

- #Big business band tour drivers#
- #Big business band tour driver#
- #Big business band tour full#
- #Big business band tour professional#
Spencer says his band can fit a full drum kit, a small bass amp, two combo amps, a small keyboard rig and stand, guitars, bass, keyboard, and a box of merchandise under the bus. How do you know if you’ll have enough room to store your equipment on the tour bus? Most modern buses have a hollow bay underneath that spans the width of the bus to store items. Will you need a trailer for extra storage? Consider a 5-10% tip for a job well done. While it’s generally not required, gratuity is always appreciated and is a great way to thank a bus driver. Budget for a hotel that will make him or her feel at ease, not the cheapest motel you can find.
#Big business band tour driver#
Your driver is one of your biggest allies during the tour. Treat the driver as a family member, he’s there to keep you safe.” Saving $40 on a hotel room isn’t something you would appreciate your clients doing to you.

“Remember to get them at least a 3-star hotel room. “Along with the cost of your driver, you’ll pay for his or her hotel rooms,” says Kevin Spencer, guitarist and lead singer of Electric Avenue. This can increase total costs if your bus company charges by the day. If your destination will take longer than a 10-hour drive, you’ll need to divide your trip into multiple days.
#Big business band tour drivers#
Legally, charter bus drivers can only drive ten consecutive hours before they are required to take an eight-hour break, according to the American Bus Association. The amount varies among bus companies, but the cost can add up quickly for longer tours.” Rick Astley’s tour bus driver, Nat (middle) never gave up, let down, or deserted Rick and his crew. “This is called overdrive, and can start anywhere from 450 miles to 650 miles. “Professional drivers will have limitations to the amount of miles or hours they are able to drive at a time without needing to be paid overtime,” Vaughn explains.

“An experienced, dependable and safer driver is going to cost more than maybe somebody who isn’t as experienced,” says singer and song-writer Rudy Vaughn, winner of Hark Rock’s 2009 Ambassadors of Rock.
#Big business band tour professional#
Since you’re going to essentially live in an enormous motor coach during your tour, a professional driver is vital to your band members’ safety. How much will it cost for the tour bus driver’s labor, hotels, and gratuity? He says fuel and mileage expenses can be greater if you don’t rent from a company in your hometown. “One of the best pieces of advice I can give someone looking to rent a tour bus is to make sure they’re renting from a company in the location they’re starting from,” says Mike Hines, band leader and guitarist for Corey Smith.

To complete this formula, use Google Maps to tally the total mileage, ask the company to provide you with their entertainer buses’ average MPG, and use the current national average for gas prices per gallon. Most charter bus companies will include fuel cost in the price, but it’s helpful to calculate this cost ahead of time to give you an idea of what to expect. You can calculate your estimated fuel cost using this formula: How much fuel will your tour bus use?Īs you tour from Chicago to Los Angeles to Atlanta and everywhere in between, the cost of gas is going to be a major part of your transportation budget. Factors that will affect your cost include: 1. The 4 Biggest Factors That Influence the Costīreaking the price down gives you a better estimate of how much to budget for trip. If the company charges per mile, you’ll likely pay somewhere between $7.00 and $8.50 per mile. Once your band is ready for an upgrade, do a little homework upfront to know if you’re getting a good deal.Įxact rates vary by city, but you can expect to pay between $1,900 and $2,500 per day for an entertainer coach. Comparing costs of tour bus companies can be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with how they’re priced.
