Insure Your Sheet Music in Just 5 Steps

Orchestra insurance is one of the most important things that you need to consider before moving ahead with your next concert. While you have checked on your gear insurance, have you peeked into what type of insurance arrangement have you been provided for the orchestra? There are gaps that exist in this insurance arrangement, specifically for the sheet music which happens to be an important aspect of the orchestra. To ensure you get the right insurance scheme, here are five steps that you need to fit in your buying plan.

Valuation
What is the valuation of your sheet music library, an important arena of every orchestra? It goes without saying that apart from the purchase and replacement price, there is this other price too that you need to consider- the part where you lose on your sheet music in fire or in transit. Imagine the hours of effort and the resources that go into recompiling the whole music with the markings and bowings. If you have historic or collectible elements in your sheet music, getting that part back would be very difficult for you. Also, you will need to plan adding that to the evaluation. So, when you are defining the market value for your sheet music at the auction, include everything that makes up for your sheet music.

Plan the Insurance Amount
While you have a huge library that is at risk when there is a fire or transit, only parts of it may need to be replaced in case it is lost. Not everything in your library will be yours; there are always sources from whom you have acquired it, and they need not be replaced. Again, you have an artistic policy in place, which will help define which portion needs to be replaced on loss. The sum insured is an important part of insuring your sheet music, and it should tally with the balance sheet for the sheet music. Your sum insured should at least be valued at the library balance sheet, so that you don't suffer a major loss when getting back the money.

Insurance Clauses
When you are buying an insurance policy for your orchestra, make sure you have read all the clauses within the policy that are in line with the claim settlement. You don't want to see restrictions in the claim settlement at a later stage, just when you are planning to claim the money. The insurance settlement could be a pro rata based amount or, there could be a certain percentage set on the insurance amount you are likely to get. Either ways, it is always good to check on the claim policy before you go ahead with claiming the policy.

Is Sheet Music Covered?
Sometimes, there will be no mention of the document within the standard office policies, and in some cases it will be mentioned as a valuable document. Again, the valuable documents may be covered only on the premises that the policy was taken- the concert hall or the rehearsals location. This means any loss during transit will not be accounted for. This could be a huge blow to you when you plan to claim the policy. Always check, how and where the sheet music is covered in the insurance.

Storage
Make sure a certain part of your insurance also covers storage of the sheet music. Keep in mind the security and the safety regards for the sheet music. Some insurance policies fail to cover damp or mold sheet music or, the sheet music stored in inappropriate places.

Clarion INS is a best-in-class orchestra insurance company that offers complete transparency in claim related matters. Choose a policy that meets your needs by connecting with us.

Why Should You Get Your Musical Instrument & Gear Insured?

All geared up for the touring season? Bags, music, passport, and even itinerary checked? The music festival is a joyous affair, where music becomes a festivity and the moment to live in. Be it the boy/girl bands or the solos or the rockstars, there is one thing that they have in common- they are all carrying their expensive and highly precious instruments to this festival. For them, these instruments are their lifeline (very literally too). If you are one of them, then you would realize how hard it would be on you, if the very love of your life gets a small scratch or is broken or, worst still gets lost. You really wouldn't like it, would you?

Carrying on with the touring season is important despite this, even when your heart is broken. Though buying a new one would not get back the love, you cannot carry on without an instrument. Imagine having to shell out a lot of money to replace your instrument? Now, that is going to be more difficult, given you still have to cash in on the pay cheque.

That's where insurance comes into play! While, home insurance is a good solution for your instrument insurance, it does not give you all the benefits that come with regular instrument insurance. It is important to protect your gear with the appropriate insurance that will cover all your basic needs entirely.

A lot of musicians believe that their musical equipment has been covered under the homeowner's or automobile insurance. The cover does not take care of all sorts of losses or problems your instrument is likely to face, hence you would not be completely compensated under homeowner's or automobile insurance. The musical instrument coverage under homeowner's policy is approximately $250, which surely does not take care of everything that could possibly go wrong.

As a musician, you ought to know the difference between personal and commercial policies, and you would know that both are highly expensive for the average band. So, basically you can neither take the personal/commercial policies nor be dependent on the homeowner's policy. So, what is the way out for you, so that you don't spoil your gig with some bad news? You also need to think on the premium you will need to pay for the policies you are planning to take.

So, here are a few bullet points that may help convince why you should go for a musical instrument policy.

• You are eligible for the musical instrument insurance once you set out to buy an instrument, and you don't need to be associated with any musical group for this

• You can apply for the insurance hassle-free online. Within 48 hours, you would get the approval for the insurance, and that too without having to go through credit checks

• The musical instrument insurance is pretty affordable. Of course, when choosing the company for musical coverage, you need to firstly identify the premium you are ready to shell out, and then read the reviews that the company has received. Only if the reviews are good and the premium affordable should you go for the company in question

• Identify the benefits that you want to gain from your insurance cover. If you want to include your laptop with the software that has been installed along with your musical instrument you are insuring, make sure these benefits are added

• Under what circumstances is the insurance claimable? You should know the answer to this question before you actually go for the insurance

Before signing off the insurance, make sure your cell phones and other major things are covered in the insurance you have taken for the instrument. Clarion offers highly customized and affordable insurance for your instruments. Get your instrument insured before the next major gig!

