Event Coverage Ink n Iron. VS. LA Roadsters

This is my first year taking my show on the road (mobile pinstriping & lettering). So each show will be new and fresh and different. I'm looking forward to meeting and hangin' out with all the new people. And especially making new friends.

So, at Ink n Iron, just as a expect lots of cool friendly people willing to say hello, take a card and chat about their car and discuss what I do. Awesome.

Not so at LA Roadsters show. Out in the parking/swap/show area there was some nice people, a descent vibe and some people that were stoked to be hangin out and doing the car thing. I got to hang with Bad Bob for a few, meet a few other HAMB'ers.

Inside was a completely different story. My wife and I were treated like lepers from some of the "groups" of people we approached and asked if there was anything I could do for them. Some would straight up stare at us and say nothing. My wife would hand them a card and they wouldn't raise their hands to accept it. Basically acted like we weren't worthy of their time. What's the deal? Is this the way people with 32 roadsters act? Is it some kind of elite organization? If I were a "name brand" striper would I have been getting high-fives and pats on the back?

Now don't get me wrong, there were some cool people. I got some great advice from Jake, a seasoned big name striper. I got to meet and speak with "ringmaster" over at the striping display. And a few couples out in the show area were nice and friendly.

So what gives? Can someone shed some light?

 

Old rich people have old rich perceptions

 

BS, I am in sales.... I cold call and foot prospect all the time... its no different than being asked to leave or being hung up on.... Cant let it get to you... I has nothing to do with what kinda car they drive or how much is in their wallet....

Keep handing out that card man, when people want it they'll call when they need something.

 

There was a pin striper named "Gotcha" in the sfv. One day, Mary Tyler Moore came in with her business manager. Her Rolls Royce had been hit on the passenger door and was fixed. She needed the pin stripe put back on the door. She asked "Gotcha", how much? He said $20 and she walked away in a huff. The business manager leaned over and said, "She thinks it's too cheap!", so "Gotcha" said, "$200". She said, "Oh, go ahead!". After he put the stripe back on the door, she said, "That's 20 bucks!!!!".

 

I rarely take promotional stuff people try to hand me. It just depends on my mood. I literally had two different people (with vendor booths) practically shove their flyers into my chest because I didn't grab it out of their hands. If I want it I'll come to them.

 

Well this fellow might have a hard time selling pinstriping with all the competition out there. I applaud him taking his cards and wanting to spread word of his work. Perhaps a better 'sales pitch' is needed at the opening of the conversation. Afterall he's not doing so at starbucks, he's at a classic car show. The environment is right. Like the others said. Dont let attitudes get you down.. your moving forward instead of standing still is the way I see it.

 

I guess I jumped the gun and just imagined old stuck up gold chainers, I dont like them... but it is true, if they spent loads of money on their pride and joy, they probably wont have anyone touch their car whose work they do not know... just keep it up and get your work out there.

 

"Gold Chainers" LOL!

 

I would suggest... just a suggestion, have a couple small jobs lined up to meet at the show. Otherwise setup some sort of display or a panel to jam on.

I saw you and you did have your toolbox with you didn't you? If not then it was someone else with their pinstriping box.

Then when your doing your work, people will see you working and thus should get you more gigs.
In a way asking people if them want pinstriping might, just might be taken with different attitudes especially to people that have "finished" cars in their mind.

I'm sure some those guys in the pinstripers table either got invited or paid to have a table if they're selling.
Just some things to mull over, just keep at it. Good to see that you talked to the guys at the striping booth.

 

I say you did the right thing. Hand out those cards and make yourself known. You are at a car event and your service is for that crowd and those cars. How hard is it to take someones card ? Yes, there are snobs in any group you see....Even our hot rod world.

 

Exactly.

Walking around handing out cards or flyers seems like a huge waste of time & $$$ to me. You'd be better off to stripe a car for free & see what kinda business that draws.

JH

 

How the hell is handing out flyers a waste? Especially if it is advertising another show or something related to our hobby? I still don't get some peoples thoughts sometimes. How hard is it to take a card or flyer from someone???

 

When I'm out at a show and someone offers me a card or flyer, I'll politely say "No thank you." That's the Emily Post way to do things right. If there some impolite people that just stare at you and do nothing, just ignore their bad manners and forget about them.

Maybe next time, do as Abe Lugo suggests. See if you can take part in the striping booth and demonstrate your work.

