If a venue sends you an insurance requirements sheet and it looks like legal gibberish… you're not alone.
Let's decode it.
Terms You'll See
Additional Insured — Venue must be protected under your policy. Mandatory for almost all venues.
Limits — Usually: $1M per occurrence, $2M aggregate. Some venues require higher.
Waiver of Subrogation — Prevents your insurer from suing the venue after paying a claim.
Primary & Non-Contributory — Your policy pays first before the venue's insurance kicks in.
Common Venue Requirements
Certificate of Insurance (COI). Venue listed as Additional Insured. Specific coverage limits met. Liquor liability (if alcohol served). Coverage dates including setup/teardown.
Venue Checklist
Limits match requirements. Venue listed correctly. Dates correct. COI submitted early (2+ weeks).
Pro Tip
Ask the venue for their exact insurance requirements document FIRST. Then send that to your insurer.
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