Sidewalk Prophets and the Story of Bubba the Bus

(Photo : Fervent Records / Word Entertainment)
Sidewalk Prophets

Last month, after two years of smooth running, the tour bus that Sidewalk Prophets affectionately refer to as "Bubba" had its first set of major issues. They are reaching out to fans to help get them back on the road. So far, $3750.00 of the $17,000.00 needed to get the bus repaired has been donated. Sadly, since a lot of people think that the bands they hear on the radio are all mega-rich, they've also caught some flack, being called beggars and some other less than flattering (or true) names.

Not only did the comments hurt them, they also caught them off guard. The band talked about it a bit on their Facebook, trying to explain what the reality is versus the perception.

• Crew -- Sidewalk Prophets has a crew of between six and eight people. These folks love the music and the ministry, but they also have families to feed and bills to pay back home so they can't afford to do it for free.
• Fuel - Buses aren't exactly the most fuel efficient vehicles on the planet. Most are lucky if they get 10 miles per gallon (especially if they're pulling a trailer full of gear behind them). After tonight's show in Arnold, MO, Sidewalk Prophets will be going to La Vista, NE for tomorrow's concert. That's 443 miles - you do the math.
• Food and Extras - We all have to eat and touring bands are no different. While promoters provide food at the venue, it's not always in huge quantities so that there is enough to take on the road to tide them over until the next show. Tales of outragious and extravagent riders aren't usually found in the Christian realm. Signed mainstream bands vs. Christian bands are totally different animals when it comes to green room requests and travel expenses. Hospitality riders tell the tale...
  • Andrew Peterson asks for snacks in his dressing room. Akon requires that his dressing room be stocked with, among other items, "one pound of Fresh Bing Cherries, fresh-baked Oatmeal and Sugar cookies, three containers of Tangerine or Mango Altoids, and a $300 bottle of Ace of Spades champagne. Additionally, Akon requires a Juicer and Blender for juicing and making smoothies."
  • Chris August asks for Strawberry Nutra Grain Bars. Ciara wants her dressing room to be furnished with a "Black or Tan Leather Sofa, Love Seat, a large area rug, and an entertainment center complete with TV and stereo." Absolutes are a microwave oven, a tall directors chair with arm rests and a clothes steamer. Toothpicks, assorted packs of sugar-free gum, a bottle of Scope, toothpaste, a toothbrush and a pair of scented Diptyque candles are also requests.
  • Laura Story travels with her daughter, so food is included for her ... Snacks 1 Bag of Pretzels, assorted fresh fruit (organic preferred), 3 packets of baby food, either Ella's organic baby food Nature's Best of Plum Organic, any flavor is fine OR a blender with fresh organic fruits & vegetables. Lil Wayne, who gets half his six-figure fee in cash before each show, demands that a chartered lear jet be available to get him to and from the city the concert is in. Once he's there, his hotel must a 5 star hotel and his room? The Presidential Suite which must have his bedroom being at least 1000 square feet, with the living room and bedroom separated by a door.

• Bills at home - Like all of the rest of us, musicians have bills at home that are as unglamorous as they come but necessary. Mortgage/rent, power, water, gas, phone, food, car payments, insurance, etc. Plus, bands have bills that the rest of us don't that come from their records labels (recoupment), management company, booking agent, and publicist.

That all adds up to a lot of money being spent and not a whole lot of room for emergencies like bus repairs. So when Sidewalk Prophets say that they need help, they're not being cheap, they're being real! If you want to (and can) donate to the Bubba Bus fund, it will definitely help.

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Sidewalk Prophets