What Is DJ Insurance and How Much Does It Cost?

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A DJ can go out and perform up to seven sets a night. It’s important that they’re protected in the event of an accident or illness while on tour so they don’t have to forfeit valuable bookings as well, which could cost them thousands of dollars each month. To cover this risk, many bands are now purchasing insurance policies for their touring artists.

“Geico DJ Insurance” is often a confusing topic. A lot of people don’t know much about it, but they still need to have it. Geico has been around for a long time and has had good rates with their insurance policies.

There isn’t a formal policy for disc jockeys (DJs). All plans that protect professional DJs against business losses resulting from costly equipment or interactions with hosts, party goers, and venues where they operate are referred to as “DJ insurance.” DJ liability insurance may cost anywhere from $180 to $450 per month, depending on the company.

Simply Business makes it simple to get DJ insurance. General liability, professional liability, and errors and omissions are among the major coverages available. It can assist you in locating reasonable and customized insurance solutions from leading insurance companies like as Markel, CNA, Hiscox, and Travelers. In only a few minutes, you can get started on the internet.

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What is the Process of DJ Insurance?

DJ insurance refers to the many coverage that professional DJs, video jockeys (VJs), and karaoke jockeys (KJs) need to protect their businesses. DJs, VJs, and KJs need insurance for a variety of reasons, including the nature of their employment and their frequent travel from one event to the next. Most DJs, for example, need a business owner’s insurance (BOP). BOPs cover DJs’ most typical difficulties, such as third-party litigation and damage to their own equipment, by combining general liability and commercial property insurance.

In essence, the many policies that make up DJ insurance are designed to cover incidents that may cause DJs to lose money. Most businesses can’t make money if they can’t utilize their equipment, thus commercial property insurance is required. Furthermore, general liability insurance is required since DJs might be sued by venue owners and partygoers.

DJs are additionally exposed to dangers because to their frequent transit between venues. This might need commercial auto insurance for their vehicle, as well as inland marine insurance for their equipment while in transit.

DJs should have liability insurance, whether they operate on a regular basis or just a few times a year. When they’re held responsible for bodily harm or property damage, it protects their assets by paying medical expenses and court costs.

Costs of DJ Insurance

No two DJ liability insurance plans are identical, just as no two DJs are alike. Your exact cost is determined in part by the kind of events you do, the number of bookings you make each year, and the amount of money you earn. DJ liability insurance costs roughly $260 per year for a DJ who mostly plays at private events.

Many insurers, on the other hand, provide coverage for far shorter periods of time. For a DJ who books private parties, a three-day coverage may cost as low as $60. These short-term plans are often given as coverage for exceptional events.

Costs of DJ Insurance & Deductibles by Policy Term

The graph shows the typical prices of DJ liability and property insurance when purchased alone rather than as part of a BOP. In most cases, combining liability and property coverages in a BOP lowers the total cost. Comparing policy conditions across various insurance companies and brokers may also give you a decent idea of how much insurance you should be spending.

If you often rent trucks, for example, a DJ liability insurance coverage that includes rented and nonowned vehicles makes sense, even if it will cost you more.

The premiums indicated are averages, and they may go up if you’re a DJ who:

Want to protect their equipment while it’s in transit and during events?
Higher limitations are required.
Light displays, fireworks, or other performers should be included in their performances.
Make bookings at nightclubs.
Have concerts that start at 2 a.m. and end at 2 a.m.
Play in front of bigger audiences.

Pro tip: Liability limitations are determined by the kind of equipment you have, so keep this in mind when talking to your insurance agent about liability limits.

DJ Insurance Types

A BOP is a common DJ insurance policy. It is a cost-effective plan that includes commercial property and general liability coverage. Mobile DJs, on the other hand, need inland maritime insurance to secure their equipment at events.

Most Common DJ Insurance Types

While these are the most popular plans DJs purchase, if they face other dangers, they may need supplementary coverage. In most jurisdictions, for example, DJs with employees are obliged to have workers’ compensation insurance.

The majority of DJs are eligible for a BOP. BOPs are primarily made up of general liability and commercial property insurance. Other important coverages, including as commercial vehicle and inland marine, are sometimes added at a discounted charge for DJs.

General Liability Insurance for DJs

General Liability Insurance for DJs covers your interactions with people who aren’t your employees, such as clients, venue owners, and party guests or audience members. If one of these people accuses you of causing their injury or property damage, general liability covers the costs. General liability insurance also covers lawsuits regarding copyright infringement and defamation.

Let’s say your sound system blows a circuit and an audience member gets hurt while groping about in the dark. If they sue, DJ liability insurance usually compensates their medical expenses or your legal fees. If an artist alleges you exploited his or her music without permission, it also pays.

A basic insurance coverage is general liability. General liability insurance is required by almost everyone who conducts a company, even DJs who only book a few gigs each year. DJs who publish samples or remixes online may find copyright infringement coverage especially appealing. Copyright infringement may be excluded from DJ insurance by certain insurers, so double-check your coverage.

