About a year ago, I posted a couple of entries that tipped off readers as to just how much artists are having to spend to get to their destinations these days. It was quite an eye-opener for many people as they learned that artists were spending several thousands dollars each week just to meet their appearance obligations. (Visit the diary entries of July 8, 2005.)
At that time, diesel fuel was ONLY an average price of $2.39 per gallon. This morning, I did a quick survey of the websites of the leading U.S. truckstops and after doing the calculations, I discovered the average price of diesel, nationwide, had risen to $2.91.
So, what will your favorite artists be spending this weekend for fuel? Let's use the Dove Brothers and the Florida Boys for today's example.
The Dove Brothers live in Greenville, NC. Their first stop this weekend is in Kearney, MO, 1173 miles from their home. Then, they head to Branson, MO, adding another 232 miles to the bus' odometer. From there, they'll head to Princeton, IN, a drive of about 422 miles. Once the last note has faded away, they'll head home to Greenville, about 764 miles away.
That's a total of 2591 miles. The typical quartet bus averages 6 miles for every gallon of fuel. So, that's 432 gallons of fuel that'll run through the fuel lines of the Dove Brothers' MCI. Times $2.91. $1257.12 is McCray's fuel bill this weekend.
Then, there are the Florida Boys, who are gradually making their way home from the West Coast. Tonight, they're in Albuqurque, NM. From there, they go to Tuscon, AZ, a total of 503 miles. Then, they turn right around and head back east for their date in Childress, TX. That's 903 miles. Then, there's a quick hop to Spring, TX, (461 miles) before they head to Wedowee, Al (778 miles) and then on to Adrian, GA, (257 miles) before they head home to Pensacola, FL (411 miles). For Les and the gang, that's 3313 miles. At 6 miles per gallon, that's 553 gallons. Times $2.91. $1609.23 is the fuel tab this weekend.
Note I said "this weekend" at the end of each of those preceeding paragraphs.Multiply those numbers times four (average of four weekends a month) and then you can see it's rather high. Now, take that result and multiply it times 11 (I'm going say that between holidays like Christmas and vacations, each group averages 11 months on the road) and let that number soak in. How would you like to be Les Beasley and be staring at a potential $70,806.12 fuel expense this year?
Of course, I realize that every group faces such "horrors" because of the out-of-control fuel prices. What's worse, though, is those fuel prices are taking their toll on Mr. and Mrs. John Doe who attend the concerts. No, I don't think the prices have affected overall concert attendance at this point, but the fact remains that people are spending more just to get to the concerts.
Yet somehow, Southern Gospel music always seems to survive. Someone's watching out for us.
