Wednesday, 2 December 2020

Why Is Investing in Saxophone Insurance Necessary?

Do you own a saxophone? If so, then whether you are an amateur or a high-end professional, whether you own a vintage sax or a model designed for beginners, it is crucial to give serious thought to safeguard your instrument as well as your career if music earns you livelihood.

Two ways to protect your woodwind

So, how can you protect your investment? Well, some of the best and most effective ways to do that are -

●    Get yourself comprehensive Saxophone Insurance to protect your gear against loss, damage, theft, or third-party liability.

●    And install a sturdy home security device to ensure the overall safety of your gears and other belongings.


Choosing a plan can be tricky. Comparative analysis might help!

Protecting your musical instruments against all odds is no doubt imperative. However, it can be a bit tricky, given the plethora of service providers and policies available in the market. However, if you clear all your doubts and queries with the customer support team of insurance providers and do a price-value analysis, you will be able to choose the right policy without having to tax your brain and pocket.

Moreover, while installing a securing system is a good idea, it will not provide you relief from the cost of repairing or replacing your precious woodwind if something bad happens for real. Isn't it? Therefore, investing in a good insurance cover is the best and wisest thing to do.

And the most important thing, musical instrument players, regardless of their professional standing, refrain from including their musical instruments under their home insurance because of obvious reasons, like under coverage, no coverage under certain situations. So, you should also look for an instrument-specific plan instead of relying on your home insurance or renter’s insurance plan.

Moreover, the safest bet here is to buy an instrument-specific insurance plan because the musical gears are expensive and need a good amount of coverage. Unfortunately, your home insurance policy is not the right to go here.

Insurance service providers who deal in musical goods are used to working with musicians, bands, collectors, music shop owners, or music teachers. So, they understand the type as well as the extent of coverage a saxophone player might need to ensure complete coverage against all odds.

Plus, an experienced insurance provider that deals with musicians and all sorts of musical instruments will help you design and customize your Saxophone Insurance plan according to your needs. This way, you will be able to save both your time and money.

Choose a policy that's going to help

As there are different types of insurance policies available in the market, you need to be very careful while choosing one and go for the one that best suits your needs. The extent of coverage is more likely to depend on your needs and your professional standing.

For example, if you are a student or you play the saxophone as a hobby, a simple or basic musical instrument plan would be good to go. However, if you are a professional musician, if you collect expensive and vintage musical gears, or you own a shop, then you are most likely to need a high-end policy insurance plan that protects your gears and your finance, in and out. It is as simple as that!

Hopefully, this blog has helped you understand why investing in saxophone cover is necessary. Also, insurance policies are so important that you should consider buying one along with your musical instruments because misfortune can strike all of a sudden. Therefore, it is wise to stay prepared.

Find a leading musical instrument insurance service provider in your state and play your gears while enjoying peace of mind.

Monday, 23 November 2020

Insurance Covers for Musical Instruments - Know What You Need

Oh! You are so excited that finally, you have bought your favorite guitar that you have been eyeing for so long. We understand that you are a responsible owner. And you will do whatever it takes to shield your musical instruments. Right? However, is your long-cherished instrument peril-safe, or "unforeseen-peril-safe", to be precise? How is that possible?

 


You can peril-proof your musical gears just by getting suitable insurance for musical instruments for a noted service provider. Although it cannot prevent any possible loss or damage to your gears, it can definitely protect you from the financial aftermath that follows.

 

If you are a professional musician or professionally related to musical gears and accessories, such as a luthier, appraiser, music shop owner, collector, or music teacher, you need to insure your musical paraphernalia for sure. Remember, musical instruments are more likely to be expensive and need to be well-protected. Otherwise, your entire livelihood and savings could be at stake.

 

When it comes to finding insurance for musical gears, there is no dearth of options. With a good and trustworthy insurance provider, you can choose from a full range of covers. The best part, you can tailor a plan according to your needs. It ensures that you do not have to shell out for something you do not need.

 

Let’s take a look at the types of insurance covers you can choose from:

 

Protection from loss or damage

 

One of the most common yet crucial ones includes protection against damage or loss caused as a result of theft, robbery, fire, water damage, thunderstorm, and deterioration, among others. With this cover, you can be assured that you do not have to pay out of pocket in an unfortunate case of loss or damage to your instrument.

 

Worldwide protection

 

Another one is worldwide coverage. As a musician, if you have to attend any musical concert in a different city or even country, your instruments need to be in their best forms. Right? However, what if you lost or damaged or gear on the way? What if your entire musical apparatus goes missing in a completely foreign land?

