How do you explain to a French Canadian insurance broker what uilleann pipes are and why they are worth so much?
With the addition of my drones, I’ve decided to make sure that my pipes are properly insured against loss, theft, fire, flood, black magic, bodhran players, etc … I think that the cost of replacing my half set would be approx. CA$3,500. My house insurance covers musical instruments up to approx. $2,500. After that they have to be specifically mentioned on the policy and are subject to extra charges ($7 per $1,000). The problem is that the insurance company’s form for declaring individual items only gives me about 2 inches of space to describe "in full’ the individual item. The chanter is by Thompson, as is the bellows. The drones and bag are by Whitmer. The case is by P. A. Kistan I. I’ve reeds by three different makers (excluding my own attempts). Now, the challenge. Summarise all this down so it can fit into 2 inches. For fun, I’ll add that the result has to be translated into French.
Does anyone have any advice on insuring pipes - what to watch for in the policies, problems, horror stories, etc.
I don’t know if this would help or not but I used some of the language from my renter’s insurance for art instead of musical instrument. As the Uilleann pipes are handmand, non-automated, consistent yet unique from the next set, and just plain beautiful, it worked with my insurance agent to up the limit of insurance. Also, I took him to some websites for new pipes. Replacement cost alone was twice what they were willing to insure. Not to mention this is my very first set and very sentimental!
Now that’s very interesting. I play about 10 gigs per year (mostly guitar but more and more UPs these days). I might want to mention that to the broker.
Did you contact a music school, if there is one not too far? they usually are related with insurances, because students have to insure their instruments. They could perhaps give you good advice, with specialized insuances for music players.
