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Insurance for Hire and Live Work: What Venues and Clients Ask For
Public liability, employers liability, kit cover and the certificate the venue wants to see before you get through the door.
~7 min read · Updated August 2026 · By the Stage Supply team
In this guide:The cover types · The practical points · If you hire out · Picks · FAQ
Insurance is the least interesting subject in this trade and the one that stops a job dead. A venue that asks for a certificate ten minutes before load-in is not negotiating, and a client who discovers the cover is inadequate after a claim is a client you have lost.
This guide describes the types of cover that come up and what they are for. It is not advice on what you specifically need, which is a conversation for a broker who knows the events sector.
The cover types that come up
| Cover | What it is for | Who asks for it |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability | Injury to a member of the public or damage to their property caused by your work | Venues, clients, local authorities |
| Employers liability | Injury to your employees | Required by law if you employ anyone |
| Kit or plant cover | Loss of or damage to your own equipment | You, and finance providers |
| Hired-in equipment | Equipment you have hired from someone else | Hire companies you sub-hire from |
| Professional indemnity | Claims arising from advice or design you provided | Clients on design and consultancy work |
Public liability is the one venues ask about, and the limit they require is the number that varies. Many venues ask for a specific minimum, and some public sector and local authority jobs ask for a considerably higher figure than commercial venues.
The points that catch people out
- **The limit.** Being insured is not the same as being insured for the limit the venue requires. Read the requirement before quoting.
- **Named activities.** A policy written for a DJ may not cover working at height, pyrotechnics or lasers. Insurers care what you actually do.
- **Sub-hire.** Equipment hired in is not your equipment, and it usually needs its own cover. This is the single most common gap in a growing hire business.
- **Kit in a vehicle.** Cover for equipment left in a van overnight is frequently restricted, sometimes to a lower limit and sometimes not at all.
- **Certificates take time.** Ask your broker for a certificate as soon as a booking is confirmed, not on the day.
This is not insurance advice
Requirements vary by venue, client and the work you do, and policies differ in ways that matter. Use a broker who understands live events, and read what your policy actually says about the activities you carry out.
If you hire equipment out
Hiring equipment to other people changes your exposure, and there are a few things worth having in place.
- Written hire terms, accepted before the equipment leaves, covering liability for damage, loss and late return.
- A clear statement of who insures the equipment while it is out.
- A record of what went out and what came back, with condition noted.
- Evidence of maintenance for what you hire out, which is where the electrical inspection regime comes in. See PAT testing for event equipment.
None of that is legal drafting, and terms worth relying on are worth having drawn up properly once.
Popular picks from the shop
Frequently asked questions
What public liability limit do venues ask for?
It varies. Many commercial venues state a minimum, and public sector work often asks for a higher figure. Check the requirement for the specific venue rather than assuming a standard figure covers you.
Is my equipment covered when it is out on hire?
Not automatically. Who insures equipment while it is on hire is a matter for the hire terms and the policies on both sides, and it is a common gap. Make it explicit in writing.
Do I need employers liability if I only use freelancers?
It depends on the working relationship rather than the label used, and the position can be less obvious than it looks. This is a question for your broker or accountant, not for a guide.
Does insurance replace maintenance records?
No. Insurers and venues both expect equipment to be maintained, and an absence of records is unhelpful in a claim as well as at the door.
