people charging you to bring your car to a car show ?

[ACUDANUT]

Just a friendly topic here for general discussion.  No finger pointed at anyone or any clubs.  Anyway, Why should you be charged to bring your Charger, Challenger or Cuda to a car show ?  People want to see them and that's why we put them on.  The owners of these cars are already out having to get them running, pay taxes and Insurance.  Then you have to fill it up and drive there.  Once your there at a show, it's more money out your pocket.  Most shows have donated parking lots to begin with.  I don't get it. 

[Ghoste]

For me, it depends on the show and how much money they are charging.  Some of the shows have quite a cash outlay to put together and I can't blame them for trying to recoup those costs.  Some are done for a charity and that should be a no brainer.  Then there are the for profit shows like Carlisle and the Nats and those bigger ones don't bother me,but if it's just some Sunday afternoon show and shine in the park, I'll be driving on if they want money for that.

[69charger2002]

never understood that myself. if it's a big show with a swap meet, charge $2 admission, and let the cars in free. i used to think it was the trophy money that everyone had to pay for, but they are not expensive.. plaques either..some people go to the shows just for trophies anyway.. which is gay in my opinion. i'd rather go to a show where people/friends just hang out. and then cruise after.. not a couple 100 point trailer queens get unloaded by snobby a holes, then sit around till 4 pm waiting for their first place trophy. and no i'm not jealous, i HONESTLY could care less.. i bought my cars to drive.. i don't understand why shows cost us $25 per car either.. it's silly

trav

[suntech]

When you are to a show, sombody will get a price, and the prices costs money.

[ACUDANUT]

Keep the plaques and the trophies. Who wants one anyway ?

[ACUDANUT]

Suntech ?  I don't follow

[RD]

well... just because i am very involved with the ol'marais run in ottawa, ks, I will tell you why

1) DJ's cost money
2) plaques and trophies cost money
3) t-shirts cost money
4) gift bags for the first 400 pre-registered cost money
5) not all parking lots are donated, and some COST MONEY hehehehe
6) paying the electricity for an area where vendors set up... you guessed it, costs money
7) getting the sheriff's to provide security off-duty costs money through the donation to their sheriff's fund (ya know a lil kickback)

it all adds up quick... i understand where you are coming from, but man.. all of it costs money

[moparstuart]

well... just because i am very involved with the ol'marais run in ottawa, ks, I will tell you why

1) DJ's cost money
2) plaques and trophies cost money
3) t-shirts cost money
4) gift bags for the first 400 pre-registered cost money
5) not all parking lots are donated, and some COST MONEY hehehehe
6) paying the electricity for an area where vendors set up... you guessed it, costs money
7) getting the sheriff's to provide security off-duty costs money through the donation to their sheriff's fund (ya know a lil kickback)

it all adds up quick... i understand where you are coming from, but man.. all of it costs money

you forgot most venues today require you have insurance ( 10 million dollar rider for us to hold a show at cabela's) everyone is sue happy Twocents:

[ACUDANUT]

RD, I say we don't need any of that extra stuff.  Vendor's are there to make money. Charge them for electricity.

[69charger2002]

that's why vendors get charged a good bit for small swap spaces. to pay electricity.. etc.. which is fine. but not the cars which make the show happen. they just sit on a random unmarked field usually

trav

[ACUDANUT]

 Insurance ?     Hmmm, doesn't everyone have that on their cars anyway in case someone is hurt ? 

[moparstuart]

Insurance ?     Hmmm, doesn't everyone have that on their cars anyway in case someone is hurt ? 

the insurance is to protect cabela's and the hpac club ad its board .  say i fall and sue everyone involve with the event .
it happens and clubs have gone under ! Most venues require you have insurance or you are not allowed to have the event. It takes alot of money time, effort and to put on a sucessful show , we have been doing it for 24 years now. We have great people who volenteer there time and effort to do so. We cut corners were we can but safety is important , it cost us $ 25.00 an hour to have off duty cops patrol the a overnight so swapper and car show cars can stay overnight.  Tents to keep people out of the sun . porta johns , tables and chairs for people to sit down . The list goes on and on . I hope the price of admission doesnt run people off but it's just not possible to run a first class show and not have to charge something. 

[RD]

RD, I say we don't need any of that extra stuff. Vendor's are there to make money. Charge them for electricity.

hehehe, i wish it was that easy, we have to pay up front for the juice, and then get reimbursed from the vendors later based upon the draw that their units will have.... it gets pretty intricate believe it or not.

[evil1]

I went to an 8th annual mopar show last fall ( about 2 1/2 hours away ) in TN. It was 20 dollars to get in as a spectator and there was maybe 30 show cars ( closest thing to pedigree,was a couple of fake wing cars and a t/a clone ), 15-20 cars running 8th mile and 8-9 guys selling junk. I really hope they didn't charge the cars to get in, why should everyone get screwed.          On the way home I tried a short cut and got lost , but I did find decent " local " car show , so the day  wasn't a total loss.

[Steve P.]

