quote:Originally posted by trex160s: How about having a open 2x or 3x event along with finals. Getting some of the spectators into that,and giving members that are not in the fianls a chance to get more points for finals for the next year.
or how about free SPL testing out in the parkinglot. ( only with a paid entry into the show )
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dBSteve Get Loud Productions LLC Posts: 8603 | From: Midwest | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Hello, Want to get the crowd excited??? How about Db Drag-Dyno Racing??? People love to watch those dynos run!! you will bring in a whole lot of other types with this from Rice Rockets, Harleys, 4X4 monster trucks to great american muscle. And by looking at some of those Db Drag Street competitors they would give the dyno a work out, maybe even combine the 2 hmmmm!! Just my humble opinion of one that use to have to come up with ideas for the masses.
P.S. Celise Harris use to run the marketing at the worlds largest autosound manufacturing company and Wayne designed those bad boy amps!!And Sam Horn they broke the mold after he was hatched, he is truly a marketing genius!
posted
I have much faith that Sam could (given the proper tools and authority) run the event to be very sucessful.
I think that Wayne & Celise are just trying to do too many things, and finals suffers because of it. I realize that they will never consider my suggestions, which is fine, its their livelyhood not mine, I'm just saying that a lot needs to change because every year its the same problems, and nothing really ever changes.
-------------------- "WHO NEEDS ACTIONS WHEN YOU'VE GOT WORDS"
Ian Ashton Posts: 1184 | From: Mi | Registered: Jul 2001
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quote:Originally posted by boommerextreme: without doing something different I see nothing growing to what it should be. There is nothing fun to a spectator about DB drag.
i disagree it inspire's me to wanna get louder so i can actually go against one of the big guys this was my second year as a spectator at finals and i also atteneded svr this year as a spectator, thinking about a trip down to sbn this year to spectate of course....my bass race vehicle will roll out later this year
-------------------- 2006 Bass Race 149.9 World Finals 2nd place H.O. Alts FI If you dont like what I have to say, just contact Boomingcreation he will erase it for you Posts: 16179 | From: tx | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
I think some people are getting the ideas right and I think the efforts of everyone that contributed to the show, including but not limited the Harris', all of the judges, manufacturers, etc., should be applauded. It is truly a monstrous effort and never in a million years, as with the rules, will everyone be completely satisfied.
I think the real question is what is going to bring more people to the show. Suggestions have been made in this thread by many and from very different perspectives. I remember one of the first "major" shows I went to, SBN '99, for one main reason. They offered a contest where spectators, or competitors, used a podium to remotely control a vehicle with a system already set in it to try and score the highest they could. (It's kind of hard to explain but it was really cool) It gave a hands-on approach and I won some great prizes throughout the weekend (an amp, a component set, and a new headunit). I know if I go out to an event where all I can do is look at things, I'm not going to have as much fun as if I can participate in SOME way. The punchcard drawings are great, but not quite a hands-on approach.
The free entry would be a great idea IF there was another way for dB Drag (and the other sponsors) to possibly recoup some of the funds. Renting a convention center and everything involved is VERY expensive - you gotta do what you gotta do. If the spectator entry fee was dropped, competitors are likely to be required to pay more. If there were more "trinket" type items that could be sold by the dB DRA for reasonable prices (ie things other than t-shirts, which are great, but not everybody wants a t-shirt as a souvenir), this may be a way to do that.
Bottom line is, we need more to appeal to joe-blow down the street rather than those in tune with "our" practices. Even the bikini contest was virtually dead....that should NEVER be the case when there is a $ prize available and the same thing with the Halo tourney.
Marketing takes great effort and often times has dismal results. Before our show in July, advertisements were put up locally all over our town, at the local amusement parks, all over the internet, etc. We even offered cash prizes but in the end had a horrific turnout. It takes a lot of time and effort and you never know if it's really going to pay off.
Venue, of course has something to do with it, but I'm not convinced that it is the major contributing circumstance for the spectator turnout this year in particular.
Have any of you ever tried to explain what it is that "we" do and the concept of dB Drag Racing? It is not easy to do. If you tell someone the goal is to have the loudest vehicle they look at you like you're crazy. So how do you advertise something that the average joe is not familiar with? There has to be something to rope these people in. We know they're there. We know if they come and experience it firsthand they might become hooked and be our future world champions.
dB Drag, as mentioned by someone above, does not have a tendency to take second to anything else it may be held in conjunction with and I am not certain that unifying finals is the right answer as with USACi and IASCA this year, but that is yet to be found out this weekend. So what can be brought in that could be secondary to dB Drag that would get a ton of people through the door?
