I've gona 3 times. Always take the wife. Have taken employes and family that work for us a couple times. They always make it tough to get tickets. I had to show last 3 paychecks for employees and can't get the wife in till we show her ID once we arrive.

THIS time I was denied? They said I needed to buy a spot. I'm like that aint happening. Any other options. Gal said I could get tickets $400ea (normally like $40 or $60) but only for the wife and I. Said something like they didn't want me walking around "selling" without a spot. I said I'm a BUYER and not big enough to justify, and man, a $5000 min size spot for a week. They made me prove, by submitting recent invoices, that I was a "substantial buyer" of at least 3 of the people that do have booths at the show - that was easy. But damn. Might be my last SEMA.

I can only go Thurs - Sun. Already booked tickets to The Sphere (attached to the Venetian where we're staying), one of the good comedy shows and Hells Kitchen (smoked Old Fashioneds and Beef Wellington, mmmm). Looked at tickets for the Eagles but somewhat decent seats are VERY, VERY, VERY expensive. Saw Sir Elton last time at Ceasars.

Anyway, anyone else going?

For years we went to Vegas 2-3 times a year. Haven't been out there in a few years now. EVERYTHING got so expensive it was very hard to enjoy(and the wife gets free rooms at Ceasars properties, sometimes including airfare). We've done SEMA a couple times but again...not in a few years.

So for $400 ANYBODY can buy a ticket?

It's on my bucket list.

No. Our $400 tickets were called somthing like "non exhibting venbdor" or something. Not even sure if that was just a one time thing. I'll ask. It was pretty confrontational to get. They REALLY control who's allowed to come. And, I just checked, they have an attendance of 160,000 people. Plus all the exhibitors. Gotta be 200,000 people. Its BIG. My son that works as a new car salesman a Chevy dealer and was able to go. Proof of last 3 pay stubs required that you work at an auto related company. Then, again, its like $40 or $60. You have to do everything online to get a pass. They will verify everything and then accept or deny. When you arrive you have to goto a desk, show ID, then they print a pass and give you a lanyard to hang around your neck.

I've been to SEMA one time back in 2005 - I was not impressed. It's not my kind of show - I like vintage muscle. Back when I went it was like a ricer fest - everything was geared toward import 4-banger stuff, which I have ZERO interest in. Then downstairs was Chinatown - a bunch of small booths with everybody showing the same cheap stuff.

Then Vegas itself! Man has it changed. My wife wanted to go lose some money for a few days, so we went for 4 days early in 2023 - like March or April. Seemed like everybody in the whole damn town was smoking weed everywhere we went - the casinos all smelled like it inside (Mirage, Treasure Island, Venetian). We did not feel safe anywhere we went - even right in the middle of the day. Riff-raff people everywhere was off the charts. I don't know where these slammers get the $$ to even hang out there. My wife said "never again!" for going back to Vegas & she used to love it there - we used to have fun there for a few days. My .02 cents.

It IS a "varied" crowd. Can't say I've ever felt unsafe but then the wife and I don't stumble around like drunken 22yo's at 2AM. Usually in bed by 9 or 10. NO WAY I'd wander around Detroit. Now THATS unsafe at any time. Our whole family has agreed to not go downtown Detroi. My son in law is a LEO and said there is so much crime thats swept under the rug and not "advertised". We aren't gamblers AT ALL. Thats only for 2 kinds of people; rich or financially irresponsible. Lots of players and pretenders. Luckily MOSTLY guys like you and me, car nuts.

We go to meet vendors, both existing and potenial new ones. And to see everyones "latest products". I bump into tons of customers from many resto companies. Resto mods to classics. Even my buddy Mark Worman. I like all - except maybe the GIGANTIC trucks and the "souped up" Japanesse cars, but you gotta respect all the effort. The build quality and craftsmanship of some of these cars is something everyone has to see, up close. I remember a few years ago there was a green resto mod Bronco sitting just outside one of the far entrances. UNBELIVEABLE craftsmanship. (Couldnt find a picture on my phone). I looked it over for 30 minutes. I drew a crowd to it and met cool people from all over the country.

I'm thinking that the celebrity deal is likely behind the hassle to get credentials.
Used to be: show up, business card or business flyer, come on in.
Same deal at PRI, which I preferred going to, being more interested/involved in racecar stuff than what I perceived as mostly blingy wheels and customizing stuff.
Haven't been to either in a few years, but Vegas has - for me - been either fun, or OK, depending on who was with me as much as anything.
There's always been a lot of seedy crap, and some creepy people, but that's not surprising.

It's always good to connect business-wise, get some one-on-one time, so it's a drag to hear that it's a hassle now.

Yeah. PRI has gotten just as bad, probably since SEMA owns PRI. I'm trying to go this year.

I haven't been to SEMA for a few years, but when I did I had to run through hoops to get in. I quit doing it and found vendors who would get me tickets so I didn't have to worry about it anymore. At PRI I was given a one time exemption last year and got admittance through me transport company, they wanted a web site to show what I did but I told them I didn't have one and was a buyer, so they let me get tickets. SEMA is usually the same weekend as the Garlits show, so I would rather do it anyway, this year they are different times...

I've always wanted to attend SEMA....regret not having taken the opportunity for credentials from friends who are in the business to allow me passage years ago.

I've gone to Vegas every year for decades....I work in the stage lighting side of the entertainment industry & the conference/trade show related to our business was routinely held in the convention center the week before SEMA, So it would have been easy to stay the extra week, but I guess I got too cheap to take advantage of the opportunity.

Now, the F1 mess has forced our conference to move to early December, so it wouldn't be so easy for me to just stay & do both events.

Ii've attended several SEMA show back (1970-1980s) when they were in Anaheim, CA and Las Vegas, NV the first couple of shows were mainly HI PO parts and engine parts orientated, once they switch to chrome and shiny parts I stop going, this was before they move the show back east.
I have friends in the business that told me to attend the PRI shows for dealing with hi po vendors instead of the show car guys
Hopefully I'll make it to one of them

I'm usually there, have been since 2010. I've grown to hate working the days, it's like shooting photos during a Pantera right at the moment they start playing "Walk". I've gotten lucky a few times and have managed to get the overnight pass in, but if you thought you were jumping through hoops before, I promise you that you haven't seen how bad they can be until that.

I haven't been back to SEMA since COVID. Going this year, interested to see the new Convention Center. But in the end, it's work.

Well I went to PRI this year. Actually getting in was a piece of cake.

This was my first year missing SEMA in 16 years. Bad leg, triple prices in just 3 years, destroyed market pushed in those three years and the F1 mess killed going or me. In 2010, had a 55 person group going to Las Vegas. This year, even the owners of the company I work for didn't even go. Maybe next year I'll go, maybe as an influencer if I can get my leg surgery done in time.

If you want a desert / casino experience that is also affordable check out Laughlin NV. There is even a car museum in the riverside casino and just about everything is walkable. Bullhead city AZ is across the river and has everything