 

Do not worry when you have the assurance of your musical instrument insurance policy. Such policies, when taken out from a reputable service provider, come with a worldwide cover. However, the terms and conditions associated with it might vary from one insurance company to the other. So, make sure to check this out beforehand.

 

Protection against third-party liabilities

 

Have you heard about public liabilities related to being a musician? If not, then you have clicked on the right place. Let’s suppose you are playing live in an open musical gig, and suddenly the stack of amplifiers from the front of the stage fell down while injuring a couple of people from the audience?

 

Can you imagine how much the medical bills or cost of fighting lawsuits for each of the injured people could be? This is called public liability when you are responsible for someone else’s loss or damage. In such a scenario, insurance for musical instruments can go a long way to protect you from financial calamity.

 

Get complete protection even when you are a novice

 

You might be wondering that all the types of insurance covers mentioned above are too good for professionals. However, what about the amateur musicians? Is the homeowner’s insurance enough for them?

Well, home insurance, regardless of your professional status, will not cover your musical instruments if something happens to them out of the insured property. So, you are wise enough to understand if or not home insurance plans will be sufficient for your musical gears even when you are just an amateur musical instrument player.

 

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Reed Instrument Care Tips

Musical instruments are finely-crafted, valuable investments that can be easily damaged if not properly cared for. Therefore, proper instrument care and maintenance is vital for any musician who wishes to keep their instrument safe and protected. Like with any other kind of musical instrument, a well-maintained and cared-for reed instrument will have a much longer life than one that isn’t.



Whether you are playing a flute, clarinet, bassoon, piccolo or even an oboe, there are several things you can do to preserve both your reed instrument and theirreeds. Keep readingto learn some useful and easy-to-implement tips on how to properly clean, store, maintain, and protect your instruments and reeds.

Caring For Your Reed Instrument

 

When it comes to your reed instrument’s protection, one of the most important things you can do is storing it in a weatherproof case — away from heat, direct sunlight and humidity — when not in use. But here are some additional tips you can follow:

 

      Before storing your reed instrument, make sure you carefully swab the inside to remove any moisture. We also recommendwiping it down as well, to help preserve its finish.

      Always place your instrument correctly and gently into its case, never force the case closed. Consider removing your neck strap beforehand as well.

      Never pick your instrument up by its keys.

      Oil your instrument’s keys regularly using key oil. You can apply it with the help of a cotton swab, needle, or toothpick to help ensure you don’t use too much oil.


Caring For Your Reeds

 

Good reeds are hard to come by. So when you do manage to find them, you need to handle them with care and do your best to extend their life. Here are some useful tips that can help make your reeds last much longer:

 

      When buying a new reed, unpack it carefully, avoiding contact with its tip.

      Before playing, make sure you moisten it first. Some musicians dip their reeds in warm water, while othersuse their saliva.

      Once the reed is prepped, align its tip with the end of your instrument’s mouthpiece and tighten the ligature screws.

      Never play a new reed for more than a few minutes during the first few days you use it. This will allow for the reed to gradually get used to expanding and drying.

      When you are done playing, remove it from your instrument’s mouthpiece, rinse it thoroughly and wipe it dry to remove any excess moisture.

      Always store your reeds separately, ideally in a reed case. A reed case will keep them flat as they dry and help prevent warping. It will also help protect them from getting chipped or damaged during transportation.

      Avoid playing the same reed every day, as this will cause it to wear rapidly.

      Rotate your reeds regularly.

      Before playing, don’t forget to wipe off lipstick, lip balm, or any other lip product. It is highly recommended to brush your teeth and wash your hands beforehand as well.

      Make sure you clean your reeds semi-regularly using water and a mild detergent.

      Avoid exposing them to extreme changes in temperature or humidity, as reeds respond poorly to dramatic environmental changes. 

Getting Full Coverage Instrument Protection

 

While proper instrument care and maintenance can help protect both reeds and reed instruments, it isn’t enough to protect against all of life’s risks. Musical instrument insurance on the other hand, will safeguard your reed instrument in almost every situation. At Clarion Associates, we have designed specialized and customizable musical instrument insurance policies that offer worldwide coverage and an array of benefits you won’t find anywhere else.

 

Whether you are playing a bassoon, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, or flute, we have the perfect musical instrument insurance solution for you. Reach out and contact us today for a quote and find out why Clarion is the leading choice for thousands of musicians and musical instrument owners.

Tuesday, 10 November 2020

How to Care For Your Instruments in the Fall

 

 

As we move farther into the fall, the weather becomes more unpredictable. Fall can bring both warm and cold breezes, as well as showers and even snow, all within the same week, in some areas. It's hard to know what the weather will be like from one day to the next during this season.

