Wednesday, 05/24/06

From: Nashville Rage:  http://www.nashvillerage.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060524/RAGE0102/605250329/1200/RAGE01

Every day is a party for David Heimbach of Fadds Entertainment. He and partner Scot Dunlap are responsible for the rolling party buses that can be spotted all over Nashville on any given night. Maybe you noticed the double-decker British bus cruising down the interstate, or maybe you caught his glowing school bus bumping tunes while cruising Second Avenue. Regardless, I bet it caught your attention and sparked your curiosity. ATR sat down with David to discuss drunken shenanigans and a patient wife who doesn't mind that he stays out all night partying.

ATR: How did you get started?

DH: My wonderful wife Jodie came up with the idea. She had booked a party bus in Michigan when she was in high school. She told me the story and I thought it would go over big in Nashville. The rest is history.

ATR: What's the craziest thing that has ever occurred on one of your buses?

DH: The craziest thing that has ever happened that you can print? Well every weekend is full of fun and different events, but I guess one event that stands out is the night we had the staff from Performance Costumes on board for a Halloween party. They even provided costumes for the driver and DJ on board. This group is a lot of fun. I think they have had more than five or six parties over the years. The party bus staff witnesses the best and worst of people while partying.

ATR: How many buses do you have?

DH: We just added our sixth bus to the fleet, The Liquid Lounge, which is a lot more upscale.

ATR: Do you customize each bus on your own?

DH: We do all mechanical and conversions at our shop in Mount Juliet and Nashville. Some things we must hire out to professionals, but all in all we design and convert all our own buses.

ATR: What is the average cost to rent a bus?

DH: The cost to rent the party buses will differ depending on which bus it is. Kids' parties, which are normally done during the day or early evening, run between $225-$300 for a two-hour party. Once the sun goes down and the adults come out to play, the buses rent from $120-$200 per hour. We do have a small gas fee that has been added for obvious reasons. A 3-4 hour minimum is the normal booking time.

ATR: Have you had any celebrity passengers?

DH: Celebrity passengers? Now you're trying to get me in trouble! Without going into a lot of detail, because what happens on the party bus stays on the party bus, over the years we have entertained everyone from football players, hockey teams, government staffers, country music legends, a few newcomers, cops, firemen and even famous strippers. We even were selected to participate in a show for Comedy Central, and a couple of summers ago we sat downtown for a show called "The Simple Life." We have been spotted in a couple of music videos. We even have seen the best and worst side of "Kid Rock" stars. Of course, I have removed all the names to protect the innocent!

ATR: Do the buses only run in Nashville?

DH: We run anywhere in Nashville and surrounding towns from Clarksville to Shelbyville down to Murfreesboro and even to Portland and Dickson. But in June we are opening a franchise in Knoxville. It's the new frontier. We are working hard to get this into place.

ATR: What must each bus have before you rent it out?

DH: Each party bus has been converted to maximize the theme we have assigned to it, from lighted dance floors, fog machines, strobes and even dancing poles. All buses are set up with a pro audio sound system, computers and all the other equipment needed in the DJ booth.

To rent a party bus from Fadds, call 754-2221 or 478-4991, or visit www.NashvillePartyBus.com.