What are the Best Features of a Comprehensive Musical Instrument Coverage?

A finely crafted musical instrument is one of the prized possessions of every musician. Only the right insurance policy with adequate coverage can work as its true protector. However, choosing an ideal protection plan for a musical gear can be tricky as it needs you to take a lot of factors into consideration. While many musical instrument owners believe that adding a rider for an instrument under homeowner’s or renter’s insurance can serve the purpose well, it usually offers very limited coverage that is not worth the value of their items. Only a separate program uniquely designed for musical instrument owners is capable of providing enhanced protection through additional coverage clauses. So, what are the best features of a comprehensive instrument coverage that you can count on? Let us give you the details.

All Gear

A specialized music insurance policy actually covers much more than just the instrument. This usually includes cases, accessories, equipment, machinery, and even sheet music.

Worldwide Coverage

No matter in which part of the world your instrument is located, the coverage will be in force everywhere.

All Risk

Unlike a general policy that covers only certain ‘named perils’, it offers much broader protection with its ‘all-risk’ coverage. Your instrument is covered against all possible types of risks excluding a few listed in the policy details. These include loss, steal, vandalism, accidental damage, flood, fire, extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, and so on. However, you cannot expect coverage for the breakage of replaceable items like reeds, drumheads, strings, etc.

On- and Off-Premises

It keeps your instrument protected both inside and outside your own premises. From practicing at home to performing in another state, you can stay assured about its safety everywhere.

Transit Cover

What if your instrument gets lost or damaged while traveling to a concert? An all-inclusive coverage makes sure that you still continue performing without being worried about potential financial losses.

Unattended Vehicle Cover

While participating in a musical event, you may need to leave your instrument unattended in a vehicle and it may get stolen. If this happens, the policy will provide you cover providing the vehicle was securely locked and the gear was not inside for more than 12 hours.

Valued at Basis

In the event of a total loss, an extensive coverage allows you to get a predetermined amount of money in the valued at a basis. It will be exactly the same amount for which the instrument was insured. Hence, you do not need to negotiate in order to find the best deal for the replacement of your instrument.

Difference in Value

Apart from covering the expenses of repairing a damaged instrument, the policy also covers the difference in the values of the instrument before and after the loss.

Business Interruption

You may be forced to cancel your paid performances following a loss or damage to your instrument. It will not only interrupt your business but also impact your income negatively. However, this reimbursement will always compensate you for such covered claims.

Equipment Hire

Any loss or damage to your instrument can affect your upcoming concert. You may even need to hire an item of similar specifications until the original one is repaired or replaced. With the right coverage in hand, you can hire an instrument immediately up to the amount specified in your policy subject to a maximum hiring cost and continue performing without financial worries.

Borrowed Instrument Cover

If you ever need to borrow a musical instrument whilst your own instrument is getting repaired or replaced, you will be covered for that too.

The features of an inclusive musical instrument coverage change based on the distinct requirements of its owner. Not all policyholders qualify for all coverage and there are specific limitations or exclusions for everyone. Therefore, it is always recommended that you discuss your needs with your insurance agent and learn about the possible options. This will help you get the most out of your insurance investment.

Tips for Choosing Right Audio Equipment Insurance

Just like a sound body requires a sound soul, the same goes for a musician with their instruments. It is their instruments that add value to their creations. But, what if the same thing, that is attached to your heart gets destroyed at an act of God? Or what if someone actively destroys your equipment to get revenge? There is a tonne of possibilities that can go wrong with your audio equipment which you hold dear the most. But the answer lies within CLARION musical instrument insurance.

Audio Equipment Insurance: How is it Different from Home Insurance?

One of the most common misconceptions among the musicians is that, if you are having a home or renter’s insurance, you are always good to go. But, truth to be told, your gears can never be covered with such insurance. For instance, even if you have a home studio, in case of any natural calamity, the insurance company will never be able to evaluate the exact price for the damaged equipment. In such a scenario, you would only end up with nominal expense costs. This is exactly where audio equipment insurance comes into play. 

What to Look for the Right Audio Equipment Insurance?

Choosing audio equipment insurance can be tedious at times, but there are certain sets of benefits that you can reap from the right one. Down below are some of the tips and tricks worth following for the right equipment insurance:

1) Get to Know Your Gear’s Worth

Something that the right audio equipment insurance will always do is repaying you with the precise amount, which is the worth of your equipment. Getting your musical instruments equipment comes with its own benefits. It is the musical instrument company that can exactly determine the current evaluation of your gear. For instance, your $10,000 violin won’t be placed with its proper value under home insurance. They can always provide you with a decent sound entry-level violin with a $500 price tag.

2) Is Public Liability Insurance Included?

Often, external factors have a huge part to play in the destruction or malfunctioning of your musical instruments. It is highly advised to choose musical instrument insurance that covers public liability. For a better understanding, public liability insurance covers common mishappening such as adding up your amp with an outdated electrical system at the venue while all of a sudden it catches fire. It is something that every other musician can relate to themselves. 

