kick the idea around!

jexygirl

So, random, just came to me idea.
Looking for opinions rather than advice I guess. Call it market research.
I am in the hospitality trade. I know GPs /costs to the Nth degree.
What are your general thoughts on a "Festivals B&B"
Thinking, randomly, a tour bus / sleeper coach /double decker whatever (yes Sue, cliff influences!). Offering effectively, B&B but at festivals.
There is a massive festival following, obviously, and catering is covered, as is hire of vehicles.
What came to me, was to offer B&B for festivals - a clean shower and toilet, plus a full cooked brekkie, at whichever festival you choose ( I would pre book festival pitches at all major ones, then offer an "on site hotel" if you like, costed out ofc, could even offer DBB I suppose if i wanted to cook!!!). I realise that there is a cost involved, just wondered if the hippy side of me was coming out and wanting to do festivals free, or if there could be a market for people that want to go, but dont want to camp /want clean loos /a bed / no tent /a hot shower/ a full cooked breakfast, as well as know their stuff is secure...
A mobile B&B effectively...
Just throwing a random Idea in the pot, looking for outsiders POV, so not asking have I thought of insurance, laundry costs, fuel, hot water heating, brekkie etc. costs are not the question, like the driving licence, I can google that stuff - my question is, what is the market if there is one.
Yes I know about public liability, H&S, EH, etc. from my trade, my question is about whether there is a gap to fill, or whether I am hoping so I get to go to festivals for free!
If this was on offer to me, I would pay for it - my question being am I alone in that thought?
I'm thinking about a midlife gap year
Jex

Savvy_Sue

Well, since I recognise the Cliff thing, and I'm not really a festivals person, I'm just going to ask how many secure beds you can fit onto a double decker bus before saying that I really prefer an ensuite these days.

And also idly wonder how hard it is to fit a decent shower onto a bus - it's going to have to be a bit more hardcore than what you get in a caravan, and I've no idea how they work, for example, because you're going to have multiple people using them, aren't you?

There might well be a market for us ageing hippies (OK, I'm just ageing ...), it would just need veeeerrrrry careful costing, as you realise.

ironpetal

the best way to find out if your business is going to work or not is go on one of these free business courses. I went on one recently and have decided at the end of that course that my idea is not viable. It might work but returns would be extremely low for a couple of years and its too much like hard work in my opinion for little return.

When starting any business you have to be mindful of licensing, health and safety, membership bodies and the like...maybe train for extra qualifications to do with food safety etc...first aid and the like

You've got to do your marketing in various ways and that also costs money and hard work. Market research is essential or so we are led to believe....quite frankly the whole idea of a business plan and all the stuff that goes with it in the end put me right off...the business plan was harder than starting up the business. I cant see myself 'checking' my progress etc or referring to my business plan in the future but if you want funding from anyone you have to produce one of these with all its cash flow forecasts SWOTS etc.

What about checking out how people run these mobile cafe things? What you need is one of those HUGE juggernaut trailer things that the film stars all get made up in or washed or sleep in )))



Hope this helps....or not!

paddyrg

Jexy, there are yurt/tipi companies that already do something very similar, where you book a pre-made accommodation on site, so their business models may be worth looking into. I like the idea in principle, but can it be cost-effective to use a bus? The tour coaches I know (sleeping 12-14) do mean a lot of communal living, and that would never work for me! Instead, how about looking to the hospitality trailers used on film locations for actors between takes? Some trailers are split into 3 small rooms with a fold-out bed, mirror, wardrobe space, etc - a step above camping at least, solid walls, lockable door. But - the second anyone wants to show off their 'home', you will have non-residents wanting to use your loos and showers etc., so willl need to think that through.

It has posssibilities, but may need some planning out a bit further!

lincroft1710

If I was a festival goer, I might be interested in this concept, depending of course on price and standard of accom on offer.

But given the initial outlay and ongoing running costs how many festivals would you need to attend to make it pay.

paddyrg

This is the kind of thing I was suggesting -

http://www.btf-services.co.uk/americangreen/american.html

But whether there is any way to be cost-effective cross-hiring one for a festi is another question!