I understand about all the costs involved and I appreciate that we have shows all over this country as well as our neighbors. I heard about someone dumping a gulf cart load of bought car parts at the MATS last year out in the parking lot. That area is not normally covered by the show, but by the track. They get a pretty big chunk of all the monies brought in at the gate. At any rate, the guy with the gulf cart was well overloaded with fenders, bumpers, a tranny and smaller parts. He dumped the entire load while making a turn onto a person walking into the show and someones truck. The results were not good as of course someone called their lawyer. Oddly enough it was NOT the person with the fat lip and black eye. It was the owner of the 6 year old truck.... When he found out he could not nail the show people he went after the track.  Long story short, the truck owner lost and so did everyone that will ever want to carry parts out to their truck with a gulf cart. They will NOT let golf carts past the pay gate ever again.  That realllllly sucks for someone with a bad back or anything like that...


Our local cruise-in show does a 50/50. The 50% of the take goes to the winner and the other 50% goes to battered women... It's a great show and well worth the cash to me... Also, it is voluntary. If you are broke, so be it. If you can afford it, go for it... I went one night last year and only had a few bucks in my pocket. I normally do ten I just didn't have it on me.. I went home from that show with $142.00....  Works for me... 

[DodgeChargerNeeded]

I think vendors and general admission are the ones that should have to pay. If you are gonna charge to register your car it should never be more than $10 a car

[FastbackJon]

If you don't care about voting and trophies, or sitting there all day (8+hours), just enter into the show grounds and park your car with the rest of them, don't go over to the booth, don't pay for your goodie bag (mostly filled with ads anyway) and window sticker, and then you also won't feel pressured to stick around until it's over (like you would had you paid to be there), you can take off whenever you like.



If the proceeds go to charity and it's like a $5 or $10 donation, then pay.

[68charger383]

That's why I like going more to the cruise nights then the shows. I'll stop in and buy a burger or a soda at the burger place having the cruise night and everyone's happy.

I go to the charity shows...cruisin for a cure, toys/cops for tots etc, but in CA, almost every show is $25+ and it can add up. + you need to pre-reg to get the t-shirt, goody bag or discounted entrance fee and I usually can't think/plan  that far in advance to take advantage of these things.

[mikesbbody]

Suntech ?  I don't follow

i think he means "prizes" not prices my 2 cents is you shouldnt have to pay but i understand they need to coves their costs (cant that be done by the spectators?)

[1969chargerrtse]

Keep the plaques and the trophies. Who wants one anyway ?

Amen brother.

My thought has always been that I was told you cannot be forced to pay, it's a donation.  I always wanted to just walk straight in and say sorry not donating today.  But I never had the nuts to actually do it.

[1969chargerrtse]

That's why I like going more to the cruise nights then the shows. I'll stop in and buy a burger or a soda at the burger place having the cruise night and everyone's happy.

  Yep, I haven't been to a show for years.  Love the cruise nights though.

[no318]

I have helped with a local show for 5 years.  2 big expenses:
1) Advertising - necessary to make it a big and good show
2) Door prizes, goodie bags, coffee, donuts, etc.
3)  TROPHIES are alot of $$$

I disagree, that there are ALOT of people that go for the trophies and the bigger the better in their eyes.  Personally, I agree and would rather not have another trophy, but there are alot of people that thrive on getting a trophy and hearing their name read over the PA. 

[BrianShaughnessy]

In my area there is 1 show in the fall that is free for the cars and they only charge the spectators.   It's for Juvenile Diabetes  (JDRF).    I know the guy that puts it on.   They make the money to pay for this show throughout the year with their cut from other car shows they put on.   He also runs a Saturday cruise in that I go to frequently.

Other than that... most of the local car shows are the same old format...  charge $10 or thereabouts.  DJ playing old crappy 50's tunes and a 50/50 raffle.   Due to rising fuel costs, etc.  I'm limiting my attendance at these SOS shows anymore.    I'll pay to go if I get entertained but I'm not into paying to be the entertainment anymore.   

The other one that is kinda cool is the yearly deal in my town when they close down the town.  Actual bands playing and other entertainment.  All the proceeds go to the charity of the year.   All the expenses are donated by the businesses and sponsors.  I left Carlisle on Sat. night to go to this on Sunday last year and I'll do it again this year.    I pay extra to be a gold registrant - so I get my name in the program.

[dodgecharger-fan]

Some shows are held to support local charities. Like www.moparfest.com
So, not only do the entry/vendor/admission fees help to run the show, they make money for the organization that puts on the show and the charities they support.

[69_500]

I think that the first question was more for the smaller shows, that is unless I'm reading it wrong. I know of a local show here that is held in the parking lot of a local mall. Entry fee is still $25 per car, and there wasn't ever a mention of what foundation the money was going to, or if it was being donated to anyone else. My thoughts were that it was just a $$$ making idea of someone, so I didn't participate. I have no problem paying money to go be with more car people and hang out for the day. But if its not something that has a lot of cars, or isn't donating the funds to help someone then I tend to not go. I like smaller shows, but 90% of the small shows around this area are doing it to raise money for some project going on. Lots of shows to help single moms, animal shelters, and the likes.