3) Know the Limitations

Just like every other person is different from each other, the same goes for musical instrument insurance. So, before applying for insurance, make sure you know the limitations that are offered by the insurance policy. For some reason, while one company might agree to insurance your costly guitar after it has been dropped from your hand while for others, they might not. Make sure that you do your research before choosing the right one for you.

4) Premium shouldn’t Be Expensive

Last but not least, if music is passion, make sure to protect your equipment well. But, after spending a few grand on your instrument, it is very unwise to pay a large premium every single year. So, always look for insurance that is not too expensive for you, while covering all the major accidents that might happen in the near future.

Wrapping Up

We can understand your frustration when it comes to insuring your musical instruments. There are several factors that one needs to consider before choosing the right one for themselves. This article was to enlighten you with some of the most common aspects to look forward to your musical insurance. Here at CLARION musical instrument insurance, you can always get the insurance your instrument deserves. Always remember, where the sky is the limit, insurance is only a medium to attain it, not to tarp you with shackles.

Orchestra Insurance – The Ultimate Protection for Your Instrumental Ensemble

What is the toughest part of managing an orchestra? It is certainly the chore of ensuring perfect timing and achieving harmony by bringing dozens of musicians together. But along with this comes the very obvious responsibilities of taking the best care of the instrumental ensemble and protecting them from all kinds of risks. Most orchestras do not put enough stress on safeguarding the future of its instruments the right way, which often leads to financial catastrophe. Hence, investing in a specialized orchestra insurance policy is crucial for all types and sizes of the orchestra. When there is a specifically designed coverage for all valuable musical instruments in your orchestra, you can stay away from the stress and worries. Check out more below.

What is Insurance for Orchestra?

As the name suggests, it is an insurance program crafted for an orchestra with its distinct requirements in mind. While other musical instrument insurance plans either cover all types of instruments or focus on a particular item only, this policy deals with the individual needs of the gear belonging to an orchestra. Being a made to measure insurance, it unifies the coverage for a collection of high-value instruments and simplifies the protection of the complete inventory of the orchestra. In other words, a reliable insurance policy for orchestra ensures peace of mind for every instrument as well as a musician in the group.

What Does the Program Cover?

Comprehensive orchestra coverage must be able to shield the performers of the group from all unforeseen happenings. Following are the risks it usually covers:

Property Liability

It covers your business property including the expensive instruments placed inside it from a range of incidents like theft, burglary, vandalism, loss, fire, extreme weather conditions, and accidental damage. The policy can even extend the coverage for earthquakes, terrorism, etc.

Damage in Transit

The policy not only offers on-premises coverage but also provides enough protection for your orchestra instruments during transit so that you can travel anywhere with them and perform without anxiety. It covers the gear when left unattended in a locked vehicle too.

Loss of Earnings

What if you or any other member of your orchestra meets an accident or becomes injured? The flow of earning suffers due to the cancellation of concerts, right? But with this coverage in hand, you can ensure continuous business income even when you or your members are unable to work.

General Liability

If there are general claims against you involving physical injury, property damage, personal injury, medical payments, or rehabilitation expenses associated with your business operations, this coverage can effectively keep you and your finances shielded.

Public Liability

Being an essential coverage for performing in most public venues, it is a must for every orchestra. With this, you are protected from legal liability and potential legal fees incurred by third-party injury or property damage caused during your performances.

How to Choose the Best Provider?

There are a few important factors that you need to consider while selecting the most appropriate provider for your orchestra coverage needs. Go ahead only if the company is:

•    Providing an ‘All Risk – Agreed Value’ insurance policy
•    Offering a fully customized solution for the protection of the orchestra
•    Insuring the accessories and equipment along with the instruments
•    Covering all musical gear on a worldwide basis
•    Having highly competitive premium rates
•    Prompt and reliable customer support service

Once you buy orchestra insurance from a provider perfectly tuned in to your musical needs, you ensure both security and satisfaction for your entire group. So, what are you waiting for? Invest in an all-inclusive yet affordable coverage today and grow exponentially in your musical journey.

Why Do You Need Protection for Equipment along with Guitar Insurance?

In the world of music, the guitar is considered as the ‘king of epic solos’. Only a guitarist knows the true value of a guitar as well as the best way to keep the humble instrument protected in order to carry the tune. But what if something inevitable happens and your prized instrument gets damaged? That is why every guitarist, from a beginner to a professional, must befriend with a bespoke guitar insurance policy from a specialist insurance provider. However, this is not all. Safeguarding the equipment needed to rock a guitar performance is also very much important. If you are yet to pick your way to the right coverage for your expensive guitar and its equipment, here is why you should think about it right now.

What is Insurance for Guitar?

Well, this is an insurance policy, which is specifically tailored to the individual needs of guitarists. A wide range of unexpected incidents like theft, loss, or accident can happen with your guitar while performing at a gig, traveling to another place along with it, or even rehearsing at your home. These not only cause significant damage to your instrument but also lead to a hefty bill for funding the repair or replacement. Having comprehensive guitar coverage can help you be prepared for such a predicament. It provides a greater level of security for all types of guitar and their accessories available in the market. These include acoustic, electric, bass, twelve-string guitar, archtop guitar, steel guitar, resonator guitar, double-neck guitar, etc. The stand-alone policy also helps guitarists strum all the way across the globe with its worldwide coverage.