I still don't have the answers, but maybe through a combined effort of those concerned with where we're headed a great idea will stem and next year will be bigger, and better, than ever.
(For anybody that took the time to read my entire post, I apologize, but I really would like to see someone come up with something that would help everyone including dBDRA, the competitors, AND the manufacturers and spectators).
-------------------- Yep, I'm back. Kicked some bad "habits" and ready to resume the life I want to lead!
XXXXX: tara.being = /walk.into.the (bedroom) look at floor (while) candles = lite/room make suprise {youneverseenitcoming} XXXXX : output = smile{ wondering what the hell is going on } XXXXX : input * ( roses. around (room) ) make_suprise better if [ tara starts crying] then wipe tears show print " do it from the heart" then ( hold user = tara) print " everything is going to be ok" print " this is how a queen is supposed to be treated" Posts: 3616 | From: Overseeing the Kingdom | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
First off, Sam, there is no reason to blame yourself. You did a wonderful job this season with your shows and the promotion of the sport in general. I can't tell you how many times I heard people say they were going to a show simply because "It's a Sam Horn show".
Ok, now on to the topic at hand...
There are many great ideas that have been presented in this thread. I do hope Wayne is reading.
I feel that more research needs to be done as to who the people are that actually did attend. Why were they there? What did they come to see? How did they find out about it?
Show promoters could carry out this research all season with surveys at their shows. They could offer incentives such as entries into raffles for prizes in return for filling out a survey.
You have to know exactly who these people are in order to better appeal to them. If you can find something that seems to be of interest to a vast majority of people who attend dB Drag's (other than dB Drag itself) then you know exactly what type of activity you need to hold in conjunction with finals.
I apologize if I am rambling...
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2005 Street C 7th Place - 152.8 in a Chevy Astro Posts: 521 | From: Cincinnati, Ohio | Registered: Jun 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Queen Tara: The free entry would be a great idea IF there was another way for dB Drag (and the other sponsors) to possibly recoup some of the funds. Renting a convention center and everything involved is VERY expensive - you gotta do what you gotta do. If the spectator entry fee was dropped, competitors are likely to be required to pay more. If there were more "trinket" type items that could be sold by the dB DRA for reasonable prices (ie things other than t-shirts, which are great, but not everybody wants a t-shirt as a souvenir), this may be a way to do that.
I promise you that dB Drag doesn't make shiit from the gate. I've been to every World Finals since they were in KY, and never have I seen what apears to be more than MAYBE 2,000 people throughout the weekend (with the exception of KY in 1999? That seemed pretty busy, but I don't really remember that far back)
quote:Originally posted by Queen Tara: Bottom line is, we need more to appeal to joe-blow down the street rather than those in tune with "our" practices. Even the bikini contest was virtually dead....that should NEVER be the case when there is a $ prize available and the same thing with the Halo tourney.
Exactly why it should be free to get in. Joe Blow off the street tends to hate those damn "boom cars," why is he going to want to pay $20 to go see a building full of them? Now if he can scope it out for free, that just might be worth a Saturday afternoon. And, for those people who are part of "us" and want to get a better look, the available "Pit Pass" would allow full access, and would generate small revanue.
The idea is to get people in the door. Once their in, they might want to learn more, and pay for the full access, or they may not, who cares, there in the door, happy cause it didn't cost them anything. With out foot traffic, manufacturer support is going to be dismal (especially considering the rediculous cost of booth space at finals)
quote:Originally posted by Queen Tara: Marketing takes great effort and often times has dismal results. Before our show in July, advertisements were put up locally all over our town, at the local amusement parks, all over the internet, etc. We even offered cash prizes but in the end had a horrific turnout. It takes a lot of time and effort and you never know if it's really going to pay off.
Marketing is a science, it takes a long time to establish a target, and its always changing. The key to attracting someone to something is convincing them that its worth their time. You have to peak their interest in something they know nothing about, give them a reason to want to come.
quote:Originally posted by Queen Tara: Venue, of course has something to do with it, but I'm not convinced that it is the major contributing circumstance for the spectator turnout this year in particular.
Agree 100%
Like I said before, this isn't my sport so I don't really care what they do, but with the way things are done currently I wouldn't be buying much dB Drag stock (if it existed, of course.)
What the hell do I know though. (I want that quoted in 2 years too, you'll see why.)
