Why do DJs need insurance?
People look to you as a DJ to bring the party and keep them dancing all night, but there’s also a level of responsibility. The obvious risks are accidental damages to the venue's property or possibly to the belongings of ravers. The less thought of issues could be associated with your professional conduct as a DJ.
Electric shock to a customer
This is mainly a risk at older venues without an RCD (residual current device). It may be claimed that you failed to set up the set safely and caused an injury.
The crowd takes it too far
Do your mixes stir the crowd into a wild frenzy? Usually, that's what you want. But if things go too far, resulting in property damage, claims could be made against you.
Infringement of copyright
If it is found that a venue you’ve played at didn’t have the correct music licenses, the rightful copyright owner might come after you. It is a DJ’s responsibility to ensure they have the right to include the music they play.
Damage to your equipment
Your laptop, decks, CDJs, and headphones are part of your essential work kit. Damage or loss can quickly bring your operation to a halt.
Public liability insurance for DJs
Public liability insurance shields DJs from claims of causing accidental injuries or property damage.
Picture this: You’ve just been booked for the gig of your dreams; the venue is packed, and the crowd is electric. It’s time for your set, but just as you get started, you knock over a drink that someone has placed by the decks, which lands on the venue’s expensive CDJs. You can apologise and try to laugh it off, but you know as well as the venue owner – that equipment like that doesn’t come cheap.
That’s where DJ liability insurance steps in. Should any property damage occur while you’re working, your insurance will protect you against a legal claim. DJ public liability insurance will cover all the legal costs, including any money you are ordered to pay.
You might think the risks are smaller if you’re less of a nightclub DJ and work more as a mobile DJ at more intimate, private events such as weddings and family celebrations. But if an excited uncle decides he can’t wait another minute to hear you play Bohemian Rhapsody and rushes towards the decks, a rogue cable or case could get in his way, causing an injury. Similarly, you might find yourself losing a legal battle if it’s found that your equipment caused him to trip. The right mobile DJ insurance will have you covered, and you won’t lose a penny.
What does DJ public liability insurance cover?
Public liability insurance is valuable when faced with injury claims and compensation demands.
If someone makes a claim against you for causing an accidental injury or property damage or loss, public liability will provide legal defence and pay compensation if you become liable.
Cover includes:
- accidental injury or death
- accidental property damage
For example:
- Trip or fall caused by your equipment
- Accidentally damaging the venue’s electronic equipment
Professional indemnity insurance for DJs
Professional indemnity insurance defends you if your professional conduct and services are the subject of a legal claim against you.
DJ insurance usually includes public liability cover only because that is what most venues will require. However, a DJ is a performer providing a service that is critical to a successful evening.
When people book you to play at their event, they want to hear your curated music and expert mixing skills that will keep them dancing late into the night. But they also book you as a person, and your name is your brand.
If a venue or customer felt your services fell short of their expectations – perhaps you misplaced a USB with all your best songs on it or got overly excited on the mic and said something wrong – they might feel they had grounds to demand compensation. Not only would this be time-consuming and expensive, but it would also tarnish your name as a professional.
You may also be in a situation where you can’t turn up at a gig. At best, the client lets it go, and you’ll never get a booking from them again. On the other end of the scale could be a client determined to have you share their financial pain, even if it means a trip to court.
What does DJ professional indemnity insurance cover?
Professional indemnity insurance protects DJs from claims or accusations of wrongdoing from their professional advice.
Cover includes:
- Failing your duty of care
- Making a mistake
- Acting negligently
- Giving the wrong advice or recommendation
For example, you may be facing financial demands from a client because:
- You failed to turn up, and your client suffered a loss of revenue
- Something you said or did during a gig spurred the crowd on to cause damage or injury
- You played unlicensed music, and your client is being sued for breach of copyright
What professional indemnity limit do DJs need?
The professional indemnity limit you need will reflect your particular business activities. When choosing a limit, consider several factors: how often you DJ, how many people you play to, and possible financial impacts if your DJing goes wrong.
Switching your professional indemnity insurance
Typically, in the UK, if you cancel a professional indemnity policy, you can no longer claim against it.
Therefore, if you switch your DJ insurance provider, be sure your new policy covers your past work; this is called “retroactive cover”.
Should I keep professional indemnity insurance if I retire from DJ?
It’s wise to keep your professional indemnity if you retire from DJing. Claims against professional misconduct can surface months or years after you delivered the work.
If a past client sues you for damages and you have cancelled your professional indemnity, you will not be covered.
How long you keep your cover in place is up to you; consider the type of DJing you did and the likelihood that a client might bring a claim against you.
Other insurance DJs might need
Additional insurance necessary for you as a DJ can vary based on your individual circumstances. Have you considered the possibility of a legal dispute and whether you could afford it? What would you do if a client refused to pay you? Do you depend on costly DJ equipment? How would you handle a tax-related issue?
DJ equipment insurance
Remember your first piece of DJ equipment? You undoubtedly saved up for weeks to buy it, and it was your most prized possession once you got your hands on it.
As a professional DJ, you’ve probably levelled up a fair amount since then, investing thousands of pounds to ensure your equipment reflects your passion and skill for DJing.
Whether it’s your expensive laptop, decks, CDJs, headphones, or one of the many other pieces of costly kit that make your job possible, damage or loss can quickly bring the operation to a halt.
As someone who has to travel to work, the risk of losing a piece of equipment rises dramatically, as does the chance that equipment could be damaged while in transit or at an unfamiliar venue.
That’s why insurance for DJ equipment insurance is essential to protect your ability to perform.
Suited offers insurance for electronic equipment and accessories that covers repair or replacement costs. With your DJ equipment insured, you can have peace of mind when you go to your next gig.
Commercial legal expenses insurance
Most commercial legal expenses insurance will protect DJs against various tax and legal issues you may encounter due to your profession, which are not picked up by professional indemnity or public liability.
At Suited, we combined £100,000 of commercial legal expenses insurance with helplines and other tools to better assist DJs in dealing with these issues. We call this Business Legal Protect, and it’s part of your subscription.
Business Legal Protect provides qualified advice and assistance with:
- Legal and tax matters concerning your business
- Criminal prosecution
- Unpaid invoices (over £200)
For example:
- HMRC investigates your tax affairs
- You need legal help chasing a significant unpaid invoice
- You’re in a contract dispute with a client
Shopping for DJ liability insurance
Whether or not you decide to use Suited DJ insurance to protect your business, it’s worth keeping the following in mind:
Cheap DJ insurance
It is important to remember that when choosing DJ insurance, price should not be the only factor to consider. It is crucial to also confirm the availability of the provider. At Suited, we pride ourselves on our quick turnaround time when responding to inquiries and offer multiple ways to contact us.
Flexibility
When it comes to DJ insurance, one-day deals are hard to come by, but a simple month-by-month subscription is a possibility. Suited is one of them.
Many providers charge fees to amend or cancel
Low initial prices often hide additional charges to pay monthly, amend or cancel your policy. At Suited, we charge no extra fees, and you can cancel anytime with no more to pay.
Some policy wordings are restrictive or have a high excess
Some providers will offer attractive prices, but it is at the expense of cover given. Suited professional indemnity and public liability have £0 excess.
