putting on a car show ?

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AdamR

AdamR

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Does anyone have any experience with putting on a car show ? I had a friend ask me if I would be interested in helping him do a Mopar only show in our area and with everyone helping me out this weekend I though I could use it to give back by making it a charitable event.

I just have no clue were to start.
 
Here's a piece of advice: Don't you DARE have some old greaser DJ playing Doo-Wop. I can't for the life of me understand how automotive stlyes morph and shift, but almost every car show I go to I still have to listen to 50 yr. old music.

I was at a show 3 yrs. ago and started F`in with the DJ to play some Foo Fighters, Offspring, or Tool. He had the same look on his face as when I ask my dog to get me my coffee....
 
Door prizes for people entering their car or cars in the show.
 
AdamR Small Block and I have both been presidents of our local car club and have put on several shows. If there is anything you need to know just pm us and we will more than happy to fill in any details you need/ Its not hard just time consuming.
 
Besides the raffle, having something for the kids is a good idea too. Sometimes you can get manufactureres to donate a dozen or so snap-build models for the kids to assemble. A batting cage or a portable rock wall are viable options too. We gotta get the kids involved and interested....
 
Here ya go Adam. Fixin to jump on the bike but i'll take the time to help out a buddy. First set a date, explore the events in your area so as not to get a conflicting day. Pick a charity in your area. Get donations from lots of sponsers. Get a radio station on board with a remote at your show. Get help. Print flyers. Scatter them far and wide. Raffles on a set of tires, engine, radio. Admission to enter cars. Give aways from sponser items like oil, fixaflat and that list can go on and on. Like mentioned before, a 50/50 drawing. A good location is important. Look for something along a major hywy. Lots of things to consider and these are just some. I'll check back later and see what i can add. Good luck Adam.
Small Block
 
A charity event should invite EVERYTHING !
What charity wants only those bills with Walter P. Chryslers picture on them ? LOL
 
I have been doing car shows for the past 7 years and have some advice for you. Be sure to plan out all the small stuff and get permission from all the businesses envolved, if any, before printing your flyers. A checklist of things to do would include:

1: Location. Find a suitable lot to hold the number of cars you are expecting. Most businesses will let you hold a car show but if they don't own the lot, the management company must give permission and address any liability issues for possible damages during the show.

2: Charity events. Contact the charity you wish to support and discuss with them what you are doing and how any money raised will be donated to them. Be sure if they have any type of logo that you have their permission to use it on your flyers. Logo permission also applies to any businesses that may sponsor the car show that will appear on your flyer.

3: Get sponsors for door prizes, dash plaques, and trophies if possible. These promote the sponsors and cut your overhead costs for the show by reducing out of pocket expenses. Most businesses are more than happy to donate prizes for a charity event. Hit up car parts stores, restaurants, and any other local businesses close to the event site.

4: Source suppliers for your dash plaques and trophies and order them at least a month in advance so they are ready. The internet is a great source for dash plaques if you don't have a local supplier. Trophies are usually best gotten locally due to shipping costs.

5: Flyers should be made and distributed at least one month before the event. Internet car show sites are great for posting the event and may reach people outside of your area. Be sure to include a contact number and name for directions or more information. Some radio station sites also list charitable events for free and may announce them on air as well.

5: Two different colored raffle tickets (door prizes and/or 50/50 drawing), a box or jar for the tickets, safety tape, tables, chairs, signs if needed, a sun shade, pens and markers and anything else you may need for the registration area and to block off the show area.

6: A 50/50 is always a good way to raise extra money in addition to the registration fees. Silent auctions are also good.

7: A DJ is nice and needed for announcements and general entertainment. Be sure they have appropriate music and a system loud enough to cover the event area. 60's and 70's music always works well for a car show. (Sorry Fastback)

8: Registration forms to be displayed on the cars during the shows. Should include a reigstration number, make, model and year, driver name and city if you wish. I find having the driver city on the form can start a good conversation plus gives you a good idea on how far they came from to be at your show.

9: If no restaurant is within walking distance, a mobile food vendor will ususally come out and work just for what they make during the show. Check your yellow pages for a vendor. Also make sure trash cans and restrooms are accessible for the show.

I know I may have left something out but these are the main things you need to plan. Hope it helps.
 
FASTBACK340 said:
Here's a piece of advice: Don't you DARE have some old greaser DJ playing Doo-Wop. I can't for the life of me understand how automotive stlyes morph and shift, but almost every car show I go to I still have to listen to 50 yr. old music.

I was at a show 3 yrs. ago and started F`in with the DJ to play some Foo Fighters, Offspring, or Tool. He had the same look on his face as when I ask my dog to get me my coffee....
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Classis cars and classis music belong together. Modern music sux so it belongs with modern cars.
 
Dash plaques to the first ??? vehicles always goes over well. Also if you call, then mail or fax your show flyer to Jegs and/or Summits they will send you goodie bags for free to give to the people that enter.

Hope This Helps...
 
