The Stage Bus would like to introduce Tom - our new Commercial Manager. A University of Birmingham graduate, Tom has a background in events management and has also been known to make appearences on Stage Bus crew on various occassions! Tom is really looking forward to begining work as he loves talking to people about subjects he is passionate about, and his main role will be be helping to spread the word about The Stage Bus and the services we offer.
Happy New Year from The Stage Bus. We hope you are all looking forward to as great a year as we are!
25 November 2009
The VAT rate is going to go up from 15% back to 17.5% at the end of the year, and whilst 2.5% may not sound a lot, when booking a stage it can make a real difference! If you know the dates for your event and would like to book The Stage Bus, so long as we have the paperwork done by the end of the year you will only have to pay 15% VAT.
We are currently still available for New Years Eve, so have a party with a difference and book The Stage Bus to be your focal point for the party!
We have been having our normal winter surviving and clearing session, including a new tow hitch for the opping trailer, a paint of the stage and new patch panels for some of our amp racks.
We are also building a new distro, who needs a name as currently she is being referred to as "Amy's sister" so any ideas welcome as we wouldn't want her to get a complex!
8 April 2009
The Stage Bus is rearing to go at a new season of outdoor events. The trailer is finished and looking very smart. We are currently in the process of replacing the kitchen upstairs on the bus (must keep the crew fed... happy crew makes for good gigs!). We are also creating lots more storage for keeping cable etc to make the stage run slicker than ever.
We have also been buying things, a large amount of power multicore, speakers, amps and cases to name but a few.
The Stage Bus still has some availability this year, so if you are interested get in touch and see how we can make your event a success!
24 October 2008
We have been all over doing university freshers events, including a very damp day at BCU where we had bands including The Holloways and Sergeant, despite the weather a good day was had by all involved. We also went to Matlock and masqueraded as a VW (we even created a bonnet badge for it) for the Run To The Hills VW rally.
The Stage Bus has just had its end of season service, and now has a brand new black awning, we are also soon to have a new trailer. As well as our recently new sound desk we have upgraded our FOH control rack. Other upgrades coming soon, watch this space!
We still have some availability through the rest of 2008 and 2009, but once we are booked we are booked as The Stage Bus is only one bus! Please see contact us for contact details.
29 July 2008
Apologies for the lack of recent news updates - we've been having a bit of an exciting time with our website.
You'll be pleased to know the bus emerged happy from her winter hibernation and has been out and about at a number of events across the country. We've had a number of repeat bookings from last year as well as many more new ones. We've been to London for the London Mongolian Naadam, which provided a bit of a change to our normal events.
The biggie though has to be Glastonbury! Unfortunately this time we didn't attend as a stage but as a charity stall working with the International Association for Human Values. Nonetheless, a great time was had by all - Glastonbury is truly something to be experienced!
Otherwise, the summer season seems truly to have begun. We still have limited availability for 2008, and are now booking for 2009 so do get in touch if you might be interested in using The Stage Bus atall!
20 February 2008
This time of year defiantly seems to be filled mainly with admin, fixing things and spending money. We have still been doing assorted smaller events, though the bus its self has gone in to hibernation until the first gig of the new year.
We seem to have been having a time of doing events where no people have turned up and (direct quote from a promoter) the lighting has been the best bit about the night!. Well obviously when we are doing lighting it IS the best bit about the night, but it is nice to be recognised. Another event we did sound and lighting for at the rainbow warehouse one of the bands said on there myspace blog that it was the best lighting they had ever had (though I have lost the link so im afraid I cant reference this!).
Keep an eye on my eBay account, as im generally getting rid of a lot of stuff at the moment, having the winter audit.
2008 is starting to get booked up, so if you want the bus for your event get in contact ASAP
13 November 2007
As ever life and bus has been busy. We have been to the Bullring and the Q club in Birmingham amongst others! We are currently in the process of finalizing a lot of bookings for next year, so we will hopefully be at a town near you in 2008
We are currently still available for New Years eve (07/08) if anyone is in need of an out door stage for a big way to see the new year in, if you are interested please contact us
The bus its self has now had all of its dimmer channels wired up to sensible places, meaning we can now put up more lights and do it faster than we could before.
We have been spending money and buying new toys, we now have 6 robe 250xt heads, a pair of Coemar 1200cf moving wash lights, some wind up stands, a new large PA system, some new dimmers the list goes on.
We are taking bookings for 2008, but remember there is just 1 bus, so once a date is booked its booked!
In other news, a festival we were there second stage has won an award at the UK festival awards for best small festival, well done Blissfields festival!
15 July 2007
I will apologies for the lack of updates recently, the world of The Stage Bus has become rather hectic in the summer rush!
Over the past month or so we have been to numerous events including Vale festival, Aston University Guild on the grass, Envision and Blissfields festival to name but a few. Plenty more opportunities to see us coming up this summer so keep an eye on the upcoming events section.
If you have seen us at any events your comments are always welcome, send us an email or drop us a message on facebook or myspace.
