Every year, over 40 million lawsuits are filed in America for many reasons. Any business can be sued by customers, partners, employees, and investors. The same applies to organizations that plan special events. It’s best to learn available insurance options and tailor a plan specifically for your event.
How Can the RMS Insurance Hospitality Program Assist You?
RMS Insurance provides comprehensive insurance to hotels and nightclubs with its hospitality insurance program. It’s designed to cover your wide range of needs, from liquor liability coverage to assault and battery coverage. We work with food vendors, entertainment centers, and valet parking lots. Essentially, any business that deals with crowds should look into this program.
Invest in Event Insurance
It’s best to discuss your event with an insurance expert to help identify your event insurance options. Will there be food, drinks, and entertainment? If you plan on a crowd of hundreds of people showing up, you should be aware of the various risks involved. Just like at a bar, an event that serves alcohol runs the risk of dealing with intoxicated people who may cause harm to others.
Other problems that may occur at a public event include equipment getting damaged by vandals or a natural disaster. It’s best to envision other fiascos that can occur at your event and prepare for them with the right insurance.
Conduct a Comprehensive Risk Assessment Audit
It’s best to conduct an audit that reveals the various health, safety, and security hazards that might be involved in your event. A risk assessment may include assessing venue issues, environmental concerns, staff background checks, and how safe the neighborhood is. This audit can further help you develop an emergency plan for when a disaster unfolds.
Get the Necessary Permits
Anytime you conduct an outdoor public event, such as a concert, you’ll likely need to get permits from your local government. There are a variety of permits that you may need, depending on the jurisdiction. Many counties and cities now require a “noise permit” to have an outdoor concert or event with a sound system. You may also need a permit if your event involves alcohol, fire, and fireworks. If you fail to get the proper permits, it can lead to costly fines.
Establish the Terms of Service Agreement
You will need to establish a Terms of Service agreement that serves as a legal contract with the venue owner or other event vendors. This contract lays out how the event is governed and states the roles and responsibilities of participants. Such an agreement is needed to unify all the participants to operate under the same rules. This contract may involve tax issues and event cancelation terms.
Avoid Intellectual Property Disputes
If you plan on showcasing art, music, videos, or other copyrighted works at your event, you may need permission from the copyright owners. A public venue such as a nightclub typically pays for music licensing, but an organizer may need to pay fees if it rents a venue to throw a public event. Private events, however, usually don’t require licensing or permission.
Guard Against Discrimination
New laws in recent decades have discouraged discrimination against persons based on gender, race, sexual orientation, and disabilities. Make sure your inclusive event facilitates handicapped people in wheelchairs. It should allow blind people to be accompanied by service dogs. There should also be plenty of signage to help people with impaired hearing.
Whether you are organizing a small party or large community event, it’s best to be prepared with the right type of event insurance in place. When you talk with an insurance expert, you can get immediate answers to your questions about risks and coverage. Contact us at RMS Insurance Brokerage, LLC for more information on protecting your financial interests in organizing events.