DJ-DISC-JOCKEY-INSURANCE - Kelly Insurance Group

CORE COVERAGE & INDUSTRY BASICS

PURPOSE‑BUILT COVERAGE FOR DJS AND MOBILE DJS. YOUR GENERAL LIABILITY (GL) RESPONDS TO THIRD‑PARTY BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE YOU MAY LEGALLY OWE — THINK TRIP‑AND‑FALLS ON CABLES, A SPEAKER STAND THAT TIPS, OR ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE TO A VENUE’S FLOORING. WE TAILOR LIMITS, ENDORSEMENTS, AND CERTIFICATES TO MATCH VENUE CONTRACTS.

WHAT GL USUALLY INCLUDES

GENERAL LIABILITY — OCCURRENCE FORM WITH $1M PER OCCURRENCE / $2M AGGREGATE OPTIONS.
VENUE‑READY CERTIFICATES — ADDITIONAL INSUREDS, PRIMARY & NON‑CONTRIBUTORY, WAIVER OF SUBROGATION WHEN REQUIRED.
MEDICAL PAYMENTS — NO‑FAULT MED PAY (TYPICALLY $5K–$10K) FOR MINOR INJURIES.
PRODUCTS/COMPLETED OPS — COVERAGE FOR LIABILITY ARISING FROM YOUR OPERATIONS AFTER SETUP/TEARDOWN.

OPTIONAL / COMPLEMENTARY

EQUIPMENT (INLAND MARINE) — REPLACEMENT COST FOR GEAR; THEFT AND IN‑TRANSIT OPTIONS.
HIRED & NON‑OWNED AUTO (HNOA) — IF YOU RENT VANS OR HAVE HELPERS DRIVE PERSONAL VEHICLES FOR WORK ERRANDS.
HOST LIQUOR — IF YOU’RE NAMED IN AN EVENT WHERE ALCOHOL IS PROVIDED BUT NOT SOLD BY YOU.
CYBER/MEDIA — FOR PROMO CONTENT, STREAMS, OR SMALL BUSINESS DATA RISKS.

NOTE: INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER INTENTIONAL ACTS, CONTRACTUAL GUARANTEES, OR YOUR OWN BODILY INJURY. WE’LL ALIGN COVERAGE TO YOUR VENUES, CROWD SIZE, MUSIC GENRE, AND ANNUAL EVENT COUNT.

SHORT‑TERM & ONE‑DAY DJ INSURANCE

NEED COVERAGE FOR TONIGHT, THIS WEEKEND, OR A SINGLE FESTIVAL? SHORT‑TERM POLICIES DELIVER PROOF OF INSURANCE FAST — OFTEN WITH INSTANT CERTIFICATES ONCE YOU’RE BOUND.

POPULAR FORMATS

24‑HOUR / ONE‑DAY — PERFECT FOR SINGLE GIGS OR WEDDINGS.
DAILY / MULTI‑DAY — BACK‑TO‑BACK NIGHTS UNDER ONE POLICY PERIOD.
BY‑THE‑HOUR — AVAILABLE IN SELECT PROGRAMS AND STATES.
SINGLE EVENT — NAMED DATE, NAMED VENUE, EASY TO ADD INSUREDS.

WHAT TO EXPECT

COI SPEED — WE CAN ISSUE VENUE‑SPECIFIC CERTIFICATES QUICKLY AFTER BIND.
COST — OFTEN LOWER THAN MONTHLY IF YOU PERFORM INFREQUENTLY.
LIMITS — TYPICALLY $1M PER OCCURRENCE; HIGHER LIMITS MAY BE AVAILABLE.
ADD‑ONS — EQUIPMENT AND HNOA CAN BE ATTACHED WHEN ELIGIBLE.

TIP: IF YOU GIG 2–3+ TIMES PER MONTH, A MONTHLY OR ANNUAL PLAN CAN BE MORE COST‑EFFECTIVE OVER THE SEASON.

