St Pete Boat show $19 per adult
#1
Senior Member

Thread Starter

I feel like I ask this every time the boat show season hit our area. Seems like a ton of money to look at people selling products. Am I really off base? Wouldnt mind going but with 3 adults in the party, I am nearly $60 to walk through the door?
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#2
Admirals Club 


The majority of people at a boat show have zero interest in purchasing a boat. Make it too cheap and the sales guys are going to be run over by knuckle draggers.
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#3
Admirals Club 


Gun shows, boat shows, car shows etc. etc. Money makers for the promoters. We have the Great American Beer festival in Denver. People pay big $$ to sample craft beers from all over, the brewers pay big $$ to give away their beer. The event is held for 3 days in the Denver convention center. The tickets for the event sell out literally in minutes.
#4
Senior Member

Thread Starter

Gun shows, boat shows, car shows etc. etc. Money makers for the promoters. We have the Great American Beer festival in Denver. People pay big $$ to sample craft beers from all over, the brewers pay big $$ to give away their beer. The event is held for 3 days in the Denver convention center. The tickets for the event sell out literally in minutes.
Money makers - nobody should work for free. I guess my question really should be - does it take a $19 admission to be reasonably profitable? Every vendor is paying to be there, every spectator is paying. Every beer is over priced.
No doubt, if I dont see value, I wont go.
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#6
Senior Member


Money makers - nobody should work for free. I guess my question really should be - does it take a $19 admission to be reasonably profitable? Every vendor is paying to be there, every spectator is paying. Every beer is over priced.
No doubt, if I dont see value, I wont go.
No doubt, if I dont see value, I wont go.
If the promoter can't make a buck on the event it will go away.
The event make take place over two or three days but it takes a year of planning, selling space, advertising, staffing, negotiating everything, lining up talent along with the talent fees for celebs, permitting, unions, city and local officials, fire depts., security, garbage clean up, insurance, and that's just the known stuff. Then you have to worry about weather, COVID, and all of the little surprises just waiting to torpedo your event.
$19....cheap afternoon dreaming about your next boat.
#7
Senior Member

Thread Starter

I am involved in putting on events and the costs have skyrocketed. Everyone and I mean everyone has their hand out. We are trying to put together a large fishing tournament in Port Canaveral. I have been apart of this tournament for 20 years and the red tape, expense and regulations are making it so we don't want to put up with the hassle or can't afford to put it on anymore.
If the promoter can't make a buck on the event it will go away.
The event make take place over two or three days but it takes a year of planning, selling space, advertising, staffing, negotiating everything, lining up talent along with the talent fees for celebs, permitting, unions, city and local officials, fire depts., security, garbage clean up, insurance, and that's just the known stuff. Then you have to worry about weather, COVID, and all of the little surprises just waiting to torpedo your event.
$19....cheap afternoon dreaming about your next boat.
If the promoter can't make a buck on the event it will go away.
The event make take place over two or three days but it takes a year of planning, selling space, advertising, staffing, negotiating everything, lining up talent along with the talent fees for celebs, permitting, unions, city and local officials, fire depts., security, garbage clean up, insurance, and that's just the known stuff. Then you have to worry about weather, COVID, and all of the little surprises just waiting to torpedo your event.
$19....cheap afternoon dreaming about your next boat.
That is just it - Unless somebody shows up with a large stack of $100s, I have my dream boat....at least until I retire. For $10, I would gladly walk through and patronize the vendors....but I guess I am splitting hairs.
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#10
Admirals Club 


Don't forget the $12 Dark & Stormy's at the Gosling's tent.
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#11
Senior Member

I paid more than that at FLIBS one year and one of the vendors wouldn't let me go on a boat. Not a yacht, a boat. I guess I didn't look fancy enough. The buddy that was with me could have afforded some of their offerings.
#12

Gotta have an entrance fee. Talk to the guys at the Tampa Boat Show. It’s always better than the Tampa Fairgrounds Show. The Fairgrounds show is a joke. Free entrance means nothing but tire kickers. The really good boat guys stay away.
Last edited by THT Mod 11; 01-13-2021 at 06:22 AM. Reason: removed political comment
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#14
Senior Member

Yep, I believe both Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm are all at or over $30 now.
#17
Admirals Club 


I can see them for free at the dealership, I do my homework at home and know what boat or 2 I might buy, so no, I'm not about too pay parking and admission and fight a crowd. I'd rather go to the dealership. To each their own.
#18
Senior Member

Back when boat shows were big in New York where I was from, (sorry I moved to your full state 3 months ago), LOL, they use to have a red carpet day where you would pay about 20 bucks or less back then to get in,if you payed that money instead of waiting for the red carpet day to be over they knew you were probably serious about buying, easier to get on a boat and to get a salesman to help you.
carl skinny g
carl skinny g
#19
Admirals Club 

Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Martin County Florida formerly Palm Beach County
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Premier day is $45 at Miami, vip is $180. If you’re worried about the $19 make the other 2 that are going with you pay.