The bus its self is all coming together now, with even the startings of a living area upstairs.
We are starting to take bookings for 2008 now, so if you have an event and want us there dont delay, theres only 1 bus and once its booked its booked!
We have now uploaded lots of new photos of assorted events we have been involved with recently so take a look at the photo gallery.
13 May 2007
Drop Beats Not Bombs was another resounding success, thanks to all who attended. Some video of the bus has made it on to Youtube. We received many complements about the bus, sound and lights.
The Bus is currently still having finishing touches done to it, we are hoping to start fitting out the upstairs as a living area soon.
In case you hadn't noticed we have had a large (and long needed) website update, check out the photos for more photos of the bus being created and many events including the launch gig and Drop Beats Not Bombs
28 April 2007
The Stage Bus launch gig was by all accounts an overwhelming success. There was a great turn out, 360 were incredible as ever and (even if I do say so myself) everything looked and sounded amazing! The bus is even very pleasant to drive (if a little unnerving to park!). There are a couple of photos on the home page; we intend to be uploading a load more very soon, along with a complete website update and over hall. If you have myspace or facebook there are already some more photos on both of those.
The bus has gone back to have some final finishing touches and adjustments made on it ready for drop beats not bombs and the rest of the festival season. We have even now sourced fittings for turning the upstairs in to a living area for staff.
If anyone has any comments or suggestions please get in contact and let us know, one reason for the launch gig was to fine tune some aspects of the bus.
We are getting all the artists who play on the bus to sign the ceiling of the bus, 360 are already up there but we will just have too wait and see who else ends up on there!
Well, as already stated, the busses next outing is drop beats not bombs in Birmingham on the 5th and 6th of may, so come along and see us there!
18 March 2007
The bus is nearly completed. It now has all its assorted holes cut in it, a stage, and should have an awning and lighting truss by the end of the week. It is booked in to be painted in the last week of March. Hopefully new photos will be up soon (having some issues with photo up loader).
We are also starting to do the internal fitting. With in the next week or 2 we will have the bus wired, and all the major internal fitting completed.
We have now had just about all the major equipment delivered for the bus. Last week we had 8 Showtech Trackpod 90 LED battens arrive, and our main Renkus Heinz PA system (there has been a bit of a continuing saga with PA systems, this is what we have got in the end.). We have also got a small generator (bought from someone who by coincidence lives on a double decker bus!).
We are still planning on having a launch gig in April, watch this space for details, hopefully by the end of the week. We also have our first external gig confirmed. We will be doing the hip-hop stage at Drop Beats Not Bombs at the custard factory on the 5th and 6th of May. Visit www.dropbeatsnotbombs.co.uk for more information.
15 February 2007
The Bus now has its large doors on the side (photos coming soon) so can be closed while being driven. All that really remains to the conversion is adding some extra small holes and finishing it all off. We are currently expecting the main conversion of the bus to be done by the second week of march.
The trailer is looking a lot healthier. It now has a new floor, a watertight roof, and no other major issues. Now just the grand task of kitting it out.
As ever we have been buying more equipment, including a Soundcraft 500 32/8 FOH desk, a 75m 40x16 multicore, assorted flight cases, cable, and a load of matching TFT monitors for opping purposes!
We are starting to book up for the summer, with a number of events confirmed, so if you are thinking about booking dont delay or it may be to late!
1 September 2007
The Stage Bus is starting to look like a stage! The main hole in the side is completed (photos coming soon). Its really impressive to see it all coming together and is already looking quite distinctive.
We now have a trailer for use as an opping station, so that is now having work done on it to be fully kitted out (again photos coming soon). Incase anyone is interested the remains of the catering fixtures that it came with are on ebay at the moment, see our sales page for a link.
The Stage Bus is now on face book, search groups for The Stage Bus and join!
The seats that came from the bus are getting a new lease of life, and being fitted in to another bus of some description.
We have finalized arrangements for our main PA system; we have got a promotional deal on a brand new Ohm TRS system. Take a look at www.ohm.co.uk for more information.
We have bought a monitor desk for the bus (for on stage monitors). A Soundcraft 500 monitor, 24/12 (quite when we are ever going to need 12 way monitoring is beyond me, but I guess you can never have too many of these things!).
Other things that have been bought include a set of Shure hand held radio mics, a large selection of outboard. We hope to have a multicore and touring FOH desk soon to, watch this space!
Items we are particularly after at the moment are 6 channels of 500w (ish at 8 ohm) amps to run monitors (preferably matched), 6 or 8 LED battens, XLR patch panels, and of general course cable as ever.
We are hoping to have a launch gig for The Stage Bus in early April, and are looking for somewhere to hold this, preferably with in the Birmingham area, and covered (bus depot, barn somewhere a bus can fit obviously) due to not being totally trusting of the British weather in April! Even somewhere doesnt fit these criteria we may still consider it. There are good promotions opportunities for anywhere able to hold this event as there will be a lot of press and similar there for it.
