questions for celebrity tour bus drivers

Holy post bump, Batman!

 

Several Christmases ago I was at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Dolly Parton's "Plan B" bus was open and visitors were touring it. The other one was headed to Los Angeles at the time, I think.

When we got to the kitchen area he thumps his chest and says, "All the counter tops and sink came from one piece of granite taken directly from the quarry in New Hampshire and sent to the bus manufacturer in Elkhart, Indiana. Also, the cabinets are cherry wood".

I asked him, "Where did the wood come from"? He said, "I don't know". I told him, "It comes from a tree"!

 

Just to Let you know, I qualify for [OLD GEEZER STATUS!] In the earlier years of my truckin days [70s] I ran with Celebrities several times. Sometimes the drivers would talk to me on the CB and sometimes they would not. Most of the Celebrities were country singers. Usually if Mr. Big or Miss Big were aboard the bus, the bus had no advertisments or markings other than [private coach]. Only once was Mr. Big driving and he talked to me on the CB just like a trucker would. The coaches were fast, so if you did'nt have a big horse you could not stay in CB range very long. I had a big horse! 500+hp Purple people eater. [ Allis Chalmers] engine, so I could more than keep up which was usually the topic of conversation that would break the ice and start the driver talking to me. Not too many trucks at that time could blow the doors off an Eagle Bus! One time after talking with the coach driver for a few miles he moved over into the Monfort lane and told me to cruise up along side the bus door, I did and there sitting in the door stoop was Mr. Big!! strumming the git fiddle and smiling big as could be! singing [ ole dogs an children and watermellon wine] I was invited to a concert free of charge a couple of times, but my truckin schedule would not allow me to. If you see a coach all lettered up and painted with themes chances are Mr. or Miss. big will not be on board. Some of the other celebrities I ran with initials were J.C.- W.N.- B.C.W.- K.W.- L.L. K.R. OK folks, Thats my story and I'm stickin to it. Levi39

 

The drivers who drive buses at 100 mph are idiots. There are idiots in every line of work but, if you are responsible for the lives of other people and drive like this, you are an idiot and should be doing something else. There is no need to even drive over the speed limit. What happens when you blow a steer tire? I bet the people on your bus dont get any sleep with you driving like that. Dont believe anything this guy says , the good drivers are safe , dont speed , and actually follow DOT rules.

If you have a good head on your shoulders , dont do drugs , and have a good driving record , you can get a job doing this...You dont need 10 yrs experience ! I have been doing this for a long , long time and have never had to drive like what is described above. There are times when you have to push yourself just like any job but for the most part it is easy. The easy part is driving. You have to be able to get along with people , you have to take pride in your equipment and yourself , you must be self sufficient and be able to fix things with limited resources and also not be star struck by the people you meet and the atmosphere.

 

Tom T. Hall, huh? Cool!

Hey Levi, I think I got it, are any of these right?

JC = John Conlee
WN = Willie Nelson
LL = Loretta Lynn
KR = Kenny Rogers

Who are B.C.W. and K.W.?

 

jc

johnny cash.........

 

I drive a school bus now, but I intend to get my A-CDL this summer when with the summer break.
Most recently, I was called by a rep from Coach America who wanted to interview me for a job. At first I was excited but have since learned that it ain't all that glamorous on the bottom rung. First, they can't tell you what to expect to earn! After asking around, I found I would be basically sitting on the bench, so to speak and wait for a call. Additionally, I just didn't get a good "vibe" from this company and, long story short, think I'll go ahead and get my CDL-A this summer.
Turns out, I would be driving college sports teams to games, mostly, and since a big part of a coach driver's pay is based on tips, I figured I would go broke the first few years to gain any seniority for the top trips to casios, etc. Oh well... No coach driving for me! Back to plan A!

 

Hi there, someone told me about this thread so thought I'd check it out. Where I am at the moment my Internet keeps either crashing or going really slow so let's hope this works and gives you a good insight. You will always get stories from bands you drive, some of the members are awesome while others aren't, some members do nothing but complain while others aren't really bothered. I think it all depends on the person that day as some can wake up in a real argumentative mood and other mornings they are chill. I have been touring for bands for 10 years now, just last Saturday I was in Newcastle Upon Tyne at St James Park the football field home to Newcastle United and now I'm in Amsterdam.. You will travel long distances before you can stop and when you do stop it's to top up fuel etc, that's the only stops I get, most of the time when the bands are doing their thing I will take a nap then wake up early hours of the morning and drive again to the next destination. Yes those aren't fun times plus with certain band members getting on you're back about either driving too fast or they want to stop for food I just simply say "nope" and they go back to what they are going. I had 1 band member shout at me because I woke him up as I stopped for fuel which I shouted back but nearly got sacked so bus drivers do put up with a lot of stick.. You will get the side that people don't see either, the times when they would get groupies and bring them back to the bus for a "quickie" as they would call it and have their girlfriends sitting at home, one band member told me "What she doesn't know won't kill her" which I just shrugged my shoulders and let him get on with it.. I'll be honest it''s not a GREAT job but it does have it's moments... I hope this helped

 

How often do you get home?What are some of the popular bands you've worked with?

 

You get home either when the tour is over or on break. I've went from one to another, your busy season starts about late March to late November. I did it for seven years, two years of tour to tour, 5 with regular clients.