Why Choose Insurance for Equipment?

If your pricey guitar equipment gets stolen or damaged accidentally, you will have to spend lots of money for its repairing or replacement. Could you really afford this expenditure? If not then choosing insurance for equipment is a wise choice. Fortunately, a musical instrument insurance policy covering the guitar also covers the equipment associated with it. All you need to do is discuss the scopes of your policy with your insurance provider and go through the details thoroughly before investing in it.

Coverage Options for Guitar Equipment

Now, here is a brief detail of how guitar equipment insurance can keep your precious instrument protected all the time:

Instrument and Equipment Cover

When you have the right policy in your hand, you can stay assured about jamming to your heart’s content anytime, anywhere. It covers your instrument, its accessories, and all its equipment in events like theft, vandalism, fire, and even mechanical breakdown.

Accidental Loss and Damage

Accidents are unpredictable and so is their impact on your instrument. This insurance covers the cost of repairing and replacement resulted from accidental loss and damage, thereby ensuring complete peace of mind for you.

Off-Premises Insurance

With this coverage, your valuable instrument and its equipment stay protected even when you use them outside your own premises.

In-Vehicle Cover

In-vehicle coverage is necessary for every guitarist who travels a lot. It keeps your equipment absolutely safe during transit. The insurance also covers your possessions when they are left unattended in a locked vehicle.

Equipment Hire

What if you already claimed for the repairing or replacement of your equipment and need a substitute to carry on your activities meanwhile? With this insurance, you can hire equipment immediately without spending an extra amount.

New for Old Cover

You can get your old item replaced with a brand new one of equivalent value if it is damaged, stolen, or lost. In this new for old cover, there will be no value depreciation on your instrument or its equipment.

Loss of Earnings

If you suffer from a personal injury due to an accident and your earnings get impacted negatively, you should opt for this insurance. This will make sure that you never miss a gig even when you are not able to perform.

Choosing customized guitar insurance will always keep your equipment shielded. So, talk to your insurance provider and find the right policy for you.

How to Buy the Right Viola Insurance? 5 Simple Steps to Follow

Owning a viola is an exciting investment that you can cherish as a lifelong treasure. It is of utmost importance that you take the greatest care of your instrument to keep it as safe as possible. But what if a disaster strikes and you end up losing it? Or maybe you’re playing comes to a halt as your wonderful instrument gets damaged accidentally. Scraping your pockets for extra cash to repair it or buy a new one will certainly not be a pleasant experience, right? Hence, insuring your viola is the best way to protect it against all potential risks and hazards, thereby keeping irreparable damage and high replacement costs at bay.

If you are wondering how to get the right viola insurance, the following 5 simple steps will be your savior.

1. Know Your Available Options

Start with identifying your options, which mostly depend on your level of expertise. If you are an amateur violist, your homeowner’s or rental insurance policy can come with an additional ‘viola coverage’ to shield your instrument from theft, fire, etc. inside the home. But it rarely accounts for the most dangerous threats that you may encounter during transit or at performances. Therefore, getting a dedicated insurance policy for your viola is always the safest choice as it covers the instrument both in and outside the home.

2. Understand Coverage Details

Once you decide on your required type of policy, focus on its features and benefits. Unlike a household insurance policy that covers all your possessions inside home, separate insurance safeguards your viola even when you are performing at another corner of the world. It works as a robust plan, which includes all possible repair and replacement coverage to ensure complete peace of mind for you. Typically, stand-alone insurance protects the instrument from theft, loss, fire, natural disasters (flood, wind, earthquake, etc.), accidental breakage, vandalism, perils in transit, and risks associated with unattended vehicles. It can also cover the accessories and equipment that come along with your instrument to help you fulfill your various playing obligations.

3. Get Your Insurance Appraisal

Next comes the appraisal process, which is known to be one of the most critical aspects of purchasing musical instrument insurance. It is important to get your viola evaluated by a professional viola maker to make sure that you are choosing the right policy for it. You can either ask for an appraisal while buying the instrument or get an estimate written out on the receipt later for the amount of the buying price. Otherwise, the replacement value of the instrument will be established based on its current condition as well as other necessary measurements. So, never sign an insurance contract without evaluating the worth of your instrument.

4. Find a Specialized Provider

Now, it is time to find the most reliable service provider, who specializes in musical instrument insurance. Do your own research and make a list of companies that have earned an excellent reputation in the marketplace for ensuring customer satisfaction. Some of the most common parameters that are used for sorting out the best instance provider include a variety of plans and programs, personalized policy options, affordable rates of premium, and brilliant service.

5. Request a Customized Quote

Finally, discuss your individual needs with the sorted insurance providers and ask for customized quotes from them. Comparing these quotes will help you seal the deal with the best company, which can offer you the right policy at the most competitive rate. Also, do not forget to go through all your policy papers thoroughly before signing the contract.

Isn’t getting viola insurance as easy as one-two-three? Just follow the steps and your precious instrument will be protected forever.