HORA-PAIN INSURANCE

For our D.C. gig, the hotel wanted to see our band’s liability insurance policy.  We didn’t have one.  Same request came from a temple in Boca Raton, Fla.  Must be an East Coast thing — the band must have an insurance policy.  In the Midwest nobody sues anybody else.  We’ve had a couple broken ankles over the years — people falling in “Hava Nagila”s, or getting spiked by another dancer’s high heel.  Stuff happens.  But nobody sues.

Contracts are almost meaningless.  If there’s no trust, you’re wasting your time.  Who you going to take to small claims?  I’ve done a couple rounds.  Maybe one a decade.  Not for the band, the real estate.  Only do small claims when you know the person is collectible.  Like when they work for the Cleveland Clinic.  Even then, the person might quit his job when he gets the garnishment letter from you.

Best to check out the person on the way in — not the way out.  Call the previous landlord if you have to.  Run a credit check.  If the previous landlord says the guy is a psycho, believe him.  And refuse to comment when the prospective tenant asks, “What did my landlord say to kill the deal?”  Be glad the landlord leveled with you.  Often the previous landlord will mislead you just to get the psycho out of his building.

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Shabbat shalom
Tomorrow:
THE CLARINET SHAFT . . . How to make a clarinet sound decent.

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