Summer is almost here! That means the concert touring season is ramping up, hopefully for another record year, as Music Festivals, Music Events, and Touring Artists all hit the road.

A couple of recent stories have reminded me to encourage safety while on the road.  No show is worth an injury or bodily harm to anyone involved: Artists, Touring personnel, bus and truck drivers, and patrons!  I have attached a couple of stories reporting recent accidents:  the Allman Brothers bus crash and an unfortunate incident following a Luke Bryant Concert involving a local crew:

http://www.pollstarpro.com/NewsContent.aspx?cat=0&com=1&ArticleID=823800

http://tasteofcountry.com/luke-bryan-crew-accident-new-york/

Whether you are producing a one-time concert or a series of musical events in multiple locations, Front Row Insurance Brokers offers musical event insurance programs that cover your events and musical tours and greatly helps to protect your investment.

Take the unfortunate bus crash. Are you prepared for a canceled headliner, to issue refunds if the show cannot be rebooked?  Compensate a suitable replacement act? Lost advertising, venue expenses?  Medical expenses? Front Row is prepared to help with Musical  Event Cancellation  Insurance policies that will assist you with these cancellation issues.

Are you making sure that a competent, professional local crew is hired to assist your Touring Professionals?  Is safety a priority not only on the job, but have food, liquids, and properly timed “rest breaks” been scheduled.  How about giving the local crew  rooms that are vacated after a show if necessary if your band and crew have showered.  They are paid for: it is a simple process of asking.  Not only is that a common, professional courtesy, it helps all involved with a show; Touring Professionals and Locals alike.

Both of my examples affect Music Promoters, Music Producers, Music Venues, Sponsors, and Artists alike.

Front Row’s insurance policies for touring musicians are available in the USA as well as Canada.  Depending on your production, you have a choice between a per-event policy or an annual policy, cancellation insurance, workman’s comp, general liability and bodily injury.

Be prepared when the unexpected happens.

Insurance is one the most important details with your show.  As we know, much investment of time and dollars are involved.

With that said, have fun, be safe, turn it up, and turn a profit!

Patrons purchase tickets to a concert for many reasons: to see their favorite act, gather with friends, a night on the town and catch a new talent.  Main point is all seek a good, fun time and hearing good music.

But unknown to patrons are the many details that go into producing and promotion of a successful concert.  When planned properly, it shows, but is not seen.

One of many of those details is safety for both the performers and the audience. Concert  Insurance to protect against incidents  for Liability and Bodily harm have potential to come into play more often than one may think.

Two recent examples, one good and one not so good.  Both affect the safety and expense involved with producing an event:

http://www.pollstarpro.com/NewsContent.aspx?cat=0&com=1&ArticleID=823784 and http://www.pollstarpro.com/NewsContent.aspx?cat=0&com=1&ArticleID=823800

First, the bad news; the Allman Brother’s unfortunate bus crash.  Everyone is ok, thank goodness, but this accident is an example of the long hours artists, bands, production crews and drivers spend on getting everyone to the venue, normally traveling between 350 - 450 miles overnight to set up and perform for their fans.  Proper  Insurance coverage is a must not only to cover any medical expenses, but also to make sure that property damage to a vehicle can be recovered and/or repaired/replaced in a timely fashion. Without this commitment by performers and their teams, there is no show; thus disappointed fans. 

A second example of an “unseen” detail is crowd barriers for crowd control.  These type of barricades described in the article are not really thought about by patrons, but they are of utmost importance to artist and patrons alike.  Proper crowd control, from security to crowd flow are key to a safe event.  Concert insurance can come into play if the barriers fail to pay for injuries so that the act is not financially ruined. Having proper barricades not only enhance patron’s enjoyment, but lowers the Risk of someone being harmed or having an accident. It also helps greatly with the expense of a premium by lowering the cost!

Remember the goal is for patrons to enjoy their experience.  Our goal as concert insurance brokers is to assist producers, promoters, and artists with making sure that they are covered for any Liability that may occur.

From these two examples, one can see that accidents do unfortunately happen, but risks with large crowds, transportation, staging, production, etc.,happen.  Risk are unseen by patrons but not by a professional concert insurance broker. Best to be properly covered onstage and off!

About: Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc. is an independent  insurance broker that works on behalf of the Canadian arts and entertainment industry to provide insurance for the lowest possible cost. Should a claim occur, Front Row ensures that clients receive the money they are owed per the insurance policy, as quickly as possible. Front Row has offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Nashville and Los Angeles.

Front Row Insurance, specialized entertainment insurance brokers, is pleased to announce the opening of its new Nashville office to be headed by experienced entertainment professional, Tom Corley. Front Row is a specialized insurance broker with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Los Angeles.

With over 25 years of experience, Corley has worked in the music industry alongside artists Ronnie Milsap, Waylon Jennings, Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, Restless Heart, and many others. As a Producer for AEG Live and TBA Entertainment, he handled many tours including the CMT Tour featuring Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts, Reba/Kelly Clarkson Tour, and Kenny Chesney’s Stadium and New Year’s Eve concerts. In 2001, Corley also assisted and relocated the CMA Music Festival performance stages from the Tennessee State Fairgrounds to the stadium downtown and worked there for the first two years.

“We are delighted to welcome Tom into Front Row," said David Hamilton, President of Front Row Insurance Brokers. "Tom's long history as one of the top tour managers in the world gives Front Row a deeper practical understanding of the risks our clients face associated with touring and live events. Tom is a rare expert that can identify the risks of the music industry that should be transferred to the insurance companies: new and existing clients will benefit from Tom's expertise. Front Row is a specialized entertainment insurance broker: our volume with the insurance companies will allow Tom to offer his clients the best protection at the best possible premiums available in the marketplace. Everyone working in the music industry that seeks Tom out will be better protected and a lot happier after hearing some of his entertaining stories!"

Corley’s new role is effective immediately and he is looking forward to putting his skills and experience to good use. “For over 25 years, I purchased this type of insurance and I am now delighted to offer these products to my peers in the entertainment industry,” says Corley. “With Nashville’s continuous growth in the entertainment industry, everyone in the music and film industry, theatre companies, and photographers can now get expedient, affordable entertainment coverage they need with Front Row.”

Liability Insurance: When someone gets hurt or you damage property such as a venue, a hotel room or a studio, you could be facing a tour liability claim. They can be costly to defend and to settle, if you are negligent and are responsible to pay the other party for their injury or damage. To reduce your risk, make sure you only engage contractors or service providers who have insurance and who are able to add you as an Additional Insured to their policy. As an Additional Insured, their insurance company is obliged to defend you if the actions, or inactions, of the contractor for the claim against you. Most tour liability insurance policies will provide worldwide coverage, provided that the claim is brought against you in Canada or the USA. You may want to consider expanding this to include claims brought anywhere in the world if you have assets in other countries, or if you are travelling to countries with less predictable legal or political environments. Carefully review the insurance requirements of contracts such as venue agreements and equipment rental contracts. As a final point, be sure your policy does not exclude claims related to injuries to performers. You’d be surprised just how many policies prospective clients bring me that have this type of exclusion.

Front Row Insurance Brokers Specialize in Musician Liability Insurance: Learn more

To read more on Tour Insurance click here!