Event Coverage Ink n Iron. VS. LA Roadsters

I too hate it when people "force feed" me flyers and cards when I'm walking around. I think 99% of people do, most end up in the nearest trashcan. That's advertising dollers well spent! I marketed with a booth, made sure I had cards or other promo material there so if someone asked for it, I had it but never just handed them out. With a booth with examples of your work, people looking for that type of work WILL come up to you, do your selling to them, not waste time with someone not looking for your services
FWIW I hate getting in my car after a cruise night to find the inside cluttered with paper, especially since I generally just spent the time to clean my clutter out a couple hours before! What ever happened to just having flyers on the wall at the speed shop or parts store to get the word out?

 

i wouldnt let anyone touch my car without seeing lots of their work, there are some big name stripers that quite frankly i think their work sucks .... and what my roadster cost to build probably wont even cover the paint bill on some of those cars in the show

 

WOW ... "Roadster Guys" , Duece, im glad you posted a picture up so he and everyone else will know not to go up to your black 32 and ask if you want work done.

 

Since this was your first LARS, perhaps you were a little impatient. your career will progress with time and the level of your skills . I've been striping for almost 40 years , and was asked by several people at the show about various types of work they wanted done . Trying the force feed method usually won't work . Good luck with your career , and remember , creativity and craftsmanship is the key ,not following everyone else.

 

I appreciate everyones comments, and kind words.

Let me clear up a few things. I'm not complaining about getting work, because I was busy. I understand not wanting to be bothered or force fed propaganda. And I'm completely comfortable with my abilities. I've painted helmets for Mario Andretti, Paul Tracy, Jeremy McGrath, the Gordons, etc. Via a previous employer. My work can be seen right now on a playstation and Mazda TV commercial. I have years of experience applying paint, graphics, stripes and lettering to all kinds of high profile racers and motorsports enthusiasts. But no one will ever know this unless I take the time to introduce myself and pass on a little info.

I just don't understand the attitudes. We're all in this hobby for the same reason. The cars.

 

Honestly, I don't see the harm, you can simply say "No Thanks" or "Sure" and file it. Again, it doesn't have to be a car. Maybe down the road a friend of friend needs something pinstriped or a you have a non car project you want pinstriped. LARS is a mixed bag of folks, I'm sure I'll never own a roadster (A COUPEs Hot Rod for sure!). People say I should get my truck pinstriped, but I won't. Because of the time period I built it in (early 50's). Again, there are other things/projects I wouldn't mind getting pinstriped. Just stick to your guns and think positive!

Ken

 

I hope I never become a "roadster guy"

 

I am going to try and be very polite but LARS seems to me to be the epitome of snobbishness. It has been common knowledge for years that those in the LA Roadsters feel they are above the rest of us and thats OK with me. In the show area I have overheard conversations about how the owner has done this and that with a certain car, Who I know is lying out his ass cause I helped build that particular car, To guys stating how much $$ they have in their car All for the sake of swelling their EGO. The folks out in the Unwashed and swap area are the more down to earth type guys. And for those who have stated I wont let any one touch my car unless I seen his work OR When I want some thing done I'll ask. Well if you don't have a card to refer to how will you know to call???
And probably the most important part is What happened to manners?? The is no reason to be rude!! Take the card and if you don't want it trash it!!

 

Ha ha, me too....... also, there's only one person I've ever allowed to stripe my car, Anthony White, 00 Mack on here, no disrespect to anyone else.

 

I like watermelon!!!!

 

I met you in the gold chain elitist roadster area- near my car. You & your wife were walking around pulling a cart. You & your wife started up a conversation w/ me & a few of my friends about how to get better results at the show (we didn't even know what you were selling when you 1st walked up!). We gave opinions about banners, pictures, etc so people would actually know your purpose. Remember this conversation?
Did you have any examples of your work? Any pictures? I never saw them & I took your card politely! We were walking around close to you as you left us (probably followed you for several rows of cars) & all I witnessed were polite people talking to you.


There was a roadster guy who did choose to have his car striped at the show. Right out in the 90 degree sun on a black car. No shade- no EZ up- nothing. Talk about a blotchy mess. I think the paint was drying as soon as it hit the car! Personally- I'd never have anything striped in the sun.

Advise? Loose the attitude & brush up on your sales skills. Don't ask for advice & then ignore it & then come here & whine about all the elitist roadster guys. Really pisses me off I spent time talking to you only to be dismissed later as "one of those guys".

You should have made up some signs or banners- card table w/ several photo albums of your work. Set up an EZ up to get the car out of the sun & loose the mobile cart. If you are as good as you say you are- they will come to you!