Oh, and from experience, the 12-berth and 14-berth tour-bus buses (eg http://www.silvergray.co.uk/fleet/13/bus9.html) are *ALL* unavailable on Glasto weekend, unless you can book more than 3 months ahead (as they're being used for bands/crew!)

Horace

The pitfalls have already been pointed out, however, if you are wanting to get a free ticket for a festival then you need to apply to The Big Green Coach Company and be prepared to work for 10 hrs over a festival weekend directing coaches to coach parks, checking tickets and loading and unloading luggage. Or attach yourself to a first aid company or charity who will be in attendance in the hope that you can swing another freebie.

We all have mad ideas every now and again. if we stopped having ideas we would be dead.

paulwf

My two main concerns would be where would you sleep and can you provide a self service breakfast instead of cooking it to order? You don't really want to be woken up at 4am by your customers coming in and then having to hang around until 11am...or perhaps 1pm?...to cook their breakfast if you are working. Maybe you'll get to do the cleaning at 3pm. To be fair perhaps an 18 year old could do it but I would struggle.

I think the random hours would mean you would be tied to the bus 24 hours a day with a very unpredictable work pattern.

jexygirl

Yeah... I really need to refrain from posting random ideas after a few brandies at 1am!

However, having seen some of the buses recently, everything from casino ones, to campers and full on hospitality & catering ones, people are very innovative in layouts!
I kind of kicked around the idea of pack em in tight, you know a bit like those yotel things at airports (if you stay in one, dont eat the food!) or like cabins on boats, you get what you pay for. People at festivals are packed in like sardines tent wise, it all gets most cosy!
Having slept on sleeper coaches when touring, they are simply a load of bunks, I think about 25 per coach with a small communal area and tiny kitchenette (all you needed was the bed, you finished late and travelled as you slept) - up here we have bunk houses, people pay 15 quid a night for a "bunk" and its communal rooms.
As for security of your stuff, I reckon its more secure than a tent, if I had pre bookings and contact details of all customers.

However, in the cold light of day and a headache, I take on board all comments about being tied to the bus, and people bringing people back etc. I guess I was just a bit brandied and it wasn't thought through at all - but it seemed a FANTASTIC plan last night! (and secretly I still do think it might work on a small scale if you didn't need to profit as a full on buisness, only to get by kind of thing)
I have also spotted an AWESOME Landy on ebay, that has an attatchment for shower outside the vehicle, and they use a pop up tent!!! HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!! (dont worry Sue the engine heats the water )
Ok... seriously, I need to take a mid life gap year!

...Need to check the bids on that converted horsebox with a roof garden - oh and pray that this place sells SOON!

Thanks for humouring me
Jex

jexygirl

paulwf wrote: »

My two main concerns would be where would you sleep and can you provide a self service breakfast instead of cooking it to order? You don't really want to be woken up at 4am by your customers coming in and then having to hang around until 11am...or perhaps 1pm?...to cook their breakfast if you are working. Maybe you'll get to do the cleaning at 3pm. .

Sounds like my daily routine Paul! (meant to post this first btw!)

The other morning, 2 residents locked themselves out, and found a ladder round the side, dragged it to the front, moved the heavy patio furniture, climbed up the ladder, then on to the roof and finally in through their window... drunk... their key was at reception, where they left it when they went for a walk at 2am when the place was all locked up and dark... they phoned down on their mobile the next morning to ask if someone could go up and unlock their door for them as they were locked in - H&S FIELD DAY!
Or... last night, someone put their van in the loch just outside, at 4.30am, so the fire engines, ambulance and recovery trucks all pitched up...got up to find 2 morrisons delivery blokes staring through the restaurant window... I just put the kettle on!

Horace

How about something like this - this is a bus that is doing the rounds down here in the Midlands.

Your idea is good but i wouldnt park the bus at the festival but make arrangements to park outside so that folks with the money can have somewhere pleasant to sleep so they can go glamping instead of camping. You would need to advertise it well and only cater for those with money as opposed to those without.