I rely on income from playing music live and in the recording studio to supplement my meager retirement income. The Election Infection has drastically cut the legs from underneath the live music venue industry and the big guys like Walmart are now beginning to show drive-in movies in their parking lots at night, further sealing the doom of small theaters. Anyone can point at a hole in the boat and say they see the problem but I'm a little more pro-active than that. I am designing and building mobile stages from high-cube shipping containers, complete with installed sound reinforcement, monitors, lighting, back screen projection, and FM low-range broadcast. I do not believe the live music market will survive the "New Normal" and think this idea will aid in Concert Venue, Revivals, Worship Services, and even Politicians running for office. Sponsor banners, a 20'x176' stage, instruments, all pulled onto site, set up and ready to run in less time than a three piece band can chug a beer and haul their amps inside to the corner stage. I am thinking shopping Mall parking lots, church lots, where-ever people can park, view, listen with windows rolled down and on their Alpine stereo system, venders and concessions , and all under the blanket of the location's insurance. They are covered anyway, even closed, so the idea could benefit everyone. I did my rough drawings and now they're with Roger, my Architect. I have the containers available, sound equipment, lights, etc. for the first unit so we'll see how it goes.
Don't know where you are at but around my area, those places require you to have insurance and name them other insured and every town has a fee that ranges from $25 - $150 for anything mobile to set up with in City limits even on Private lots. Can usually get around it by working under another venue or being in partnership with a not for profit. We have a lot of food trucks start up here and the learn how expensive it can get real fast paying the Mobile Set up Fees. Then there are a bunch of brand New barely used food trucks and concessions trailers for sale. Insurance is not horrible mine runs $1500 per year for the mobile and set up site and they write the other insureds for free. Might be different in yer area, this is after all the Peoples Communist Dystopia of Illinois I hire quite a few bands and solo acts to play at the Farmers Market and beside me at other events and they all complain about getting beat to death with permits and fees just trying play in parking lots for tips. Don't have that problem playing under another venue like a bar, a farmers market, or other organized and Government approved event. That being said paying a good band or solo act $100 per hour usually = $200-$250 per hour in increased sales....... more if the band or artist has a good following itself.
I hope this works out for you Sea. If you could use an old blindassed welder to come down and help with some fab work hit me up. What are the 40' Conex's going for nowadays?
I got a source here I can get One Trip 40' high cubs for about 2800.00. I actually have an offer from the conex dealer here to build out 40' containers into housing modules for Vets under a grant he got.
