Decals @ SEMA?

[Boyd]

This will be my first year to attend SEMA. I'm hoping I can add to my sticker collection while I'm there. For those that have been in the past, is it easy to score cool decals? Do the various aftermarket companies even offer them? Who's got the best goodie bags? I'm only there for two days (Tue and Wed) - and would like to get as many catalogs/decals while I'm there. Any advice for a SEMA noob?

[chicane67]

One piece of advice...

Backpack with hydration.

[LMDGUY]

bring a empty backpack.. you will need it.

[TonyL]

they will even give you a bag to carry them in if you dont have one. The sema bags with wheels cost a bunch though.

[mpozzi]

If you get there Monday, you can register and get a booklet showing the manufacturers/businesses and where they're located in each part of the Convention Center (I think there's four or five different buildings). That night, take a look at the book and mark which booths you really want to seek out and where they're located.

Wear very comfortable shoes . . . and socks, too.

The good news is that SEMA houses the exhibitors in each hall based on what they sell. You'll have all the paint and body, chrome, dress-up stuff in one section of a hall. The performance engine parts exhibitors will be in another section of the hall. Suspension, steering, brakes, and the like in still another section. Aftermarket "repop" and replacement OEM parts for us with older muscle cars have their own section as well.

Tires and wheels are in their own building . . . it's huge. And truck aftermarket stuff is still in another building. The outside exhibits are also very cool and usually there's an Overhaulin' episode being done where you can visit and watch the build process throughout the week.

Guess what I'm saying is that if you plan right, you don't have to travel everywhere to see what interests you. Chances are it will all be under one building in the Center.

Cheers and hope to see you there,
Mary Pozzi

[AAW]

Wear very comfortable shoes . . . and socks, too.

YES! Comfortable Shoes! Probably the single best piece of advice. You will walk more than you can possibly imagine. I literally spent a week in slippers and ace bandages after last year.

[David Pozzi]

The main hallway has a UPS shipping store. You can send stuff home, next to it is a coat check that you can drop off things if it get's too heavy. If you are registered in Buyer status, then you should have a credit card type card that you can swipe in the machine at the booth. Then write on the slip it prints out (like a cash register reciept) what you are interested in.

I bring my own bag, a cloth one with good handles and a shoulder strap that really helps. A backpack would be good or the SEMA store sells a backpack with wheels and telescoping handle.

There is NO place to sit in the whole place, except the food area in the main hallway or downstairs underneath the Ford exhibit. There is a pretty large food area out front of the wheel building. That's probably the best place to go.

I try to stay in the main hall and pick up catalogs late in the day so I don't have to carry them around all day long. I'll pick up light stuff early but leave that phone book sized one for later...

Check the schedule for AM seminars upstairs before the SEMA booths open. some of them are great, and some have coffee and donuts.

[nancejd]

I thought all the cars that were there were to sit in?

Seriously though, all of this is good advice, in fact, I'd start practicing walking for distance if you don't walk mutch (and I mean over a mile at a time).

I don't remember there ever being any really cool unique decals, but there are lots of freebie marketing items that get handed out.