Question 1

What events are accepted under Special Event Liability?

Accepted Answer

Special Event Liability is built for a wide range of public and private events: weddings and receptions, fairs and festivals, concerts and live music, conferences, conventions and meetings, trade shows and consumer shows, fundraisers and galas, beauty pageants and fashion shows, graduations and reunions, dances, private parties, and many sporting events. Most one-day, multi-day, indoor, and outdoor events fit comfortably inside this product. If your event includes alcohol with a valid permit, a vendor footprint, weather exposure, or prize promotions, those can usually be addressed with add-on coverages on the same application.

Question 2

What events are excluded?

Accepted Answer

A few categories sit outside the standard Special Event Liability product, including carnivals and amusement-park-style operations, venue-owned coverage (the venue needs its own policy), air shows, and certain high-hazard exhibitions. Some exposures also need their own add-on or a separate policy rather than being bundled in: athletic or sports participants, pyrotechnics and fireworks, professional performers and stunts, and abuse and molestation exposures. If your event sits in a gray area, tell us what you are planning and we will route it to the right placement path or let you know up front when it is not a fit.

Question 3

What is Additional Insured and how do I add my venue?

Accepted Answer

An Additional Insured is a person or entity added to your policy so the policy's liability protection extends to them for incidents tied to your event. Most venues require it. Adding the venue is included with your policy at no extra charge; provide the exact legal entity name, address, and any specific endorsement wording the venue requires. The updated Certificate of Insurance is reissued and emailed to all listed Additional Insureds, typically within minutes of the change.

Question 4

What is a Waiver of Subrogation and do I need one?

Accepted Answer

Subrogation is when your carrier, after paying a claim, pursues the party that caused the loss to recover what it paid. A Waiver of Subrogation is you and your carrier agreeing not to pursue a specific party (almost always the venue) after a covered loss. Many venue contracts require this waiver. Because waiving the right slightly increases the carrier's net exposure, it usually adds a small charge to your premium. If your contract requires it, just check the box on the application and we will handle the rest.

Question 5

How much liability coverage is available?

Accepted Answer

Standard event policies are written at $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate, which is what most venues require. Higher limits (such as $2M/$2M, $3M/$3M, $4M/$4M, $5M/$5M, and $6M/$6M) are available on many events and can be selected at quote. Limits, eligibility, and pricing are subject to underwriting review and carrier guidelines for your specific event.

Question 6

Is $10M excess coverage available?

Accepted Answer

Excess liability above the standard primary limit can be considered on many qualifying events, with $10M total program limits available on certain risks. Excess placements are individually underwritten and depend on event type, venue, attendance, exposures, and carrier appetite. If you need a higher tower for a venue requirement or a sponsor, tell us early so we can quote the structure with enough lead time.

Question 7

How quickly can coverage be bound?

Accepted Answer

On qualifying events that meet automated underwriting criteria, many customers complete the application and receive a Certificate of Insurance within minutes after payment is received. More complex events that require carrier review take longer. Coverage is not in force until premium is fully paid and the certificate is issued. If your event is in the next few days, contact our team so we can route it on the fastest path available.

Question 8

How quickly can a quote be obtained?

Accepted Answer

Most standard events return an indicative quote in the same online session in roughly five to fifteen minutes. Events that need carrier review (large attendance, high-risk activities, unusual venues, or higher limits) typically return a reviewed quote within one to two business days. Quotes are subject to underwriting confirmation and may change if event details change.

Question 9

What factors affect premium?

Accepted Answer

Premium reflects the carrier's view of risk for your specific event. The main inputs are event type, expected attendance, event location, venue type, number of event days, requested limits, add-on coverages (such as liquor liability, weather, cancellation, or vendor liability), and any higher-risk activities or exposures. Many event liability policies start around $250, though final pricing depends on event type, location, attendance, coverage needs, and underwriting approval.

Question 10

What carriers are used?

