Top 10 Ways to Fail at an Arizona Car Show
This is how you do a car show! Complain as you might for a big annual show like Goodguys: the cost, the crowds, the waiting to get out when it’s all over, but that’s still a bigtime show and one I look forward to every year.
Compare that to this past weekend’s show at Beaudry RV put on by Roddin’ and Racin’s Jerry Hutchcroft. I did not attend the show, but I got a first hand account of what went on, and bottom line is: That’s a great example of how NOT to put on a car show.
Top 10 Ways to Fail at an Arizona Car Show:
#10: Don’t supply the advertised “Cruise Lane”
#9: Don’t put on the much anticipated and always fun Burn-out or engine “Rev-Up” contest
#8: Have a goodie bag filled with a small box of Tic-Tacs and a pen that doesn’t work
#7: Have poor facilities planning: Not enough garbage cans, a weak PA system and no as advertised preferred parking area
#6: Don’t have any car show class voting and trophies as advertised
#5: See “NEVER less than 20-30 cars backed up line” that at times were, “backed up all the way to the freeway” and don’t make a change to get people in quicker
#4: Show up late to your own car show when you advertised the gates would open at 6:30AM
#3: Dont’ supply a dash plaque, t-shirt or anything at all for the early registration, “Bonus Package”
#2: Advertise and collect pre-entries for a 2 day show, then change it to a 1 day show.
#1: Make a lame apology on your website claiming, “I didn’t know” the event would be so successful as the reason why it failed.
Giving some credit, this was a show for charity, although I haven’t heard how much they donated. In addition, there were a reported 200 men that took advantage of the free and the very important PSA screening for prostate cancer. (Get checked! I did at the Orange County “Crusin for a Cure” show)
But come on Jerry. The people who attended your show read your magazine and watch your TV show and have done so for years. The show you delivered for the $25 or $35 registration fee sounds like it was worse than the totally free, weekly Scottsdale Pavilions show.
Car show promoters and organizers, please listen: It’s the cars and the people driving them that make a show. Take care of them or they won’t be back.
How’d it go so wrong Jerry? I welcome your comments as well as any rants and any possible raves from people who attended the show. Anything I said not completely true? Let me know…
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I went to the Beaudry show last week and had a great time. The wait in line was nothing. I gave my $5 entry with pleasure as it was for prostate cancer for a change, not breast cancer. It’s time the men get some concern, obviously I am a prostate cancer survivor.
The cars were laid out nicely, lots of them, good food, plenty of restrooms, the PA was fine as we could hear ourselves think, and we totally enjoyed the show.
It was nice to have a show in the south valley that was easily accessible. We also had plenty of parking.
From a spectator standpoint it was a great day.
Barry
This was my list of gripes I gave to my son and I know there were more of you there so drop a line to …my ride is me………..bob
We no longer pay to be the car show entertainment, except for Goodguys events. Why should we pay expose our vehicles to buffoons and their malicious little brats? Leave that for the car guys that still love to win $5 trophies! I’ll take the cruise night type events…no charge, no prizes, just good clean fun. Our ’63 Dodge Polara convertible isn’t a show car, but it’s about in brand new condition and we drove it to Delmar CA to a Goodguys event because that’s what makes these cars fun to own! We have gathered some trophies, but I’ve even stopped manning the dust rag at these events because I’d rather be roaming around looking at the cars and talking to the owners. The southeast valley certainly has room for a substantial cruise night, but we need lots more car guys refusing to pay to be the entertainment!
Testify my Brother. Things could have gone a lot better. I saw them scrambleing and disorganized. But I will watch the show on TV to see what they put into it.
Rico