 


These humidity and temperature changes can be exhausting for many of us to keep track of and adjust to. Yet, musicians have another challenge as well – the damage these weather conditions can cause to their musical instruments. We’re going to break down exactly how autumn/fall weather can affect your musical instruments and what you can do to protect them.


How Can Autumn Weather Affect Your Musical Instruments?

 

Science teaches us that most objects expand in the heat and contract in the cold. Like most other objects, musical instrumentsmay also expand and contract when subjected to significant temperature changes. At the same time, moisture and humidity can cause wood to swell, warp or crack, as well as make metal rust, which is true for musical instruments as well.

Therefore, the transitions from cold to hot or from dry to wet (and vice versa) that typically occur during autumn can be significantly harmful to your musical instruments and can lead to expensiverepairs if you’re not careful. Since musical instruments are not weatherproof, proper instrument care is crucial during this time of year.

 

 

What Can You Do To Protect Them?

 

When it comes to instrument protection during fall, the main rule of thumb is to try minimizing your musical instrument's exposure to temperature changes, wind, humidity, and rain.

 

The first thing you can do to avoid such exposure is keeping your musical instrument inside its protective case when you're done playing or cleaning it. After all, this is the primary purpose of a case: to safeguard your musical instrument from the adverse effects of moisture, dust, temperature fluctuations, and direct sunlight. Ensure that the case is tightly closed, and properly latched.Remember to occasionally inspect it for any gaps or holes. If you spot any signs of damage,repair or replace it as soon as possible.

 

As the level of humidity inside your home may rise during fall, investing in a hygrometer and a dehumidifier may be a good idea. The hygrometer will help you measure the humidity level in your home, and the dehumidifier will help you adjust it accordingly.

 

Of course, sometimes you have to travel with your musical instruments. As a musician, you might regularly tour around the world, performing in open-air festivals, or maybe even be a member of a symphony or quartet. In this case, trying to limit the amount of time your instrument will be out of the house might not be a viable option, but there are some things you can do to help minimize your risks.

 

If you’re musical instrument has been out in the cold for an extended period of time, remember to let it gradually warm up to room temperature before attempting to play it again. Use covers to protect it from rain whenever possible, and soak up any excess water or moisture with a towel as soon as you can. An important point to follow year-round is to avoid leaving your musical instrument in the car, where temperatures can fluctuate dramatically and rapidly.

 

 

What Can Clarion Do For You?

 

Regardless of whether your musical instrument is kept at home or travels with you, the best way to keep it safe and sound in the fall is by investing in musical instrument insurance. With Clarion Associates by your side, you’ll be protected against most of the dangers that may befall your instrument.

 

At Clarion, we've designed a specialized, customization musical instrument insurance policy that offers worldwide coverage for damage due to weather conditions, as well as many other benefits you won't find anywhere else! With over 50 years in the insurance industry we have worked with thousands of musicians, so you can rest assured that we understand and respect our customers' unique needs and situations.

 

We offer various specialized services and customization coverage for musicians, music stores, recording studios, instrument collectors, and more! We cover instruments ranging from strings to wood winds, and even pianos! Contact us for a quote today and see why thousands of musicians worldwide trust us with their protecting their prized musical instruments.

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

How Temperature Changes Can Affect Your Instruments

 

 

As a musician, playing in extreme weather conditions can be rather challenging. Regardless of what musical instrument you are playing — heat, cold, rain, and even high humidity can all make you feel uncomfortable and impact your performance. You won’t play the same if the cold wind is whipping your face and your fingers are freezing, or conversely, if you can’t stop sweating or feel like you can’t breathe because of high humidity.

 


While bad for your performance, bad weather can also affect your musical instruments, affecting each instrument in unique ways. While all musical instruments may face damage due to temperature and weather changes, string instruments, woodwind instruments, drums, and pianos will all react differently.Continue reading to discover helpful tips on how to prepare for seasonal changes and better protect your instruments.

String Instruments

 

In the case of string instruments like guitars, violins, and cellos, heat and cold can cause the strings to expand and contract. Simultaneously, these conditions can also cause the wood to warp or even crack, and the glue that holds the instrument together may start to dry and detach. In the best-case scenario, these will affect your sound quality, and in the worst-case scenario, the damage will be irreparable. To prevent this, string instruments should be stored in a weatherproof case in a temperature range between 72-77°F with humidity levels of around 45-55%.

