I want to open a smalll music venue, if I display a disclaimer will I be held responsible for any injuries?

Question

Will being a LLC prevent me from having to take responsibility for any injuries that might occur? If I put up a disclaimer stating that if they come in they except responsibility for their injuries, will they hold up if I'm ever taken to court? Would a waiver help me out? I don't want to have to pay for insurance when there's going to be kids moshing.

Answer 1

It wouldn't hold up in court because it would be against public good.  You need to purchase insurance.  You can put up signs that say "mosh at your own risk" or something similar, however, it will NEVER take all liability off of your LLC.  You should also put something on the tickets.  It MAY give you a credit on the insurance premium.

Buy the insurance.  Insurance is an operating expense.  You have to add it into your costs & base your entry fees, ticket prices, whatever to include this.  Depending on the size of your venue & how often you have shows, would $1 additional in the ticket price cover the insurance??  If it is a good show, $1 will not make a difference if a person would go or now.

Answer 2

Disclaimer is useless. Waiver is useless if the injuries resulted in negligence on your part. While an LLC will protect your assets there's no point putting money into this sort of venture if you're not going to protect it's future by being insured.

Answer 3

Kids moshing and you don't have insurance?....I'd say it'd be faster to give you money to a charity and avoid opening the business altogether...same outcome...less headaches.