Gotta question about SEMA cars

[NOPANTS68]

Every year I walk around what I believe to be the greatest automotive spectacle, and wonder how those cars get there. More specifically, how are they chosen for the products or companies they represent? Booth space is crazy money there, so I'm sure the decisions made are critical. Do people shop their cars to vendors to get the opportunity to display something there? Do vendors have an agenda referencing what they want displayed, then seek out cars that fit? The wife and I have decided that it's on our bucket list to show something there. During last night's dinner conversation she asked how they are chosen, and I couldn't answer that. What does LatG think? Thanks in advance. Dave

[Finch]

Some are choosen or invited due to the level they are built at but most are still choosen the old fashioned, all about who you know.

[MattO]

Some are choosen or invited due to the level they are built at but most are still choosen the old fashioned, all about who you know.

I'm gonna second that response. For me, it was easier getting into a magazine than SEMA. Now that my truck is pretty much done, I have no need and little desire to go anymore.

[64pontiac]

Thats funny, we are taking our second car this year to SEMA for a company, but for the life of me I can't even get our last SEMA car into a bloody magazine!

[TMIProducts]

Here at TMI, we do it based on a few things.

1. What product are we pushing? This determines if we are looking for a Camaro, Mustang, etc.
2. Quality of build. The car has to be built to a high level to be at SEMA since we are in the same room as the top builders in the world.
3. Look of the car. And this is probably the most important thing, more than quality. We need that cool car with the right color, stance, wheels, etc. The car is there to pull people into our booth.
4. Availability of the car. Is it across the US? Is it an employees car?

Two years ago TMI randomly called me and asked to take my Chevelle. They actually found it on the internet, then tracked me down through forums and such to find my e-mail. I had no clue who they were. I let them borrow my car though. Then about a year ago I actually got hired at TMI. We got in a bind last year and ended up bringing my Chevelle again, but all redone.

This year we are bringing three cars. We chose them based on the make/model/year because we have new product we will be displaying. The other big thing is all three cars are employees cars. This is the best scenario since we have complete control over the cars and where they are at.

I'm sure every company is different, but in a nutshell that's how we do it. Some are just absolutely amazing builds so you want them in your booth because you know they will pull in people.

[NOPANTS68]

Thankd for the responses fellas.

Tim, that kinda answers my question I guess. The availability aspect of it makes sense when it involves shipping, timing, etc etc.

I guess what I'll do it wrap the car up and see what happens. The car's full of Lat G sponsor products so maybe it'll happen- maybe not. Mag coverage is cool, but IMO having a car at SEMA would be the ultimate. Let me know if you need a back up Tim! This thing's gonna have TMI guts. lol

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Thankd for the responses fellas.

Tim, that kinda answers my question I guess. The availability aspect of it makes sense when it involves shipping, timing, etc etc.

I guess what I'll do it wrap the car up and see what happens. The car's full of Lat G sponsor products so maybe it'll happen- maybe not. Mag coverage is cool, but IMO having a car at SEMA would be the ultimate. Let me know if you need a back up Tim! This thing's gonna have TMI guts. lol

Start contacting people and put the word out early that your car is available. I know some shops and vendors get into jams at the last minute and often look for cars to display. You have a lot of local shops and vendors, i'd start there. Do you have a build thread?
I bet the first thing people did when they read this thread was look for your car.

[NOPANTS68]

Vince- my thread is here at

http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=33475&highlight=therapy+chevelle

It's a '67 Chevelle, BBC/5 speed etc etc. I think when I start hanging the suspension after I get it back from paint, it'll start looking the like the something somewhat respectable. I agree with what you guys are saying about being socially connected to some of these vendors. They wanna put their best foot forward, especially when you're talking about the kind of money they charge for those booths. I'll build it the best I can and let the chips fall where they may.

[TMIProducts]

You could always start hitting up manufactures and let them know you have this car available. Always good to be on a backup list as well. That's how my car ended up last year. We were working with a guy for months on his car...then a month before SEMA he just says "oh it won't be done in time, sorry." So we scrambled and redid my car real quick and brought it.

It is pretty neat to have your car at SEMA. It's neat to see thousands of people drooling over it, and then see it on all sorts of forums after the show from people that have snapped pictures.

[NOPANTS68]

You could always start hitting up manufactures and let them know you have this car available. Always good to be on a backup list as well. That's how my car ended up last year. We were working with a guy for months on his car...then a month before SEMA he just says "oh it won't be done in time, sorry." So we scrambled and redid my car real quick and brought it.

