Car show & cruise night entrant's fee

[Jonathan]

Just curious what the thoughts were on paying to enter your car in a show?

I go to some car shows or cruise nights and it is free to attend, either as an entrant with a car or as a spectator. Some I go to, you only pay if you are there with a car, but not if you are a spectator. Others it is the opposite, where you pay only as a spectator and not as a car owner/entrant. And some you pay regardless.

Sometimes I don't mind the way this is set-up and other times I do. I was at a decent show on the weekend and it was part of a town's fall fair. It was free to enter with your car and it got you into the fair itself as well as eligible for quite an assortment of door prizes as well as judging prizes. Spectators on the other hand, had to pay to get in.

The local cruise night in the summer is the other way. It's $2 to enter as a car owner and the spectators come and go as they please for free. There isn't any judging each week and the door prizes are few and far between. They run a 50/50 draw as well, but that's not any different than buying a scratch ticket on your way home from the show.

There are also some shows which charge up to $20 for car owners or spectators to be on the property. Sometimes this is tied in with vendor booths of one kind or another, or perhaps an air show and it may or may not include prizes.

I understand it can often boil down to logistics where it will depend on where the show is and how you would keep track of which spectators paid and which didn't. The ones that are in some fenced off area or private property of some kind can do it either way, because they can control who comes and goes for cars and people. The ones on main street, if you will, are much less straightforward to track people and then you often see them charging the cars and owners for coming.

I just got thinking it is some what odd that you are charging the people who are the very point of why the spectators are there. If the car show had only spectators and no cars, it wouldn't be a car show. Yet if the cars only showed up and no spectators, it would still be a show (and probably a pretty enjoyable one).

Call it cheap or whatever, I just think it's ballsy to demand payment from the very people they are hoping come and bring their cars and then when you get there you realize there's not a lick of prizes or organization and you wonder why you went. If the benefit is in part for the car owners themselves, then you could look at it as a place to meet up with your car buddies and someone else is left organizing it. Yet when you add in the hassle of the local town idiots strolling by with their misbehaved kids messing with the cars, you'd think it might be more simple just to go meet up in someone's driveway.

End rant... opinion... philosophy... whatever. Just something that stands out when you see the inconsistency to them all.

[mluder]

Just curious what the thoughts were on paying to enter your car in a show?

I go to some car shows or cruise nights and it is free to attend, either as an entrant with a car or as a spectator. Some I go to, you only pay if you are there with a car, but not if you are a spectator. Others it is the opposite, where you pay only as a spectator and not as a car owner/entrant. And some you pay regardless.

Sometimes I don't mind the way this is set-up and other times I do. I was at a decent show on the weekend and it was part of a town's fall fair. It was free to enter with your car and it got you into the fair itself as well as eligible for quite an assortment of door prizes as well as judging prizes. Spectators on the other hand, had to pay to get in.

The local cruise night in the summer is the other way. It's $2 to enter as a car owner and the spectators come and go as they please for free. There isn't any judging each week and the door prizes are few and far between. They run a 50/50 draw as well, but that's not any different than buying a scratch ticket on your way home from the show.

There are also some shows which charge up to $20 for car owners or spectators to be on the property. Sometimes this is tied in with vendor booths of one kind or another, or perhaps an air show and it may or may not include prizes.

I understand it can often boil down to logistics where it will depend on where the show is and how you would keep track of which spectators paid and which didn't. The ones that are in some fenced off area or private property of some kind can do it either way, because they can control who comes and goes for cars and people. The ones on main street, if you will, are much less straightforward to track people and then you often see them charging the cars and owners for coming.

I just got thinking it is some what odd that you are charging the people who are the very point of why the spectators are there. If the car show had only spectators and no cars, it wouldn't be a car show. Yet if the cars only showed up and no spectators, it would still be a show (and probably a pretty enjoyable one).

Call it cheap or whatever, I just think it's ballsy to demand payment from the very people they are hoping come and bring their cars and then when you get there you realize there's not a lick of prizes or organization and you wonder why you went. If the benefit is in part for the car owners themselves, then you could look at it as a place to meet up with your car buddies and someone else is left organizing it. Yet when you add in the hassle of the local town idiots strolling by with their misbehaved kids messing with the cars, you'd think it might be more simple just to go meet up in someone's driveway.

End rant... opinion... philosophy... whatever. Just something that stands out when you see the inconsistency to them all.

Many of the car shows that I do that have a registration fee are fund raisers for some organization or another... One specifically is held by a local church as a community out reach. It's free to the public, $20 or so to display your car, and they provide free hamburgers and hot dogs and sides, etc for lunch. It's always packed and my guess is everything is donated so the church raises a healthy fund or breaks even at least.

Other shows charge exhibitors and donate proceeds to charity - cancer, leukemia, etc. It's not like there's just some guy at the top pocketing the money...

