In an effort to preserve the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show's business-to-business focus, SEMA is screening attendees who are registering for this year's event.
"We've noticed that with increasing mainstream exposure, we're getting increased consumer interest in the show," SEMA Vice President of Marketing and Communications Peter MacGillivary told moderntiredealer.com earlier today.
While SEMA appreciates consumer interest, "this is a trade show and is about the business-to-business conversations that take place in the booths."
SEMA officials are using the show's pre-registration process to identify people "who do not appear to be in the industry," says SEMA President Chris Kersting.
Procedures include asking attendees to produce documentation in order to prove their legitimacy.
Kersting says both attendee and exhibitor registrations for this year's show, which will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in early November, are up over registration levels at this time in 2004.
