FAQs

Showtime is a bespoke insurance policy designed for the Performing Arts sector, created by industry specialist brokers and underwritten by insurers who understand your industry.

Showtime has been designed to cater for the needs of each element of the performing arts sector, from individual performers to live performance venues.

That includes but is not limited too:

• Theatre groups, production companies, workshops and schools
• Circus groups, production companies, workshops and schools
• Dance troupes, production companies, dance workshops and schools
• Musicians, bands and orchestras
• Concert production companies
• Orchestral productions
• Variety acts
• Historical re-enactment groups
• Cruise ships entertainers
• Recording studios
• Rehearsal rooms
• Disc Jockeys

The Showtime policy is a modular one, which means you can opt in for the sections of cover that you are legally / contractually obliged to purchase, along with any additional cover of interest to you, should your budget allow.

There are no compulsory sections of cover but some sections are only available in conjunction with other sections.

The available sections of cover are:

• Public & Products Liability
• Employers Liability*
• Props, Sets and Costume
• Musical Instruments
• Technical & Portable Equipment
• Business Contents
• Equipment Breakdown*
• Buildings Insurance
• Business Interruption
• Terrorism
• BusinessHR

*these covers cannot be purchased standalone

Download a copy of the Policy Wording or Key Facts Policy Summary.

If you require an additional policy, just let us know.

We can provide additional no obligation quotations for your review and consideration, the most common covers we provide (in addition to the above) are:

• Business Travel Insurance
• Cancellation & Abandonment Insurance
• Medical Expenses Insurance
• Trustees Indemnity Insurance
• Directors & Officers Liability
• Professional Indemnity Insurance
• Legal Expenses Insurance
• Media Freelance Insurance
• Artists Insurance
• Creative Freelance Insurance

Yes.

The use of fire or pyrotechnics needs to be disclosed to the insurer, so you must have told us about it, and an additional premium may be charged.

In addition, you would need to comply with the Fire & Pyrotechnics Policy Conditions – click here to review this, kindly noting if you are unable to comply, cover will not be effective.

Yes.

Performances or other work, such as rigging, that take place more than 3 metres above ground level (floor level when inside a building) needs to be disclosed to the insurer, so for cover to apply you must have told us about it. An additional premium may be charged.

We can consider non performing arts related activities upon request provided that performing arts form the majority of what you do.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

We would not be able to provide quotations under Showtime Performing Arts Insurance for any of the following activities:

• Adult (erotic) entertainment
• Stage hypnotists
• Rigging and crew as a separate trade
• Scenery and set builders as a separate trade
• Special effects or pyrotechnics as a separate trade
• Television broadcasters
• Night club event organisers / promoters

Although the above trades are not eligible for the Showtime Performing Arts Insurance policy, we may be able to assist by arranging appropriate cover with alternative products / providers so do give us a call on: 020 8686 5050 and speak to one of our specialists today.

Yes, cover can be purchased either annually or for a one-off performance or a scheduled tour of performances.

If your situation changes during the course of the policy, please let us know.

If they are working under your instruction, supervision and/or control then yes.

Employers Liability Insurance is a legally compulsory insurance that all employers must purchase to cover themselves against claims brought against them by their ‘employees’ following an accident connected to their employment. The legislation governing this is the Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.

However who is regarded as an ‘employee’ under the act is wider than just someone working for you under a contract of employment or someone for whom you deduct PAYE income tax and the definition of an ‘employee’ within insurance policies reflect this. The definition used within the Showtime Performing Arts Insurance policy is:

Any person normally resident in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland working for you in connection with your business who is:

a. employed by you under a contract of service or apprenticeship;
b. hired to or borrowed by you;
c. self-employed and working on a labour-only basis under your control or supervision;
d. engaged by labour-only sub-contractors;
e. a labour master or a person supplied by him;
f. engaged under a work experience or training scheme;
g. a voluntary helper.

Further guidance on Employers Liability can be found on the HSE website: hse.gov.uk.

The Showtime Performing Arts Insurance policy is underwritten by Hiscox Insurance Company Ltd.

Hiscox are a globally respected insurance and reinsurance group with a long history and expertise in providing specialist insurance products. They have an annual premium income in excess of £1.75bn and are rated A+ (Strong) by Fitch, A (Excellent) by A.M. Best and A (Strong) by Standard & Poor.

Claims service is the heart of their business and their claims philosophy is that superior claims handling should be based on fairness and common sense. They are committed to providing an extraordinary quality of service and have won numerous awards for such down the years.

More information about Hiscox can be found on their website: www.hiscoxgroup.com.

Quotations can be obtained online by clicking here, or by calling us on: 020 8686 5050, lines are open 9am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.