Entertainers take notice

In March 2014, the HSE released the new document “Electrical Safety for Entertainers” that states that you need to get regular electrical checks done on your equipment.

It’s becoming very common that the venue’s where you perform are requesting to see PAT testing certificates to prove your electrical equipment has been checked for its safety. Some venue’s are even turning away entertainers who have not had their equipment checked.

It’s because they’re worried for their own liability.

If a hotel for example, allows a singer who is booked for a wedding to use her own equipment that hasn’t been checked, and it overheats and starts a fire, leading to damage to the hotel and potentially the end of the wedding celebrations the venue will be forced to claim on it’s insurance. As the fire was started by your equipment, and it wasn’t checked then the hotel becomes liable for the damage, and their insurance company won’t pay out for the loss.

All venue’s are risking their own liability every time they let someone else you electrical appliances in their venue, so they have a right to insist on seeing your electrical safety certificates and insurance. Without it they have the right to refuse you entry; so don’t take the risk of losing the job.

We recently had a case where a local hotel called us at 7pm on a Saturday night (they are a client); they had a DJ there wanting to set up for a party he was booked for. Despite him confirming in writing at the time of the booking that he had PAT certificates he turned up without them, and when questioned admitted he had never been tested. So they refused him entry.

The venue asked if I would come out to do the job so the DJ could perform – this was 7pm on a Saturday night, and I had plans as I explained to the hotel; so going had to be worth my while. In the end I agreed to go, but would charge the DJ £100 for the call out plus the cost of the job. If only he had got the PAT testing done when he was meant to this would have cost him less than £50.00.

So next time a hotel asks you “have you got PAT Testing Certificates”; be honest and get it done!

We’ve got plenty of experience working with entertainment equipment in theatres, disco companies, singers etc. so whether you just have an Amplifier or a full lighting rig we can help.

So if you want to make sure you won’t miss out on that important gig then complete our quote form or call 01915006562 to make a booking.