One of the biggest automotive events of the year occurs every fall, as the automotive world turns its eyes to Las Vegas for the SEMA Show. This event, which is the Specialty Equipment Market Association, is a celebration of innovation, craftsmanship, jaw-dropping custom builds and all things aftermarket auto! While it’s not open to the public, if you’re in the industry and getting ready to showcase a vehicle of your own, we’ve put together a SEMA-ready build checklist to help you prepare for the event. You’re going to want to make sure your paint, wheels, lighting and interior are all properly prepped, and try to get a sponsorship if you can.
Paint & Finish: Make It Pop
One of the first things that people notice about a vehicle, even at an event filled with over-the-top builds like SEMA, is the paint. Whatever finish you’re going for, you need to make sure it’s flawless and ready to go by showtime. Your paint is typically going to be one of the last things you do for your build, so make sure to pay attention to your timeline.
Custom paint jobs can take a few weeks, depending on the type of effects and materials you’re using, so be sure to get it started early enough. Regardless of the style you choose, consider supplementing it with a ceramic coating or PPF to keep your finish pristine during transport and display.
Wheels & Stance: Set the Tone
Wheels are another strong focal point of any custom build, as they help to define the personality of your vehicle. No matter what size or type of wheels and tires your build entails, it’s important to dial everything in and try to choose options that align with the overall theme of your vehicle. Choose a tire that complements your wheel choice and your build purpose — such as performance, off-road, show or utility. Make sure to choose the right offsets and clearances and check that you have the perfect fitment overall so that everything looks just right come showtime.
Lighting: Details That Dazzle
The third major thing that’s going to attract the attention of attendees is your lighting, as the choices you make can elevate your build from cool to something truly unforgettable. There are all kinds of lighting options available to you, from custom LED halos to sequential taillights and, of course, underglow kits. Lighting is where your creativity can truly shine, but there are some things to keep in mind.
Make sure to keep your wiring as clean as you can. Use proper relays, fuses and routing to avoid the pitfalls of messy wiring, as that will certainly detract from your build. You should also consider a programmable lighting controller, as this will enable you to create a dynamic display sequence perfect for displaying at the show.
Interior: Often Overlooked
Do not forget about your interior! You could have the most attractive and fascinating vehicle at the event from the outside, but if a viewer opens the door and sees that the same attention wasn’t paid to the inside it’ll all be for naught. There are many kinds of materials you can use when outfitting your interior, so don’t limit yourself to basic leather. Alcantara, carbon fiber, billet accents and custom stitching can all greatly boost the appeal of your cabin.
You should also integrate technology wherever you can if it fits the theme of your build, such as modern infotainment systems, digital instrument clusters or even tablet-based controls if you really want to wow the crowd. But most importantly, just make sure it’s super clean.
Sponsorship & Marketing: Build the Buzz
Finally, we want to briefly touch on sponsorship and marketing, as having an impressive custom build is only half the battle. You’re going to need eyes on your vehicle, and securing sponsorships can not only do that by boosting your build’s credibility, but it can also help to offset some of your costs. There are two great ways to help attract potential sponsors: networking and promotion.
You can attend local shows and industry events to build relationships with potential sponsors, which might not always be easy but is a surefire way to get a leg up. The other thing you should be doing is promoting your vehicle by documenting your build process on social media. Include teasers, behind-the-scenes shots, progress updates and more and it’ll show sponsors that you’re serious while drumming up attention.
We hope that all of this information has helped you prepare for this year’s SEMA event, which is a few months away. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call here at Glover Customs — we’ve been to our fair share of SEMA shows!