Tip of the Month

August, 2010

Protect Your A's (Art, Assets, & Archives) From Moisture 

It is the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and this month's tip focuses on protecting valuables such as artwork from moisture.

• Avoid basement storage of art and valuables

•  Protect artwork from moisture from above and below. Raise valuables above floor level, and if a storm or flood is imminent , consider moving them to a higher floor if possible. Protect from above and below with heavy plastic or tarps Keep gutters and drains unclogged

• Check plumbing fixtures and sprinkler systems periodically and fix leaks

• Neither business insurance nor homeowners' insurance covers damage from "rising water." You do not have to live in a flood zone to purchase flood insurance. More information

A listing of disaster planning resources is available at the Studio Protector web site.

A disaster-prepping checklist is also available at www.studioprotector.org. 

Other "Tips of the Month" are available at http://studioprotector.org/PressRoom/TipoftheMonth.aspx . You may reproduce these tips in newsletters, blogs, email blasts, and social networking sites. Please credit CERF+ and provide a link back to www.studioprotector.org.

July, 2010

Make an End-of-Day Checklist

This month's "Tip of the Month" comes from the Studio Protector MayDay 2010 Contest. One of the best entries came from Hilda Melchior of Fairbanks, Alaska who wrote: "I made an "end of day" check list.  Check: gas off, power tools and pickle pots unplugged (we have lots of power outages here), pickle pots covered,  fan off,  air make up window closed (not good to leave open when it's below 0); make sure all tools and other items are firmly placed and not near an edge (in case of earthquake) and one last scan to see if anything does not look right."

She also wrote: "At our Alaska Metal Arts Guild annual meeting recently, I explained who CERF is (and asked the group to make a donation) and emphasized how important safety is." 

May, 2010

Protect Your Artwork from Above and Below

As the flood waters in Rhode Island and Tennessee subside and hurricane season begins we are reminded that many disasters involve water. A broken pipe, damaged roof, or the water from putting out even a small fire can have the same devastating consequences to your art work as if the water came from a flood or hurricane.

The Studio Protector recommends protecting your work from moisture from above and below by elevating it off the floor on shelves, bins, or pallets and cover it with plastic or tarps if there is danger of water coming from above. Avoid basement storage of artwork and other valuables. Check plumbing fixtures and sprinkler systems periodically and fix leaks. Keep gutters and drains unclogged.

While disasters often happen without warning, hurricanes usually allow some time to prepare. If you can do so without endangering your safety, the Studio Protector suggests moving items to a higher floor if possible, or elevating at least 1 ft. off the floor and away from windows, and wrapping in heavy plastic sealed with waterproof tape. Remember that things float if there is enough flood water, so shelves attached to the wall and as high as possible off the floor provide more protection than placing on furniture or structures that might float away.

These tips come from the "Protect-O-Wheel" and "Warning" booklet in the Studio Protector wall guide. For more information consult the wall guide, Keeping your Artwork Safe & Secure, and the Basic Checklist for Disaster-Prepping Your Studio on http://www.studioprotector.org. A compilation of Tips of the Month, are available here. 

April, 2010

Flood Insurance is needed to cover damage from "rising water"

New Hampshire furniture maker Gary Spykman avoided flooding when he lived in hurricane-prone areas, only to have his studio flooded three times in succession, in an area he believed to be outside of a flood zone. You can see videos of Gary talking about his floods by clicking here.

It is important to be aware that serious flooding sometimes occurs in areas that are not designated as flood zones. With hurricane season a month away and spring rains and thaws happening right now, serious flooding can result not just in coastal areas but far in-land in low-lying areas and near rivers and streams.

While insurance normally covers water damage from burst pipes or leaking roofs, neither business insurance nor homeowner’s insurance covers damage from “rising water.”  The National Flood Insurance Program has been set up to sell insurance to cover these risks. You would need separate policies to cover your home and your business assets, even if your art-related business operates from your home.  Renters can also buy this insurance.

Floodsmart.gov has a tool to assess your flood risk and to get estimates for the cost of flood insurance. All you need to do is enter your address and zip code and whether you are insuring a home or a business. The site will also give you contact information for insurance agents in your area who can write flood insurance. The chances are good that your current insurance agent can help you.