Woodwind Instruments

 

Woodwind instruments like flutes, clarinets, oboes, and bassoons are subject to various forms of wear, such as shrinking, expanding, drying out, and cracking. While avoiding excessive temperature swings is vital, managing humidity is also essential. The recommended level of humidity your woodwind instruments should be exposed to is no more than 40-55%. As far as temperature levels go, try to avoid playing your instrument if it feels cold to the touch. Allow it to gradually warm up by holding it under your jacket for about half an hour before playing.


Brass Instruments

 

Brass instruments are less susceptible to damage from heat and humidity than other instruments, but there are still some tips to keep in mind. For instruments like trumpets, saxophones, tubas, and trombones, corrosion and bacteria growth are common in hot and humid environments. Therefore, you should make sure you always keep them clean, oiled and stored correctly in a weatherproof case when not in use. Avoid temperatures higher than 78℉ and humidity levels greater than 50%.

 


 

Drums

 

Drums can be a bit finicky as opposed to other instrument types. High levels of humidity can damage the wood in your drums and cause your drum-heads to warp, while low levels of humidity can make them dry out and crack. Simultaneously, low temperatures can cause the wood to contract, making the drum-heads tighter and resulting in a higher pitch. Try to keep the drums in a thermos-table environment and avoid exposure to direct sunlight if possible.

 

Keys

 

As proper conditions produce better sound, how you take care of your instruments is vital to their performance. This type of musical instrument is also subject to the harmful effects of high temperature and humidity. In a piano, excess moisture and heat can cause the bushings to swell. As a result, the time between when you hit a key and when the hammer hits the string will increase, causing the keys to feel sluggish. To prevent this, ensure adequate ventilation and humidity levels of around 40-45% for prolonged performance.

 

 

Do’s and Don’ts

 

Although the recommended storage temperatures, humidity levels, and care process for each musical instrument may vary, there are some universal dos and don’ts to abide by when it comes to protecting your musical instruments.

 

      DO store your musical instrument in a protective weatherproof case when not in use. Always make sure the case is secured and closed correctly.

      DON’T expose your instruments to extreme temperature changes.

      DON’T expose them to extreme humidity, as this will be detrimental to its performance.

      DO regulate the temperature where your instruments are stored.

      DO invest in a hygrometer, as well as a humidifier or dehumidifier, if needed. The first will help you measure the humidity level in the air, while the latter will help you manage and adjust it.

 

Get Full Instrument Protection

 

Sometimes, doing your best to protect your musical instrument during the seasonal changes may not be enough. Therefore, getting full protection with a specialized musical instrument insurance policy is something you should consider.At Clarion Associates, we create customizable musical instrument insurance policies to meet your needs. We offer worldwide coverage, as well as an array of other benefits you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us for a quote today and see for yourself why we are trusted by thousands of musicians and musical instrument owners the world over.

Thursday, 29 October 2020

Do You Have Sufficient Guitar Insurance Cover?

 

Picture this - After an incredible honky-tonk gig at a town located on the outskirts of your city, you wrapped up everything to drive back home and switch to your usual 9-to-5 avatar. As you guys drove all night, by the time the clock said 6 AM, you needed fuel for your car and breakfast for your tummies. What happened next was an expensive lesson, indeed!


You were happy and relaxed as everything went so well and the breakfast was so tasty. However, this phase of post-gig fun almost ended up, unexpectedly, when you saw your vehicle wide open. OMG! A lot of gears were missing, including your super-pricey guitar!!! Didn't you lock the car? Well, you may have locked it, but the miscreants know how to by-pass it. No wonder thousands of musical instrument thefts are reported every year.

Get the right insurance coverage!

To ensure that your investments are safe from such uncertainties, instrument-specific insurance policies, such as Guitar Insurance, piccolo insurance, violin insurance, among others, make the best resort.

Incidences of gear theft and loss or damage are some of the most common stories that musicians discuss among themselves. Sometimes, these cases are so deep-impacting that can lead you to the doors of financial and professional setbacks. This is where standalone musical instrument insurance comes into play to safeguard your profession and hard-earned money.

Stay insured, rest assured!

With adequate musical instrument insurance cover and the guidance of a well-known and reliable insurance provider, the picture after a loss or damage is completely the other way round. With sufficient protection from theft, loss, and damage, easy claim settlement, and impeccable customer service, you can rest assured.

You might be wondering that there are tons of different types of plans and hundreds of insurance providers in the market. So, how can you make the best pick? Right?

Don't worry, we have got your back covered.

Reading through this blog will help you choose the right insurance policy as well as an insurance provider.

The right policy comes with the right insurer!