Part-time is a good idea. DJs that only perform at two or three weddings per year don’t require yearly DJ liability insurance; instead, they may get event insurance to cover their liabilities.

Insurance for commercial property DJ

Commercial property insurance protects your company’s workplaces as well as the goods in them. Commercial property covers the amount you insured your products for, minus your deductible, if they are destroyed or stolen, so you can repair or replace them.

DJs, video DJs (VJs), and karaoke DJs (KJs) who own their equipment and can’t afford to replace it right away require commercial property insurance to go back to work sooner. DJs may also need property insurance if they operate from a location other than their home.

If you’re a DJ, you may not require commercial property insurance if you:

Rental equipment is often excluded from commercial property insurance, and DJ liability insurance frequently excludes damage caused by leased or borrowed equipment as well.
Commercial landlords are responsible for their own property insurance, although most safeguard their interests by requiring tenants to hold general liability insurance.
Work from home: A separate commercial property policy may be too much coverage for a home-based DJ company, but you still need business insurance; alternative possibilities include a business owner’s policy (BOP), a business rider on your homeowner’s policy, or an in-home business policy.

A homeowners’ insurance will not cover a company you run out of your house, and it will not normally cover commercial operations. To protect your DJ equipment, you may either acquire a BOP or add a business rider to your house insurance policy. If none of these options proves to be viable, you may get standalone commercial property and general liability insurance.

More information about home-based company policies may be found here.

DJ Inland Marine Insurance is a company that specializes in inland marine insurance.

Inland marine insurance is a sort of property insurance that protects your belongings while they are being transported from one location to another. Your possessions are only covered by commercial property insurance while they are in a designated location. Inland marine insurance covers up where property insurance leaves off, protecting your belongings in transportation if they are damaged or destroyed.

Inland marine insurance is required for DJs who possess pricey equipment and transfer it to various locations. You may also need it if you borrow equipment from another DJ. You become a bailee if you borrow another DJ’s karaoke equipment, for example. As long as the karaoke machine is in your possession, you are responsible for it.

If DJs work with venues that have their own equipment, they don’t require inland marine insurance. If they often hire vehicles, they may not require coverage since most truck rental firms offer coverage to safeguard the renter’s property.

Commercial Auto Insurance for DJ

Your DJ company’s automobiles, vans, and trucks are covered by commercial auto insurance. Most states require liability coverage at a least, so you can pay for damages if you’re at fault in an accident. If you’re prepared to pay extra, you can buy more coverage, just like you can with your own vehicle insurance.

The following are some examples of enhanced commercial coverage:

Medical payments: Pays for any injuries you or your passengers experience while driving.
Collision: Protects your vehicle in the event of an accident.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: Covers expenses when another driver is at fault but unable to pay.

DJs who use their own vehicles for work are obliged to obtain commercial auto insurance, but those who drive their own automobiles for work may also need it. Accidents between jobs may not be covered by personal vehicle insurance since business driving is frequently excluded. DJs who often hire vans or trucks, on the other hand, may avoid purchasing business car insurance.

Breakdown Coverage for DJ Equipment

Equipment breakdown insurance may help safeguard your company’s electronic equipment from unexpected failures by providing payments. Equipment breakdown insurance covers losses caused by internal factors such as power surges, whereas commercial property insurance covers damages caused by external sources such as fires.

DJs should get equipment breakdown insurance in addition to commercial property insurance to guarantee that their equipment is protected in the case of a malfunction before or after an event.

Other DJ Insurance Types

Most DJs work alone, but if they have workers, they may need extra backup.

Three popular insurance coverage for DJs with workers are as follows:

Workers’ compensation insurance: Workers’ compensation insurance is required in most states, and it covers for employees’ work-related injuries and illnesses, including medical costs and missed income.
This policy protects workers who steal from your company or your customers, but it does not cover criminal conduct undertaken by you or your business partners.
Hired and nonowned auto insurance (HNOA) protects your responsibility in automobiles you rent, hire, or borrow, therefore you may wish to get a coverage if you use vans to move equipment on a regular basis. You may also want this coverage if you send staff to undertake job-related duties such as checking out a new location in their own vehicles.

Workers’ compensation is the only one of these three that is required by law. Depending on your specific risks, HNOA and commercial crime coverage may be beneficial.

Do you want to know which insurance company or broker is ideal for you? Take a look at our DJ-specific buyer’s guide.

Conclusion

DJs, understandably, place a premium on liability insurance. Because of the amount of individuals they engage with and the equipment they utilize, they are exposed to several liability risks. DJs who become insured are not only safeguarding their assets, but they are also complying with many venues’ contractual requirements that they have an insurance coverage.

DJs, on the other hand, should think about acquiring extra insurance to cover hazards like property theft and car accidents.

Simply Business makes it simple for DJs to get liability insurance. Its online application is simple to complete, and it compares quotations from leading national insurance companies to provide you the best coverage at the best price. Request a free estimate and get started right now.