It is pretty neat to have your car at SEMA. It's neat to see thousands of people drooling over it, and then see it on all sorts of forums after the show from people that have snapped pictures.

I think that's gonna be my plan. I'll build it and see who needs a Chevelle for what. No need to whore it out, but if it works it works and if not no huge deal. What you said about people seeing your work and it appearing around the world is pretty damn cool. I'm not the kind of guy that needs my ego stroked, but to have your car under the same lights as some of the world's best is an amazing thing. Maybe one day.

[TMIProducts]

I think that's gonna be my plan. I'll build it and see who needs a Chevelle for what. No need to whore it out, but if it works it works and if not no huge deal. What you said about people seeing your work and it appearing around the world is pretty damn cool. I'm not the kind of guy that needs my ego stroked, but to have your car under the same lights as some of the world's best is an amazing thing. Maybe one day.

For me it actually made me sorta self conscious. Even now I don't feel like my car is that high of a caliber. I'm just a regular guy who built a Chevelle in my garage. I built the car for me though, not really to show it, so maybe that's the reason for my mentality. I don't take it to a ton of shows because I just like wrenching and driving!

[MattO]

I'm sure we've all been that guy. When I started showing with Arc Audio a few years ago, every single car in the building had more money and work in the stereo than I did in my entire truck. I felt really out of place at first, but soon came to realize that I'm just a kid. I don't have the money that alot of these guys do and they still thought my truck was good enough to represent their company.

What you must never lose sight of is your ultimate vision for the car, and don't compromise that just to get into a show or some free parts. Build it for you and the companies who's parts you're using, let them know about it. If they like what they see, you will hear back from them.

A wise man once confided in me this piece of knowledge: "The first year I went to SEMA, it was entirely on my dime. Every year after that, someone else footed the bill"

[TMIProducts]

A wise man once confided in me this piece of knowledge: "The first year I went to SEMA, it was entirely on my dime. Every year after that, someone else footed the bill"

I was really surprised at all the sponsored products I got for my car. That's what I think took my car from an amateur look to a professional level.

If the car is inside the building, you're pretty much guaranteed parts. The other thing is that you want to have a lot of manufactures parts on there. That will help bring more people in the booth.

[MattO]

I found initially that it was hard just getting ahold of the right people. I know the companies I wanted to talk to have people asking them for parts every single day, so it comes as no surprise, even when I was guaranteed a spot in a magazine, that no one replied.

Sometimes, it just boils down to being in the right place, at the right time.

[214Chevy]

Build a $400-$500k car and SEMA comes to you. :sarcasm_smiley: Oh and have a top notch builder build it too.

[NOPANTS68]

I think I spend more time at SEMA looking at cars that see action (Troy's new salt '33 roadster, the Optima cars, the RS cars, etc etc) over the pure show pieces. I love them all, but these days cars that get exposure running hard seem to be the ones you see companies gravatating towards. I couldn't blame them. Thanks everyone for the clarification.

[Sieg]

I haven't been to SEMA yet, but at other venues I definitely favor the cars that are built to be used hard.

[ironworks]

From a guy who has done OK at SEMA, GM design award and Mothers Choice Awards and as a builder I'm not sure I see the value in displaying at the show from a business standpoint. We have built and displayed 6 cars there.

The show will help you build contacts, But I have gotten my best contacts by just dumb luck. I meet the chief product integration manager for GM I think just by chance and got to actually talk to him as he stood in a mile long line for the restroom. But at the SEMA show everyone is trying to meet that right guy to sell their product or get free product or purchase that new product. So that makes everyone so super busy at the show. Most of the guys you want to meet are at a coffee table around the show talking to someone who they have a 1 hour time slot with before their next meeting.

Booth space at SEMA is crazy expensive, And less and less people have big booths so that booth space indoors is highly prized. Now getting a feature vehicle spot outside is easy. Just know a displaying company and be willing to pay 400 bucks and have the displaying companies parts on your car. Most companies will allow you to do that any day. But if you don't have that displaying companies parts on your car its tougher to get them to GIVE your the parts to display the car. So if SEMA is you goal pick your parts wisely, talk to vendors at shows and see if the guy staffing the booth is the truck driver or marketing guy. The marketing guy will be a good contact, the truck driver can careless.

