Sound Designers & Foley Artists
Tailored insurance for Sound Designers & Foley Artists. Build your own cover to suit your needs with Public Liability, Equipment Insurance and more.
Sound Designers & Foley Artists
Tailored insurance for Sound Designers & Foley Artists. Build your own cover to suit your needs with Public Liability, Equipment Insurance and more.
Protecting the Creators of Audio Worlds
Sound designers and foley artists bring stories to life through audio. Whether it’s creating an atmospheric soundscape for film, producing immersive sound effects for gaming, or adding realistic footsteps and background noise in post-production, your work bridges creativity and technical skill.
Unlike live sound engineers, your focus is often on crafting and editing audio rather than operating during a live performance. This difference also means you face unique risks that need specific protection.
Why Insurance Matters for Sound Designers & Foley Artists
Your toolkit will often include specialist microphones, recording devices, software and studio equipment, which can be expensive to repair or replace. Projects are often time-critical, so a delay caused by equipment loss, a studio accident or a client dispute could impact both your income and reputation.
Insurance gives you peace of mind that if the unexpected happens, you’re not left to carry the costs alone. It allows you to focus on the creative side of your work, knowing your professional and financial risks are covered.
Insurance to Suit You
Public Liability insurance from £84 a year for £1m cover
Or choose your own cover limit of £2m, £3m or £5m.
Up to £50k all-risk technical and portable equipment cover
Covered in the UK & EU as standard or increase cover to worldwide.
Professional Indemnity - be covered for contract disputes
Protect your reputation with Professional Indemnity insurance with either a £100,000 or £250,000 limit.
Up to £50k cover for equipment that doesn’t leave your property
Protect the contents of your business and other technical equipment that doesn’t leave your property.
Employers’ Liability cover for up to 3 PAYE employees
Our Employers’ Liability cover provides £10,000,000 of cover.
Who Needs Our Insurance?
Mode Insurance supports a wide range of sound professionals, including:
- Sound Designers
- Foley Artists
- Audio Editors
- Sound Effects Specialists
- Audio Post-Production Freelancers
- Dialogue and Vocal Editors
- Creative sound freelancers working in film, TV, gaming and advertising
If your role isn’t listed but your work involves sound creation, editing or post-production, we can help you find the right cover. Call us on 0330 236 6408.
Common Insurance Risks in Sound Design & Foley Work
Sound design and foley work present their own challenges, such as:
- Damage or theft of studio equipment and software you rely on daily.
- Disputes with clients over deadlines, sound quality or artistic interpretation.
- Accidents while working on set or in hired studios.
- Injury or illness is preventing you from completing a project.
- Liability claims if your work is alleged to have caused a financial loss.
These scenarios may feel unlikely, but even a single incident can cause significant disruption, and without insurance in place, it could be difficult to get back up and running.
Why Choose Mode Insurance?
We work closely with freelancers and small businesses across the audio visual industry, so we understand the pressures of working in sound design. Our policies are designed with creative professionals in mind, offering flexible protection that adapts to your projects and working style.
Whether you’re a solo freelancer or running a small post-production studio, we can help you get the cover you need quickly and without jargon.
Practical Advice for Sound Designers & Foley Artists
Alongside insurance, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your projects:
Keep an up-to-date inventory of your equipment, including receipts and serial numbers, to speed up claims.
Use contracts that clearly set out deliverables, deadlines and responsibilities to reduce the risk of disputes.
Back up audio files regularly and securely to avoid catastrophic data loss.
Document your creative process. This can help if you ever need to defend your work in a claim.
Latest guides
FAQs
Below we have listed the most common questions we get from our customers about insurance for sound designers and foley artists.
Why should I get a quote from Mode Insurance?
Our coverage is flexible and can be adjusted to suit periods of intense project work or times when you're between projects. Additionally, our policies are specifically designed for the creative industry and are suited to a wide range of professions.
Can I adjust my insurance coverage as my professional needs change?