Can You Have It In The Middle Between Danbury And Springfield So The Mass Guys Can Go.
Or Is That Too Far North????
Thanks
 
limelite70 said:
Can You Have It In The Middle Between Danbury And Springfield So The Mass Guys Can Go.
Or Is That Too Far North????
Thanks
Click to expand...

That would be the Waterbury (yuck) New Britain area. You have the Paps Doge show in New Britain next weekend

I dont know any business's in that area to help out either.
 
Point taken (about the music, that is), BUT he has made a valid point too...........

I have to wonder how 9 times out of ten, we hear nothing but 50's, when the majority of the cars at the shows are from the 60's and 70's........

Period correct music is fine with me, but for cryin' out loud, there's just so much doo-wop I can handle. Maybe it's time to separate the era's at the shows (50's, 60's and 70's in their own separate "corral" areas), and have the music of the day playing in each area.

You think? ...........and if the show is too small for such a thing, MIX IT UP..........Jeepers............this ain't rocket science.

(DJ's, please take notice).... :stop::stop::stop: the doo-wop.
 
What do ya want to know?

First you really need to start planning close to a year in advance. After like feb. You can forget about free stuff from many companies. He'll in this economy ya may not be getting much free stuff anyway.

where you planning it. How big do you want the show to be?

You need reliable help. People willing to work all day that really won't get to really enjoy the show itself. And the more the better.

Donating the money is the easy part. And if you keep the admission down and call it a donation it will also help. Make sure the flyer says that the money will be donated.

Also don't go crazy and expect 100+ cars the first year. Start small and let it grow on it's own. Baby steps man. Every year you will see something you can do better. The following year you make the improvements and the show gets better and bigger as people hear about it.

50's music sucks at car shows. Play a good mix of music.

If you don't do trophies and stack up on door prizes I think you'll get a better varity of cars. Trophies will pull bigger car counts but then headaches as well.

Get as many of the helpers together and decide exactly what kind of show you want and the rules you want then stick to them.

As I think of more I will post them.
 
Thanks Joe, and everyone else who chimed in. All great advice.

I figured the show wont be till next year, I would love to see something as great as the Car B Que that Joe was involved with.

I have a location in mind, Its a start.
 
If you decide to do trophies keep it simple.
Something like. Peples choice. Clubs choice etc. We run a dealer show and Mage a mechanics choice, dealer choice and the clubs choice. It's simple and the car with the most money in it doesn't always win. Keeps the little guy happy
 
Thats a good idea. I think dash plaques for the 1st X amount of cars and 2 or 3 trophies is plenty for the first show. 50/50 is all ways a good way to go also.
 
AdamR said:
Thanks Joe, and everyone else who chimed in. All great advice.

I figured the show wont be till next year, I would love to see something as great as the Car B Que that Joe was involved with.

I have a location in mind, Its a start.
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That started as 12 cars and a BBQ in toms back yard. Ended up omer 200 mopars. Build it slow is the best advise I can give. You will learn so much year to year. Especially in the parking dept. Sounds stupid but ya need to park all those guys to get the maxium cars in your location. And you wouldn't believe how many people can't park their cars. It's crazy.
 
Every time I go to a cruise night Im amazed by how people try and park. Especially the guy that pulls in to a spot. Everyone around him is backed in this guy pulls in, LOL
 
the music should be a mix with some period correct music to the cars also. kinda cool hearing little duece coupe at a car show. theres some cool rockabilly out there too. kids do need games with a few prizes.Local auto parts shouldnt mind giving key chains and a few prizes for advertizing. Piston ring toss is a good car oriented game simple enough,3 large piston rings and a broom stick in the ground to throw at. keychain to peeps that miss and prize for ringers. Coloring contest,car drawing off copier and a few boxes of crayons the primary color type and a few picnic tables and one decent prize. This will keep some people with kids around till the drawing.Again parts house may supply to have their logo on top of the coloring sheets. Dont forget a couple porta potties. man and woman. no better reason to have to go than nowhere to GO. hope this helps
 
LOL. Its crazy. They end up screwing the entire flow of things having to pull up and straighten out twelve times. LOL.

Oh on the dash plaques . There was a place on the net that would do them for $1 each. Can't beat that. First show I probably wouldn't do more then saw 25 of them.
 

AdamR said:
Thats a good idea. I think dash plaques for the 1st X amount of cars and 2 or 3 trophies is plenty for the first show. 50/50 is all ways a good way to go also.
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I must add that trophies are a must. I have attended many shows and the best ones that people remember and talk positive about are the ones that give a lot of awards. "People Feel When Trophies Are Awarded They Are Getting Something For Their (Let's Say) $10 Entry Fee." Trophies are not expensive and even with the economy you will be surprised how many businesses are still willing to donate for the advertisement. If you are creative trophies can be done for the price of a dash plaque. One show I was at took old rod and pistons epoxy them so the rod did not move, sprayed clear coat on them and epoxy a plaque on the flat were the wrist pin is with the shows name, date and the sponsor. You can most likely get the rods & pistons from a local auto machine shop and/or junk yard for free it you tell them what you are doing with them and you will knowledge they donated them.
 
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