[Shep]

For what it's worth, when it's made clear that the "entrance fee" goes to a charity of some sort, I find the cost fully warranted, assuming the charity is one I do support (and I can already think of a big stinker that I do NOT support, but that's for a different thread). If it's just a local club event, and they need to e.g. pay for the parking lot or something similar, a small price is fine, but usually the extra goes to the 50/50.

Frankly I just think more should be run in the "charity" model -- if you have extra money, where does it go exactly??? You're running a car show, not a strip mall, operating costs are not part of the equation. I know of some shows (Cruisin' Solon in Ohio is an example last I checked) where they have sponsors that help support the events, and for the most part it's run at-cost. Some days will rain and they still have to pay for the lot, but they for the most part break even, or use the extra money to pay for door prizes for the next year. These are completely fine in my opinion. The ones that profit from it? Now those I'd like to see use their proceeds for a charity!

Either way, I'm with you, I'm not paying $50 for a one-time car show because a friend of a guy with a beer buddy uncle said he wanted to see it if I don't know where that money's going. Either disclose the source of it all, or don't charge exorbitant prices! I'll pay $5 readily, $10 is fine, but anything over $10 and I need to know where it's going. Otherwise, count me out. :thumbdown:

[DMCVegas]

For what it's worth, when it's made clear that the "entrance fee" goes to a charity of some sort, I find the cost fully warranted, assuming the charity is one I do support (and I can already think of a big stinker that I do NOT support, but that's for a different thread). If it's just a local club event, and they need to e.g. pay for the parking lot or something similar, a small price is fine, but usually the extra goes to the 50/50.

Frankly I just think more should be run in the "charity" model -- if you have extra money, where does it go exactly??? You're running a car show, not a strip mall, operating costs are not part of the equation. I know of some shows (Cruisin' Solon in Ohio is an example last I checked) where they have sponsors that help support the events, and for the most part it's run at-cost. Some days will rain and they still have to pay for the lot, but they for the most part break even, or use the extra money to pay for door prizes for the next year. These are completely fine in my opinion. The ones that profit from it? Now those I'd like to see use their proceeds for a charity!

Either way, I'm with you, I'm not paying $50 for a one-time car show because a friend of a guy with a beer buddy uncle said he wanted to see it if I don't know where that money's going. Either disclose the source of it all, or don't charge exorbitant prices! I'll pay $5 readily, $10 is fine, but anything over $10 and I need to know where it's going. Otherwise, count me out. :thumbdown:

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140321152039/creepypasta/images/f/fb/Thumbs-up.gif

Exactly. Charity is one thing, and people I buy parts and services from excluded, I didn't put the work into a car to make someone else rich.

[Rich_NYS]

I just got thinking it is some what odd that you are charging the people who are the very point of why the spectators are there.

^This.

I think charging car owners to bring a car to a car show is like charging actors to perform in a play (and also charge the audience admission.)

I don't think your thought process is cheap at all; I had 3 invitations this year and each time I mentioned I'm not interested in paying for people to look at my car. I'm not a car show kinda guy, but if I did bring my DeLorean for people to see, I wouldn't pay to do so.

FWIW, I'd rather park just about anywhere the general public can enjoy seeing it "in the wild."

[Shep]

FWIW, I'd rather park just about anywhere the general public can enjoy seeing it "in the wild."I've done this myself, and I can say, the reactions are far better on a busy street than they are in a car show. In a car show, people are looking for nice cars. If you park it "in the wild" in a high-traffic area, no one expects it, so spectator's reactions are priceless, and I've had quite a few people do U-turns to come back and see it, take pictures of it, talk to me, it's a blast! So glad my fiancee lives where she does :biggrin:

[Rich_NYS]

I've done this myself, and I can say, the reactions are far better on a busy street than they are in a car show. In a car show, people are looking for nice cars. If you park it "in the wild" in a high-traffic area, no one expects it, so spectator's reactions are priceless, and I've had quite a few people do U-turns to come back and see it, take pictures of it, talk to me, it's a blast! So glad my fiancee lives where she does :biggrin:

Exactly....you get to put a smile on somebody's face and it makes your day.

[Shep]

Exactly....you get to put a smile on somebody's face and it makes your day.And theirs too! :)

[David T]

Here in the Northeast the typical cruise night is free to everyone. On weekends car shows are usually $15 in advance and $20 the day of for the cars, spectators free. The money goes to various causes including charities, trophies, the group running it, etc. Many times they have to pay for the place, insurance, portable toilets, DJ, trophies, etc. Some shows are free and some are VERY expensive. Some charge spectators. At some car shows the cars are entered by invitation only. A few shows feed the car owners. Most spectators are not aware the cars pay for the show so the spectators can be free. Most of the shows around here are used as a fundraiser for various purposes like schools and volunteer Fire departments. At a lot of shows, and especially cruise nights, there really are very few spectators, it is mostly car owners admiring each other's cars (or motorcycles). At many shows the spectators do not know about car show etiquette and touch the cars and let the kids jump in. I use those plastic pipes between the door anchors to keep the spectators out. They see an open door and think it is an invitation to climb in! Everyone has to touch the car to see if it is really aluminum! At least fingerprints wipe off easily. A Delorean is one of only a few cars displayed with the doors open.