16 November 2006
Everything is happening rather rapidly at the moment, other than the actual conversion work. Travel WM need to stop crashing busses, as the company who do their body work repairs is doing our work. We are still predicting the bus will be ready by the beginning of 2007.
However the bus does now have a rather large hole in one side (this being the good sort of hole, as in the one we want there to be!). The stage is starting to become a reality and less of just an idea! Have a look at the photos page for the latest pictures of the progress. We are selling the seats from the bus on ebay at the moment, and had a surprising amount of interest.
We have also discovered another photo of the bus whilst it was in service earler on this year, available here.
We are in sponsorship talks with a large loud speaker manufacturer, so it looks like we will have a brand new system for The Stage Bus.
We have also secured a set of wedge monitors, a large amount of control gear and several pieces of lighting hardware.
Whilst we have several options for storage of the bus in the short term we still have nothing ideal on a long term basis, so if you know of anywhere in the Birmingham area we may be able to store a double decker bus (preferably under cover) please contact us.
We are already in talks about possible events and festivals which the bus will hopefully be at next year. Watch this space for announcements as we confirm events.
As an aside, we have been helping set up and doing events at the Epic Skate park in Mosley Birmingham. Have a look at the photos page for some pictures.
22 October 2006
Work is cracking on on the bus, (see photos page for latest pictures). The seats are all stripped out from downstairs, and paneling has been taken off the outside where the stage is going. If anyone wants a set of original seats from a MCW Metrobus mk2 Timesaver give me a shout - there aren't really any more of them around as this is the last bus of its sort (in original condition) to come out of service.
Some equipment from The Stage Bus was used on a Fratelli's gig. Ok, it was only a pair of projectors but still - its all big names with us!
We are looking for volunteers to paint the bus, so if anyone out there has ever fancied helping to paint a double decker bus, now is your chance! Please contact us and let us know.
We are still looking for permanent storage for the bus, preferably covered and not to far from Birmingham. If you know of anywhere please contact us.
We are hoping to have the bus gig-ready by mid-December. We are offering special deals for events though December and early January. Please contact us for details.
10 April 2006
Our bus has been collected and has been whisked away to be converted. Have a look at the photos page for pictures of the bus before it is converted. The bus is currently having its seats and some paneling being stripped out ready for the full conversion. Keep an eye on the site for photos of the progress as it happens!
It has been a week for getting big blue vehicles, as we have just bought a big blue van to go with the big blue bus!
The Stage Bus supplied and helped run one venue for the University of Birmingham Guild of Students freshers week. This was a storming success and check the photos page for pictures.
We have just bought a set of 4 Robe 250 XT moving head lights take a look here to see what they can do!
There are rumours that there may be a series of short documentaries about The Stage Bus made for Channel 4. Watch this space and we will keep you informed.
14 September 2006
We have a bus! It should have been collected by this time next week (it would have been by now, but the company doing the work have just had a huge job come in, so it's all delayed by a week). Watch this space for photos and updates on the conversion work to the bus.
At the weekend The Stage Bus provided entertainments for a wedding in Essex. Good luck to Julie and Dan with their future together. It was one of the most fun wedding receptions we have ever been to! Music from cheese to heavy metal with even a live 9-piece ska band doing a surprise slot to start the night off. Even if I do say so myself superb sound and lights, both looked and sounded amazing. Thanks to everyone who helped make this a fitting party for the event.
We were at the PLASA show on Monday investigating possibilities for sound, lighting and staging for the bus. Several possibilities have presented themselves from the day so watch this space!
8 October 2006
The bus for The Stage Bus is doing its last day of normal service with Travel West Midlands on Friday the first of September (bus 2920), then being driven away for conversation the next week. Watch this space for photos and updates of progress.
The Big Green Gathering was a worth while trip. Off the back of this we are considering having the bus engine converted to run on vegetable oil and some form of solar power. Again, watch this space for information as it comes.
If you would like a "The Stage Bus" T-shirt there is a limited availability at 12 each. Please contact us.
If you happen to want to help with promoting The Stage Bus, both posters and flyers are available in the download area of the site, or contact us for more information, advice or anything else.
20 July 2006
Everything is coming along rather rapidly. In the last couple of weeks we have put a deposit down on a bus, which will be coming out of service in September ready to be converted. Click here for a photo of it in service (thanks to Fotopic.net for the photo).
Come September when I get the bus it will be whisked away to Coach and Bus to have a hole cut in the side of it etc. Watch this space for photos and progress reports.
We have also been buying equipment over the past few weeks. Latest additions to the collection include a pair of Technics 1210 turntables, Newmark mixer, assorted Newmark DJ CD players, control gear, high quality 600W small PA system, to name but a few.
The Stage Bus is now on Myspace, www.myspace.com/thestagebus so add us as friends!
Currently there is some of our old equipment on ebay. Click here to view it.
We are still looking for somewhere covered to store the bus. I have got several offers of outdoor storage, but ideally we want somewhere under cover to keep it.
We are still looking for sponsorship and assorted sound, lighting and staging equipment. Please contact us for more information.
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