SEMA 2012 Tickets
 

I'm thinking of attending the SEMA convention for the first time in my life this year. My question is can a non-industry person attend, and if not, how does someone go about acquiring tickets? Any info will greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks!!

Gil

I did a few years back...

I'm in the equipmental rental business (nothing to do with automotive) and just filled out the paperwork required to get an entry badge with my current business info. Nobody ever questioned me or my business. Paid the money and went and enjoyed....really a must do for any car guy at least once.

Look here...
https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=158&tCode=SEMAWS


regards,

Mike

SEMA members get some tickets and can buy more. They are not cheap. I didn't think a non affiliated walk up could get a ticket. I do think you can walk up with a business card and join SEMA thereby gaining entry, but the lines are long and the questions are many. Part of your badge has a bar code or maybe now a QR code that can be scanned at each booth for later contact. That information better be live or you may not pass muster.

However, the Global Tire Expo by the TIA (Tire Industry Assoc.) show is in conjunction with the SEMA show. Credentials for that portion of the show are good for the whole show. Hit your local tire dealer up for a ticket. That's a nice back door way in. There's a shuttle that runs between the expo centers. And actually, the show at the Sand Expo is pretty good. Lots of stuff not in the SEMA show like tools.

We go there every year but are in the sales and promotion field and they are happy to get us a pass.

Been going for 16 years - going this year....

Here is where attendees go to sign up - I think the cost is around $75 at this point.

https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/AttendeeRegControlServlet

unless yer in the biz, its damn difficult to gain access. find someone in the biz, and ride on their coattails. thats what i do.

get a no-tell motel close and walk to it each day. parkings a PITA/taxis are a rip off.


i went last year, and like all conventions in lost wages its a bunch of drunks from out of town. the mfg's always try to upstage one another, always a mo betterer mouse trap. cool techno stuff to flat out goofier than a sheet haus rat kind of stuff.

the coolest thing we saw was MSD's new ATOMIC electronic fuel injection. one hell of a brain dead way to install injection on an older vehicle.

but on the other side of the coin............bring yer camera as some of the hottest babes on the planet are in the booths just waiting to hand you literature while you STARE AT THEIR BOOBIES! always FUN IN MY BOOK!

p.s. grab the BIGGEST LITERATURE/SWAG BAG ya can find as YOU WILL FILL IT 5 X OVER with swag.

Thanks folks!! I will try to get ahold of a couple of people that are "in the biz". I will have to call my uncle who works for Firestone tire centers, and see if he can help me out. Once again thank you!!

sorry, off topic, going to the ARA show in Vegas Mike?

No not going to ARA this year.

I get media passes for free, but I only go about every third year. It is something to see.

There are folks who go on day 1 or day 2 and leave. I've handed off my credentials to someone else when I've left early. See if anyone is willing to do that for you. I don't plan to go this year, and we've let our SEMA membership lapse, anyway.

Not much for fans of cars from Yurrup. Lots of domestics, hot rods and Japanese/Korean... North Hall is where the wheel and tire exhibits are, and there's about 1/8th of a mile of cleavage on display.

Oh, and last year, I stayed down by Fremont Street. Lots of really excellent cuisine there. :rolleyes:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350508502.jpg

I've got the opposite problem to a lot of people - it'd only take an email to get me a pass, but my little publication already has enough presence that I'd have to pay my own way out there, and that's a thousand bucks or so that I could spend much more usefully. (Like on my E30.)

Just got our passes. If you do it early, its $25. I messed around and had to register late so it was $75, but well worth it...

Wear comfortable shoes!!!

Good advise. I always wear good shoes, take water and a couple of asprin as I know the body will be tired by 2-3 pm and there is more to see!

dont FORGET the "TACO ON A STICK" always a challenge eating those!



the "drifters" last year were a HOOT to watch outside. the 427 cobra literally melted down his race tires in front of us. to what end we never had a clue?



dont forget also to get yer pic taken with every HOTTIE THERE FOR US TO SEE!

That aint gonna happen...

Well had a great time there but wore ourselves out walking everywhere.

Excellent convention as usual... need to spend more time there next year. Only had two days and while we "saw most of it" sure could have used an extra day.