[Nicholas R]

For a regular event (weekly cruise in type show) I'm not going to pay an entrance fee. If it's a one off show for a cause, maybe a very small fee ($10). If it's a big prestigious show, I will pay an entrance fee (such as the Cavalcade of Customs, or the Celebration Exotic Car Show, both $50). If it's a major event with major expenses to be covered, such as DCS, I also have no issue paying.

[Rich_NYS]

If it's a major event with major expenses to be covered, such as DCS, I also have no issue paying.

Same goes here for DCS (I really enjoyed it,) but I think DCS falls more into the "convention" category which I think makes it much more worthwhile due to all the owners, vendors, speakers....etc. :thumbup:




BTW, I made a thread of my first & only car show type event. I think Jonathan's thread here is pretty good....I didn't want to hijack it 8)

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?10665-My-first-and-only-quot-car-show-quot&p=157254#post157254

[Gfrank]

I don't like paying for some of the bigger ones around here, when they charge large amounts to get in for competitors and spectators yet hardly give any prizes nor is it for charity.

Conventions, charity shows no problem!

[Jonathan]

Good call on the "in the wild" or "impromptu" car shows. I've seen those same priceless smiles when you just park at a coffee shop and hang out and chat with people. Their reactions are really quite different than at a show where you expect to see the old classic cars.

I know not everyone here is a baseball fan, so the analogy might be lost on some, but this farewell Gatorade commercial for Derek Jeter that aired a couple days ago captures a bit of what those "wasn't expecting it" reactions are like. I know it's staged to some degree, but that's okay too.

DeLoreans don't compare much to shortstops with the Yankees, but the surprised looks on people's faces reminded me of the impromptu coffee shop car shows a bit. I've liked baseball for a long time and while I'm a Blue Jays fan at heart, I can recognize greatness when I see it. Jeter has always played the game the right way and for a fellow 1974'er (and 40th birthday person this year), I watch the last bit of the season and I think some of the "good ole days" are retiring with him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfgS1lvqX8I

[vps3922]

^This.

I think charging car owners to bring a car to a car show is like charging actors to perform in a play (and also charge the audience admission.)

I don't think your thought process is cheap at all; I had 3 invitations this year and each time I mentioned I'm not interested in paying for people to look at my car. I'm not a car show kinda guy, but if I did bring my DeLorean for people to see, I wouldn't pay to do so.

FWIW, I'd rather park just about anywhere the general public can enjoy seeing it "in the wild."

I totally get this. I am new to car shows and every car show I did this year cost me $25. The last one went to charity, I am not sure about the first two. My wife asked me the question: "Why do you pay for a show where your attendance (and the one of all the other car owners) will make the success of the show?"

I could not really answer to that and she is right. (Man what would she give to read this sentence written in the blog for all eternity).

I also agree with you that charity is fine but all the other stuff makes no real sense. The first show I went (All British Field Meet in Van Dusen Park, Vancouver) charged $25 and they also charged the people coming in. It is a great show, don't get me wrong, and the crowd was fabulous, but they charge twice for it and they had hundreds of cars there.

I will have to review my shows for next year. The ABFM is awesome, but maybe I can do with one show less next year.

[jackb]

^This.

I think charging car owners to bring a car to a car show is like charging actors to perform in a play (and also charge the audience admission.)

I don't think your thought process is cheap at all; I had 3 invitations this year and each time I mentioned I'm not interested in paying for people to look at my car. I'm not a car show kinda guy, but if I did bring my DeLorean for people to see, I wouldn't pay to do so.

FWIW, I'd rather park just about anywhere the general public can enjoy seeing it "in the wild."
A friend just tried to tell me I should bring the Delorean to. Car show he is going to next weekend (For import cars, and he is showing his stock Hyundai Genesis, and his wife's stock Hyundai Veloster :histerical1: ).
$35 for the car, no passenger, and $20 admission. :histerical1: :histerical1: :histerical1: Yeah right.
Everything said in this thread came to mind, and I agreed with all of you, but my favorite line, to.summarize it all, is in bold above.

[SIMid]

Most car shows I attend to usually asks between $5-15, depending what the event is for. Most of them, the money goes to the town or to a charity for raising funds.

However, one car show I was invited to, wanted me to shell out $75 for the event!
I made some sort of complaint on FB, charging that kind of stupid money that went to the business that organised the show who wasn't a charity. I got a few replies stating that I was a whinger and they would pay up to $100 to enter! They didn't care how much it cost and just wanted to enter their cars as they felt that they were in an elite group of owners.
No trophies, no giveaways. All I was told later was that it was to cover costs or hiring the venue, hiring security guards, admin charges and the $5000 for the DJ. They had over 200 cars turn up to the event. Nice little profit they would have made.

[ALEXAKOS]

*little profit*
Smooth talker;) that is a compliment.