Free parts are just that free parts. Most companies that will just give out free parts willy nilly are probably junk. The good companies understand the have costs in their parts and give away stuff better make good business sense for them. Give you a free set of brakes to be a feature vehicle spot outside is not going to do much for them. Giving you free brake for that dollar car you got from a major manufacturer will get them prime real estate in an OEM booth.

The drawbacks to SEMA are the costs to get your car there. The risk of damage from idiots who are not car people climbing all over your car. The hotel stay because you usually have to be there for 7-8 days depending on your spot. If your car is going to be thrashed to make the show the expense needed for all that overtime and thrashing to get the car done. You will see lots of cars at the show that are not done and don't run.

Some people are hooked up with companies and get a car in their booth every year. Chip Foose, Steve Strope, Ring Bros, Troy Trepanier, etc. they have existing relationships with these companies and might have financial obligation to supply them with a car. It can be good when your on the top of the pile, But most of those guys have told me its not worth the effort. they get nothing out of it.

I see less and less of my industry buddies displaying cars unless they just want to feed their ego. Because once the dust settles its just back to the same ol grind you put in all that effort only to end up no further ahead.

I have had major paint scratches on 2 cars we had at SEMA. One was in a velvet roped protected area in the Meguiars booth. I have heard the worst horror stories about damage to cars at SEMA.

Rodger

[Stuart Adams]

SEMA without cars would be a zero. Isn't the car the reason we are all there. Builders get work and builds from someone seeing their work during SEMA.

We get real closed minded and in our own world sometime, SEMA is very international with a lot of potential.

Luck has nothing to do with it, you were there because you were there and it was timing. No one wins the lotto without showing up and buying a ticket. Like Jack Nicklaus said " the more I practice the luckier I get."

[ironworks]

SEMA without cars would be a zero. Isn't the car the reason we are all there. Builders get work and builds from someone seeing their work during SEMA.

We get real closed minded and in our own world sometime, SEMA is very international with a lot of potential.

Luck has nothing to do with it, you were there because you were there and it was timing. No one wins the lotto without showing up and buying a ticket. Like Jack Nicklaus said " the more I practice the luckier I get."

I agree Stuart, But I get more work out of just dumb luck or being in the right place at the right time then having an actual fancy booth or risking the damage to a fine auto. But booth did nothing when you meet the guy in line to the mens room and talk for 10 minutes because the line is so long. It did give me a way to show him our work after we got done at the restroom.

You have to first get to a place that increases your odds, in order to actual meet that lucky.

[Stuart Adams]

I agree Stuart, But I get more work out of just dumb luck or being in the right place at the right time then having an actual fancy booth or risking the damage to a fine auto. But booth did nothing when you meet the guy in line to the mens room and talk for 10 minutes because the line is so long. It did give me a way to show him our work after we got done at the restroom.

You have to first get to a place that increases your odds, in order to actual meet that lucky.

I agree, I don't think your giving yourself enough credit for meeting the right people. Got to be there and then got to have the "goods' if you know what I mean.

[ironworks]

I agree, I don't think your giving yourself enough credit for meeting the right people. Got to be there and then got to have the "goods' if you know what I mean.

I never said I was not going to SEMA again. With as close as it is to my home I would be crazy to skip it. I'm just putting it out there the not usually seen risks or draw backs of doing SEMA with a car. It can be a pain in the ass.

Frank's 48 truck had to have the left front and right rear fenders both repainted after SEMA. the front fender was from some asian guy with a pull behind suitcase. The other was some dumb girl with bedazzled jeans the leaned against the fender. Neither one had a clue or concern for what they had done.

Did you ever hear about the coke that was spilled in the fancy Mercedes in the BASF that Chip Foose restyled?

And I guess I would say is most of the contacts you want to meet have no to time to go around and look at all the cars.

But starting out with feature vehicles is a good way to get your foot in the door with companies and that might lead to actual booth space later down the road.

[Stuart Adams]

Having a car at Sema is a pain in the butt for the owners. I'm just glad they show up.

[ironworks]

Having a car at Sema is a pain in the butt for the owners. I'm just glad they show up.



A man of few well spoken words.

[96z28ss]

SEMA without cars would be a zero. Isn't the car the reason we are all there. Builders get work and builds from someone seeing their work during SEMA.

We get real closed minded and in our own world sometime, SEMA is very international with a lot of potential.

Luck has nothing to do with it, you were there because you were there and it was timing. No one wins the lotto without showing up and buying a ticket. Like Jack Nicklaus said " the more I practice the luckier I get."