One of the most important things we often miss out on is - you can always find the right protection plan for your gears. However, finding the most suitable insurance provider could be a challenge in itself.

Until and unless your insurer is good, no matter how much cover a policy promises, you will not find peace of mind. Therefore, apart from looking for, say, the best Guitar Insurance plan, you should also focus on finding an insurance service provider that worths its salts.

Insurance provider - what qualities should you look for?

Allows policy customization

Different people have different priorities when it comes to protecting their musical instruments. Therefore, a customer-oriented insurance provider always makes sure that the expectations and requirements of its customers are successfully met, every time. And to ensure that same, they offer policy customization options. This option will help you tailor your policy according to your needs.

Covers you regardless of your profession

A person or people who own musical instruments is somehow connected to the world of music. However, their proficiency levels might be different. Some can be beginners or amateur artists, while others can be professionals or touring artists. Some might give guitar lessons, while some can be music shops or recording studio owners. A reliable insurance service provider understands that anyone who owns musical instruments needs insurance. Therefore, they cover almost all professions related to music and musical instruments.

Offers range and affordability

If you are wondering about the cost of premiums because you have heard being said that instrument-specific plans are expensive, you can take a sigh of relief. The reason - customer-friendly insurance companies offer affordable premiums.

Offers seamless customer services

Are you buying a standalone policy for gear for the first time? Do you have any doubts in your mind? A good insurance company will help you through the entire process of buying a plan in a step-by-step manner. It will make your policy purchase easy and hassle-free.

The bottom-line

Read customer reviews, look for word-of-mouth recommendations, and choose the right insurance provider and policy to stay protected.

 


Monday, 26 October 2020

What Type Of Studio Cover You Need?

 

Music, be it a source of livelihood or passion, needs you to be devoted to it. However, do you know what is common in both scenarios - being a pro and just-a-hobbyist? Your musical instruments. Isn’t it? And, in case you own a music recording studio, then your belongings go way beyond only musical instruments. Then you have to take care of an entire facility that houses recording gears, musical equipment, woodwinds, strings, keyboards, mixing desk, mic, sound system, and what-not. Right? Is your music recording studio safe from the unforeseen perils? Do you have enough Studio Cover?

 


Your studio. Your Investment. Protect it wisely


If you play musical instruments or record music on a professional level, needless to mention, but there is a lot of time, money, and effort involved. Even if you have a tiny home studio, it can contain several thousands of investments that you have done over the years. While you would never want to think of the ugly consequences of mishaps that can break your business, no one actually does. Disasters do strike. Therefore, it makes sense to secure your investments from all possible uncertainties that life can pour on you cold-heartedly. But how can you do that? With the help of a padlock? Well, not exactly a padlock, but kind of. You can secure your recording studio by getting a standalone studio coverage for your den.

 

Why not your home insurance?

 

When it comes to insurance policies, these are all about covering risks. So, an insurance service provider should be capable of understanding the range of risks you, the policyholder, can come across. If they do not understand the same, they will not be able to cover you properly.

So, now come to the main point, why not your home insurance? It is because such insurance plans are fabricated to protect the perils that your home's building can face, not to protect the home studio that you use commercially. Yes, your home insurance policy can cover your musical instruments up to some extent in some cases. However, that extent is very less likely to help you.

 

What type of cover do you need?


Now let's find out the type of covers you can choose from. Understanding it will help you choose the right policy for your recording studio.

With a customer-friendly insurance service provider, you are likely to avail the following features and coverage options. Take a look -

All-risk cover - It ensures that your music recording studio and its content is safe from all possible risks. It includes - fire, flood, rainfall, theft, robbery, and thunderstorm among others.

Worldwide cover - Being a professional musician means traveling would always be there on the cards. Right? Having this cover ensures that your gears and equipment and your finances are safe, no matter where you go.

Third-party liability - It is one of the most important covers that you should never ever ignore. It protects you from a number of financial hassles, including - lawsuits, paying for medical bills for someone else, and so on. What happens is - if any other person or his or her property is damaged or lost because of your musical instrument, you are likely to be liable for the situation. Therefore, you will have to take care of all the expenses. However, when you have the third-party cover, your insurance provider will take care of everything and you will not have to shell out even a single penny.

Borrowed instrument cover - In case you have borrowed a piece of musical equipment and it is damaged or stolen, then also some musical insurance policies ensure coverage. However, the terms and conditions might vary from one service provider to the other. So, it would be wise to seek assistance from your insurance provider and clear your doubts in the first place.

So, these are some of the many features that you are likely to get with your Studio Cover. Why wait? Get your plan now!