Disc jockey (DJ) insurance refers to any policy that protects professional DJs from business losses related to claims. Depending on the carrier, DJ liability insurance typically costs $180 to $740 annually for general liability. However, most DJs can expect to pay in the lower price range for the average for DJ insurance.
Key Takeaways
- DJs need insurance to protect their financial assets and keep the business running if someone claims damage or harm from the business.
- If you have equipment, then you can purchase DJ insurance to protect it.
- General liability insurance for a DJ isn’t very expensive, with most plans costing between $15 and $20 a month.
How DJ Insurance Works
DJs, video jockeys (VJs), and karaoke jockeys (KJs) need insurance because the nature of their work and frequent travel from one event to another increase the risk. This risk manifests in the form of a claim against your business—either from a third party claiming bodily injury or property damage, a financial loss due to unmet expectations, or a claim for damages sustained to your own business property during travel.
Insurance for DJs provides multiple types of protection for your business. For example, if your mixing board is stolen and you have inland marine insurance for it, then you can file a claim for this loss. If a client alleges you ruined their wedding by not playing the contractually agreed-upon playlist, then you can file a claim to let your carrier handle the investigation and resolution of the situation.
DJ Insurance Claim Examples
Let’s say you aren’t paying attention and overload an outlet at a venue, blowing a fuse. If some of the venue’s electrical items are damaged, then this would prompt a general liability claim for the property damage. In the same scenario, if a patron at the event trips and falls in the dark and is injured, general liability would help with their medical bills.
Another type of insurance claim a DJ could face involves your equipment. If your laptop, speakers, and cables are all damaged in a fire, then you can file a claim on your property policy to handle the costs involved with repairing or replacing your equipment.
DJ Insurance Costs
DJ insurance costs can vary depending on the value of the equipment, the venue where you are performing, and how many events you book a year. Some DJs need insurance year-round, while others only need it for special events. Some insurers offer short-term policies for such instances—these are referred to as special event insurance coverage or short-term liability insurance.
Insurance Policy | Coverage Amount | Estimated Annual Premium | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
General Liability | $1 million per occurrence $2 million aggregate | $190-$740 | N/A |
Commercial Property | $10,000 | $400-$550 | $500 |
Professional Liability | $1 million per occurrence $2 million aggregate | $350-$600 | $1,000 |
Workers’ Comp | $100,000 per accident $500,000 per policy $100,000 per employee | $500-$1,200 | N/A |
The estimated premiums listed above are averages for solopreneurs and might increase for DJs who:
- Want property coverage for their equipment in transit and at venues
- Need higher limits
- Incorporate light shows, fireworks, or other performers into their acts
- Book gigs in nightclubs and bars
- Have shows that run past 2 a.m.
- Play to larger crowds
Many insurers offer a business owner’s policy (BOP) to help simplify the insurance process and offer some potential savings. A BOP is a combination of general liability and commercial property insurance in a single policy.
Pro Tip: Unless you have a dedicated vehicle for your DJ business, you probably do not need a commercial auto policy. For instance, driving to a DJ gig is no different from a morning commute to work. However, it is always a good idea to discuss the finer details of your business with your insurance agent or provider to find out your exact auto insurance requirements.
DJ Insurance Coverages
DJs typically only need general liability insurance and inland marine insurance. However, depending on the size of your business, there are some other DJ insurance coverages that should be considered. These are as follows:
- General liability: For third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury
- Commercial property: For business property, such as office and furniture
- Inland marine insurance: For equipment and tools that travel around with you
- Workers’ compensation: For medical bills and lost wages due to work-related injury or illness
General liability insurance is a third-party liability policy that covers claims that someone was injured or their property was damaged because of your negligence. General liability policies typically cover unintentional copyright infringement—yet another reason this coverage is so important to DJs. Check with your agent about the specific details of this coverage.
General liability is important coverage for DJs. Some venues, especially for weddings or more expensive parties, will request a certificate of insurance (COI) before a DJ can play an event—and the proof of coverage a business usually looks for is general liability.
Commercial property insurance provides first-party coverage for the workspaces your business owns and all the items within them. Coverage usually is limited to the listed location on the policy and restricted to the named perils, like theft or fire. If you own a dedicated space for your DJ business, then this is essential coverage for you.
DJs may not need commercial property insurance if they:
- Rent their equipment: Rented equipment is typically excluded from commercial property insurance.
