Tips For Starting a Storm Tour Company

[jamesmseitz]

Jeremy, on a serious note...you should be fine if you keep that attitude. Thinking outside the box is a wonderful thing.
And again, before I take any more heat from newbe's who do not have a clue...please note: As I have said, the business is there....you just have to go get it.

Good luck!

Lanny.... I wasn't talking about you..... You are keeping it to a very real perspective. Starting a Buisness is very exspensive not to mention risky. That is why I started mine.... so I could go out chasing when I wanted
When I said what I said I felt like they were not giving Jeremy a chance. Is the chance he has going to fail.... Stats say yes..... But So were mine.

I have been out there nationally since 1999 chasing and seen yout tours get the recongition they deserve. I met you a few times.... you probably do not remember... But just wanted to say Sorry if I offended you..... I was just trying to inspire a dream..... No matter how improbable..... I just believe in Hope..... we need it these days

 

[Shane Adams]

Faith, Hope, Love.

When a person gives up on any of these, they are less...but giving up on Hope is when a person stops living and begins merely existing.

Ok, back to the topic....

 

[jamesmseitz]

Shane you are alway a kick to read )

 

[Paul Austin]

Jeremy,
I'm not a tour operator, nor have I even participated as a paying tourist. But I have, however, had the experience of having 'tagalongs', paying their own way, of course. Beyond 'rehearsing' with your wife, I strongly recommend 'rehearsing' with non-chaser tagalongs. I found out, the hard way, that certain personalities clash, and expectations vary wildly among those who have never been on such a trip. Actually, I knew this. I just didn't realize to what degree it would affect our trip. Our experience wasn't terrible, but it was very eye-opening and a bit unpleasant. We were even very careful and thorough (at least we thought) in making crystal clear what expectations should be, and how we would conduct our daily routine. But no one outside of those who have already trekked thousands of miles and spent hours in a vehicle with others and found themselves under a supercell or gorilla hail or blue skies or whatever, really knows how they will respond or adapt to such conditions. So even being upfront isn't enough. You will probably have to have a plan for difficult tourists, hopefully one you won't ever have to employ.

At any rate, you should certainly expose yourself to the personality dynamic before following through with your plan. Invite some of those 'I always wanted to do that' folks you run into. Have them pay their own expenses, and give them upfront info similar to what you would do for a paying customer. This type of 'rehearsal' will probably be more telling than what you learn by 'rehearsing' with your wife, who already knows what to expect from you, personality-wise, and vice versa. And whatever you do, do it with passion and foresight. And be prepared to learn from many mistakes. Best of luck (and skill )!

 

[joel ewing]

I surfed into this conversation very very late, and I don't know if anybody is even reading this anymore. But I can sum up how I feel about starting a tour company.....
I would no more want to babysit a group of people while chasing than the man in the moon. What a way to ruin something that I love.
If you don't have to do it.....I wouldn't.
But if you do decide to.....do everything you can to make yours the very best one out there. If you've got quality...you'll always have customers.
Best of luck! Joel in Tucson

 

[Joshua Nall]

But I can sum up how I feel about starting a tour company.....
I would no more want to babysit a group of people while chasing than the man in the moon. What a way to ruin something that I love.

Haha! Personally, that's how I feel. Starting up a tour, your going to have to be extremely involved with every aspect and there will be a ton of headaches early on. Just me and the storm is the way I like it. I know I could not handle it, but people are different...

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

I hear you, definitely something to consider. However, I currently work as a supervisor at a group home...maybe some of those skills I have dealing with people with mental illnesses would come in handy?

 

[David Wolfson]

... If you're supervising a group home full of weather enthusiasts!...

Most of your clients will be at least as enthusiastic about seeing storms as you are. Don't forget, they're the ones shelling out thousands of dollars for you to handle the details. Since many have some weather knowledge, or fancy they do, they'll accept considerable discomfort so long as your chase decisions are usually smart and soundly based. On the other hand the all-night drive to Pierre that results in a bustola won't get you repeat clients, especially when they hear about the F2 in Concordia and several of them thought that's where you should have gone in the first place.

Avoid the temptation to look down on your clients. You will learn from them; and, besides, they're paying you keep them safe and reveal nature's grandeur. If you don't think highly of them for entrusting themselves into your care, then you don't think very highly of yourself and your own capabilities.

 

[Stuart Wilson]

... If you're supervising a group home full of weather enthusiasts!...

Most of your clients will be at least as enthusiastic about seeing storms as you are. Don't forget, they're the ones shelling out thousands of dollars for you to handle the details. Since many have some weather knowledge, or fancy they do, they'll accept considerable discomfort so long as your chase decisions are usually smart and soundly based. On the other hand the all-night drive to Pierre that results in a bustola won't get you repeat clients, especially when they hear about the F2 in Concordia and several of them thought that's where you should have gone in the first place.

Avoid the temptation to look down on your clients. You will learn from them; and, besides, they're paying you keep them safe and reveal nature's grandeur. If you don't think highly of them for entrusting themselves into your care, then you don't think very highly of yourself and your own capabilities.

Interesting post David.

My experience going on the tour in 2008 was that it takes all sorts. 2 of my friends went on the first tour and though they had plenty of severe weather they missed out on tornadoes (which hurt even more considering how the season panned out!), these guys are experienced chasers and I know they were immensely frustrated at not 'being in charge'.

As for the people in my group, to say there were all sorts would be an understatement. We had:-

1) A guy in his 50s who had been given the trip as a present from his wife (?!). He'd been interested in weather but no more than that.

2) 2 young woment from Australia who were great friends. 1 of them was really keen and the other tagged along with her mate. First time chasers

3) A chap from Ireland who was a regular (early 60s?). He brought no camera and had no interest in learning forecasting or chasing. He just wanted the visceral thrills and wanted to stand in awe watching the storms.

4) A guy from Hawaii who had been on another tour the previous year and was trying to learn everything he could about chasing, forecasting, photography and who I imagine wants to be a chaser in his own right.

5) Another guy who does 2 tours every year (he's been with this tour for many years). Although he's very keen on severe weather, for him the tour is a holiday with his mates and meeting new people. He's the groups joke teller, prankster, silly photo taker.

A very significant proportion of the guests were people coming back for the umpteenth time and I am certain that the reason for that has NOTHING to do with whether or not they saw a tornado. It has much more to do with the group dynamic, what things are done on down days, the atmospher in the vans.

Hope this is of some interest