As gas prices hit record highs this summer, members of-
with sometimes up to four cars going to the same place '' said Dustin Bates lead vocalist for the Columbus-based band. When you are doing eight shows a month, it becomes a bit outrageous.''
Tired of having the members of the band use their own money to pay for trips, Downplay decided to purchase a bus that would allow them to transport themselves and their gear to shows.
Now, instead of filling up four cars and spending up to $250, the band uses about $100 of the profits they make from their larger shows to fill the van, which gets 13 miles to the gallon. While this may not seem like much, it is more economical for the band, Bates said.
Most of the shows we play now pay pretty well
so we try to throw as much of that into an account as we can
Bates said, adding that the band is making a profit.
There are more benefits than just having extra cash, though. The high cost of gas and the slipping economy have, in a way, legitimized the band, said Chad White, bassist for Downplay.
The band has also learned to become very selective about where they will play shows.
We have a rule that we keep all of our shows within a two-and-a-half-hour radius
'' Bates said.