COST & PRICING

PRICING VARIES BY STATE, LIMITS, VENUE TYPE, AND CLAIMS HISTORY. BELOW ARE TYPICAL RANGES TO HELP YOU PLAN — THEY ARE EXAMPLES, NOT QUOTES.

COMMON RANGES (EXAMPLES)

ONE‑DAY GL ($1M/$2M): OFTEN UNDER $200 FOR LOW‑RISK INDOOR EVENTS.
MONTHLY GL: FREQUENTLY $20–$60/MO DEPENDING ON FREQUENCY & LIMITS.
EQUIPMENT (RCV): ROUGHLY 1–3% OF SCHEDULED VALUE/YR, MINIMUM PREMIUMS APPLY.

WHAT MOVES THE NEEDLE

LIMITS & ENDORSEMENTS (E.G., WAIVERS, PRIMARY/NON‑CONTRIB.).
VENUE CLASS (BALLROOM VS. OUTDOOR FESTIVAL).
CROWD SIZE AND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.
LOSS HISTORY & PRIOR INSURANCE.

WE’LL PRICE SHORT‑TERM VS. MONTHLY SIDE‑BY‑SIDE SO YOU CAN PICK THE MOST EFFICIENT OPTION.

EQUIPMENT & PROPERTY PROTECTION

YOUR GEAR IS YOUR BUSINESS. INLAND MARINE (AKA EQUIPMENT COVERAGE) CAN INSURE SCHEDULED ITEMS ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. — VENUES, STORAGE UNITS, AND WHILE IN TRANSIT.

EXAMPLES OF INSURED GEAR

CONTROLLERS, MIXERS, TURNTABLES, CDJS
PA SPEAKERS, SUBS, MONITORS
MICROPHONES, STANDS, CABLES, CASES
LIGHTING RIGS, TRUSS, CANOPIES
LAPTOPS AND RECORDING ACCESSORIES

KEY FEATURES

THEFT COVERAGE — SUBJECT TO SECURITY REQUIREMENTS (LOCKED VEHICLES/PREMISES).
IN‑TRANSIT & WORLDWIDE OPTIONS (PROGRAM‑SPECIFIC).
REPLACEMENT COST OR AGREED VALUE WHERE AVAILABLE.
LOW DEDUCTIBLE CHOICES BALANCED AGAINST RATE.

CLAIMS TIP: KEEP SERIAL NUMBERS, RECEIPTS, AND PHOTOS ON FILE. AFTER A LOSS, FILE A POLICE REPORT PROMPTLY FOR THEFT CLAIMS.

BUSINESS STRUCTURE & LLC

OPERATE AS A SOLE PROP OR LLC? WE’LL ISSUE THE POLICY TO MATCH YOUR LEGAL ENTITY AND CONTRACTS.

SELF VS. LLC: POLICIES CAN NAME YOU AND/OR YOUR LLC. VENUES OFTEN PREFER YOUR BUSINESS NAME ON THE CERTIFICATE.
TAX DEDUCTIBILITY: GL PREMIUMS ARE GENERALLY A BUSINESS EXPENSE — ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR TAX PRO.
LICENSES & PERMITS: CITY/COUNTY RULES VARY; INSURANCE ≠ A PERFORMANCE LICENSE.
COPYRIGHT/PRO LICENSING: ASCAP/BMI COVER THE VENUE/ORGANIZER IN MANY CASES — REQUIREMENTS VARY BY AGREEMENT.

EVENT‑SPECIFIC COVERAGE

FROM WEDDINGS TO CORPORATE SHOWS, CONTRACTS OFTEN REQUIRE SPECIFIC WORDING. WE BUILD YOUR CERTIFICATES TO MATCH.

WEDDINGS & PRIVATE EVENTS: OFTEN REQUIRE $1M PER OCCURRENCE AND ADDITIONAL INSURED.
CORPORATE & FESTIVALS: MAY REQUIRE HIGHER LIMITS, PRIMARY/NON‑CONTRIB., AND WAIVERS.
VENDORS & PLANNERS: EASILY ADD MULTIPLE ENTITIES AS ADDITIONAL INSUREDS.