- Rent business space: If you rent space, general liability usually covers damage to rented premises and locations.
- Work out of their home: A standalone commercial property policy may be too much coverage for a home-based DJ business, but you still need home-based business insurance because many homeowner’s policies don’t cover businesses that operate out of your home.
Coverage for equipment breakdown is often offered as an endorsement of commercial property insurance. This endorsement helps cover you if your electronic equipment has a sudden malfunction or if a loss occurs outside of the normally named perils.
Inland marine insurance is an important policy for DJs who own expensive equipment and transport it to different venues. This is a type of first-party property insurance that covers items regardless of where the loss occurs.
So, if your equipment is damaged while in transit or off-site at a gig, then inland marine insurance can provide the necessary coverage for you. DJs don’t need this if they contract with venues that have their own equipment.
While it is unlikely a DJ will need professional liability coverage, it is important to be aware of it. This insurance, commonly referred to as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, helps your business if a client claims they experienced a financial loss because of your service.
Coverage can include, for instance, a customer’s allegations that your business made a mistake or failed to deliver on a promised service. Depending on the types of shows your DJ business serves, or if contracts are involved, this is an important coverage for DJs to consider.
Because workers’ comp is required in nearly every state, I decided to include it in the list of important DJ insurance coverage. Unless you own an entertainment company with multiple DJs, this will most likely not be needed. However, some states require you to carry it even if you have only one employee, including self-employed business owners.
This policy pays medical bills and lost wages for work-related injuries or illnesses. If you are a DJ, it is important to review your specific state guidelines for workers’ comp to find out if you need this coverage.
Even if it isn’t required, it’s beneficial in some situations to carry workers’ comp even if you are self-employed. Read our guide on workers’ comp insurance for self-employed workers to learn if it makes sense for you and how much it costs. It also lists the best providers so that you can find one that fits the bill.
How to Buy Insurance for DJ
Buying insurance isn’t difficult; it’s simply a matter of finding a method that works best for your business. You can purchase insurance through a provider, an agent, or a broker.
- Provider: Many of the best DJ insurance companies will make it possible to purchase coverage from them directly, either online or over the phone. Usually, the cost will be a little less because there are no agent fees involved. However, if you go this route, you will not be able to compare the costs at all.
- Agent: Another viable option is to go through an agent. Agents can either work directly for a carrier or be independent and work on behalf of many carriers. Typically, an agent will review your needs and then refer you to whatever company it thinks is best for you.
- Broker: Finally, you can work with a broker. A broker works on behalf of the customer and usually can get you multiple quotes from different DJ insurance companies. This is a good way to go if you want to save some money on your premium without sacrificing coverage.
DJ Insurance Costs & Feedback on Reddit
I reviewed several different Reddit threads discussing DJ insurance to make sure the costs were in line with what others were paying. Most of the Redditors across the threads state that insurance will be around $500 a year. This line is within what I have found in my own research and in getting sample quotes to double-check the pricing.
Interestingly, there is quite a lot of debate on Reddit on whether you need to purchase DJ insurance or not. Fortunately, enough voices remind others that all it takes is a single person to trip on a cable and fall at a DJ event to jeopardize the business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About DJ Insurance
Because all it takes is for one person to trip on a cable to jeopardize your entire business. So you should start looking into DJ insurance and its coverage. DJ insurance protects your business, as well as potentially your personal assets, by paying to investigate, defend, and, if necessary, settle claims against your business.
DJ insurance costs will vary depending on claims history, equipment, and the size of your operation. The average cost for general liability insurance for a solo DJ is between $15 and $61 per month.
There is no national or state law requiring DJ insurance. However, venues will likely request proof of insurance before letting you work there. It is a good business decision to purchase the coverage needed to protect your business.
In all likelihood, this is not the coverage you really need. If you continually use contracts that, if violated, could cause financial harm to the other party, then you should talk to an agent about professional liability. But since this is a service coverage that you need for financial harm caused by your service, it probably isn’t necessary for DJs.
Bottom Line
Disc jockey insurance is a policy or combination of policies that cover the equipment you use and any other assets by resolving liability claims against the business. Often, by purchasing insurance, DJs are not only protecting themselves, but they are also meeting the contractual requirements set by many venues. But you don’t want to have to think about that—you just want to put that record on and keep the tunes coming. Purchasing insurance is a way to not worry about what may go wrong.
Next Insurance makes it easy for DJs to get insurance. Get a free, no-obligation quote to get insured today!
