Jamie Hascall 3/14/16
I need to tap the experience of the group regarding some mountmaking business issues. This will likely pertain less to those employed by museums as to those in contract or private-practice situations. After many years working at the museums in Santa Fe, I'm back in Seattle and working again as a mountmaker in private-practice, having been drawn back in by old and new clients that want my services. As the business as evolved over the past year, I'm trying to address issues that are now becoming insistent. I'd appreciate any input you may have. Insurance: In trying to obtain insurance coverage that is more complete than my very blanket business liability policy, I'm being classified as a metalworking/machine shop. This is appropriate for the manufacture of mounts, but does not pertain to so many of the other issues we address. As this work falls between all the categories set up by the Insurance industry, what sort of policy parameters or classifications have you found valuable? Have you found coverage that helps you feel comfortable working as an independent professional in a museum or other settings? Custody: I work entirely from templates at this time, even though it is much more cumbersome than working with the object at my shop. My clients want me to work as efficiently as possible and are willing for me to take their objects, but I don't feel I have the coverage to do so. What level of insurance coverage, disclaimer, or waiver from the client, would make you feel comfortable to take their property to your shop? Documentation: I'm working to set up an intake document in Filemaker Pro that would be a baseline condition report and photographic record of the object at initial contact. I'm wondering if others have templates that work for them or forms they could share? I know this is a lot to chew on, but I'd appreciate any thoughts you may have. I feel these concerns are part of why there are so few independent mountmakers. I know they factored into my decision to leave private practice in 2006. These issues push people to work with insufficient protection, and at some point it moves highly skilled people to seek less vulnerable work, and removes them from our ranks. I think it's a worthy discussion to start now and continue at the meeting in Cleveland. Thanks all. Jamie Jamie Hascall Craftsman, Trainer, Consultant Mountmakingfocus.com jamie@mountmakingfocus.com Seattle, WA 206-954-4141
david 3/14/16
Hi Jamie,I can't really speak usefully to issues 1 and 3 but I have a suggestion for issue 2, when you take custody of your clients object. Whenever I have objects brought to my shop I ask the client to obtain a "waiver of subrogation" from their insurance company. When granted, this means that the clients insurance company will pay the client for damage or loss, but will not then turn around and sue you for the damage or loss. They waive their right to do that. This only works 1) if the client has their own insurance policy and 2) if they can obtain that waiver for you. Regards, David La Touche
Suzi McG 3/29/16
Hi Jamie, In regards to your first question my insurance has me classified under Jeweler, which is good considering that I'm also a jeweler and the value of jewelry that I sometimes work on for clients gives me better coverage overall. I think I've only accepted an object from a client once in the 16 years that I've been in private practice. Even though I have a good safe and security system it's just not a liability that I'm willing to take on. I guess I'm used to the template & travel method of working anyway too. As for documentation, I haven't really set anything up beyond my custom template form. Sometimes I add photos to it with notations for condition. Occasionally I have been given copies of the condition reports for my use and I will keep that with my template form. Let us know what you come up with. It's always good to hear what other private Mounties are doing. Best, Suzi McGarraugh