-------------------- "WHO NEEDS ACTIONS WHEN YOU'VE GOT WORDS"
Ian Ashton Posts: 1184 | From: Mi | Registered: Jul 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Shmaa: First off, Sam, there is no reason to blame yourself. You did a wonderful job this season with your shows and the promotion of the sport in general. I can't tell you how many times I heard people say they were going to a show simply because "It's a Sam Horn show".
Ok, now on to the topic at hand...
There are many great ideas that have been presented in this thread. I do hope Wayne is reading.
I feel that more research needs to be done as to who the people are that actually did attend. Why were they there? What did they come to see? How did they find out about it?
Show promoters could carry out this research all season with surveys at their shows. They could offer incentives such as entries into raffles for prizes in return for filling out a survey.
You have to know exactly who these people are in order to better appeal to them. If you can find something that seems to be of interest to a vast majority of people who attend dB Drag's (other than dB Drag itself) then you know exactly what type of activity you need to hold in conjunction with finals.
I apologize if I am rambling...
Very well said.
-------------------- "WHO NEEDS ACTIONS WHEN YOU'VE GOT WORDS"
Ian Ashton Posts: 1184 | From: Mi | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Ian - I agree that they don't make much off the gate, but every little bit has to help...
-------------------- Yep, I'm back. Kicked some bad "habits" and ready to resume the life I want to lead!
XXXXX: tara.being = /walk.into.the (bedroom) look at floor (while) candles = lite/room make suprise {youneverseenitcoming} XXXXX : output = smile{ wondering what the hell is going on } XXXXX : input * ( roses. around (room) ) make_suprise better if [ tara starts crying] then wipe tears show print " do it from the heart" then ( hold user = tara) print " everything is going to be ok" print " this is how a queen is supposed to be treated" Posts: 3616 | From: Overseeing the Kingdom | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
I think for Db drag world finals to get more spectators it needs to be combined with some sort of other event like hot import night. A lot of people that may come to see cars will get to experience Db drag racing for the first time. Just a thought.
Posts: 1772 | From: elgin | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
As a dB Drag Veteran, and part of a World Champion team, here's what I think needs to be improved in dB Drag Racing:
1. A more exciting & real world metering interval. Most are not impressed by a stereo that plays only a single tone for one second regardless of world rank or dB level.
2. A competition structure that allows average car stereos to be competitive. If you know you have zero chance of even being competitive, you won't enter.
Here are my solutions as successfully implemented in the Battle of the Bass Car Audio Tournament format: 1. Cumulative average music duration interval. Most stereos that play music louder than stock are impressive.
2. Decibels Per Dollar scoring. Every car stereo can be competitive because they are scored based on how much system they have. Most often systems retailing for less than $1000 are the most competitive!! 99% of all MSRPs (back to the 1970s) are easily obtained from a couple of commercially available texts.
posted
okay first i want to thank Sam en evryboddy else for the great day's i hade in Clevelalnd, i know how hard it is to draw spectators to a shwo... now let me tell you ho wwe do it in Holland... we combine things, like legal streetrace(drargrace...)driftcontest,tireburn contest, show+shine, dance events, etc,etc... in that way we are able to draw 30.000 people in a one day event outside, last year we had a inside event and at sunday we had to close thet doors at 15.00, there where 52.000 people inside... the we do that in great places like sixflags... here are some pic;s from oure events...:... ETS Amsterdam...:... ETS Amsterdam Indoorgala...:... Indoorgala Summeredition...:... Summeredition 2005
Sam i know how hard you workd for this, respect to you and to all others that helpd you to run this event...
greets...:... claus
-------------------- DbDrag headjudge Netherlands Judge at the WorldFinals 2005 Judge at the WordlFinals 2004 Judge at the Euro-Finals 2004 Headjudge Netherlands Certifyed judge Netherlands project BassBenz starting soon...!!!... Posts: 276 | From: netherlands | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Patrick Wilson: As a dB Drag Veteran, and part of a World Champion team, here's what I think needs to be improved in dB Drag Racing:
1. A more exciting & real world metering interval. Most are not impressed by a stereo that plays only a single tone for one second regardless of world rank or dB level.
2. A competition structure that allows average car stereos to be competitive. If you know you have zero chance of even being competitive, you won't enter.
Here are my solutions as successfully implemented in the Battle of the Bass Car Audio Tournament format: 1. Cumulative average music duration interval. Most stereos that play music louder than stock are impressive.