Accepted Answer

Coverage is sourced through trusted AM Best-rated specialty insurance providers selected for event risk. Specific carrier assignments are made during underwriting based on event type, exposures, and appetite. We do not publish specific carrier relationships on the public site; what matters for you is the rating, the responsiveness, and the policy form.

Question 11

Does coverage include setup and breakdown days?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Policies automatically include setup and breakdown days at no extra charge, before and after the event dates you list on the application. The dates entered on the form should reflect only the days when guests will be on-site. If you need additional setup or breakdown days beyond the standard buffer, let us know and we will adjust the policy period properly so your premium is not inflated by treating prep days as full event days.

Question 12

Can you cover international events?

Accepted Answer

Direct Event Insurance primarily serves events connected to a U.S. named insured. International events may be considered case by case when the named insured is a U.S. citizen or U.S.-domiciled entity with a valid U.S. address. Availability depends on underwriting review, event location, travel advisories, sanctions, war or civil unrest exposure, communicable disease concerns, and other carrier guidelines. Contact our team early so we can review the placement.

Question 13

What expenses are covered by Event Cancellation?

Accepted Answer

Event Cancellation can respond to the financial loss tied to a covered cause that prevents your event from happening as planned. Typical categories considered for coverage include non-refundable deposits and prepaid event expenses, contractually committed vendor and venue costs, additional expenses reasonably incurred to avoid or reduce a loss (such as moving to a new date or location), and, where elected, lost revenue. Exact coverage, sub-limits, deductibles, and exclusions depend on the policy form and underwriting review of your event.

Question 14

Are deposits covered?

Accepted Answer

Non-refundable deposits and prepaid expenses are typically the core of an Event Cancellation claim. To be considered for coverage, the loss must result from a covered cause under the policy form, must be properly documented (signed contracts, invoices, proof of payment), and must fall within applicable sub-limits and deductibles. We strongly recommend buying Event Cancellation as soon as you have meaningful deposits at risk, because losses from causes already known or already in motion are generally not covered.

Question 15

Is lost revenue covered?

Accepted Answer

Lost revenue (such as ticket sales, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees) can be included on many Event Cancellation policies as an elected coverage, subject to underwriting and supporting documentation. Carriers typically want to see a budget, prior-year results where available, and how the projected revenue figure was built. Talk with our team early if revenue protection is a priority so we can structure the limit and forms appropriately.

Question 16

What cancellation causes are covered?

Accepted Answer

Event Cancellation generally responds to unforeseen and unavoidable causes outside the insured's control that prevent the event from happening as planned. Examples commonly considered include severe weather, certain venue unavailability, mandatory evacuation orders, transportation infrastructure failures, and other named perils on the policy form. Coverage triggers vary by carrier and form, and not every cause is automatically included. The binding answer is always the issued policy.

Question 17

What causes are excluded?

Accepted Answer

Standard Event Cancellation exclusions typically include known or foreseeable circumstances at the time coverage is bound, communicable disease (unless specifically endorsed and underwritten), war and civil unrest in some jurisdictions, nuclear and pollution events, lack of attendance for non-covered reasons, breach of contract, financial failure or insolvency of the insured, and losses arising from causes the insured could have reasonably prevented. Confirm specifics with the issued policy form and the underwriter for your event.

Question 18

What weather triggers are available?

Accepted Answer

Common parametric weather triggers that may be available include rainfall (rain), snowfall (snow), wind (sustained or gust thresholds), heat (high-temperature thresholds), cold (low-temperature thresholds), thunderstorms (lightning detection within a defined radius), hurricanes and named-storm activity, tornadoes, and fog (visibility thresholds). Trigger structure, available measurement stations, lookback windows, and limits depend on event location, season, and carrier appetite, and are confirmed during underwriting.

Question 19

Can I insure against rain?

Accepted Answer

Rainfall triggers are commonly written on outdoor events such as weddings, festivals, fairs, sporting events, and concerts. A typical rain policy pays when measured rainfall over the covered window at the covered location exceeds the trigger amount, regardless of whether the event was actually canceled. The exact threshold, measurement source, deductible, and limit are set at binding.

Question 20

Can I insure against snow?

