When you’re scheduling and running a production or event, whether it’s large or small, production insurance is a key concern and something that must be prioritized. Every freelancer you contract must be insured to protect both themselves and your company as well as your client. On top of that, you need insurance to shield you from liability and protect your equipment in the event it is damaged, destroyed, or stolen.

Managing freelancers for events can be time-consuming and complicated without the proper tools. Without a system that allows you to onboard new freelancers, negotiate contracts, and schedule them for events, the process of freelance management can add to your stress and make it more difficult to create events that will wow your clients and entertain their audiences.

Producing a successful and entertaining experience requires event management. With the right freelancers on your crew, everything will go as planned and the result is a happy client. The best way to ensure smooth sailing is to choose skilled freelancers and assign them to event roles where they can do their best work.

Event production companies often contract AV freelancers to help them with specialized work before, during, and after events. One element of contracting freelancers that can be particularly time-consuming is tracking their workers’ compensation coverage, something that’s required to protect both the freelancers themselves and your company.

When an AV company contracts an AV Freelancer for a project, a question the scheduling team is often asked is "Do they have Workers Comp insurance?" and "Is it the right kind of Workers Comp insurance?" Both questions are extremely important and if they are not answered correctly, could place the AV company at considerable risk. Below are 3 key factors to consider when answering this question.

Freelancing in the AV industry is continuing to grow as an integral part to the success of almost every AV company.  In general, freelancing continues to be a growing trend in the US economy with 34% of US workers currently freelancing in some form and this number is expected to grow to 43% by 2020.

 With those stats in mind, AV companies should stay aware of key trends that may affect AV freelancers.  Below are the top 5 trends I anticipate for 2018:

#1.) The Debate About Freelancer Classification And Compliance Will Continue To Be An Issue

Many AV companies know Independent contractor compliance is an important topic and most companies have a general idea of what is required.  However, many AV companies fail to consistently manage and execute a fully-compliant process that aligns with the various state & federal compliance laws.  

If you have a project in Las Vegas with your employees or contractors, be sure to check that they have completed the OSHA 10-Hour or 30-Hour General Industry course.