History How does a outsider get into SEMA?

I attended 10 years ago. One of the members of my group had a business license and applied for entrance for the four of us that went to the show. I was surprised that the when we checked in no ID's were checked before the credentials were handed to us. Lots of walking over 3 days and still didn't see it all. Smart guys brought some sort of wheeled cart to put all of the catalogs and flyers in. ( They get very heavy) They had places you could check your bags of catalogs in for a few hours while you continued to collect more.

I agree that the show is definitely more for those involved in the industry at the wholesale ,retail level but I did learned a lot about the industry while there and had a great time. Wear good shoes!

 

Belong to SEMA action network and always involve myself in legislation pertaining to Massachusetts, get a invite but haven't gone, now if they would send me a airline tix with the invite I'd be there in a heartbeat. Ralphie

 

I went a few years ago for the first time. A person should see it at least once. Im a self employed carpenter by trade, I have a tax I.D. number so I sent that info along with a business card stating I specialized in automotive woodwork. Its not all a lie I have worked on several auto projects that dealt with the woodwork in 30s ear cars.

 

Moonwalking backwards? Get hired by the venue's firm that empties the trash and then change clothes once you get inside. Gary

 

SEMA was bucket list thing for me.
I went in 2015 . Even as a business owner with after market ties I still had to go with a fellow shop owner who had credentials as a new employee. We still had to jump through major hoops to get it done.
I wore my official Jalopy Journal press t-shirt and tried to get into a press only event but it didn't work.
I had a blast and marked it off my list. I had a chance to go again this year but passed. If you can find a way to attend you should do it, even if it's only once. Had a pic with Christy Lee from all girls garage, also one with Linda Vaughn.

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My brother got us tickets this year through a friend who is a sales rep for one of the companies on display. First time attending, interesting show to see, gives a good perspective of the industry, and also what the current trends are. As mentioned, it is a trade show, so most vendors are focused on marketing to distributors. I did make a few business contacts while there. The outside areas anyone can enter, just need the passes to get in the buildings. Alot of neat cars. Basically checked it off of my bucket list, but most likely wouldn't attend again. On Thursday I was talking to the guy at the Borgeson booth, he mentioned that someone stole a Mustang steering gear box from their display the night before. So just having credentials doesn't keep the riff-raff away.

 

I had Bob from Service Center in Lomita build my engine in my Chevy. Also Wade the Chairman and C.O.O. of SEMA worked for Service Center years ago!


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Hey Speedwise, I hope you got to go. There were 180,000 registered attendees and was the largest one yet.
The best part was the SEMA banquet they had Jimmy Vaughan, Billy Gibbons, Michael Anthony play a great Blues set!


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You fill out this form to get in.
https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=2971&site=INQ

 

The same way I get into Barrett Jackson down at Mandalay, my casino host gets me passes.

 

I am a SEMA Action person and actually had my car and story "published" in one of their emails. Never asked me to come to SEMA show? How did you get invited?

 

Apply to have your car displayed outside and you will get tickets to get in the door.
Stand out front at the end of the show and watch all the outside display cars leave. Some seem to have traction problems leaving the intersection.

 

You Tube.

 

There's a secret SEMA ass grab that gets you into the event. Walk up to the guy at the entrance, reach around and give him a quick ass grab and he'll let you right in.

 

build an insanely detailed car and campaign it at every national show you can get to

maybe a vendor will dig it and invite ya to go

 

You left out an important piece of information, the insanely detailed car needs to be constructed out of parts supplied by SEMA dealers. Our build it at home out of used parts, paint it at home using old equipment, make your own English wheel, build your own motor hobby doesn't get the same welcome.

 

and it helps to keep the same manufacturer through the build......Ford in a Ford, GM in a GM...........

 

The show's not in San Francisco.

 

I'm not sure, maybe it has something to do with my contacting my legislators on every law pertaining to old cars and doing it continuinly on a state and federal level.

 

there are very few BIG VOLUME buyers in the usa , 99.9% are small time shops that attend sema, and with out sightseers the aisle would be empty. and a good 30% of displays are promo's hoping to get some orders to start production in china, biggest sales scam in the usa.

 

Lol... You get a "spouse" tag from someone that already has credentials.

 

I just had a roofer over yesterday for a quote on a re-roof in the Spring. He sees my hot rods and it turns out he is into AD Chevy pickups among other cars.
Long story short he missed the appointment to measure my roof last week but now he fesses up. He was in Vegas for SEMA. I ask who got him in and he says “I did.” He presented his business card and they said sure, you buy tires and equipment and stuff don’t you? According to him it seemed like they wanted his money more than anything.

 

Go to the SEMA.org website and look for the membership categories. There is a $100 per year category that gives you the monthly magazine, email industry updates every Thursday and a listing in the annual directory. The requirement for show credentials seems to vary from year to year. Too, you get info on early registration for the show along with info on discount hotel rates. Quit going several years ago as fewer and fewer of the people I worked with still attend.