ATT: BLUE BIRD CORPORATION

My name is John Francisco and I am the owner of Mister John’s Music LLC, a boutique music school originally located in Philadelphia, now with an itinerant location in Atlanta. Every week we serve hundreds of families through our award-winning and highly-praised music education programs for babies, kids and adults.  We’ve been in operation for five and a half years and previous to the onset of the Covid pandemic, we had a strong strategic plan for expansion, with goals to reach a national audience of families.  Of course, those plans were quickly thwarted in March 2020. 

 Which brings me to Blue Bird Corporation… 

 At the end of December my company purchased Old Sourdough III (see video above), a 1978 Blue Bird Wanderlodge.  Our intention is to restore/retrofit/renovate this bus, so that it might serve as the transportation, lodging, and most importantly as an outdoor set for participatory musical performances for diverse, intergenerational communities across the United States.  This is our new plan forward. 

Imagine a gorgeous vintage Blue Bird bus, outfit with tastefully designed and incorporated tour enhancements, employing all types of theatrical magic, parked at  community centers, public libraries and city parks.  Attendees of all ages, from all different backgrounds and socio-economic groups spread out on blankets across the lawn for a one-of-a-kind musical concert/class/sing-a-long.  Performers and attendees make music together and through this music lesson explore social-emotional lessons on compassion, empathy, self-worth, inclusivity, and creativity.  Everyone leaves feeling better, lighter, more-connected, and driven to have a stronger, kinder impact within their family, community, and world.  Everyone leaves with pictures of their family in front of a breath-taking Blue Bird bus to share with those that they love.

I’m writing to you to request your assistance in this endeavor:  Firstly because I’m your neighbor; I grew up in Macon, GA, just a stone’s skip away from the Bluebird administrative offices and not far from Fort Valley, and secondly because, while our organizations have different products, we serve the same populations – children and families.  I believe we share the same values – children are our most precious and valuable resource and it’s our job to safely transport them through this dangerous, beautiful world.

Whether it’s a sponsorship or a contribution (in parts, in-kind, or mechanical assistance – see lists below), I would love to speak with  someone at Blue Bird to explore how you might help with this project.  I have some ideas of how this might be mutually beneficial for both of our companies.  The Wanderlodge is currently in Dawsonville, GA and I would be happy to drive it to your offices in Macon or your facilities in Fort Valley if you’d like to meet her in person.  The menu above includes links to my company’s website, YouTube page, and Google reviews for your perusal.  I’m hoping to get started with this work very soon and look forward to hearing from you.

For more information, please reach out directly to John Francisco at [email protected].

* These lists will continually be evolving as we discover new things about “Old Sourdough III”

Current Parts Needed: 
Replacement light covers,  Replacement captain and passenger seats with seatbelts,  Replacement wiper blades, Replacement mirrors, Replacement window channel felt and fur, New refrigerator, New toilet, New speakers, New fresh water tank, New oven ignitor and bulb, New generator, Replacement bulbs for drop fixtures and cove lighting, Repair/service furnaces, New flooring, New upholstery for all seating

Current Mechanical Work Needed: 
New carrier bearings, New tires/hubcaps,  Repaired/replaced dashboard gauges,  Repaired/Upgraded headlights, Repaired/replaced defrost, New captain and passenger seats and seatbelts, Power steering pump is leaking,  New slack adjusters and wheel seals, New Radiator and water pump, Repaired exhaust. and oil tank, Repaired front air suspension,  Repaired wiring

Current Exterior Work Needed:
New paint, new large awning