It started out as a dare, but The Ascot Royals’ guitarist Joey Vinegar will spend an undetermined amount of time in a small windowless trailer to help raise money for the band’s upcoming eastern Canadian tour.

“They offered me a couple of cold beverages and that won me over,” Vinegar said. 

Vinegar will take to the trailer this Sunday as part of a fundraiser barbecue the rock, funk and soul band is hosting at Two Doors Down. 

The band, which also includes lead singer Jimmy Chauveau, Jesse Gilroy on bass, Scott Cunningham on drums and Ben Chauveau on keyboards, hopes to raise enough money to purchase their own trailer to bring on tour this summer. 

The band’s current trailer – the one Vinegar will be climbing into – is rented from a friend and has seen a few mishaps, including the back wheels falling off in Moncton, N.B.

Vinegar will head into the trailer at 2 p.m. and will only be allowed a cooler filled with cold beverages, a stereo, a megaphone, a chamber pot and a fan. 

“I used to live in a basement apartment and it was small, so this will be a breeze,” Vinegar said.

Testing the trailer for the first time on Monday, Vinegar had to duck his head as he climbed into the four-by-eight foot space, but quickly found a spot at the back where he could be quite comfortable. 

“It’s not bad,” he said from inside.

Mid-afternoon heat could make things a bit difficult on Sunday, but Vinegar and the band are hoping he can stay in the trailer for several hours.

While Vinegar is suffering in the trailer, a party will take place featuring artists like Sean LeSage, Max Wray of Hamilton, Steve Murphy, Mark Wilson, Rich Halley and Tim Turvey.

“If he only lasts an hour or two, we’ll just have the party after,” Ben Chauveau said. “It’s just going to be a party afternoon.”

“With some random guy locked in a trailer,” Vinegar added.

Those attending on Sunday can sponsor Vinegar in increments of $1, $2, $5 or $10 for each hour he spends in the trailer, or by flat rate.

Regardless of how much money is raised, The Ascot Royals will head out on tour July 29.

The band’s first stop is at The Casbah in Hamilton, followed by a show at Toronto’s Drake Hotel. They’ll be back in Brantford at Two Doors Down on July 31. 

The tour moves on to Ottawa in August before travelling across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

“The people out east are the friendliest people in the world,” Chauveau said. “(Touring) is so much fun because for three weeks you only have to worry about when you get there, what time you play and where you’re sleeping.”

The performances will include a mix of new and old songs, as well as a few covers.

“Expect a party,” Chauveau said.

For more information about The Ascot Royals, visit www.myspace.com/theascotroyals or www.facebook.