Coronavirus inspires two friends to launch a mobile DJ business using a pushbike and
They are in the business of entertaining but after coronavirus crippled their income two mates devised a wheelie ingenious idea to keep the music alive.
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A night out on the town seems a distant memory in the time of coronavirus so two friends have spun up an ingenious plan to take the party to the people – at a safe distance of course.
Rob Butvila and Colin Darby are cruising the streets of Adelaide in what they have dubbed the “Pandemic Pushbike” – an ordinary mountain bike towing a 300kg battery-powered DJ booth equipped with party lights and smoke machine.
Darby pilots the bike as Mr Butvila – who calls himself DJ Distancing – cycles through a catalogue of popular tracks to lure people out of their lounge rooms and into their front yards to get their groove on.
People can expect topical songs such as Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and The Police’s “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” but Mr Butvila, 34, of O’Halloran Hill said requests will be welcome.
The pair created the travelling sound system after their businesses – Mr Butvila runs an entertainment company and Mr Darby, 36 a hire company – were crippled by COVID-19.
“Once the (business) restrictions were being put in place I started coming up with all sorts of ways to keep moving, but with each new restriction came another hurdle,” Mr Butvila, whose business represents musicians and DJs, said.
“We have got to try and make the best of a bad situation. We are going to be going everywhere … Colin was complaining he couldn’t get to the gym (due to COVID-19) so this has replaced that for him.
“We’re not charging a fee, at the moment it’s just a matter of getting out there and bringing a smile to people again.”
People can request the duo to visit their suburb by logging their area on a poll on the DJ Distancing and Pandemic Pushbike Facebook page.
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But Mr Butvila prefers, for Mr Darby’s health, areas with flat terrain.
“We’re hoping to go out at least five nights a week but it depends on how well Colin holds up,” he says.
“The target is four to five hours a night, but if we’re getting an area go off with happy neighbours, we can go up to eight hours.”
The pair were also investigating combining the rolling DJ booth with a food or alcohol delivery service, sourcing products or vouchers from business in the area they visit.