[Alan Schup]

Last year or so, I inquired about the overhead, "gotchas", and things to consider about car shows (to benefit my Boy Scout Troop that has many boys wanting to go to summercamp that are from low-income families) --- and not nary a reply from this club at that time. So, while at the car shows, I asked the organizers of the shows...

I found a few makers of dash-plaques on-line on the internet that would make them for $1 each in quantities of 100 or more. The dash-plaques could be color or the traditional inscribed brass --- same cost.

I found T-shirt vendors that would do a two silkscreen (front and back design) on a 5.4 oz shirt stock (like the Fruit of the Loom Best) for $3.50 each in quantities of 100 or more, even lower price if they could use overstock shirt stock that is not selling.

The BSA units cannot have raffles, but they can have auctions for items donated by local auto parts stores.

Where I live, a health permit is required if open food is served to the public (like mom's deserts), so the best idea was to resell prepackaged foods and bottle/can drinks at a profit.

Many auto parts and fast food resturants are willing to offset the purchase of trophies or plaques if their store name is put on the trophy/plaque. Some request to have coupons or advertisement handed out in return. If parking lot space is needed, a few fast food resturants will allow their parking lot to be used because it increases their business (but then you cannot sell food and drink, which is the single most money-earner at these shows.).

People that otherwise would not pay an entry fee will pay an entry fee if it 100% of the fee goes to the charity. Then have tax deduction forms for those who want them.

Last item is that one must advertise, advertise, advertise. Most suggest printing up letter flyers to give out at the numerous local neighborhood car shows and at the car club shows. More people bring out their car if trophies are presented instead of plaques. An idea was to get a car club to co-sponsor the show, and have that club advertise to the other clubs that a club participation trophy is awarded to the club with the most entries in the show. (Many clubs help each other by going to each others club events like car shows.)

Hope this helps... -Alan