Reminds me of a few years ago when I was starting to get back into photography after a lay-off. I was phoning around trying to get some quotes for P/L insurance & phoned Aaduki, now if I remember rightly it was around lunch time so I don't know if I got to speak to someone who didn't normally deal with sport related inquiries but this is how it went.
Me: "Hello I'd like to arrange some photographers P/L please"
Aaduki: "Yes sir, what type of photography" (after asking my name & company name)
Me: "Sport"
Aad: "What is your annual income from that"
Me: "At the moment from sport photography, nothing. I'm just getting back into it after a long lay-off & wanted to get some cover in place to be on the safe side as I am shooting at the moment for practice & to keep my hand in".
Aad: "I see, what experience have you got, when did you first start".
Me: " I first started working as a pro in about 84/85".
Aad: "Oh I see, quite a bit then".
Me: "Well yes I suppose so but I haven't been working as a pro for a good few years now, although I have still been shooting sport as an amateur".
Aad: "Any claims,convictions or cases against you, ever been refused insurance"?
Me: "No"
Aad: "And what type of sport will you be photographing".
Me: "All different types I would imagine, if I do manage to get back into it"
Aad: "I need you to tell me exactly what sports"
Me: "I'ts difficult for me to say exactly at the moment, but all sport in general, whatever comes up, Motor Racing, Football, Cricket, Cycling, Athletics, Triathlon, possibly anything & everything".
Aad: "And will you be shooting from designated area's"
Me: "Mostly, yes"
Aad: "OK, just a second & I'll get you a quote" (he hasn't asked how much cover I want yet)
Canned music starts playing over the phone.
Aad: "Right Mr. Clarke I've got you a quote based on you shooting sport from Public Designated Areas".
Me: "I won't be shooting from public designated areas very often, I thought you meant Press designated areas"
Aad: "So you'll be shooting sport from the other side of the fence so to speak".
Me: "Yes".
Aad: "Just a second".
Canned music again.
Aad: "Hello Mr. Clarke, I've just had a word with my supervisor & he says we need you to tell us exactly what sport you will be shooting.
Me: "I've already told you, sport in general, could be anything from Motor Racing to Ping-Pong".
Aad: "I can't give you a quote unless you tell me exactly"
Me: "I thought I had told you exactly,well, what is the most dangerous liability wise for you".
Aad: "Oil rigs"......(I kid you not, thats exactly what he said)????
Me: "I very much doubt I'll be shooting any motor racing or Ping-Pong on oil rigs but if I do I'll get right on to you, I meant most dangerous sport wise".
Aad: "I can't say, I don't know what sports you'll be shooting unless you tell me exactly".
Me: "Of the sports I've mentioned would you say Motor Racing & possibly top class football would be the most dangerous for you from a liability point of view".
Aad: "Yes".
Me: "Right, give me a quote for general sport Public liability with Motor Racing & football being the most dangerous sports I'll be covering".
Aad: "It doesn't work like that"
Me: "Well how does it work then, surely you must have photographer's on your books who cover all different sports".
Aad: "Yes we do but they have to tell us exactly what sports they will be covering". "The best thing is if you email me telling me exactly what sports you'll be covering then I'll get a quote to you".
Me: "I don't want to muck about emailing you to tell you what I've already told you over the phone, just give me a quote".
Aad: "400"
Me: "That's too much, I was reckoning on half that or less".
Aad: "Well you won't tell me exactly what sports you will be shooting"...........
It was then I threw the phone out the window & kicked the dog up the arse. (not really, I love the dog)
Stew.
ps. I went with Photoguard in the end, never had to claim yet (touch wood) so don't know how good they would be in the event that I did.