2. Decibels Per Dollar scoring. Every car stereo can be competitive because they are scored based on how much system they have. Most often systems retailing for less than $1000 are the most competitive!! 99% of all MSRPs (back to the 1970s) are easily obtained from a couple of commercially available texts.
1. Your wrong, if people were not impressed DB drag would not be as big as it is. 2.Bass Race is a place where anyone can win so,, wrong again. The other classes are there for people that want to step it up and play with world class compeditors so people have the option of either. 3 DB per dollar is also i reason i would never host one of your shows. It does not promote the seliing of equipment. The cheaper you are the better off. A swap meet system would put the smack down on people that have invested a lot of money. Weres thr recognition for the investment? Theres not. The more money you spend the bigger DB hanycap you slap on someone. A compeditor could crush someone by 10 DB but if they spent more money to do it they will probly lose. This does not promote sales, thats what DB drag does. Sales is what keeps stores like mine alive
-------------------- WWW.DCSOUNDLAB.COM Team Hifonics Voted 2004 DB Drag Rookie of the year 2004 World Finals 3rd place finish SS1-2NW 2005 World Finals 4th place finish SS1-2NW 2006 World Finals 3rd place finish SS3-4 2006 Super Street DeathMatch Participant 2007 Super Street 3-4 163.1 with 2 amps 2007 West Coast SS3-4 Champion Posts: 3002 | From: West Coast | Registered: Nov 2003
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to a certain extant, if you 100% belive that to be true then i will see you at world finals next year with pyle driver and pyramid equipment. and you will be top 3 right
-------------------- WWW.DCSOUNDLAB.COM Team Hifonics Voted 2004 DB Drag Rookie of the year 2004 World Finals 3rd place finish SS1-2NW 2005 World Finals 4th place finish SS1-2NW 2006 World Finals 3rd place finish SS3-4 2006 Super Street DeathMatch Participant 2007 Super Street 3-4 163.1 with 2 amps 2007 West Coast SS3-4 Champion Posts: 3002 | From: West Coast | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
People, Please get a paint job. you know who you are. "Embarrasing"
i met a chic at Nashville year or so ago. invited her to the show. She spent more time making fun of the vehicles(ugly ones) than appreciating the hard work that goes into getting them loud.
first off you can never blame yourself, what everyone doesn't understand is Cleveland, this place is the ghetto of the USA, first it is one of America's top 10 poorest cities, second, Car audio is killed here by all these so called pro shops that I wouldn't trust working on a chevy chevette with plastic tools from play school.
Yes there could of been some better advertising, you remember my show at the previous employment, I had a $8k budget and that included the tents and advertising.
You missed the scene magazine and the friday entertainment section of the plain dealerto name a few, plus you needed the radio stations down there getting people hyped friday when they were bringing in the competitors vehicles, further the tv stations could of done something on the 11pm news.
I had kept track of the customers that I invited and there were 56 that showed up, and they all paid. You know I went out of my way to not look like ohio was full of chumps by the booth, I had 14 NFL players show up, 6 were hasseled by security , 2 were treated like arses by a competitor because he asked a question, I wish they asked him about football, because I am sure he could of returned the favor.
But all in all, something has to change. First you got all the whiney competitors that are crying... for those that aren't disregard this, but any hobby that you compete in, pay your way and quit complaining whe everything is being handed to you, like your equipment. I could care less if you drove from east bum fuk poo dunk, pay your way.
getting back to it, more manufacturers need to step up, and we need a consumer class, use the orion blue book see what everything retails at and put them in the class according to retail, regardless if they got it for free or discounted, most people pay for there gear in the real world.
you need something to draw in the consumers at this event, instead of saying lets watch 2-8" woofers make 160 db...
consumers could care less, especially in this area. if they cant get a box, 2 woofers and 4 door screamers for $100 installed, it is a rip off.
yes times are changing, you just got to figure a way to step up to the plate. I push ergonomically correct vehicles and sound systems to 99% of my customers, mostly consisting of a single woofer unless it is something they want to show off then you are in the hummer catagory which is getting more added to it (video)
anyways Sam, another thing that needs to be addressed drastically, is the IX center itself. the security and fire marshall were pricks, do not let that slide! I had to threaten one myself. these people are the welcome wagon when all these vehicles got pulled in , they were arses to everyone, and that set the mood for the event.
give me a call later... hell I even brought a few beaver girls, sorry guys didn't know she had a hairy arse either, her beaver wasn't as some of the pictures i seen
posted
tahnk you Sam for all that you have done to make this as fun as you have.
quote:Originally posted by xi2elic: skill > money
This hole money issue blows. How many of you have been to or heard of the Fairmont speed way? It's a dirt track oval. I don't think it brings in the same amount of people as NASCAR. The Kanawa drags aren't the same as NHRA. GO SEE HOW WELL MECA IS DOING. I hope you get the point.
