VectisVibe - Licences & Insurance
PLI - Public Liability Insurance
PLI covers legal liabilities in the event that an entertainer is sued by a third party for damages arising from an accident or physical breakages caused. For example, if a disco lighting stand were to collapse due to negligence or unsuitability and injure a guest at a function, the injured party would have a greater chance of realising compensation should a court award in their favour. Although it is not a legal requirement, VectisVibe maintains a PLI policy up to £2m.
More and more venues are including PLI checks on subcontractors and services suppliers as a condition of hire/entry. We will happily supply a copy of our certificate on request.
PAT - Portable Appliance Testing
Portable Appliance Testing applies to any piece of electrical equipment which connects to a premises mains supply and which is portable. Workplaces and public areas such as shops and restaurants all have to provide regular PAT testing of their portable appliances in order to comply with the Electricity At Work regulations, Provision and Use of Work Equipment regulations, to comply with Health & Safety requirements and satisfy fire inspections. That said, there is currently no legal requirement for mobile entertainers to PAT test their equipment. However, it is considered good practice especially as disco equipment is used in environments where the public in attendance are often the worse for drink - increasing the risk of them coming into contact with equipment which they might otherwise ignore and significantly increasing the risk of liquid spillages affecting the equipment. VectisVibe considers PAT to be good practice and tests its equipment regularly. More and more venues are including PAT checks on service suppliers' equipment as a condition of hire/entry. We will happily supply a copy of our test records on request.ProDub
The ProDub Licence allows an individual to copy music they own onto various formats and devices for the purpose of using that device to undertake professional performances. Manipulation of digital music files without a ProDub is an offence and it is a condition of a venue's continued PRS Performing Rights licence that ProDub licences are confirmed for performers utilising digital music on their premises. VectisVibe holds a ProDub licence. We will happily supply a copy of our licence details to interested venues on demand.Limited Manufacture
The Limited Manufacture licence allows the use of music in small-scale audio and audio-visual physical products. If we video record your party, for example, for the purposes of generating a DVD copy, the music contained therein falls under the remit of the Limited Manufacture licence. VectisVibe obtains a Limited Manufacture licence for all recordings supplied.Legal Status
VectisVibe is registered with HMRC as a Sole Trader although during 2009 we will be moving to incorporation as a Limited Company and voluntarily registering for VAT as our current business plan requires expansion into operating a PAYE scheme and exceeding the VAT turnover threshold.Any or all of the above legal and best-practice requirements are frequently ignored by so-called 'Cowboy Operators' looking to minimise expenditure or maximise profits, usually resulting in unfeasibly low quotations. If a disco operator is willing to take chances with your safety and the law, do you really want to trust them with one of the most important events in your life?