Well, its the reason a lot of us go or want to go, but the cars are there to show off products from manufacturers.
The builders take a back seat to that in every instance. You don't see a big Rad Rides booth or a Ring Brothers booth. If you don't follow some of these builds online you don't know who built the car.
The vast majority of people at the show are there to sell product and to buy product. Of the thousands of people that go there very few percentage wise are there for the cars, even fewer that can afford to buy or build the cars.
I would like to take a poll of all the builders, and see where most of their business comes from. Id say majority of business comes from, print (mags) and self promotion on there own websites (project sections) and some of the best shows around the country.

I get paid to go to SEMA and the company I work for has a big booth with 2 or 3 cars. They are there to show off new product, sell truck loads of product, and sign up new distributors. they don't advertise the builders of the vehicles.

[Stuart Adams]

Well, its the reason a lot of us go or want to go, but the cars are there to show off products from manufacturers.
The builders take a back seat to that in every instance. You don't see a big Rad Rides booth or a Ring Brothers booth. If you don't follow some of these builds online you don't know who built the car.
The vast majority of people at the show are there to sell product and to buy product. Of the thousands of people that go there very few percentage wise are there for the cars, even fewer that can afford to buy or build the cars.
I would like to take a poll of all the builders, and see where most of their business comes from. Id say majority of business comes from, print (mags) and self promotion on there own websites (project sections) and some of the best shows around the country.

I get paid to go to SEMA and the company I work for has a big booth with 2 or 3 cars. They are there to show off new product, sell truck loads of product, and sign up new distributors. they don't advertise the builders of the vehicles.

SEMA is just one week out of 52. Where else can you get a captive audience all in one location for that one week. Its a numbers game.

Where is that product that people are coming to SEMA to buy, on the cars. Ford, Chevy, Dodge have large areas of cars, among other stuff. There is a large wheel section, with alot of cars with product on them. Wheels with no displays, ie cars, is worthless to most. Rings, Troy don't need booths, their booth is on 4 wheels in someone else's booth. But someone with the funds sees the car they just built may want to build one by them, or see a part on those cars they might want on theirs, etc. Guarantee people know who built those cars even though BASF booth is displaying it.

Of course there are 51 more weeks to attract business in many other ways.

[youthpastor]

We get builds through referrals mainly. Good Guys booth space has been good to us. Is SEMA good to us? I would say YES. Does it stroke our egos...YES. Is it a pain in the butt to get a car done, in place and then spend an entire week in Vegas babysitting a car? YES!!

We are at it again. Putting together an LS9 67 Nova for the Dynomax people. They are awesome to work with and this will be the third year with them. They treat me like family.

Have I ever got a job out of it? NOPE. But, where it has helped is the other 51 weeks at the shop when a potential customer stops by and we can usually show them one or two cars that have been to the "big dance". It gives us credibility. They can see our work first hand.

but mostly I enjoy meeting people I have looked up to. last year my highlights were meeting Bobby Alloway and Jeff Smith checking out a car we had brought.

[COYBILT]

Having a car at Sema is a pain in the butt for the owners. I'm just glad they show up.

Well that is a understatement, but it is so worth the trouble and hell.
I left for SEMA at 10 pm the night before I was supposed to be there. I had been up for 31 hours straight before doing this 8 hour trek to Las Vegas from NorCal. Mind you this was after pulling three straight months of 16 hour days to get my car finished for the show. Lets not forget the hospital stay in Barstow on the way there, then cleaning the car and finishing it that night at 1 in the morning.

If you're willing to take the risk of your car getting scratched and the exhaustion, then hell yeah.

[NOPANTS68]

I think you guys are spot on with parts placement and car justification. Not being a builder with extensive mag coverage looking to attract customers, it's a different animal for me. I've traveled to car and industry shows all over the country, but SEMA holds a special spot for me. I think it's the international flare that changes the dynamic of the crowd. Last year I spent so much time looking at CHC's red '66 because it's so similar to what I'm doing. The guys spent time with me explaining how they got there, and the relationship with Magnaflow. I appreciated that. As a consumer I came home knowing I was gonna use a Ridetech system, House of Kolors paint, Vintage Air, and an MSD Atomic EFI system. All of those decisions were up for grabs on the plan ride in, and none of it's gonna be free. Getting a car there isn't about free parts or an ego trip for me, but rather just knowing my car is sitting on the world's stage with my family's interpretation of what a '67 Chevelle could be. I think that's the most rewarding part.