Sam, wally want's you to sign him up for the clog contest.
As long as I have been around SPL, it's been the (BURP) I think that bass race is a great format to get anybody with a system involved.
As much as we would like to see thousands of people walk through the gate, I don't think that location hasanything to do with that. TO a certain point(west, east, north, south) Cleveland just had to much going on that weekend.
MAXXSONICS: Great job with support this year. Give it some time and I think that you will be able to see the same type of growth that others saw in the past.
Posts: 239 | From: morgantown wv | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
After being at USACI/IASCA finals this past weekend, it was evident that dB Drag was not the only organization/finals to have a lower turnout this year.
This was my first year back at Bartle Hall for 4-5 years and from what I remember of the past, this year was a ghost town to me. In talking to several people that had been there every year during my absence, they informed me that each year it seemed to be dropping off more and more. There were many competitors/car show contestants, but spectator turnout appeared to be significantly less.
In a way that made me feel better because dB Drag is no the only one that experienced this type of change this year; but as my second thought, and the one that sinks in more, it seems that we are becoming a dying breed.
This does, however, support my thought that venue is not the cause for the spectator turnout. USACI has been at Bartle Hall for as long as I can remember and in KC typically had what I personally considered decent/high turnout. (I've never taken the time to get actual numbers from anybody). So if the same event, with more (IASCA this year), is held at the same location, and drops spectator count from one year to the next, I don't think venue is the problem.
-------------------- Yep, I'm back. Kicked some bad "habits" and ready to resume the life I want to lead!
XXXXX: tara.being = /walk.into.the (bedroom) look at floor (while) candles = lite/room make suprise {youneverseenitcoming} XXXXX : output = smile{ wondering what the hell is going on } XXXXX : input * ( roses. around (room) ) make_suprise better if [ tara starts crying] then wipe tears show print " do it from the heart" then ( hold user = tara) print " everything is going to be ok" print " this is how a queen is supposed to be treated" Posts: 3616 | From: Overseeing the Kingdom | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
I think maybe it could have something to do with the amount of manufacturers. Back in the day, you had RF, KICKER, PPI and a few others. Maybe people wanted to see who would win, so they would feel better about what they had in their car. Like NASCAR FORD or CHEVY. Cart isn't as popular Indy or formula 1.
Manufacturers spend a certain amount promoting events. They need to see a return (people) for the money spent. I am not into "HOP" competitions; I don't go to that kind of events or low-rider, or SQ. I have although watched or looked at or witnessed these type of events cause they were at an spl event. I am not into sport compact at all, but I have been to NOPI shows, and I sat in the stands to watch them drag race. Bottom line, if you are the type of person that is into cars, you can appreciate all kinds
Posts: 239 | From: morgantown wv | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
being from the area. The location was really not the problem. The IX center draw large crowds for almost every show that is there. exp. cleveland car show, home and garden show bout show the list goes on and on. See there Sch on there web page. I beleive the turnout was right on par with interest in car audio around this area. Being at hot import night a few weeks before. there was dismal turnout for that. close to half the spectators to the year befor.
One thing I do want to address is a certain battery company. that has these little green sticker. That where everywhere. I mean everywhere. bathroom stalls. hotel walls. everywhere i looked where these damn stickers. this was not the first time i noticed these either. SVR this year had the same stickers everywhere. Seamed like alot of stickers for a company that didn't have a booth at either of those shows. I know there product is one of the best out there but why the need for all those stickers?
posted
to draw large crowds to a car stereo contest like the old days it is going to require a major rebirth of the sport. Can it even be saved? maybe if the right steps are taken
I would suggest that all of the orgs hold their finals outdoors at a open venue they can rent for $4k a weekend, not the 30k they are spending now. Open up finals to any competitor that competes at a show.
how to save DBD? Why not allow the other competitor to determine which side of the dash your mic is placed. The highest qualifier goes first. This would bring some unpredictibility back into it. Also increase the average from .5 seconds to 5 seconds. Longer burps, more to see. not as boring.
Posts: 1718 | From: Dickson,TN,USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Brad Eubank: like the old days
Sorry for only quoting part of your statement, but I feel this is the one thing that is missed the most...the days when people had fun, and were interested more in the event, instead of the final rewards.
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