Indemnity Agreement (Non-Aviation)

[MAKG1]

So what kind of groupies do Bassoonists get?

Gotta be better than jazz musicians.

The "groupies" are either over 70 or under 10. Well, except for the hooker in Hanoi (we all kept our distance -- it was more than a little creepy).

 

[MAKG1]

My guess is that most of the musicians they hired either didn't read what they signed, or don't know what "indemnify" means.

Likely quite true.

But a claim along those lines would educate everyone involved -- and not involved -- very quickly.

It's not that large a community. Screwing over a contract musician will get around in a hurry.

 

[Alexb2000]

Whether or not they understood "indemnify" doesn't matter. Most musicians are 100% sue proof. My landscaper will sign any contract you want and he doesn't even read english. Some days it sounds like an attractive way to live.

 

[Palmpilot]

So what kind of groupies do Bassoonists get?

Don't know - never had one!

 

[Palmpilot]

Whether or not they understood "indemnify" doesn't matter. Most musicians are 100% sue proof. My landscaper will sign any contract you want and he doesn't even read english. Some days it sounds like an attractive way to live.

In the area where Makg and I live, a lot of musicians are either working in a technical profession, or are retired technical professionals. There are a fair number of doctors and lawyers, too. I figure that one of the best places to keel over would be in an amateur orchestra, or in a part-time professional orchestra, because there's probably at least one doctor in each orchestra!

 

[Alexb2000]

In the area where Makg and I live, a lot of musicians are either working in a technical profession, or are retired technical professionals. There are a fair number of doctors and lawyers, too. I figure that one of the best places to keel over would be in an amateur orchestra, or in a part-time professional orchestra, because there's probably at least one doctor in each orchestra!

Sounds like you're in a nice niche. If everyone is otherwise doing well, why not just play for free? I'd rather do that than take a few bucks and deal with all the contract crap.

 

[Palmpilot]

Sounds like you're in a nice niche. If everyone is otherwise doing well, why not just play for free? I'd rather do that than take a few bucks and deal with all the contract crap.

I am thinking about turning down any contract jobs I am offered, since this discussion has made me aware that I have no liability insurance during such activities, even without an indemnification agreement. (I don't often get such offers these days, so it would be no big loss.)

At the very least, I think I will ask to see any contract terms before accepting a job in the future.

One question this raises is whether I also need to be concerned about liability insurance when accepting jobs as an employee (instead of as a contractor), or whether liability on the job is required to be covered by the employer and/or the employer's insurance.

 

[MAKG1]

Sounds like you're in a nice niche. If everyone is otherwise doing well, why not just play for free? I'd rather do that than take a few bucks and deal with all the contract crap.

Some people do. But it doesn't change the relationship. It just means they are donating their pay.

There are some organizations that don't pay at all. The ones that pay a little seem to attract better musicians, even though the pay is not significant. Musicians can get cheap, just like pilots. The insurance and liability issues are still there even if there is no pay. Just, some seem to have better mechanisms for dealing with it than others.

Personally, I don't pick gigs by how much or if they pay, unless it's a lot (rare). It's about what they are doing, location, and conditions.

 

[Alexb2000]

Some people do. But it doesn't change the relationship. It just means they are donating their pay.

There are some organizations that don't pay at all. The ones that pay a little seem to attract better musicians, even though the pay is not significant. Musicians can get cheap, just like pilots. The insurance and liability issues are still there even if there is no pay. Just, some seem to have better mechanisms for dealing with it than others.

Personally, I don't pick gigs by how much or if they pay, unless it's a lot (rare). It's about what they are doing, location, and conditions.

So are you saying that if you agree to play a gig for free, sometimes they still expect you to sign a contract? Possibly one that makes you liable?

 

[MAKG1]

So are you saying that if you agree to play a gig for free, sometimes they still expect you to sign a contract? Possibly one that makes you liable?

Well, I've never seen the indemnification thing, but I've seen a lot of hold-harmless agreements.

And yes, that's necessary sometimes, even for volunteers.

 

[Alexb2000]

Well, I've never seen the indemnification thing, but I've seen a lot of hold-harmless agreements.

And yes, that's necessary sometimes, even for volunteers.

Hold harmless, OK, I can see that. I just didn't know if indemnification was common in your business of not.