Points to Consider When Buying the Perfect Bow

A bow is like an investment for the musician. There has been a surge in the number of violins and bows being purchased as a collectible. They are categorized as the usable collectibles, as their value increases with time. In the current market for collectors, bow has an advantage over violin, as they are being purchased more as compared to the violin. The reason being bows cost less as compared to the violin, and their demand is higher. A classic bow from another era costs as much as a regular violin, which means you can get Victorian and other bows for a good price. Bows that are in good condition and have all the supporting documents fetch good value in the collectors' market.

When investing in a bow, make sure you consider the points mentioned here.

The Bow's Condition

When you are presenting a bow to the collectors market, it should be unspoiled and in an absolutely good condition. The premium will be paid for the condition in which the bow is being presented. The bow should come with all the original parts. A bow that does not consist of all the original parts will be depreciated in the market. Even if it is not completely pristine, the bow is still a good buy. You should ensure that the bow is not broken, or cracked, when investing in one. Slight wear on the heel of the bow should also be checked into when buying the bow. The condition of the bow will determine the price you can pay for it. Always make sure you buy one that can be used for some time at least.

Weight & Length

The musicians of the 19th century preferred lighter and more flexible bows as compared to the musicians of today. Again, the English bows are shorter than the modern standard bows. The length and weight of the bow are determined by your needs and your preferences. Always check the weight and length of the bow before investing in one.

Documentation

What if the bow you have invested in, turns out to be fake? You have paid a premium to buy the bow, but did not spend enough time checking on the documentation. Normally people tend to get the bow assessed only when they are going in for an insurance update or require selling the bow that they bought. Authenticity of the bow, its credibility and other document support should be available so that you are aware of the actual value of the bow.

Origin of the Bow

The French bows can be bought at a completely different price from the English bows, which is why origin of the bow is very important to you. You should always research on the bow's origin and nationality before actually buying it. Again, the type of bows that the French make differs from the style the English insert in their bows. This will require a bit of research, so that you know the bow you are investing in is actually worth paying up for.

Last but certainly not the least is security of your bow.
You should always ensure your bow is secure. Along with your violin insurance, make sure your bow is insured too. The insurance should cover theft, scratches, minor repair and major condition issues that might depreciate the value of the bow. Choosing a premium for the insurance depends on the cover that you are planning to gain from the bow.

Clarion INS is an excellent musical insurance company that will fetch you appropriate insurance cover to meet your musical instrument needs. Get the apt cover, and ensure your bow is in good condition by continuously using it to make music.

Everything You Should Know About Musical Instrument Insurance

Working musicians rely on their instruments heavily. It is not only their first love, but also important on the stage and inside the recording studios. A musician feels most comfortable doing a concert, recording or, just playing music with their own instrument.

But, seldom do musicians take the musical instrument insurance seriously!

Most often, you would find musicians opting for the regular insurance that comes with the musical instrument. This may or may not cover all the damages that the instrument can undergo. Sometimes a small scratch can become a major deal if the instrument stops operating, which is why you will need an insurance that covers any small or major damage that can spoil the instrument's working condition.

If you are operating on a standard homeowner's policy for your instrument, then you may want to think again. This may not help you when the damage is real big.

Here we will give you an insight into everything that you probably want to know about musical instrument insurance. Probably, at the end of it you may have an idea on how to choose your instrument insurance, and get the damages claimed.

Standard Home Owner's Policy is Insufficient
The first thing that you probably need to understand is that a standard home owner's policy is insufficient for your instrument's needs. Musical instrument insurance will cover damage, repair and will get you a replacement offer for your instrument. In case of home owner's policy, the deductibles are usually very low, while for the musical instrument insurance it is typically high. But, the deductibles are definitely worth it, as it covers all aspects of your musical instrument.

Choosing the Right Policy is Important
Not all policies cover repair and damage related insurance for your instrument. It all depends on the insurance that you have chosen for your musical instrument. If you have a cover that says you will be compensated in case of damage, and the details have been mentioned, you will be covered only for that.

Let's say you want a brass musical insurance, you may want to understand what all damages or repairs need to be covered in the musical insurance. Accordingly, you can customize your instrument insurance and buy it.

The idea is that the plan will support you in case you have faced losses owing to repair or damage (depending on your plan) of the instrument.

Partnering with the Right Company
When you set out to choose the policy, you need to think around two factors when choosing the company- the company should make insurance buying easy and claims should be immediate.

When you are buying insurance, the company should support you through the entire buying process, which includes understanding the insurance, knowing what all is included, filling out the form, and finally insuring the musical instrument.

