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John Grimaldi is the host of one of Vermont’s wildest pop-up parties, and the only way to get yourself on the guest list is to land, by chance, a ride in his Uber.
Grimaldi, who uses the Instagram handle @uberjohnvt, is an Uber driver from St. Albans, and his Chrysler Pacifica is retrofitted with karaoke, video games, and a generally raucous party atmosphere. Grimaldi’s Instagram is flush with pictures and videos of college-aged cab riders in disco lighting, belting out tunes and strumming plastic guitars.
When Grimaldi’s customers enter the van, they’ll find Rock Band pre-loaded on video screens mounted to the back of the front seats. Grimaldi said the riders, typically college students, are “incredulous at first,” and are even more surprised when he switches on the multi-colored laser and strobe lights. “At that point things really get wild,” Grimaldi said.
Passengers choose from a catalog of songs played through the van’s speaker system, boosted by a subwoofer that adds an “extra touch of heart-pounding oomph, which the clients love,” Grimaldi said. “A wireless mic is provided and everyone’s invited to go to town!”
This past February, Grimaldi “decided to up the Uber/Lyft game” by trading in his Toyota Corolla for a Chrysler Pacifica. He noticed the new van had HDMI inputs built into the front seats. Wondering how he could use them, he consulted his 16-year-old son, who suggested installing a gaming system. “A light bulb went off,” Grimaldi said. “Rock Band was the only one that really seemed perfect for the groups I usually catered to.”
Because riders are unable to request specific Uber drivers, Vermonters will have to find Grimaldi by happy accident. And if, by chance, you’re not in the mood for karaoke on your commute home, you might end up in Grimaldi’s party Uber anyway.
“I do what I do for the thrill it gives my customers. They have a blast and so do I,” said Grimaldi, who doesn’t upcharge for the in-ride party. “It’s when you stop playing that you grow old. My motto is: Never forget how to play. Be young. Take pleasure where you can find it!”
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Email Isaac Fornarola at ifornarola@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @isaacforn
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