PRO MOVE: SEND US THE VENUE’S INSURANCE RIDER EARLY. WE’LL MIRROR THE LANGUAGE SO YOUR COI IS APPROVED FIRST PASS.

QUOTES & FAST PROCESS

3 SIMPLE STEPS. MOST QUOTES TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES OF INFO.

SHARE DETAILS: DATES, VENUE(S), CROWD SIZE, LIMITS, ANY SPECIAL WORDING.
CHOOSE PLAN: ONE‑DAY, MULTI‑DAY, MONTHLY; ADD EQUIPMENT OR HNOA IF NEEDED.
RECEIVE COI: DIGITAL CERTIFICATE, EASY ADDITIONAL INSUREDS, RUSH OPTIONS.

READY? REQUEST A QUOTE OR CALL 412‑325‑1650

COMPARISONS & ADD‑ON COVERAGES

COMMON ADD‑ONS

HOST LIQUOR: IF YOU’RE NAMED IN A CLAIM WHERE ALCOHOL WAS SERVED (NOT SOLD BY YOU).
HNOA: LIABILITY WHEN USING NON‑OWNED OR RENTED VEHICLES FOR BUSINESS ERRANDS.
CYBER/MEDIA: BRAND/CONTENT RISKS, SMALL DATA EXPOSURES.

COMPARE AT A GLANCE

ONE‑DAY VS MONTHLY: FEW GIGS = ONE‑DAY; REGULAR GIGS = MONTHLY/ANNUAL VALUE.
PUBLIC LIABILITY VS GL: OFTEN THE SAME CONCEPT, DIFFERENT TERMINOLOGY BY REGION.
EQUIPMENT ADD‑ON VS STAND‑ALONE: WE’LL PRICE BOTH IF YOU CARRY HIGH‑VALUE GEAR.

DJ INSURANCE FAQS

CLICK A QUESTION BELOW TO REVEAL THE ANSWER.

HOW MUCH IS INSURANCE FOR A DJ?

ONE‑DAY GL FOR LOW‑RISK INDOOR EVENTS IS OFTEN UNDER $200. MONTHLY OPTIONS CAN START AROUND $20–$60/MO DEPENDING ON STATE, LIMITS, AND FREQUENCY. THESE ARE EXAMPLES, NOT QUOTES.

HOW MUCH IS A $1,000,000 GENERAL LIABILITY POLICY?

FOR SINGLE EVENTS, $1M/$2M LIMITS ARE COMMON AND TYPICALLY PRICED BELOW $200 FOR LOW‑RISK VENUES. ANNUAL/MONTHLY PROGRAMS PRICE BY FREQUENCY, VENUE TYPE, AND CLAIMS HISTORY.

CAN I GET SHORT‑TERM DJ INSURANCE?

YES — 24‑HOUR, ONE‑DAY, OR MULTI‑DAY POLICIES ARE AVAILABLE. SOME PROGRAMS OFFER BY‑THE‑HOUR COVERAGE. CERTIFICATES CAN BE ISSUED QUICKLY AFTER BIND.

ARE DJS LICENSED AND INSURED?

LICENSING VARIES BY CITY/COUNTY. INSURANCE IS NOT A LICENSE BUT MANY VENUES REQUIRE PROOF OF GL WITH SPECIFIC WORDING. WE PROVIDE VENUE‑READY COIs.

WHAT INSURANCE DO I NEED AS A DJ?

START WITH GENERAL LIABILITY. CONSIDER EQUIPMENT (INLAND MARINE), HOST LIQUOR (IF NAMED IN EVENTS WITH ALCOHOL), AND HNOA IF YOU RENT/BORROW VEHICLES FOR GIGS.

WHAT IS A REASONABLE PRICE FOR A DJ?

RATES VARY WIDELY BY MARKET, EXPERIENCE, AND PRODUCTION. MANY PRIVATE EVENTS FALL BETWEEN $100–$250/HR; 5‑HOUR FLAT RATES ARE COMMON. YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY.

HOW MUCH IS INSURANCE FOR AN LLC?