Along with buying the insurance, claims should also be well-handled by the company. When you file for a claim, the process should be as short and simple as possible, and the money should be reimbursed as soon as possible.

Only when the company handles both things in an user-friendly manner, should you opt for it as your musical insurance company.

Partnering with Clarion INS will give your affordable policies, a quality support team, and easy to manage claims. We also offer custom policies to meet your unique insurance needs.

Why Selecting the Right Concert Insurance is Important?

Concerts are basically huge opportunities for the artist in terms of showcasing their talent, interacting with the audience, and most of all earning more profits. Concerts generate huge chunks of profits that other mediums don't.

Offering a platform that can help deliver the talent in the right way, and offer an experience of a lifetime to the audience is critical when organizing a concert. But, more important than that would be the concert insurance. Why insurance? Well, with every concert run, there runs the risk that comes from various other factors.

Numerous factors outside the control of the artist and the organizers can prove to be fatal to your concert. Imagine facing a stage breakdown just when you started with your concert? What could be more fatal than that for the artist? There are other factors as well- injury, disease, natural calamities that lead to cancellation of the concert, and safety concerns. When a concert gets cancelled, it is not just the performer but everyone in the society that gets disrupted, and hence it is important to obtain a concert insurance before starting out.

Let's now go into the reasons on why it is important to pick out the right concert insurance.

Are you Insured Properly?
There would be insurance plans that would readily insure you on certain parameters, and exclude the main & important things.

Imagine you are insured for the stage breakdown, but not for your travel or, being safely stationed at the event?

Now, that could lead to cancellation as well. If the artist has not reached the stage, the concert is as good as cancelled. But, not including this basic yet important parameter could hold you for losses.

Know the Liabilities Involved
When you are planning a concert, you may have planned for the risk as well. It goes without saying that you need to plan for risks as much as you plan for something that may happen right in the concert. When that is the case, you needto know if the plan covers all the liabilities that you have identified in the event. In case it doesn't, you may need to go for another plan.

The Instrument Insurance
Are all the instruments in the concert insured? Most people tend to insure their own instruments. But, as the event organizer, the insurance for instruments should be part of your deal. You should ideally look for concert insurers, who cover all aspects of the concert right from the artist to the musical instruments.

Choosing the right partner for your insurance needs is an important part of this signup

When you are choosing any type of musical insurance, let's say cello insurance or, insuring your concert, you should choose the right insurance partner. ClarionsINS offers a range of musical instruments and other insurance related to music that makes your life easy. We customize your insurance to meet your specific requirements, thus ensuring all your liabilities are covered. At Clarions, we don't provide services, we partner with you to identify the perfect match your insurance needs.

Traveling with your Guitar: Key Points to Consider

It is surprising how an artist with a guitar does everything that keeps the guitar safe, but doesn't really pay attention to the insurance needs of this great instrument. Consider a guitarist, investing in regular concerts, possessing a studio, and keeping the instruments in a secure place. Now, if you have been in that place, think twice and answer- how far have you gone to get your instruments insured? Have you ever given it a thought?

When traveling with your guitar to places for your concert or, even when you are in your studio, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind, which includes guitar insurance too. Let's have a quick look at what are the key points that you need to consider.

Keep them in Hard Cases
This is an unsaid rule that you probably follow. There are times when you might want to try carrying your guitar without the hard case, though there's one yet to be seen who does that. These cases make your life easy, as it not only protects your instrument from direct impact such as hits, falls etc. but also makes it scratch resistant. Even temperature changes don't affect your instrument hidden in that case. You will need to research on the cases that will keep your guitar in good shape.

Case covers are good in case you want to ensure that the extra layer of shock that can befall your guitar gets absorbed. These covers come with a shoulder strap, which not only makes carrying your guitar easy, but also makes the whole traveling with guitar idea possible.

The small parts that is important for your guitar- humidifier pads, string packs etc. should be kept in that small case, and should be attended to.

Secure your Guitar in the Air
Traveling by air with your guitar has become quite difficult given the security in the present times. Most airlines are worried about the case dimensions, whether it follows all the security guidelines or not. They are most often worried on the fact whether the case would fit into the place where it is meant to go. When traveling with your guitar, show up early at the airport. In case they ask you to check-in, make sure you put in a request for your guitar to be hand-carried through the whole check-in process.

Choosing the Right Insurance
When it comes to traveling with your guitar, being insured is the first thing that you might need to consider. The airline insurance policy may not fulfil all your guitar insurance needs, and in case something is broken or, the guitar faces damage, you may be stranded not just without a guitar but with an expensive damage.

Choosing the right insurer for both your musical instrument and studio insurance needs would help you benefit from damage and the expenses that follow. At Clarions INS, we give you the right insurance plan that meet your requirements and fit your pockets. We even track your insurance cycles, and send out reminders on premium payment dates.