event insurance woes

[coyote]

I’m president of our local art guild, and we are in the final planning stages of an art walk to be held June 21-22. There will be 6 locations within our little rural community. Someone raised the question of insurance, and though I would be inclined to go ahead without it, the majority of the members thought it was important, so we’re paying about $350 to cover the 2-day event.

As part of the festivities we had planned to have a horse drawn wagon shuttle people between galleries. Everybody loves the idea and we were going to collect $20 per day from each gallery to pay for it. Well, it turns out the carriage lady does not have insurance. The insurance guy says that it would cost way too much to cover the wagon...and she can’t just do it and say it’s not part of the art walk. My board members are saying “gee, that’s too bad...oh well”, but I really wanted that wagon! Now I have to tell the guild at the next meeting that it won’t happen. I want to say the he11 with insurance, but as president I have to be the conservative, responsible one.

Does anyone have experience or expertise in these things? Any brilliant ideas?
BTW, anyone in the southern California area is encouraged to attend. See our quicky web site at:
http://www.lakesandvalleysartguild.com

Just don’t pay attention to the part about the horse-drawn wagon.

[Cathy Morgan]

Very disappointing! It's hard to have to give up a good idea when something like this blocks it. But I think you're doing the right thing.

It may be a blessing in disguise, too. The carriage idea is neat, but it could actually distract people's attention from the artwork itself. Now that's where their attention will go.

Hope there are lots of sales!

[TPS]

Typically such an event would be sponsored by the city or a gallery association. They would then handle all concerns. Galleries should have insurance for any occurance on their property and the city for anything in the street. Just what is your group doing that would require insurance? The wagon ride appears to be the only thing worthy of insurance. You mention "festivities" so I suppose you are doing something other than advertising concurrent exhibits.

[madster]

The lady with the carriage is simply a lawsuit waiting to happen.

A splinter, a sprained ankle entering or exiting the carriage...etc.
If she does not have insurance, stay away from her!
In this day and age of litiginous excitement, you want NOTHING to do with someone that can sink your boat for decades to come due to lack of insurance.

You may have the alternative to have each passenger sign a waiver before riding, or to distribute some flyer stating that YOU and your group are in NO way to be liable for any injuries sustained by this carriage situation, but when you see 3rd parties liable for things FAR beyond the reality of common sense, it is far wiser to steer clear of anything not covered.

[coyote]

Thank you all for your thoughts on the matter. I've resigned myself to the fact that the wagon won't happen. However, one of our members (who calls herself the angriest woman in the world) loves to harass public officials...and has been pretty effective in the past. She's trying to get the county supervisor to donate the insurance for the wagon. We'll see how that goes

TPS, there is no city. We're a very small unincorporated community, that no nearby city wants to claim as its own. And the art guild IS the gallery association...consisting of 2 galleries and 3 more in the works...plus about 30 artists.

Thanks again...I'll keep y'all posted.

[CarlyHardy]

Speaking from 10 years of event experience, don't ever skip on the insurance! You'd be surprised how quickly a lawsuit can happen if someone slips on a spilled drink that noone cleans up or falls over a wire not taped down properly! Liability for a two day event housed inside a state fair building costs my guild $500 each year...and that was a good deal!
carly

[coyote]

That makes me feel a little bit better, carly. We're paying $332 for 2 days at 6 locations.

[regsart]

sounds like a great idea
- unfortunately anything involving horses becomes some what unpridictable. Ive been in the horse bizz for years. As a trail gude in mountains we had to know cpr and have safety kit w/ cell phone and we had all visiters sign 3page waver!! Anyway.........maybe you could find someone who does have insurance Make sure people handling the horse KNOW what they are doing! Ive seen horse and carraige take off cause some dummy left horse unattended! remember when horses are scared.THEY RUN
Any Good luck
Regan