Important Changes to Fire Insurance (June 08)
Hey, your local friendly policy reader has found some changes to the way fire insurance is issued.
If you work with fire of any form in your act, or even casually passing lit equipment to a performer or extinguishing it then you NEED insurance!
Venues require it by law, even if they don't ask you directly and no matter how long it's put off, you only need one slight accident and POOF big nasty bill coming your way...
Anyway, off my soapbox...
The changes are:
When applying for fire insurance through First Act (the insurers who work with Equity) you are half subsidised by Equity making it only £25 for the fire top up policy.
However, you need to prove you are a safe performer with risk assessments, fire safety equipment and the like.
You also must have been practising fire for 2 years and have recent non-fire performance experience to prove you are capable of dealing with crowds etc.
Really, if you are performing fire on stage you should have been practising for about a year anyway but it seems First Act have had a few claims recently from not so professional performers and are tightening the loopholes.
So... in conclusion practice practice and be safe and please make it easier on yourself by following procedure.
Be warned, Equity do send out representatives to events to ensure you are working safely on a spot check basis and if you are found working without fire insurance and are regular equity they will black list you.
If Equity doesn't scare you into behaving, the police check much more often and will confiscate your kit if they think you are acting illegaly.
In words of a prime time chat host
Take care of yourselves... and each other...
xx
p.s The changes outlined above are related to UK Equity. You can also get insurance from Country Mutual but it is very very expensive, won't cover teaching and is only up to £2million. Most theatres request policies up to £5million. One off event insurance is also available from CM but do this at least one month before the event.
Last edited by Amelie Soleil; 06-06-2008 at 12:29 PM.
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