 

I was getting work... Striped 2 cell phones, lettered the back of a guys flathead, all the way from VA. Pulled 2 stripes down and around a 34 cabriolet and did some traditional decorative stripes on a 32 roadster (out in the Swap area). It was just the general attitude from a lot of people on the inside. Very strange. Like it would hurt to be nice.

Since I use a roll around cart for my gear I was thinking about hanging small banners from each side. Then people can approach me.

 

I think Harrison means it's a waste for a striper. We hand out postcards for the Pileup and our shop and it's not a waste of time at all. But for a striper, for something that artistic, you are better off with a booth I think. People who want the striping will come to you. Not everyone is into the pinstriping, especially at the LA Roadster show. Usually when I had a person a flyer individually, I ask them if I can give them a flyer, and hold it up so they can see what it says.

 

Yeah, I was talking about it being a waste for a striper. Sounds like Stroupe found a little work @ least though. I'd think a booth would be the best bet to draw a crowd & work.

Kinda surprised they let someone walk around & solicit work like that at LARS though. I figured they were making $$$ off vendors & would be looking for anyone making $$$ off them without kicking some back.

....& re: flyers & cards for shows - drop it in the floor board of my car. I'll find it @ the end of the day. You get extra credit for post card-size color card with all the pertinent information and some decent artwork on it.

JH

 

I hear you. But people don't have to be rude. Just say no thank you.

 

When I would display/vend my paintwork at bike shows, we would get a booth and make it the hangout. I would have been at the show anyway so why not promote? If they would approach me, cool! If not we were still at the show with a reserved space and friends. Usually a couple of my drunken friends would draw a croud to my booth, fighting, puking, etc. Thats the kinda image I wanted!

 

When I was sitting by the food stands having a Coke saw a guy striping a gals leg. Haven't seen that before. Pretty neat.

 

My bud (Rex at Lowbrau Lines here on the hamb)started doing that at Good Guys and then at Viva this past year. The girls stand on my tailgate of the wagon while he stripes them. Always draws a crowd and it leads to him striping a bunch of cars later on. Nothing like a female to attract the guys attention.

 

I striped the model who got second place at this year ink n iron pin-up contest... if that says anything! Mimi L'minx!

 

oh yeah, whenever I come out to my car and there are 47 different flyers sitting on my seat, I make sure I DONT do biz with those people. So dont dump flyers in cars. Just my opinion.

 

That was most likely "Von Hot Rod" . He's been doing that for YEARS. Striped my wife's arm about 7 or 8 years ago.

To the OP - understand most of the cars inside are pretty much DONE. They have to be finished cars to get in and so most of those folks won't be looking to have any striping work in the first place. And I kind of agree with those that say they really don't want stuff pushed on them at a show. If I'm sitting around BSing with friends the last thing i want is some joker to try and "Sell" me something.
I started leaving the windows and doors closed on my coupe at shows because I got sick of all the crappy assed flyers that people feel the need to load my car with.
If you want to build your name and business at shows, get a booth and stripe some cool shit for people to see - whether it be bowling pins, flat pieces of metal or some chicks leg. I think you'll do much better to build your rep that way. JMHO

 

Lots of interesting opinions. Good stuff to know for sure.

 

He was not dumping them in cars I do not think he was handing them to people. And the fact that you do not do business with people that put stuff in your car in my opinion is crazy..... Lets me pose the question to everyone..... How do you make your living... How do you market? or how does your company Market? because if it was not for the marketing you would not have a job..... Self promotion is not always a bad thing

 

I was there with my 32 Roadster ... and like already said ...

Nobody is laying lines on my roadster that I do not know and respect their work. IF I have no intentions of using your services ... WHY cost you $$$ for the card I will not be using.

A lot of the roadster guys are the same way.

 

If that was you in the center/end area of the vendor booths, I say bad location for your services. Seems the people that hit that area are more interested in street roddy doo dads and shopping for trinkets. Or they are on stun just walking aimlessley. Seems the swap area would be the better location for you. Something to try anyhow. Target your customer, is he/she on vendor row buying a/c, LED tail lights and billet knobs, or is he in the swap section getting a deal on some bias plys and a two two intake...

 

I vend a few shows every year for my shop. Cards/fliers can be a wast of money. Last year I printed 1000 4x6 cards for the Pile Up, I never stand and hand them out, I put them on the table and let people take them. I went through 500-600 in 1 day. At the end of the day I seen maybe 50 of then in the trash cans 2 booths down. It's cool with me, but if I was handing them out to every person walking by I'd go through 2000 of them and 1000 would be in the trash. I let customers come to me. You may want to set up a full booth with lots if striped items to show your talent. Let the people come to you.