Eric Blankenship didn’t start in the music industry building luxury coaches. His career began in the early 1990s, selling T-shirts for bluegrass and country legend Ricky Skaggs.
“Anytime I’d see a bus, I wanted to know whose it was,” Blankenship recalled. “I just paid attention to that stuff.”
That curiosity soon led him down a career path that combined driving and buses. After earning his commercial license in 1992, Blankenship helped drive between shows. Driving gigs eventually led to a role leasing buses for the now-defunct Music City Coach. By 2002, Blankenship and partner Jim Borelli launched All Access Coach Leasing in Nashville, a company that would grow to become a trusted name in entertainer transportation.
Over the years, All Access has worked with top names in entertainment, from country stars like George Strait and Jason Aldean to rock artists, WWE performers, and professional athletes.
“We’re not trying to be the biggest in this business,” Blankenship said. “We’re just trying to be the best. We like to take care of a client from the beginning of their career until they decide they’re not going to tour anymore.”
Building Custom Comfort
All Access owns a fleet of 52 Prevost entertainer coaches, each one custom-built in-house.
“We buy it with a driver’s seat in it and a plywood floor, and we go from there,” Blankenship said.
Since 2015, the company has offered fully custom interiors with features such as full kitchens, large refrigerators, PlayStations, queen beds, washers, dryers, and dishwashers.
“Star buses,” built for headline artists, often include six bunks, a large front lounge, a private rear bedroom, and a bath-and-a-half. Crew and band buses typically offer 12 bunks, multiple lounge areas, and showers.
For Jason Aldean’s latest tour, All Access provided a triple-slide design that expands living space when parked. Blankenship said, “It doesn’t feel like you’re on a bus. It feels like you’re in somebody’s living room. The kitchen area is gorgeous. The bedrooms are absolutely incredible.”
Going Green with Volta
In 2020, All Access began installing Volta battery systems, created by Volta Power Systems in Holland, Michigan. The lithium-ion technology powers all onboard systems, lights, HVAC, appliances, and streaming equipment for eight to 10 hours without idling the engine.
“It’s a cost savings for the client. It’s an environmental savings in emissions,” Blankenship explained. “Some places they go to now, you can’t run an idling engine — the cities won’t let you. So it fixes a bunch of things.”
The system also reduces noise, which is especially important in congested cities such as New York, improving the experience for both performers and residents.
Rising Costs and Lasting Service
The cost of building entertainer buses has risen dramatically. “My first bus that I bought brand new and built with an interior cost $425,000,” Blankenship said. “Right now, that same bus is costing about $1.2 million.”
All Access maintains a close partnership with Prevost, the sole manufacturer of shells for these conversions. “Nobody else in the bus world does that,” Blankenship said. “They’re a very good partner, and they are open to listening to suggestions and ideas.”
Despite technological advancements, Blankenship emphasizes the importance of customer service.
“I tell everybody, I’m not in the bus business. I’m in the customer service business,” he said. “Take care of your client, your client will take care of you. Take care of your drivers — they’re the face of your company.”
When a bus is delivered, Blankenship sees himself as 5% of the equation and the driver as 95%. “Once the bus shows up, I’m 5% and the driver is 95%,” he explained. “You need to be on the same team together because those guys are the face of your company.”
All Access continues to grow with the next generation. Blankenship’s son now manages leasing operations, while Borelli’s son oversees the shop floor.
A Journey on the Road
What began with selling T-shirts has evolved into a career designing rolling homes for entertainers. Along the way, Blankenship has worked with some of the artists he grew up admiring.
“It’s fun getting to build buses for some of your heroes that you grew up listening to and idolizing,” he said. “It’s pretty cool.”
With innovations like the Volta clean power system, All Access Coach Leasing demonstrates that touring can be both comfortable and sustainable.
Source/ Image Sources: Bus and Motorcoach News
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