Hello performers! This is the eighth edition of the Johnsonese Brokerage Performing Arts Insurance Newsletter. The goal of our quarterly newsletter is to provide useful information about insurance to theatres, musicians and other performing arts groups .
I know that fall is a busy season in the theatre world, but you're never too busy to save money! Give us a call to review your current insurance package to see if we can find some cost savings for you.
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Stage Collapse at Indiana State Fair | |
At the Indiana State Fair this summer a wind gust estimated at 60 to 70 mph toppled the roof and the metal scaffolding holding lights and other equipment for an outdoor stage. The stage collapsed onto a crowd of concert-goers awaiting a show by the country group Sugarland. The tragedy resulted in seven deaths and injuries to dozens more.
A total for 45 claims for injuries and wrongful deaths have already been filed.
Inspectors for the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be looking for any potential structural or design flaws in the stage, among other things. Another emerging issue is whether fair organizers responded quickly enough to forecasts of an approaching storm, especially since a different concert nearby was canceled because of the weather. Just 15 miles north, about 6,700 people attending a performance by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at the same time were evacuated from an amphitheater.
Sugarland's tour manager decided to hold the band backstage. Some others felt it was safe to go on stage, but the tour manager disagreed. She may have saved the lives of the band members.
Unfortunately, this incident is not unique. The Indiana State Fair accident was at least the fourth stage accident since the start of July. In August, wind blew over a lighting rig at a music festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and lightning toppled a stage under assembly near Quebec City. That followed a summer gale that toppled a stage in July at a music festival in Ottawa, Canada, where the band Cheap Trick was performing. Three people were hospitalized. In 2009, another Canadian storm knocked over a stage in Camrose, Alberta, killing one person and injuring about 75. And that same summer, a stage failed at Quebec City comedy festival.
-Chicago Tribune, August 16, 2011
Insurance typically costs more for outdoor performances. This article certainly helps to explain why.
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Theater Closure Costs Shakespeare Company $2.1 million | |
 The closure of a theatre building due to a cracked support beam has cost an Oregon shakespeare festival an estimated $2.1 million in repair costs, lost operating revenues and expenses for erecting a substitute tent theater nearby. Erecting the 598-seat tent to house displaced performances alone cost about $600,000.
Before the tent was completed some performances had to be moved to alternative venues. Refunds or vouchers were given to ticketholders who didn't want to exchange their tickets for the alternate venues or the tent. Additionally, one tent performance had to be canceled because of a power outage. And of course the theatre building had to be repaired--estimated at $500,000.
-Ashland Daily Tidings, July 22, 2011
While the article does not say what insurance coverage the company has, at least three different types of insurance coverage could be involved here. First Property coverage could help pay for repairs to the building (replacing the beam in the main theatre). Business Income coverage could help offset lost income due to the Property claim (ticket refunds and lost sales). Finally, Extra Expense coverage could help cover the additional costs required outside of normal operations (alternative venue rental and tent construction).
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Trucks Threaten Theater Buildings | |
The Wisconsin Union Theater is housed in an art deco building with a wrap-around balcony. The balcony runs right along the street in front of the theater. A redesign of a nearby rail underpass routed more trucks pass the theater.
Despite a sign and warning light, truck drivers keep smashing into the theater's overhanging balcony. The most recent accident exposed steel framing and conduit. There have been at least two crunches this spring and several over the last four years.
The cost of repair can be thousands of dollars. Sometimes the responsible truck driver will report the accident, but most of the time it's not reported and the theater is left with the expense.
-Madison Isthmus, 07/07/2011
Trucks have hit the marquee of San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre three times in the last four months. The front of the marquee is even with the curb, and trucks get too close and end up smashing into the marquee. Another problem is that the street in front of the theater is bowed, so the vehicles sometimes lean sideways into the structure. In the most recent incident, which occurred September 14, neon bulbs were broken and sheet metal at the bottom of the marquee was "bent and pulled out of shape."
Damage to the structure from the most recent truck accident could cost almost $10,000 to fix. The trucking companies' insurance has contributed to repairs in the past, but the theater still ends up paying for some of it. The theater's owners warn that the overhanging structure could eventually collapse.
-Bay Area Reporter, September 29, 2011
The point of including these two news articles is to illustrate how unpredictable potential losses can be. Who would expect truck collisions to be a problem for theater managers? This shows the importance of having a comprehensive insurance package in place to be prepared for the unexpected.
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Tips for the Fall/ Holiday Party Season | |
I'm on the board of a small non-profit in Chicago and we just had a discussion about our annual holiday party. So I guess it's not too early to post these party planning tips.
If you're planning a holiday party that might include alcohol, here are some suggestions to reduce your risk:
- Familiarize yourself with your state's host liquor laws.
- Consider hosting your party at a restaurant or bar that has a liquor license, rather than in your home of office.
- Limit your guest list to people that you know.
- Provide filling food for guests and alternative non-alcoholic beverages.
- Schedule entertainment or activities that do not involve alcohol.
- Arrange transportation or overnight accommodations for those who should not drive.
- Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is scheduled to end.
- Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated.
-Independent Agent Magazine, August 1, 2011
If you rent your space for private parties, you may want to give these tips to your renters as well.
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The Johnsonese Brokerage can assist you with most of your theatre insurance needs. To get started immediately call 773.857.0242 or Email info@johnsonese.com. Thanks for reading our newsletter, Christopher Johnson |
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About the Johnsonese Brokerage |
The Johnsonese Brokerage LLC is a licensed and bonded independent insurance agency focused on insuring the performing arts.
Who we insure:
- Production Companies
- Theatres
- Theatre Companies
- Dance Companies
- Acting Schools
- Concerts
- Musicians
- Light & Sound Companies
- Costume & Props Companies
We are licensed in the states of Arizona, California (license #0H55862), Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. How are we doing? Your feedback is always welcome! |
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Common Insurance Terms
1. Insurance Fraud
Knowingly, and with intent to defraud, providing materially false information to, or concealing a material fact from, an insurance provider
2. Underwriter
An insurance company employee who evaluates risk and sets or approves premiums for clients
3. Civil Authority
Actions by government entities, such as police and fire departments, including curfews, evacutions and restricted access
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New Business Name in California
Effective immediately we are doing business under a new name in California. Due to state insurance regulations, in California we do business as "Johnsonese Insurance Agency LLC"
We provide the same services in California as we do in the other states where we operate as "Johnsonese Brokerage LLC".
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We Appreciate Referrals!
As a service business, referrals are our biggest source of new clients.
If you know of any other business needing insurance, please let us know. We promise to give them the same personal and professional service that you've come to expect from the Johnsonese Brokerage.
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Our Business Partners
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Philadelphia -
Risk Placement Services
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