Who here runs or helps run a car show?

So, my Corvair club runs the Orphan Auto Picnic that they've been doing for over 20 years. It started off as a club picnic. It is a free event and the club would provide grills, charcoal, soda, beer, water, sno cone machine, provide music, and have a raffle. Over the last several years, it got so big that they moved from a private property to the Kendall County Fairgrounds. There can be anywhere between 200 and 300 cars. It's always been a good time.

My dad elaborated to me today that this year is probably the last year that the club will be running the OAP because they are starting to lose money and they are trying to get another orphan club to take the reins, but nobody has stepped up. I haven't participated in several years, but I asked my dad if they were still letting people in for free and he said yes. He also sounded quite disappointed this was all happening.

There is a planning committee this weekend and I think I may participate.

First off, realistically I feel that this has gone from Club Picnic to Car Show because of the size. The other issue is that they always relied on the Raffle to provide them some form of profit and now the aren't making that profit. I want to suggest that the best way to get back to making a profit is to start doing some form of registration with say, a $10 participation fee. I have participated in a few cars shows that charge to participate. I feel that with all that the club provides for the picnic, there is enough that the club provides that would justify charging an entry fee.

Now I understand that with starting registration, there would be a lot of legwork that would need to be done with processing the info, but I think that in the long run, it would keep the Picnic alive and would also provide some form of profit. This is the only large event that the club holds through the year.

Is this a good or bad idea? Any suggestions or ideas to maybe help the club make a profit so they can running the show?

"Charge" people by asking for a donation from the people that come to the show? If you are getting 200-300 cars how many people are showing up to look at the cars?

In reply to dean1484:

Honestly, I'm not sure how many "spectators" actually show up. Usually its friends and family of the people who own the cars and some people who belong to certain car clubs, but don't necessarily own a car.

I've never heard of charging for spectators for a car show, just the attendees showing their cars. At least from the ones I've been too that's what I've seen.

I do like the idea of a "donation" instead of a "charge".

For an event like what you are suggesting, the registration should be fairly easy- take money, give a piece of paper so that they can describe the car in the window- and that's it. (the car paper is your way of knowing people paid, but as part of the show)

Since there's no judging, it's pretty easy.

The other way of getting some funds- charge vendors space to sell stuff- our club did that for a car show. This part got hard, sometimes, when some cheapskate Lambo guy would spread crap around his car to sell, and pretend to be a show person. But other than a few, they were ok.

Another option- find sponsors.

But a simple "show" charge is easy.

The other reason people quit is effort. It's nice to have an event with your friend, it's a pain to organize an event for everyone. I got tired of being an organizer, so I quit.

I think Alfa is right-on with the Sponsor idea. Reach out to collector car insurance companies / Corvair vendors, and local businesses. Offer to have their logo and signage displayed around the show. Allow for P/A announcements throughout the show, promoting the sponsors. In the end, they can help with funds, and your attendees will benefit from learning more about the sponsor's businesses.

We have our annual Brits in the Ozarks car show. We charge $25 for the first car. All "profits," that is monies over expenses, go to a charity or charities. We have a guest speaker (some of which you all know) and everyone has a good time. We also have corporate and individual sponsors. I'd have to look at the numbers, but I think we have donated north of a hundred large to charities over the past twelve or 14 years. Sorry I don't have the exact numbers, but I'm not in that committee. Our current charities include the Lou Gehrig Disease people (ALS) and we started a scholarship program for students at the local trade tech auto repair school.

Over the years I have been to over 100 car shows. Every one of them has charged an entry/registration fee. Even one of the local cruise-ins charges a $2.00 entry fee. You get a ticket that automatically enters you in the 50/50 for the night. The other half of the money is used for their expenses with the excess donated to charity.

Charging admission to the car entries is typical. I'd keep it as reasonable as possible, say $5.

What expenses do you have? I assume there's a rental fee for the venue, event insurance, music (disk jockey or live?), etc. If you're part of a national club, check to see if they have insurance that will cover your event - I'm a member of a couple national car clubs that offer that perk. If the club is paying for the food and drink, maybe outsource that to vendors who would bring in their own food trucks or booths.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I've never heard of charging for spectators for a car show, just the attendees showing their cars.

Never been to a Goodguys or NSRA show, I see...

Will wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I've never heard of charging for spectators for a car show, just the attendees showing their cars.

Never been to a Goodguys or NSRA show, I see...

Or Carlisle, who will happily charge you full admission on Sunday so you can see empty spaces and people packing up.

Help organize the local European car and bike show. We are kinda loosing focus and have started heading towards it being a charity event more than an all European car show. The charity originally started just to make the show non-profit. Then it became more for charity than the cars. Trying this year to refocus on the show. Been to lots of local shows and there is one that charges a spectator fee. $5 just to get in. This show is a fund raiser for a local high school football team. My favorite show (other than our European show)is a non-judged event. Several hundred cars, door prizes (I have never won anything) but still fun. Does charge an entry fee.

That's quite a spread for free. A small fee for the picnic wouldn't be unreasonable. Estimate how much would be a good fee to break even on the cost of the food and other associated stuff. Drinks other than water for small fee to break even. Round up to a reasonable easy amount and charge that. You'll actually make money that way. Sponsors also help. Even if they only donate a prize. Bring in another club and make it a joint effort.

etifosi wrote:

Will wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I've never heard of charging for spectators for a car show, just the attendees showing their cars.

Never been to a Goodguys or NSRA show, I see...

Or Carlisle, who will happily charge you full admission on Sunday so you can see empty spaces and people packing up.

Well those are huge name shows. I'm talking about like the Lions Club that throws a car show or something along those lines. I've been to those and they were always free as a spectator.

All the car shows I have been to charge the drivers for showing thier cars and venders spaces. A couple of really big events charge specoers also, like jefferson this past weekend and the belvider show at county fairgrounds. Smalle shows dont charge specing at all.

wlkelley3 wrote: That's quite a spread for free. A small fee for the picnic wouldn't be unreasonable. Estimate how much would be a good fee to break even on the cost of the food and other associated stuff. Drinks other than water for small fee to break even. Round up to a reasonable easy amount and charge that. You'll actually make money that way. Sponsors also help. Even if they only donate a prize. Bring in another club and make it a joint effort.

This is what I was thinking

I would have 0 problem paying $5-10 for an event to show my car. All of the things that happen there are not free. The only way I wouldn't think of paying if it was just a cruise in or cars and coffee event and usually even there, I'll throw a $5 into the donation jar.

Donate any of the profits to a local Orphanage or children's homes. (just seems right being an orphan car show)

If it were a club event and I paid club dues, that is a little different but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

I've always paid to enter a show as well. I wouldn't think anyone would take issue with it as there are expenses involved with running it. Most of the ones here generally charge for spectators as well to benefit a charity of some sort.