I'm probably just being absent-minded, but in all my years of reading production advice threads, I almost never see the topic of insurance covered.
But when you think of it, WAM has a very high risk exposure when it comes to the potential of things going wrong during a shoot. So what, if anything, are people doing to make sure they are covered from lawsuits? It sucks that even small-timers like me who haven't made a dime of profit from WAM production work needs to think about stuff like this, but that's life. Any tips?
That's an interesting question. I think the answer will probably vary depending on where you live. My comments apply to the UK.
* If you're a producer hiring models, you'd want employers' liability insurance. I.e. this will cover injury caused to your employees. NB This applies to sole traders as well as limited companies.
* If you're running a one-man band (i.e. model and producer), you'd want income protection insurance. I.e. this will cover loss of income if you get injured. It typically gets combined with critical illness cover.
* You might want to insure the equipment, e.g. in case you knock over a tripod or drop your camera into a bucket of gunge.
* You might need public liability insurance, e.g. if you're filming in a public place and there's a risk of a passer-by slipping in a puddle you made.
* In theory, a producer could get "no-show coverage" in case a model doesn't turn up. However, I suspect that's more hassle than it's worth.
I think about this a lot. If you're having someone meet you at home, for example, for messy play, and they slip over and break a leg, you won't have a leg to stand on.
I would guess many producers are not insured - or not properly insured - as 'entertainment industry' (let alone 'adult' entertainment) related activity (especially as 'risky' and interactive as WAM is) is generally so prohibitively expensive to cover, even to a minimal level covering basic liability, with multiple and often counterproductive exclusions and stipulations it just wouldn't be worth bothering with in most cases.
Former WAM model Odette Delacroix, in her civilian life, earned her Property and Casualty insurance license 4 or 5 years ago, and may have interesting insight based on her experience shooting around the world in studios and on location (and in mud pits!) in a variety of adult entertainment genres with a variety of producers.
In recent months, Odette has become more active on her Instagram and OF pages, and you can also contact her via the website where she sells her original artwork and hand-made jewelry, www.lewdartist.com
I remember reading that she was the valedictorian of her graduating class. I'd trust her with my insurance!
Long ago I inquired of my insurance company what it would cost to add coverage related to operation of a mudbath in my house without specifying whether I had one already or was merely considering having one. The immediately cancelled my insurance.
In general, unless you are large enough to be considered a movie production company to an insurer, I would not expect insurance to be either available or affordable.