Show up in a beater, you will be viewed by fans as low class and 'not making it'
If you went to concerts you would see not every band you see has a decent set of wheels. If you went to shows that don't get promoted on XRT, met bands after the show and helped with load in you would see a lot have "beaters". This is how it is starting off Zack.
Even bands that have been around for many years with record deals still drive $1,500 vans... sometimes bands will tour together in a $1,500 van... yes two bands together in something like that and a trailer. One of my favorite bands still drive around in junk and seem to have a different van every time. I saw this band a month ago... they look like they have it "made" but they had to share a $1,500 van with another band. Yes they look good, that's all that matters. Money is important for the music, transportation is just an expense. Doubt you will listen, but here it is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h593TwZRx4o
Hardly anyone will see the van before and after the show and if they do so what? Who cares? This isn't a Chevy picnic where best of show goes to a 1970 El Camino with 3,000 original miles and the rare L88 edition with one of 50 made with a manual transmission or some other nonsense. Most people that go to shows do not give a damn about what you drove up in. It can actually be used to a benefit if you pull it off right. If you show up in a "good" looking vehicle the stage manager or talent buyer will see you "have" money and can probably hassle you into paying you less at the end of the night. Show up in a beater with a heater and he will know you need the money at the end of the night. Sounds horrible, but that's the way of the business.
Having decent equipment for the show IS what matters. People came to see the performance and if you have guitars that won't stay in tune, amps that cut out, that's what's bad for business... if you cannot perform your service, that's the issue. Not what you showed up in. Hardly anyone sees that and if they do it's because they are A: a worker or B: a devoted fan that will help you. Either way those that see a van will not care.
The only time I ever saw a van as an issue was when someone was asking if they could have the grease from the restaurant that was connected to the building. Nothing wrong with that, but the place just didn't want bands taking their grease. Yes their van was converted to run on old deep fryer oil.
I didn't ask for your help, but thanks for the notice in advance. You are free to contact me anytime for anything though.
'small time' bands I've seen nearly all in 15 passenger fords. This means 5.4 or V-10 in the nose. They can have a billion miles put on them, but in typicaly Van fashion, front end bits need to be repaired/replaced.
You can probably get a late 90's 15 passenger van under the $2k Mark, but it will most likely need a tune-up, tires, and serious front end work (which will set you back another grand easily).
@ Zack, Warranty and Band Van don't go together. Any warranty would get ripped up with highway miles (which really won't damage the engine, and suspension and other wear components won't be covered.....).
Zack understands cars, he doesn't understand bands, yet he chooses to judge. I should get back in E85 threads and post my thoughts on how it works.