Accepted Answer

Snowfall triggers can be considered for winter events and seasonal operations. The policy pays when measured snowfall meets or exceeds the agreed threshold during the covered window at the covered location. Availability and pricing depend heavily on location, season, and historical weather data.

Question 21

Can I insure against wind?

Accepted Answer

Wind triggers (sustained wind speed, gust speed, or both) are commonly considered for outdoor events with tents, stages, rigging, or temporary structures. The policy pays when measured wind at the covered location meets the trigger during the covered window, regardless of whether the event proceeded.

Question 22

Can I insure against heat or extreme temperatures?

Accepted Answer

High-temperature and low-temperature thresholds can be considered for events where attendance, athlete safety, or operations depend on temperature (festivals, marathons, sports tournaments, holiday markets). Triggers are typically tied to the official measurement at a named station during a defined window.

Question 23

Can I insure against hurricanes?

Accepted Answer

Hurricane and named-storm triggers can be considered for events in exposed coastal markets, generally with restrictions on how close to the storm season coverage can be bound and on what data source defines the trigger. Availability and binding deadlines are strict and depend on real-time storm activity at the time of application.

Question 24

Can I insure against tornadoes?

Accepted Answer

Tornado-related triggers may be available in tornado-prone regions, typically tied to confirmed tornado activity within a defined radius of the event venue during the covered window. As with hurricanes, binding deadlines and data sources are strictly defined and reviewed during underwriting.

Question 25

Can I insure against thunderstorms?

Accepted Answer

Thunderstorm and lightning triggers, typically defined as a number of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes within a defined radius of the venue during the covered window, are commonly considered for outdoor events. Coverage pays when the measured trigger is hit, regardless of whether the event was actually halted.

Question 26

Can I insure against fog?

Accepted Answer

Fog triggers, typically tied to visibility thresholds at a named airport or weather station, can be considered for events that depend on flight operations, marine operations, or specific visibility conditions (such as outdoor performances or air-related programming). Availability depends on a usable measurement source near the venue.

Question 27

How does the Vendor Liability Program work?

Accepted Answer

The organizer enables the program for the event with a single enrollment link. Each vendor visits the link, completes a short self-enrollment, pays their own premium, and receives their own General Liability policy and Certificate of Insurance. Each vendor is the named insured on their own policy at $1M per occurrence with a $2M shared group aggregate at $0 deductible. The organizer receives zero money from the program; the value is operational, removing the day-of-show COI scramble.

Question 28

How are Certificates of Insurance issued?

Accepted Answer

Each vendor's Certificate of Insurance is issued automatically once enrollment is complete and payment is received, typically within minutes. The organizer can be listed as an Additional Insured per program rules, and the certificate can be reissued or amended throughout the policy period at no additional charge. There is no per-COI fee for routine certificate requests.

Question 29

Who qualifies for the Vendor Liability Program?

Accepted Answer

The program is designed for vendors and exhibitors who interact with attendees at multi-vendor events: vendors selling products, exhibitors, artists and crafters, food vendors and concessionaires*, and merchants at fairs, festivals, markets, and expos. It is not designed for event service providers supporting the organizer (such as AV contractors, pipe-and-drape, stage and production companies, setup/teardown crews, security companies, equipment rental providers, or professional service contractors); those operators need their own commercial General Liability. Coverage starts as low as around $100 per vendor, depending on the number of vendors, event location, event type, and underwriting details.

*Food vendor rates are typically higher due to increased risk.

Question 30

What are common organizer requirements?

Accepted Answer

Organizers commonly require that every participating vendor carry General Liability with limits of at least $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate, that the venue and the event organizer be named as Additional Insureds on each vendor's policy, that vendors provide a Certificate of Insurance before move-in, and that food and alcohol vendors meet additional product or liquor liability requirements. The Vendor Liability Program is designed to satisfy these requirements in one place so the organizer is not collecting and chasing certificates vendor by vendor.

Event Insurance FAQ

Special Event Liability

Event Cancellation

Weather Insurance

Vendor Liability Program

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