AOL
MAIL
- You might also like:
- Music |
- Movies |
- TV |
- Celebrity
- and More

BandWagon RVs Offer Cheap Alternative for Touring Bands

Posted on Mar 31st 2010 7:00PM by Amy Sciarretto Comments

Touring is expensive. Traveling cross country in a bus can cost a band upwards of $30,000 per month. That's astronomical for up-and-coming bands -- and even for some mid-level, growing and established acts. Touring in a van also has its cost inefficiencies; hotel rooms are often a necessity, and that gets pricey, which means you may have to go days without sleeping in a bed or a shower if you can't always afford sleeping accommodations.

That's where BangWagon comes in. The company offers RV coaches that are cheaper than -- but every bit as luxurious as -- full-sized buses, with metallers like High on Fire, Behemoth and Alesana employing them. The company estimates that the total cost for a 25-date tour is $7,500, sans fuel, which is half the price of a budget-gobbling bus.

While BandWagon, based in Indiana, have seven vehicles that are road legal, they have a lofty goal. "We are shooting for 30 by Warped Tour and Mayhem next year," agent Jeremy Clarke told Noisecreep at South by Southwest, where he parked the vehicle for bands, managers and label execs to see firsthand. "It's half the price of bus. It sleeps eight and there is a ninth bunk for the driver or a friend or merch person who tours with you."

The economical BandWagons are roomy. In fact, they're six inches wider than a regular tour bus, yet feature all the same amenities. They are perfect for entertaining the ladies, for eating, for working. They make the often stressful life on the road a bit more bearable. You have to be 25 to drive and rent one, but it doesn't require a CDL. (That's a commercial driver's license!) There is also a shower and a toilet, so you don't have to rough it. BandWagons are affordable and comfortable.

Download Heavy Metal Songs

Filed under: Interview, Metal Minutia, Tours

Add a Comment

Sign in »

4 Comments

Filter by:

foreknownhc

The extra space doesn't come from exterior width. It's all interior. These things are awesome. I do Warped Tour every year and had a chance to go on Haste The Days. It was so nice that I am getting one for Warped 2011.

January 22 2011 at 11:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

BTTVScott

Or you could just skip the expensive rental that your record label would make you pay back when you don't sell enough albums and take a more DIY approach and crash for free across the US, Canada and Europe by using Better Than The Van. www.betterthanthevan.com :)

October 25 2010 at 11:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Wayne

Entertainer tour buses are 102 inches wide, the maximum allowed by law, no truck is wider. With mirrors, tour buses are the widest vehicles, with just inches to spare at toll booths. Most tour buses have 12 bunks. A vehicle can not hold enough water for 9 or 12 people to take a shower unless you are hooked up to a faucet.
I am sure most bands would be thrilled to sleep behind one of their band members driving or better yet, the merch guy.
Why have a professional driver when you can hire someone else to drive for 10 bucks an hour, wait - if you pay them they have to have a CDL license.
Any driver, even driving a 15 passenger van, if compensated needs a CDL license and the way DOT follows the Mayhem and Van's Warped Tour - this could be interesting.

April 02 2010 at 12:26 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Wayne's comment

Jenny

Wayne- Sounds like you are a driver who feels their job is being threatened or you work for a bus company who feels threatened.

June 29 2010 at 11:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Your Settings

{email}

Subscriptions

Weekly Newsletter

Noisecreep news in your mailbox. Top Articles, reviews, photos & more.

Realtime alerts

Daily alerts

Update

Cancel

Categories