January, 2010

Without a SOL*, You May Be  “Out of Luck”

Find a *Safe Offsite Location to store copies of your images and critical records such as business documents, sketches, and process notes. A SOL is a place 50-100 miles away from your studio that is unlikely to be affected by the same disaster.  A safe deposit box in your community, while useful, may not be the best place to put this material.  A Gulf Coast artist who went through Katrina showed us the slab where his bank used to be, the building is somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. More on studioprotector.org…  

November, 2009

Beware of Show Directory Scams

(Note: We normally think of emergency preparedness as relating to forces such as fire, the weather, and other natural causes. However, falling victim to a scam is a very real emergency - one that can be career-threatening.)

We recently received a call from an artist who fell victim to a common trade show scam that now appears to be aimed at art fairs and craft shows.

The artist received an offer for a free listing in an online show directory. The name and address of a prominent national craft show in which he was participating were printed at the top of the page, and so he assumed (as the directory promoter hoped) that it was connected with the show in question.

Unfortunately, he signed up for the free listing without reading the fine print. It stated that unless he sent a registered letter opting out within 10 days, he was agreeing to pay $5,000 for a three-year listing with the online directory. Further, the contract automatically renews in 3-year increments.

Every artist is familiar with the rush to complete paperwork, pay bills, meet deadlines and try to have work ready for a show, and that's what scammers rely on. Had the artist taken time to investigate, he would have found many warnings about the company on the web. More importantly, if he had read the fine print, he would have seen that he was not merely agreeing to the "free listing."

While many complaints have been lodged against this scam operation for its questionable products and business practices, there are legitimate companies that offer free listings with bold type or additional advertising for a fee, such as the yellow pages or your craft media organization's directory.

In every case, be sure to read the fine print before you sign anything and understand what you are agreeing to. If you think you may be interested in a paid listing, investigate the company and the product and make sure it will be beneficial to you. And watch out for copycat solicitations masquerading as offers from trusted sources, like reputable show organizers.  

September, 2009

Hurricane Season is Here

May, 2009

Your homeowner’s insurance probably does not cover your business!

According to the recent CERF Business Insurance Survey a high percentage of craft artists mistakenly believe that the structure that they work in and/or their business property is covered by their homeowner’s insurance. Unless you have negotiated for a special endorsement (rider), homeowner’s insurance normally covers only about $2,500 for a home office--money intended for a desk, file cabinets and computers, but not buildings used for business purposes. CERF hears frequently from artists who have discovered this AFTER their studios have burned to the ground! In addition there is no coverage for business liability (yes, that includes customers visiting your studio on that annual studio tour).

Are you in business? As far as your insurance company is concerned, you are in business if you derive income from the sale of your work or services.

Read your insurance policy, talk to your insurance agent, and consider purchasing a rider on your homeowner’s insurance, an “in-home business” policy, or a business owner’s plan (BOP).

For more information from CERF to help you understand business insurance click here. 

November, 2008

Weather Radios

While weather radios have been strongly promoted in “tornado alley” and other areas that are prone to weather-related disasters, shifting weather patterns make this inexpensive warning system a good investment anywhere. An NOAA Public Alert™ certified radio activates automatically when a warning in your area is issued by the National Weather Service, even if the radio is turned off. This is especially important if you are asleep or working in the studio and not tuned to a local radio or television station that carries the alerts.

An AC unit with a battery back-up to cover in case of a power failure is recommended. CERF owns a Midland WR300 which currently retails between $45.00 - $50.00. Information about weather radios, including coverage maps for your state and where to purchase, is available at the National Weather Service website.  

September, 2008

Online Back-up

While performing local backups to an external drive is a good practice, it doesn't always protect your data. The problem is that most people keep backup equipment/media in the same location as the computer they're backing up. If you experience a fire or natural disaster, both the computer and the data backup could be destroyed.

One solution is to backup your files to an online storage provider. Online systems install a program on your computer that backs up your new and changed files while you work (after you do your first complete backup). Make sure that your chosen provider encrypts your files on secure data servers.

Online provider costs vary depending on the size of your files and how many machines you are backing up. Both Mozy (we use this in the CERF office) and IDrive offer 2 GB of free online storage space, which is a great way to get started. Some online providers are not compatible with Macs, so you might have to do some research to find one that works for you. Also be aware that backup times vary depending on your type of internet connection. PCMag.com has reviewed a number of providers and you can read their recommendations here. 

August, 2008

Save Copies of Your Images