SIMILAR TO PERSONAL NAME PRICING; THE BIGGER VARIABLE IS YOUR OPERATIONS (VENUES, CROWD SIZE, FREQUENCY), LIMITS, AND CLAIMS HISTORY. WE’LL QUOTE BOTH WAYS IF NEEDED.

HOW MUCH IS $300,000 LIABILITY INSURANCE?

LOWER LIMITS CAN SAVE SOME PREMIUM, BUT MANY VENUES REQUIRE $1M. WE’LL PRICE BOTH SO YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT MEETS CONTRACTS AND BUDGET.

DO I NEED BUSINESS INSURANCE IF I HAVE AN LLC?

YES. AN LLC SEPARATES PERSONAL AND BUSINESS ASSETS, BUT DOESN’T REPLACE LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIRED BY VENUES OR CLIENTS.

DOES A DJ NEED INSURANCE?

IF YOU PERFORM PUBLICLY OR UNDER CONTRACT, YES. VENUES ALMOST ALWAYS REQUIRE PROOF OF GL WITH ADDITIONAL INSURED STATUS.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A DJ’S GEAR IS STOLEN?

IF YOU CARRY EQUIPMENT COVERAGE, THEFT CAN BE COVERED SUBJECT TO SECURITY TERMS AND DEDUCTIBLE. FILE A POLICE REPORT PROMPTLY AND DOCUMENT SERIAL NUMBERS.

WHAT ARE COMMON DJ INSURANCE CLAIMS?

TRIP‑AND‑FALLS ON CABLES, SPEAKER/STRUCTURE TIP‑OVERS, MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO VENUES, AND THEFT OR DAMAGE TO GEAR.

DO DJS NEED AN LLC?

NOT REQUIRED, BUT MANY DJS FORM LLCS FOR BRANDING, CONTRACTING, AND LIABILITY SEGREGATION. WE CAN INSURE YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR YOUR LLC.

HOW MUCH DOES DJ INSURANCE COST?

SEE COST SECTION — ONE‑DAY OFTEN UNDER $200; MONTHLY OFTEN $20–$60/MO. EQUIPMENT PRICED OFF SCHEDULED VALUES.

IS BEING A DJ SELF‑EMPLOYED?

MOST LOCAL/PRIVATE‑EVENT DJS OPERATE AS SOLE PROPRIETORS OR LLCS — I.E., SELF‑EMPLOYED. SOME WORK AS W‑2 STAFF FOR VENUES OR PRODUCTION COMPANIES.

IS DJ INSURANCE TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

TYPICALLY YES AS A BUSINESS EXPENSE. ALWAYS CONFIRM WITH YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL.

WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO BE A DJ?

NO UNIVERSAL LICENSE — EXPERIENCE, CLIENT REVIEWS, AND PROFESSIONAL OPERATIONS MATTER. SOME CITIES OR VENUES MAY REQUIRE PERMITS OR BACKGROUND CHECKS.

WHAT INFO IS NEEDED FOR A DJ INSURANCE QUOTE?

LEGAL NAME/LLC, CONTACTS, DATES & VENUES, CROWD SIZE, LIMITS REQUESTED, PRIOR INSURANCE/CLAIMS, AND ANY REQUIRED CERTIFICATE WORDING.

IS $100 AN HOUR GOOD FOR A DJ?

ENTRY‑LEVEL OR WEEKDAY GIGS MAY PRICE NEAR $100/HR. PREMIUM EVENTS, HOLIDAYS, OR FULL PRODUCTION PACKAGES COMMAND MORE.

HOW MUCH SHOULD A DJ COST FOR 5 HOURS?

MARKET‑DEPENDENT. MANY PRIVATE EVENTS RANGE $500–$1,500+ FOR A STANDARD 4–5 HOUR BLOCK, EXCLUDING LIGHTING/MC/ADD‑ONS.

DO I NEED TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE DJ?

CHECK YOUR CONTRACT. SOME DJS REQUEST MEALS/WATER FOR LONG EVENTS; IT’S NOT AN INSURANCE REQUIREMENT.

SHOULD I INSURE MYSELF OR MY LLC?

