the non appearance of an artist, in this case the singer in question has been contracted to sing at a wedding abroad. the contract, I believe says that if they cancel they are due to pay her compensation, if she cancels she has to pay them compensation. as they are paying her travel and accommodation expenses as part of the deal, she would be due to repay these. I guess her usual travel policy would cover her for the cancellation element of the travel and accommodation, it was the compensation element of the contract she is unsure about. I admit I have not read this contract and need to have a proper look at it. she is quite young and is just starting out on her singing career so hasn't been in this position before, usually she just sings at local pubs where there isn't any entrance charge so if she is ill she simply doesn't perform.

[EDDIE51]

How much money is involved ? I think a policy if it was available would be prohibitively expensive.

[boxtops]

That sounds a strange contract - how would you quantify the amount of compensation payable to the bridal couple if the singer couldn't attend? would it be the cost of hiring someone else? whatever it is, it would have to be specified in the contract in terms of money. Has she actually signed the contract yet? - I hope not!