I have yet to meet a harp player who is blasé about their harp. There are people who name their harps. Some people talk to their harp. We all love our harps. We do our utmost to care for them. But have we done everything we can to protect them?
(that sounds like one of those cheesy tv commercials for medicine, medical assistance devices, and just about anything you can get 2 for $19.99 + a small additional fee)
Anyway, no matter how much we love our harps, how careful we are to keep them from harm and to pamper them – they are not our children, or our friends. They are, however, unbelievably valuable musical instruments! And as such, you should ensure that your harp(s) are fully insured. You need to insure against all the same things you ensure other valuable things against – theft, damage, or other disasters.
The best way to get started is to talk with your current insurance carrier.
How you insure your harps will be bounded by some other factors. Here are some suggestions on ensuring your insurance is assured. The goal is Goldilocks – not too much coverage, not too little…you want your coverage to be just right:
- If you are a hobbyist – that is, you play only for the cat and the curtains (and perhaps the occasional family member?).
- start with a call to your homeowner’s/renter’s insurance provider. If you are playing at home, only rarely taking your harp out and then only going to workshops or lessons, then this is probably your best solution. They will likely sell you a rider to cover valuable personal property/musical instrument. Be sure you include all your harps!
- If you’re traveling with your harp a great deal you might also check with your auto insurer – you need to be sure you have enough coverage should you harp be in the car if you are in an accident.
- If you are a professional – that is, if you are leaving your house to perform and being paid (regardless of your opinion of your level of performance!):
- Still start with your homeowner’s/renter’s and auto insurers, just be aware that they are likely to tell you no. This would be appropriate – you need professional coverage! If you are not a full time musician, this is where you might be tempted to fib. If you are a professional (even if you’re just starting out or only play one gig a year) be frank and honest. If something happens to your harp and you make a claim, the insurance company will not quibble over your level of performance. You don’t want to find that your very small prevarication when buying the insurance invalidates your claim!
- There are insurance companies that specialize in musical instruments. You will need to provide an estimate of the value of each of your instruments which will require someone give you a valuation (I have gotten these from my instrument maker or by sending a copy of the bill of sale).
- You will get the best rate on your premiums if you are a member of an organization such as International Association of Folk Harpers and Craftsman (IAFHC) or American Harp Society (AHS). You can find other available coverages by searching musical instrument insurance.
- When researching your choices, focus on what is covered and the coverage of the instrument specifically. Some companies (such as Anderson) offer harp-specific coverage while others have more general coverage.
- Still start with your homeowner’s/renter’s and auto insurers, just be aware that they are likely to tell you no. This would be appropriate – you need professional coverage! If you are not a full time musician, this is where you might be tempted to fib. If you are a professional (even if you’re just starting out or only play one gig a year) be frank and honest. If something happens to your harp and you make a claim, the insurance company will not quibble over your level of performance. You don’t want to find that your very small prevarication when buying the insurance invalidates your claim!
We never want anything bad to happen to our harps, but they are expensive as well as being important to our daily lives so ensure that assure your insurance! Make sure your coverage matches your usage. Also focus on the policy, the exclusions, etc. You want to feel confident that your insurance will cover you if something happens to your harp!
What’s in your harp case?
In case you’re wondering or interested, these are not compensated product placements – I’m not that smart a blogger. I have Anderson Insurance and I have been happy with the price and the service. I have not ever had to make a claim but they have received good ratings from others that have. They are not the only insurance product available, so do your homework.