Last week, I shared a set of tips for any prospective entrepreneurs who may be considering jumping into the party bus business. It can be a lucrative endeavor and a constant source of excitement within your occupation, however the constant atmosphere of excitement and mischief also brings the potential for problems. All it takes is one crash or one underage person being allowed alcohol within your vehicle for your entire business to come falling down.
The number one priority on any bus should be safety, but when your passengers are focused on cutting loose or getting wild it can be more difficult to keep them within the bounds of safe choices while also providing a fun atmosphere. These general rules can ensure your guests have a great time and your party bus business can avoid any potential disasters.
Alcohol on the Party Bus
Alcohol is pretty much a given on board a party bus. Most even include a bar installed for passenger convenience. However, you are always the responsible party when people are on your bus. It is perfectly fine to allow your legally-aged passengers to drink, in fact this is one of the best ways to cut down on drunk driving after a night of partying on the town. But, you absolutely must verify all passengers are legally able to drink, and you need to have a plan in place to prevent any underage passengers from trying to sneak a drink from a bottle when your eye is turned.
The best policy is to only allow parties of people above the drinking age, or to not allow drinking on board to bus when some passengers are below to limit. It may seem like overkill to check the ID of every passenger stepping on board, but it beats seeing your business shut down for serving minors.
At the same time, there is also the issue of those over the legal drinking age who choose to over-indulge. For this reason, putting a limit on the amount of alcohol individuals consume is suggested. Adults don’t like being told they can only drink a certain amount when they are aiming to party, but if your passengers get out of hand they can be a danger to themselves or the bus driver. They are also more likely to be a distraction to the driver, which can lead to catastrophe.
Movement on the Bus
Even when buses are sitting still there are plenty of ways to get hurt. Once the wheels start turning, those opportunities multiply. If your bus doesn’t have seat belts or other safety restraints, you should be aware of the potential problems that can arise during an accident. For instance, dancing poles in the middle of the floor may be popular on some party buses, but they can also turn deadly in the event of a crash. The same can be said for any sharp corners, such as the edges of the bar.
The best course of action would be to make sure every party bus you operate has seat belts and rules set in place to ensure passengers use them when the bus is in motion. So long as most of the fun features of the bus are still available, the passengers likely won’t mind. Just make sure the televisions are easily viewable from the seats, the sound system can be controlled without much movement, and refreshments are always close-enough to reach.
Licensing and Insurance
The biggest safety risk to your business is inadequate paperwork. Hiring unlicensed drivers or operating a vehicle without insurance will eventually catch up to you and ruin all that you have built. And no, it isn’t worth the risk to skate by without licenses and insurance until your business has grown and become stable. All it takes is one small accident and your business will be irreparably damaged by something that could have been easily avoidable by researching your state and federal requirements and ensuring all drivers live by the proper rules.
