People often ask, “Where did you get the idea for a party bus?” The answer is not a short one.
As an outgoing person who loves to be around people and entertain, I have always enjoyed organizing events and being involved in the entertainment industry in some facet. I started off as DJ, and then began organizing larger scale parties and charity events locally. I had been a pub crawl in Boston’s Faneuil Hall and thought “I could run one of these.” But how could I change it up a bit????
In late 2001/early 2002, while searching the internet for ideas on how to run a pub crawl, I happened to come across a website called PubCrawl.net which had peeked my interest. Pubcrawl.net was an online interface designed to provide information on how to set up a pub crawl from spreading the word; to collaborating with bars in my local area; and finding a bus company to transport 30-200 crawlers from bar to bar in place of the traditional walking or “crawling on foot. This was an unusual concept that intrigued me; therefore I signed up to be an “administrator” for my area ( Boston) in order to educate myself further on the subject.
Late 2002 ~ Well, after several months of procrastination, I decided to see if this concept would actually work. I had been in contact with Sean Tierney, founder of PubCrawl.net, for several months now. I expressed an interest in traveling out to Phoenix, Arizona (Sean’s Hometown) to meet him and see firsthand how the pub crawls by bus were supposed to run.
January 2003 ~ I made arrangements to travel to Arizona during the month of May for a huge celebration, a Cinco De Mayo pub crawl.
May 2003 ~ After several months of waiting, I arrived in Arizona, and had the opportunity to meet the creative genius, Sean Tierney, and learn the inner workings of how a “Party Bus Pubcrawl” should run. It was a lot more difficult than I had imagined, but Sean and his crew made it look easy. After all, they had been organizing these pub crawls in the Phoenix area for 4 years. Throughout the night, as a passenger it was amazing. Everything was taken care of for us from the music and entertainment on board the bus, to easy access into the bars/clubs. I didn’t even have to worry about driving home. I soon realized this is what I’ve been looking for, people will have the opportunity to visit several venue’s across Boston’s vast cityscape while being able to keep the party going on the way.
I returned home and began using what I had learned while in Arizona. I collected over 100 email addresses using the PubCrawl.net website; searched for “theme” ideas; and bars to work with in the Boston area.
There was just one problem… finding the perfect bus.
January 2004 ~ After months of planning, the first PubCrawl was born! I had given it an Irish Pub theme & called it the “Frosted Shamrock Crawl.” It was a huge success. With the help of many friends and interested parties, I continued to hire local bus companies and organized pub crawls in the Boston area, a total of 12 in 2004.
December 2004 ~ Boston Party Tours was created along with 2 close friends. Combined, we have extensive backgrounds in nightlife, entertainment, electronics/sound systems, and the inner workings of a commercial vehicle business. Together, we believe Boston could benefit from our services, a “vehicle” for partiers to use to be able to frequent several venues in one night, and having a safe mode of transportation home.
January 2005 ~ After carefully selecting a bus, we began brainstorming, and came up with several ideas to make our bus all that it could be. We searched the internet and found many similar companies throughout the country. We gathered some great design ideas, to incorporate with our own, in order to create the right atmosphere for our bus. Once we all agreed on the design, custom building for the first Boston Party Tours bus began.
June 4, 2005 ~ For the first night on Boston Party Tours new bus, it was one of our friend’s birthdays, so we thought it would be a perfect inauguration. The night went off exactly as we planned. Event after event, the word quickly spread online and by word of mouth. Business began picking up quickly and the summer booked out, followed by the fall, and now a productive winter. People have been reserving the bus for birthdays, Bachelor/Bachelorette parties, work parties, sporting events, pub crawls….you name it!
2006 ~ We continue to grow and strive to offer you more than you expect. We have built many relationships with Boston Bar/Nightclub owners & managers. We work closely with them to give you the most “bang for your buck” by offering no line/no cover, VIP areas, and the occasional “round on the house”. We have many plans to add more buses in our fleet, to keep up with the popular demand of our unique service. We are available for private charters, and still host the original pub crawls that started it all.
~ Thank you for taking the time to find out a little more “About Us” and we hope to see you dancing, and playing on the bus soon.
~ JoeDigi
