Event Production & AV Staging Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an event production & av staging business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for event production, staging, rigging, and audio-visual companies. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services and events.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Liability | Covers crowd injuries and venue damage from staging, rigging, and equipment. | Core | |
| Inland Marine (Production Equipment) | Covers audio, lighting, video, and truss in transit, storage, and on site. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability | Covers crew working at height and with heavy loads. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers trucks and trailers hauling equipment. | Core | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds the high limits promoters and venues require. | Core | |
| Professional / Production E&O | Covers design and engineering errors and failed shows. | Prevalent | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers rented trucks and crew vehicles. | Prevalent | |
| Rental Equipment Liability (Dry Hire) | Covers equipment you rent out without crew. | Situational | |
| Pyrotechnics / Special Effects Liability | Needed if you use pyro, lasers, or flame effects. | Situational | |
| Event Cancellation | Covers your costs when shows are cancelled for covered reasons. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by event production companies is the size of a structural failure. A stage, roof, or truss that falls on a crowd can injure dozens — the 2011 Indiana State Fair collapse killed seven and ended in a $39 million settlement shared by 18 defendants, including staging vendors. Standard limits are rarely enough. Carry a large umbrella, follow a written wind plan for every outdoor show, and require freelance crews to carry their own coverage.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your event production & av staging coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Event Production & AV Staging Insurance · Event Production & AV Staging Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an event production & av staging business need?
The core coverages for an event production & av staging business are General Liability, Inland Marine (Production Equipment), Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability, Commercial Auto, Umbrella / Excess Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my event production & av staging coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.