I would be curious to know why builders and businesses go to sema and is it worth the expense for them. I'm assuming it must be but looking from the outside I wonder. Does it really affect the bottom line? Multiple answers are possible from each perspective I get that. Just curiosity. It would be interesting to get their perspective.

Funny you should ask.

I have asked this question a lot lately. I think most parts vendors display because they feel like they have to and if they don't people think you have fallen off the map or your business is struggling. But if you display once and do not display again you will not get tickets to the event again. Monkey see Monkey do.

I think companies get a business gain if they display good products, I bought a 4 way manual press from Mitler bros this morning after seeing it at the show last week. So 3k later I helped them cover their expenses last week. I bet that booth with travel and hotel expenses cost them 40k once it is all said and done. I gave them 3k and lets say they have a 50% markup so they made 1500 profit from my sale last week. But if they would have send me a new catalog I might have bought the same thing with out the booth expense. They only had a 10x10 or 10x15 booth so they did not have much in their booth but the 4 way press caught my eye.

As far as a builder I don't think you have a chance at getting anything out of the show business wise unless your bringing something pretty awesome that will stand out or your a household name in the industry. The Ring Bros are a SEMA staple name and every one looks for what they did this year at the show. They will get lots of press from the cars they brought on internet news pages and from magazine coverage. the magazine editors already have plans to shoot the cars they build so it does not do anything to get them hooked up that way.

Now Chris Holstrom got the Gran Turismo award this week and I think he got a GM design AWARD and a Goodguys award. That is some recognition for a guy trying to get things going for his business. He will get on Internet news sites and Goodguys will announce it on their site and the GM design awards are just cool there is not alot of press with that. ( I got one a few years ago ) but it does introduce you to some higher ups at GM. ( networking is always good ).

Now just for example I think Tom Nelson ( who is a more well known name in the industry ) brought the charger that set right next to Chris's nova in baremetal, lots of cool fab, but I have not seen anything outside of SEMA about the car any where. Lots of my buddies wanted to go look at the Big billet parts and turbos and such at the show. But I don't think he got much press that I have seen and I doubt he got any awards for a baremetal car ( just does not happen ). But the bare metal 32 in Jet Hott's booth was and is all over the internet and I saw it on Instagram alot.

But what does all that do to put money in the business owners pocket? It will be super cool, to have a car we built in Gran Turismo (whatever) some day, But how many 14 year olds are gonna hire Chris to build them a car?

I see car building business comes from 2 avenues, Building relationships with guys and through dumb luck. If your a jack ass or a know it all the first way will be tough. The other is that you build a cool car and some where someone sees the car and that actual person has the financial horsepower to build what he wants. The reality of car building is that nicer the stuff you build the more people that want it and less and less people can actually afford it. Sucks but that is the facts.

I think displaying a car anywhere is better then keeping it locked in your garage. But is SEMA worth the thrash? Lots of guys think it is so great to get all these free parts and then realize that nothing in life is free. A company might give you a free parts but you realize that free parts cost you a week of hotel and a week of vacation and lots of other expenses associated with getting the car to the event. That free 700 part might cost you 2500. If you like the feeling of being "sponsored" that much, then by all means.

I had a great time last week not baby sitting a car and hanging out with my customers all day long and being able to let me guys go to the show and not miss a day of pay due to work some extra days in the past few weeks. I did more for my business last week just building relationships with current and possible future customer then I ever did being in a fancy booth spot.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...edandKus-3.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ShineAward.jpg

Good post buddy.

Thanks, Like I said I have been thinking about this stuff alot lately. What works and what does not.

Now I need to figure out how to clone the employees I have.

Interesting thread because personally, I just wasnt into it this year besides seeing some of you guys of course! I thought maybe it was because I didnt have a car this year and it was kind of a letdown after last year with OUSCI and all. In fact I changed my flight to Thursday because I figured I was much more useful back at the shop (And I did have a very productive Friday and Saturday!)
I also think they need to be a bit more selective on the cars that are allowed to enter. There were many cars that had no business being there IMO. It has become so packed with cars, many mediocre at best, that the attention has been diverted away from the reason everyone is supposed to be there- The manufactures, the latest parts, equipment and networking. K&N did not have any cars in their booth this year for that reason. it got to a point that I photobombed many pictures because you cant walk anywhere without being in the way of people taking pics. (sorry to anyone that has my ugly mug in their pics!) I have a feeling there may be some changes coming.

It was hard to take pics this year cause of the amount of people. It broke their attendance record. They had 15,000 walk-in registering just on Tuesday.
Also Due to the Chevrolet driving area and the Ford Area outside they had so many new exhibitors that were stuck in conference room areas, and conference rooms at the LVH. They need to bring those large tent areas back.

Roger that is a good post,Ringbrothers do some awesome work but Ironworks is also way up on my list of top builders,keep it coming.:thumbsup:

Does anyone know what the 6 cylinder motor is that Sieg posted?

Were there cars at SEMA???:popcorn2:



I only go to see my friends. How could that be boring??

I think if your going to SEMA to enjoy a car show your there for the wrong reason. Apparently some of you forget that it is a business convention and a way to showcase the latest in the industry. We had a great time this year and hopefully gained some potential business.

I feel like some "builders" that go to SEMA just to look at cars by shops such as ring bros, rad rides, etc., are missing the point. and dont deserve the recognition anyway.