Absolutely! We understand that the life of a creative freelancer is ever-changing. That’s why our insurance plans are designed to be as flexible as your career. You can choose from short-term options for specific projects or opt for longer-term coverage. Adjustments can be made to suit your current professional situation, whether you're scaling up your operations or downsizing.
Do I need Public Liability insurance?
Whether you need Public Liability insurance depends on the nature of your business. It's not a legal requirement, but it's particularly important if your business activities involve interaction with clients, customers or members of the public. This could be as simple as working from a coffee shop, all the way to working in a large stadium or event space.
How much Public Liability insurance cover do I need?
The amount of coverage you need depends on your business type, size and the specific risks involved. Typically, businesses opt for cover ranging from £1 million to £5 million, but it's best to assess your individual business needs.
You may find a minimum coverage amount specified in a contract that you are looking to secure as many other businesses, venues or local authorities will stipulate the amount of Public Liability insurance you need.
Is Public Liability insurance a legal requirement?
No, Public Liability insurance is not a legal requirement for most businesses in the UK. However, it can be important due to the financial protection it offers against claims from the public.
You may also find that Public Liability insurance is required by some clients, suppliers and partners before you work with them.
What is the difference between Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance?
Public Liability insurance covers injury or damage to third parties and their property, while Professional Indemnity insurance protects against claims of professional negligence or poor advice.
Can I get Public Liability insurance for one day?
Yes, one day Public Liability insurance is becoming increasingly popular and most businesses can obtain cover specifically for one day. This is ideal for short-term events like workshops, pop-up shops or a shoot you are organising.
This is great for budgeting and charging your clients as you know exactly how much the insurance has cost for the specific job.
Which type of creative freelancers need Equipment Insurance?
If your work requires the use of expensive specialist equipment, such as Photography Equipment, Film Equipment, laptops microphones and more, then Equipment Insurance can help provide peace of mind that you can repair or replace any of your important work tools if they are stolen, lost or accidentally damaged.
How much Equipment Insurance cover do I need?
This will depend on the value of your equipment and how much it would cost to replace it all if it were stolen, lost or accidentally damaged.
We can provide up to £50k of Equipment Insurance to cover all of your vital work gear.
What equipment is covered?
The policy covers the equipment you need to keep your business up and running that you take away from the premises.
Some examples of equipment that can be covered are:
- Communication tools, such as desktops, laptops, mobiles, and tablets
- Essential work equipment, such as graphic tablets and hairdressing equipment
- Photography equipment, such as including cameras, lighting, and staging equipment
- Accessories, such as lenses, lighting rigs, etc.
- Cameras and ancillary equipment
- PA, sound and lighting equipment
- Portable electrical equipment
- Mechanical effects equipment
- Grip equipment
- Props, sets and wardrobes
- Makeup and prosthetics
- Editing and recording equipment
- Video and broadcast equipment
Who needs Professional Indemnity insurance?
Creative professionals who provide advice, consultancy work or work under a contract with a client can consider Professional Indemnity insurance.
This includes, but is not limited to, graphic designers, photographers and marketing consultants.
How much does Professional Indemnity insurance cost?
The cost of Professional Indemnity insurance varies based on factors like your profession, the level of risk and the amount of coverage needed.
How much Professional Indemnity insurance do I need?
The amount of cover required depends on your business size, the clients you work with, the types of contracts you work under and the potential risks involved in your services. It's a good idea to assess the maximum claim you could face and choose a limit that can comfortably cover this.
With Mode Insurance you can choose a Professional Indemnity insurance cover limit of either £100,000 or £250,000, depending on your needs and requirements.
Do I need Employers’ Liability insurance?
If you employ anyone, even on a casual or part-time basis, the law typically requires you to have Employers' Liability insurance. This means that you have at least the minimum cover if an employed person makes a claim against you.
What does Employers’ Liability insurance cover?
Employers’ liability insurance can provide cover for:
- Compensation if an employee claims for injury or illness caused while working for you.
- Fees for your legal representation at any coroner’s inquest of fatal accident inquiry and proceedings in any court of summary jurisdiction arising out of any alleged breach of statutory duty.
- The claimants’ legal costs for which you are legally liable.