FAQFAQ

  1. CAN I GET ADDITIONAL INSURED CERTIFICATES
    When a theatre group rents/leases space [a school or municipal auditorium, a storage unit, an office space, etc] it is very common for the owner to be named as an Additional Insured. This means that your insurance would be expected to defend the owner in case of a claim/suit resulting from an accident/injury that occurred while you occupied the space. This is a very common requirement of most leases and your insurance agent should be able to provide you with the necessary Certificate of Insurance. [Hold Harmless Agreement: A Cautionary Tale]
  2. ADDITIONAL INSURED CERTIFICATE: LIMITING YOUR LIABILITY
    If you are asked to name an additional insured on your policy, do not assume liability for their negligence. It is all in how your insurance agent words the additional insured certificate. [You Do The Math]
  3. WHO SHOULD HANDLE THE CLAIMS
    It is always a good idea to designate one representative as the spokesperson with respect to a claim. Inform all your members to refer questions, inquires, etc to the spokesperson. Well-meaning members can end up saying things that could later prove detrimental to your group. [Calamity Claim Ain't No Musical]
  4. DEDUCTIBLES THAT ARE HIGHER DON'T ALWAYS SAVE YOU MONEY
    The deductible is the amount you pay up front before the insurance company pays your property claims. Most policies carry a $250 deductible. You can save money on your annual premium if you agree to raise your deductible to $500 or even $1000. Beware however, one substantial claim at a higher deductible often wipes out any savings you may have initially realized. [It's Elementary, My Dear Watson]
  5. LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS INSURANCE
    If you lease a peformance facility on a long term basis and your lease allows you to make permanent improvements to the building, you should consider the possibility of adding leasehold improvements coverage to your insurance policy. [A Tenet For Owners & Tenants]
  6. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH OUR INSURANCE RECORDS
    Community Theatre is a creative and imaginative experience. But don't forget, you are also a business. You should apply good business practices wherever possible. This includes maintaining organized and up-to-date insurance records that can be passed on from one president to the next. [Ayn Rand Would Be Proud]
  7. PORTABILITY OF COVERAGE
    Some insurance policies provide liability and/or property coverage only at the specific location named on the policy. Since many groups are "gypsies" with no permanent home and even those who own a theatre building sometimes move around, you should make sure that your coverage is portable - that your coverage goes where you go. [What Floats On Dry Land?]
  8. REVIEW BEFORE YOU RENEW
    Do not simply review your insurance simply because your agent sent you a renewal invoice. Insist that he include any changes in coverage that the renewal policy will have that the expiring policy did not have. Sometimes they increase coverage, sometimes they delete coverage, sometimes they modify coverage for better or worse. The time to review your insurance is before you renew your insurance.
  9. SAFETY REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE SPACE
    It is a good idea to conduct an annual safety review of your performance space - on-stage, backstage, auditorium, lobby, bathrooms, basement, furnace room, storage areas, scene shop, etc. Identify potential danger areas and safety deficiencies. Establish a schedule to correct these problems in a timely manner. Click Cents and Common Sense for a thorough outline that you can use when conducting your annual safety review.
  10. SECURING YOUR THEATRICAL PROPERTIES
    Most thefts are crimes of opportunity. Do not provide such opportunities. Secure your properties. Do not leave box office receipts in an unlocked drawer. Do not leave expensive camera equipment on your desk over the weekend. Do not store your speakers where anyone can walk off with them.
  11. SECURING YOUR THEATRICAL PROPERTIES IN A RENTED SPACE
    Lets say you rent a performance space for three consecutive weekends to do your annual musical production. The owner wants you to sign a lease. Be careful. Does anyone else have access to the space when you are not there? Has the owner provided you with a locked space where you can store your properties between shows? Read your lease carefully. Often times, a lease will say that the owner is not liable for loss of or damage to any of your properties [sets, costumes, props, musical instruments, light board, etc] This is OK while you are there during a scheduled performance, but what happens when you aren't there? If the owner is not liable, he should provide the security necessary to protect your property when you aren't there. If the owner allows other to use the space on the days you aren't there, then who is watching out for your properties?
  12. VOLUNTEERS: ARE THEY COVERED
    Liability insurance is generally written to provide coverage for third party injuries. You are the first party. The insurance company is the second party. For theatre groups, patrons are generally make up the third party. However, you need to find out if your theatre volunteers [actors, tech people, ushers, box office volunteers, etc] are also covered. Don't wait until a volunteer is injured before discovering that they are not covered.
Contact
Your Insurance Man
Daniel J. Castle
(231) 873-0727
ralphie116@aol.com
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