I have a question for the players in bands/... I am in thought mode with another about starting a company that would rent tour buses at an affordable rate..these buses being old school buses turned into gig worthy buses. is this something you would consider or are all of your gigs close to home?
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Question for Bands and Management
- Thread starter tomydacat
- Start date
How would you make a bus more "gig-worthy" than any other bus you could currently rent? Or are you trying to hit a lower price point?
Before you do anything, though, contact an insurance broker that carries commercial lines and price out coverage for a rental fleet. My guess is it's not cheap.
I'm in the UK and not sure of the rules in other countries, but the first thing that sprang to my mind was that over here you need a special driving license to drive a bus (or any vehincle that size/weight) which I expect very few musicians will have.
This means that the band would have to hire both the bus and a driver, likely putting the cost over the top of what is feasible (since I see it that the rental needs to be less than the cost of the fuel saved if everyone was travelling individually in their own vehicles).
Jim
This means that the band would have to hire both the bus and a driver, likely putting the cost over the top of what is feasible (since I see it that the rental needs to be less than the cost of the fuel saved if everyone was travelling individually in their own vehicles).
Jim
FWIW: IMO, starting/building a new small business service/rental that targets musicians as the main clients probably isn’t a very good idea - musicians don't have any money.
Depending on gas mileage and etc, you’d might have better luck renting the bus out as a camper.
Anyway, good luck.
Depending on gas mileage and etc, you’d might have better luck renting the bus out as a camper.
Anyway, good luck.
It's going to be hard to make a profit on a single bus once you figure in maintenance and repairs, especially WHEN that bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere and you have to pay some podunk weekend/emergency rates to get the bus running again so the lessee can make their gig.
You really need to look into what it takes to run a commercial bus line before you proceed. And like someone else said, the bus may require a driver with a CDL.
You really need to look into what it takes to run a commercial bus line before you proceed. And like someone else said, the bus may require a driver with a CDL.
In VA you do not need a commercial license if there are less than 16 passengers.. so i tis considered a shuttle bus sort of . But i will look into the insurance thing as well
Contact any friends you have in Nashville. I would imagine that would be a good place to find out if there is a market for this service. Unless you were to have several customers lined up it would probably be hard to start off.
You'd want to get a contract of some sort, but you would need to supply a driver with a CDL.
Frankly, a better use of the bus would be driving drunk bachelor / bachelorette parties around to all the bars and strip clubs and back to the hotel. Fees for this service can be substantial... a good use of an end-of-life bus. Make sure to get a damage deposit so you can keep it when someone inevitably pukes in the back.
Otherwise, what you're really getting into is transportation services. Still need a driver, insurance. I'd also provide roadies for load / unload. Find a sophisticated enough band and you might have a value proposition.
Frankly, a better use of the bus would be driving drunk bachelor / bachelorette parties around to all the bars and strip clubs and back to the hotel. Fees for this service can be substantial... a good use of an end-of-life bus. Make sure to get a damage deposit so you can keep it when someone inevitably pukes in the back.
Otherwise, what you're really getting into is transportation services. Still need a driver, insurance. I'd also provide roadies for load / unload. Find a sophisticated enough band and you might have a value proposition.
well i will definitely have to look in to many things as i am finding.. and if the bus is a Class 6 vehicle as it doesn't have seats like a bus in most states you do not need a CDL .. insurance is one thing for sure and .. I know it is not the best of times to start a business like this but we are just trying to help bands out.. thanks for the suggestions and info for sure
I think you're going to find that there's a limited market for what you're trying to sell. The lower level acts don't have money for a bus, and the ones that do are already well served. I'm afraid you'll struggle to profit with a single bus.
Would I consider it? Yes. Could your business be profitable off of it? Not likely. This would have to be a subset of your business and not the driving force behind it.
+1
Most buses are rentals now, so it's not exactly something that is going to be ground breaking. What is your angle here?
well the angle is that the school bus is set up like a tour bus and would not be as expensive as a tour bus. this is not like a school bus at all it is just the shell and motor..we of course would have more than one bus but you have to start somewhere. this as well is only meant to carry band members and maybe a driver
The up and coming band that I know well runs on very thin profit margins.
What I'd do is contact some up and coming bands and ask them. There won't be too many layers to go through to get to them or their band leaders or their managers. My guess is that if they are a successful band, they know what their margins are and if their budget could take an extra expense that would afford some benefit.
They might even tell you about their current operations and that will allow you to fine tune your product.
Have you seen bandvan.com?
What I'd do is contact some up and coming bands and ask them. There won't be too many layers to go through to get to them or their band leaders or their managers. My guess is that if they are a successful band, they know what their margins are and if their budget could take an extra expense that would afford some benefit.
They might even tell you about their current operations and that will allow you to fine tune your product.
Have you seen bandvan.com?
