Bucking for business with a mechanical bull
A rider with soft surroundings for a fall takes a ride on the Hamptons Bull mechanical bovine. Credit: hamptonsbull.com
How to make a few extra dollars on the side and have fun doing it? Ride 'em cowboy! Or better yet: Ride 'em mechanical bull!
Jeff Louchheim of Sagaponack, a harbor master with the Marine Patrol of East Hampton Town, was approaching his 40th birthday two years ago. His wife, Linda, was looking for a mechanical bull for Louchheim to ride at a party but was unable to find one on Long Island. When a friend had the same problem more recently, Louchheim said, he decided to order a mechanical bull, built by a Florida company, Galaxy Mechanical Bull Co.
It arrived Memorial Day, and now Louchheim has a business, Hamptons Bull, renting out the bull for parties. He's gotten four requests so far and received "numerous phone calls and two bookings" since showing off the bull at a Fourth of July parade Monday.
"These are adults [renting it] for adults," Louchheim said. "When you get to be a certain age, you're not going to be in a bouncy house anymore or play beer pong. It's good entertainment."
An hour, the minimum the bull can be rented for, costs $400. The hourly rate goes down the longer it is rented. For four hours it's $900. He had to get insurance.
Louchheim admits he is "the worst rider," falling off constantly. "If you can stay on eight seconds, that's good," he said.
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