How to get into SEMA?

[skinnyboy67]

All these cool pics. from SEMA have me wanting to go to next years show with some other gearhead friends...But my questions are these:
1) Is it open to the public ( I dont think so??)
2) If not what is required to be able to get in ( do I have to be affiliated with a vendor or shop who is at the show??)
3) Can anyone score me free passes

[mpozzi]

All these cool pics. from SEMA have me wanting to go to next years show with some other gearhead friends...But my questions are these:
1) Is it open to the public ( I dont think so??)
2) If not what is required to be able to get in ( do I have to be affiliated with a vendor or shop who is at the show??)
3) Can anyone score me free passes

While there are ways for the mere mortals to gain entrance into those hallowed halls of SEMA, the restrictions have become pretty much cast in stone. However, if you do come to Las Vegas for '08 SEMA, there's plenty to do car-wise without actually attending the show.

As for your questions . . . 1) SEMA is not open to the public but you can see all the cars that are outside of all the buildings and directly inside the general buildings. Without a badge, you can't get inside the halls where the manufacturers/suppliers are located.

2) You have to be employed by a company in the automotive-related industry. This can be an auto parts store, body shop, high-performance or speed shop, fabricator, or dealership. The number of badges issued to each company is also limited.

And 3) Probably not but you never know . . .

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[Flash68]

If you know anyone who runs an automotive-related business, and they aren't already taking their employees/family, get them to include you as one of their employees for the show. It's just some paperwork and really not that difficult, and very easy if they have already been to the show before so they can bypass the long registration lines. Your badge will be mailed to you. I think plenty of people did that this year if I had to guess. Although the pople I was with and talked to said the population control was much much better this year.

[ProdigyCustoms]

It is not so easy to add "employees" anymore. SEMA is limiting the amount of attendees from each company. I am pretty sure a new company can only register 2 people and spouses. So you need to have a automotive company.

[Bill Howell]

I started a website and go as "Media".

[monza]

I bought a detailing shop, just kidding.... but I bought my detail shop a fridge! (sick of the warm beer) I went as a rubber scrubber....

[Moose]

I started a website and go as "Media".

I've owned my own 4th gen site sincw 2000. how would register as media?

[TonyL]

you just need a website about cars. Then you get a Media Pass. That's how we (the pt.com mods) get in.

[High Plains Mopars]

2) You have to be employed by a company in the automotive-related industry. This can be an auto parts store, body shop, high-performance or speed shop, fabricator, or dealership. The number of badges issued to each company is also limited.

That's it?!?!?

Well heck, I could have been going for years and never knew it. I thought you had to be a point of origin manufacturer or media.

[Chad-1stGen]

Hmm wonder if my friend who owns a standard mechanics shop could get me in. How specific are they on the type of auto shop?

[mpozzi]

That's it?!?!?

Well heck, I could have been going for years and never knew it. I thought you had to be a point of origin manufacturer or media.

Pretty much so. These companies want to promote their product for distributors to sell it to their customers. They're looking for that new business and to do the "meet and greet" with the retail/wholesale businesses they talk to on the phone but rarely see. It's getting to know your existing customer (the dealer, part store, body shop, etc.) and looking for new banks of businesses to be future suppliers.

What SEMA doesn't want is the looky-loo's that take up a representative's time by asking questions about their own cars or spend time ooogling whatever car is in that booth. These folks aren't interested in becoming a distributor for whatever that booth is building and selling as a product. This is why SEMA is a trade show and not open to the general public. For SEMA to work for the manufacturer's, business has to be built and their product sold. To do this, they have to meet with companies that can purchase, promote, and then sell that product. They can't do this talking to non-buyers.

As for the "media," information about SEMA is highly publicized and writers for magazines/websites get that information out. There's specialty publications that inform their readers about what's new and exciting in the automotive industry and many of these readers have shops, etc. that are good for business.

If you are employed by a business that's automotive-related, you can get a badge under their company and go to SEMA. Be aware that hotels hike room prices that week and nothing's real cheap in Vegas. Ain't like it used to be . . . and that badge price will be the least expensive thing purchased for that trip.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[Bill Howell]

I've owned my own 4th gen site sincw 2000. how would register as media?

We pay $100 a year to be a SEMA member and just sign up to attend, very simple. Of course I do take pictures and tell about the show if they ever check up on me. I consider it a "public service"..... hehe

[Damn True]

I started a website and go as "Media".

Do they have a different classification for "Media Whore", or are the whores and the regular members of the 5th estate lumped in together?

[LateNight72]

Do they have a different classification for "Media Whore", or are the whores and the regular members of the 5th estate lumped in together?

[muthstryker]

looks like i will be thinking up some crazy website so i can go as media who wants to go in on it with me??

[ProdigyCustoms]

Do they have a different classification for "Media Whore", or are the whores and the regular members of the 5th estate lumped in together?

Damn True = Damn Funny!!!!!

[harshman]

i went one year as the proud owner of a custom rod shop. $8.99 worth of perforated business cards worked like a charm.

[Bill Howell]

Do they have a different classification for "Media Whore", or are the whores and the regular members of the 5th estate lumped in together?

No No, at SEMA I am reporting the news, not being a whore.
No, wait that is not right either, I pretty much ham it up every chance I get.

Networking, thats the ticket, yeah, networking is what I do.