I am starting to get plans together for this year's Automania, again held at Friendly Chev. I will be meeting with Mike and Larry tomorrow and am looking for your input/suggestions to help make this year's even better. Here's a couple things that I think we can all agree on and will be addressed:
-food: we will do our best to get a couple vendors. We've had a pretty cold reception to get anyone out, possibly due to the state fair being so close. I have another option in mind, but I'd like to hear from anyone who has a good contact with a food truck/vendor.
-vendors: love them, hate them, or indifferent, they help pay the bills. We need more, they dont have to be car-related too. If you know of a company who might be interested, ask them. I will have more info in the next couple days regarding cost. Last year it was $50 for a space and $100 for space and a trophy to give out.
-judging: input on last year's. We did the tally and then looked for multiple trophy wins. Used that to determine the category winner (a multi-winner would move up to a better trophy if possible).
-the cop cars and dragster. Like them? Do we want a couple more things like that (local vintage fire truck, local recruiter with cool vehicle, etc)?
general comments?
Vision for this year: more. bigger, better.
Lost in the 60s said
Mar 9, 2013
I would caution against bringing in non-car related vendors just for cash flow. That is one of my dislikes about a car show/swap meet. Having them look like a flea market.
dashboard said
Mar 9, 2013
Chris R said
Mar 10, 2013
More variety of food vendors would be nice. I dont care for the row after row of diecast sellers but I think its cool to see the car art sellers. I buy more car art stuff then die cast personally.
68chevelle said
Mar 10, 2013
Im not a member but I know that Culvers does a lot of small events. They do all the work and you get a small portion of there profits. Its just a idea.
John D said
Mar 10, 2013
I would caution against bringing in non-car related vendors just for cash flow. That is one of my dislikes about a car show/swap meet. Having them look like a flea market.
yeah, 300 linear feet of "Beanie Babies" isn't good.
Chris R said
Mar 11, 2013
The thing with car shows now is these die cast guys. Its almost become an epidemic at shows now. Does anyone even collect Beanies anymore? I heard a few years ago from a few that got into that bug that the bottom dropped out on that hobby big time as far as value goes.
67ss said
Mar 11, 2013
Had enough room for a swap meet in the far parking lot last year.
Derek69SS said
Mar 11, 2013
At a show the size of Automania, some die-cast sellers would not be a turn-off IMHO.
Sure, when I drive 7 hours to an 80-acre swap meet they're a nuisance there... same with the T-shirt guys and stereo guys. Takes 2 days just to see the place, and you get tired of walking... walking past crap you don't want to see just irritates you more.
For a vendor area at a small show, I'm fine with them, as long as they're ~90% car-related. I'm not going there just to find car parts (bonus if I do though!).
My biggest peeve about car shows is the 50s music. 20 years ago when I first started going to shows, the majority of the cars were 50s era, so it made sense for the music to fit that era... in 20 years, the 50s cars have gone away and the musclecars are the majority now. The music should follow... just not all the way to the Disco era.
bowtie said
Mar 11, 2013
There's no plans for a swap meet, we just cant commit the space we have to both a swap and show and make sure we don't turn anyone away. Last year the far end space was kept open as overflow to allow for more show cars, as well as the couple trailers we knew would be arriving. As it is, parking and turning trailers in that area can be tricky, especially with other swapper's crap in the way. As the show grows, more space will be taken up by show cars. I don't want to start an annual swap meet that can't provide space for the swappers.
I am starting to get plans together for this year's Automania, again held at Friendly Chev. I will be meeting with Mike and Larry tomorrow and am looking for your input/suggestions to help make this year's even better. Here's a couple things that I think we can all agree on and will be addressed:
-food: we will do our best to get a couple vendors. We've had a pretty cold reception to get anyone out, possibly due to the state fair being so close. I have another option in mind, but I'd like to hear from anyone who has a good contact with a food truck/vendor.
-vendors: love them, hate them, or indifferent, they help pay the bills. We need more, they dont have to be car-related too. If you know of a company who might be interested, ask them. I will have more info in the next couple days regarding cost. Last year it was $50 for a space and $100 for space and a trophy to give out.
-judging: input on last year's. We did the tally and then looked for multiple trophy wins. Used that to determine the category winner (a multi-winner would move up to a better trophy if possible).
-the cop cars and dragster. Like them? Do we want a couple more things like that (local vintage fire truck, local recruiter with cool vehicle, etc)?
general comments?
Vision for this year: more. bigger, better.
I would caution against bringing in non-car related vendors just for cash flow. That is one of my dislikes about a car show/swap meet. Having them look like a flea market.
More variety of food vendors would be nice. I dont care for the row after row of diecast sellers but I think its cool to see the car art sellers. I buy more car art stuff then die cast personally.
yeah, 300 linear feet of "Beanie Babies" isn't good.
The thing with car shows now is these die cast guys. Its almost become an epidemic at shows now. Does anyone even collect Beanies anymore? I heard a few years ago from a few that got into that bug that the bottom dropped out on that hobby big time as far as value goes.
Had enough room for a swap meet in the far parking lot last year.
At a show the size of Automania, some die-cast sellers would not be a turn-off IMHO.
Sure, when I drive 7 hours to an 80-acre swap meet they're a nuisance there... same with the T-shirt guys and stereo guys. Takes 2 days just to see the place, and you get tired of walking... walking past crap you don't want to see just irritates you more.
For a vendor area at a small show, I'm fine with them, as long as they're ~90% car-related.
I'm not going there just to find car parts (bonus if I do though!).
My biggest peeve about car shows is the 50s music. 20 years ago when I first started going to shows, the majority of the cars were 50s era, so it made sense for the music to fit that era... in 20 years, the 50s cars have gone away and the musclecars are the majority now. The music should follow... just not all the way to the Disco era.