Prevost, partner announce 'Celebrity' Academy training

The Celebrity Bus Drivers Academy is opening opportunities for drivers to learn skills for serving big-name entertainers and crews through hands-on training. The Academy, founded by Chip Huffman and Tandy Rice last summer, is supported by Prevost.

The Celebrity Bus Drivers Academy will conduct two classes in 2011 — one in the spring and one in the fall. The next class is scheduled for April 20 to 22, 2011 in Nashville at Prevost's Service Center. Academy instruction will be provided by Prevost training technicians; technicians from the coach conversion industry; and professionals from the entertainer coach leasing business, including veteran drivers, leasing agents and owners.

A Prevost coach conversion shell and a converted Prevost entertainer coach will be on hand to help students become familiar with the vehicles they may someday be driving.

After completing the class, drivers have the opportunity to enlist in the Top Billing Driver Placement Service. From the inaugural class last year and a second class in the fall, 15 students are already available for placement during this summer's touring season. Placements can be full-time or temporary placements but all are within the entertainment industry.

Fifteen more students are expected to be ready for the summer season from the upcoming class in April.