IF YOU OPERATE AS AN LLC, LIST THE LLC AS THE NAMED INSURED AND ADD YOURSELF AS AN OWNER/EXECUTIVE WHERE APPROPRIATE. WE’LL STRUCTURE THE POLICY TO MATCH CONTRACTS.

CAN I GET INSURANCE UNDER MY LLC?

YES. WE REGULARLY ISSUE POLICIES TO LLCS AND CAN ADD DBAS/TRADE NAMES.

HOW MUCH DOES A $1 MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS INSURANCE POLICY COST?

FOR DJS, $1M GL PRICING DEPENDS ON VENUES, FREQUENCY, AND STATE. SINGLE‑EVENT POLICIES ARE OFTEN UNDER $200; MONTHLY/ANNUAL PROGRAMS SCALE WITH USAGE.

WHEN SHOULD AN LLC GET BUSINESS INSURANCE?

AS SOON AS YOU START CONTRACTING OR PERFORMING IN PUBLIC, OR WHEN A VENUE FIRST REQUIRES PROOF OF INSURANCE.

WHAT IS THE $100000 LIMIT OF LIABILITY?

IT’S THE MAX THE POLICY WILL PAY FOR A COVERED CLAIM UNDER THAT SPECIFIC LIMIT. MANY VENUES REQUIRE $1,000,000 PER OCCURRENCE INSTEAD.

IS BUSINESS INSURANCE TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

GENERALLY YES; CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR FOR YOUR SITUATION.

WHAT LICENSE DOES A DJ NEED?

NO UNIVERSAL DJ LICENSE. LOCAL BUSINESS LICENSES OR EVENT PERMITS MAY APPLY. MUSIC PERFORMANCE LICENSING IS OFTEN HANDLED BY THE VENUE.

WHAT CAN A DJ WRITE OFF ON TAXES?

USUALLY EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE/SUBSCRIPTIONS, MARKETING, INSURANCE PREMIUMS, MILEAGE, AND HOME OFFICE (IF QUALIFIED). ASK YOUR CPA.

IS DJ A HIGH PAYING JOB?

TOP‑TIER AND CORPORATE/WEDDING SPECIALISTS CAN EARN MORE, ESPECIALLY WITH PRODUCTION PACKAGES. INCOME VARIES WIDELY BY MARKET.

DO YOU NEED AN LLC TO BE A DJ?

NO, BUT AN LLC CAN HELP WITH CONTRACTING AND LIABILITY SEGREGATION. WE CAN INSURE EITHER WAY.

CAN YOU WRITE OFF MUSIC SUBSCRIPTIONS?

IF USED FOR BUSINESS, YES — TYPICALLY A DEDUCTIBLE EXPENSE. CONFIRM WITH YOUR TAX PRO.

WHAT DOES DJ INSURANCE COVER?

GL COVERS THIRD‑PARTY BODILY INJURY/PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM YOUR OPERATIONS. EQUIPMENT COVERAGE PROTECTS YOUR GEAR AGAINST RISKS LIKE THEFT OR ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE, SUBJECT TO TERMS.

DO VENUES REQUIRE DJS TO HAVE INSURANCE?

ALMOST ALWAYS. MANY ALSO REQUIRE SPECIFIC WORDING: ADDITIONAL INSURED, PRIMARY/NON‑CONTRIB., AND WAIVER OF SUBROGATION.

WHAT DOES A DJ CHARGE PER HOUR?

LOCAL PRIVATE‑EVENT RATES OFTEN $100–$250/HR; PACKAGES (SOUND/LIGHTING/MC) COMMAND MORE.

DO DJS NEED A PERMIT?

SOMETIMES FOR OUTDOOR OR MUNICIPAL EVENTS. CHECK LOCAL RULES AND THE VENUE’S CONTRACT.

HOW TO GET INSURANCE TO COVER DJS?

WHY IS SHORT‑TERM INSURANCE SO CHEAP?

IT COVERS A SHORT WINDOW OF RISK. FREQUENT PERFORMERS USUALLY SAVE WITH MONTHLY/ANNUAL PLANS INSTEAD.

