Gaming on board: party provider expands services with Ultimate Gaming Bus

Brian Mosby is in the entertainment business. He caters to families and children of all ages. After three years in the business and working mostly with younger children providing inflatable bounce houses and slides, face painting and dunk tanks, Mosby has expanded his services to include a concept that has been successful in larger cities across the country. And he's hoping that the success will be contagious in Grand Rapids.

The Ultimate Gaming Bus, his mobile gaming station, allows for up to 20 people, playing many of the up to 50 games available on board. Mosby sees potential to tap into the teenage demographic with the Ultimate Gaming Bus. In order to sustain and grow his business, Bouncing Palace, Mosby is expanding what he offers into video games, a billion dollar industry worldwide that primarily targets youth. 

Mosby borrowed concepts from both an existing gaming bus from California and the Kegbus model in Washington DC and merged the two to create a jazzed up multi-monitor party arcade on wheels complete with surround sound and bluetooth. Mosby's version is completely alcohol free and strives to facilitate a safe and fun environment for the kids.  

"It brings joy to me because I love kids. I have three of my own. The joy that I get from them having a good time is the reason why I do what I do," says Mosby. "Both business sides pertain to fun with kids. Whether its inflatables or slides, we want them to have a good time. And not only them having a good time but them having safe fun. Our biggest issue is to make sure things are clean, safe and fun for the kids and in an environment where they wont be hurt."

Mosby, who repurposed the bus himself, bought the school bus at auction in his hometown of Detroit about a year ago. 

"I just came home and started tearing the thing apart and built it. Basically one day at a time. It took me about two months," he says.

The reconstruction involved tearing out seating and installing new port side cushioning, adding subfloors and fabric walls and a new paint job as well as all the electrical installation. 

His business comes from multiple state-wide locations including Detroit, Holland and Kentwood, for local community events like Taste of GR, and high school football games. Mosby caters to events as a pay to play arcade and private parties. 

"It's been a challenge, because it's fairly still new," he says. Just getting the idea across to some people he says can prove difficult.  

"It's someplace your family can all get together at parties. We pull up at the location that you pick out," says Mosby. "We're open to family. We like for the adults to come on as well. The bus is made for camaraderie, whether it's with their parents or friends." 

And if the parents don't want to be involved, the bus is able to be staffed with two adults. The driver operates the front end that includes lights and music. In the rear is the game coach who is responsible for setting up the systems (Xbox 360 and Play Station 3) and helping the kids navigate the games, with up to 50 in stock. At the end of the party there's no mess for mom and dad to clean up. 

There are simple rules, says Mosby, which are predicated on safety, but he mainly wants the kids to leave with a great experience.

"At the end of the day it's all about them having a good experience when they get off this bus," says Mosby.