 

Exactally. What is with the attitudes of some people???

Again, why be rude?? I myself take all the flyers, cards and what not. That way, if I DO need something, I have access to people who do the work or have the product. Leave the Snobbery to the Billet and high dollar Barrett crowd and lets all support each other at this end of the car game. There are worse things than getting handed a flyer to get upset about.

 

dont worry about it bro. dust off and move on, i think shitty times are going around this month!! this has got to be one of the worst "shitty customer" months for me ever..and its june. theres tons more car shows... your too talented to worry about retired fools that milked clocks for 50 years......

 

Hey! Me too!

 

I say we sign this dudes email address up with a bunch of spammers....
Cause thats all dumping flyers in cars is, fucking spam.

As for the OP.....
What do you expect at an INDOOR CAR SHOW?
Honestly, trollmeter rates.... 2-10.

 

Ha, ha, quoting yourself, a new kind of awesome!

 

I think Nads thinks you're cute. Maybe he'll ask you to the dance.

 

See my original quote... I'm sorry you feel "like one of those guys"

 

KIRKS, One of those roadster guys!! another thing I dont like is when they get pretty girls to hand out flyers, Its hard to say no to a pretty girl

 

I heard that Fonzi had his watermelon pin striped at LARS.......

 

In my opinion....The best way to get noticed is to get a booth and do some panels,have a book with your work in it,and have a few cars lined up to be striped at the show. People will gather around to watch. Can't tell you how many times i've seen guys come up when Doug Dorr is striping a car and ask him to do their next. Handing out cards is a waste,unless someone asks you for one....Let your work speak for inself.

 

Am I the only one who wants to see those helmets? Post up pics of them pro helmets for goodness sakes.

 

Really? Do you think so? He's dreamy!

 

I feel that you failed to mention you we're lugging your tools with you to pinstripe car then and there if someone needs, this is a BIG difference from someone JUST handing out flyers or business cards.
Though it might mean your getting a gig right then and there, some people going to shows might not want their cars striped at the show, if that is what your looking to do.

Another thing to do is post art every HAMB Friday artshow all the time, could be a good way of going about this. Then when you go to a show meet, up with a few people whom you've done work for, give them cards to pass onto if the customers get asked about the work.

Also the LBC Tattoo show is a big difference from the LARS, if you feel that you get more customers from that crowd, find all the shows like that one and hit those up as a vendor.

The big thing here is getting your art out for a lot of people to see. The HAMB is that venue.

 

At this point I've heard from both sides of the fence. And I will certainly take every suggestion to heart. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. If you see me at a show please come up and say hello. I promise I won't hand you anything...

 

I think KIRK! has finally snapped he is not even using imaginary alternate personalities to talk to himself anymore.

 

Slickest Black Paint with white firewall. There was a '32 in TRJ a while back with an Ardun and now I see all full fendered roadster in black....black....black!

 

Another thread that makes me cry.

 

I was in the Swap Meet at LARS, and had girls handing out my flyers both in the swap as well as in specialty parking. We only politely offer flyers, and never 'push' them on people. Likewise, we only put them in cars on the floor and never under wipers, rolled up in door handles, etc etc.

Being in the business I go to as many shows and events as anyone, and always get a few flyers in my roadster. A am also offerred flyers walking through events, which I usually accept. I read or take a quick glance at all of them. I am not really interested in 95% of whats being offered but am interested in the other 5%, and if I don't take a look how will I ever know? A very few years ago, before the emergence of the internet, flyers were the #1 way to build up a good event. LARS handed out thousands of flyers over the years. So did GoodGuys. So did BilletProof. Etc Etc

I am not suprised to see negative comments/attitudes about flyers at events but am a little suprised to see it from guys that make thier living in the industry, such as Ryan and Kirk. I've made my living in the Hot Rod industry for 25 years and any info I can get about related products/services/events is both good and relevent to me as a businessman. Knowing my industry is my job, and I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain by keeping my eyes open and seeing whats out there.

I like the PRC run a lot. A few years back, before the run was as popular and well known as it is today, I got a PRC flyer in my roadster at some event or swap meet. Maybe I was out of the loop at the time but I didn't know about it back then. Because I read the flyer I decided to go and have been going back ever since. Some of the posters on this thread can't go because they "don't do business with people that put stuff in thier cars" and the PRC does just that. Too bad, its a great time.

Stroup - keep doing events and flyers, it works. Some people won't take one, some may even get shitty about it, but many more will take your info and give you a call someday. I built my business on flyers one at a time. By the way, do you also do lettering? If so PM me, I've got a small job.

All of this is just my opinion, coming from a guy that hands out flyers at events.