WHAT IS HOST LIQUOR LIABILITY?

PROTECTS A NON‑SELLING HOST NAMED IN AN ALCOHOL‑RELATED CLAIM. IF YOU SELL/SERVE, YOU NEED LIQUOR LIABILITY (SEPARATE).

HOW DOES DJ INSURANCE WORK?

YOU SELECT LIMITS/TERMS, PAY THE PREMIUM, AND RECEIVE A POLICY/COI. IF A COVERED INCIDENT OCCURS, YOU REPORT THE CLAIM AND THE CARRIER ADJUSTS IT UNDER THE POLICY TERMS.

HOW DO I GET MY DJ LICENSE?

MOST PLACES DON’T REQUIRE A SPECIFIC DJ LICENSE. CHECK LOCAL BUSINESS LICENSE RULES AND ANY EVENT PERMITS.

DO DJS NEED AN ASCAP LICENSE?

OFTEN THE VENUE OR EVENT ORGANIZER HOLDS PERFORMANCE LICENSES (ASCAP/BMI). YOUR CONTRACT WILL STATE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.

DO DJS PAY COPYRIGHT?

PUBLIC PERFORMANCE RIGHTS ARE GENERALLY HANDLED BY VENUES/ORGANIZERS. YOU’RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR USING LEGALLY OBTAINED MUSIC.

HOW MUCH IS PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR ARTISTS?

SIMILAR TO DJ GL — PRICED BY RISK, VENUES, CROWD SIZE, AND FREQUENCY. SINGLE‑EVENT POLICIES OFTEN UNDER $200 FOR LOW‑RISK SETUPS.

HOW MUCH IS INSURANCE FOR A MUSIC STUDIO?

STUDIO RISKS INVOLVE PROPERTY/CONTENTS AND LIABILITY; PRICING DEPENDS ON BUILDING CLASS, SECURITY, AND EQUIPMENT VALUES.

CAN I BUY SHORT‑TERM INSURANCE?

YES — ONE‑DAY OR MULTI‑DAY POLICIES ARE AVAILABLE WITH FAST COIs.

WHAT DOES SHORT‑TERM INSURANCE NOT COVER?

IT WON’T COVER NON‑SCHEDULED DATES, INTENTIONAL ACTS, CONTRACTUAL GUARANTEES, OR EXCLUDED HAZARDS. EQUIPMENT ISN’T COVERED UNLESS ADDED.

WHAT IS SHORT TERM INSURANCE FOR DUMMIES?

A SIMPLE POLICY FOR A VERY SPECIFIC DATE/LOCATION/LIMIT — SO YOU CAN MEET VENUE REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT BUYING A FULL YEAR.

HOW MUCH DOES AN ASCAP LICENSE COST?

VARIES BY VENUE TYPE, SIZE, AND USAGE. MANY DJS RELY ON VENUE/ORGANIZER LICENSES; ALWAYS CONFIRM CONTRACTUALLY.

IS ASCAP OR BMI BETTER?

BOTH ARE MAJOR PERFORMANCE RIGHTS ORGS; VENUES OFTEN HOLD BOTH. WHICH IS “BETTER” DEPENDS ON CATALOG/USAGE.

CAN I LICENSE MUSIC I DON'T OWN?

YES — VIA PROS/RIGHTS HOLDERS — BUT FOR MOST GIGS THE VENUE’S PERFORMANCE LICENSE APPLIES. YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEGAL MUSIC SOURCES.

DO I NEED BMI IF I HAVE ASCAP?

VENUES TYPICALLY OBTAIN BOTH TO COVER MORE CATALOGS. INDIVIDUAL DJS RARELY HOLD THEIR OWN PERFORMANCE LICENSES FOR PRIVATE EVENTS.

DOES DISTROKID COPYRIGHT YOUR MUSIC?

DISTRIBUTORS HANDLE DISTRIBUTION, NOT COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION. COPYRIGHT ARISES AT CREATION; FORMAL REGISTRATION PROVIDES EXTRA LEGAL BENEFITS.