Confession: I'd Like to Be a Booth Professional.

"quittywhip" (quittywhip) 12/13/2013 at 13:40 • Filed to: auto show, job hunt

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Dear (any automotive manufacturer),

I'd like to be a booth professional. This could be my dream job. Some of you reading this may think its a little crazy. I won't try to tell you otherwise; it is. I really enjoy talking to others about cars, and I've always had an embarrassing level of enthusiasm about them. Regardless of the setting or situation, I'll often call out rare or strange cars as they pass by. I really like working on cars, once in awhile, but I mostly enjoy learning about vehicles, how they work, whats new and who's who in the marketplace.

I've thought about being an automotive journalist, but my writing 'chops' aren't quite what I'd like them to be. I feel often distracted and unable to finish my thoughts on a subject when it comes to composing a paper or post or whatever. When it comes to talking about cars, regardless of the specificity, I find myself enthusiastic and able to carry a conversation that endures in earnest and significance.

I'm a twenty-something college graduate in a new city, San Francisco. New Jersey was my home. Until recently, I've made a living running an auto glass company, but the glass ceiling of small business management (when you're not the owner) allows for limited mobility especially in what's regarded as a "blue collar industry".

My automotive interests have driven my car buying and selling tendencies to a questionable level among my friends. I've bought and sold something like 60 cars at this point, and I still find myself looking for the next project, constantly. I love cars. I get excited about cars. I drive, I shop, and I wrench, but most of all, I enjoy learning, listening and talking about them.

So, this could totally fall on deaf ears as a rambling, disorganized stream of paragraphs, but at least for a fleeting moment, I could totally see myself talking about new cars to people who were just as excited as me to see them.

(Disclaimer: I am actually looking for a new career.)

Jayhawk Jake > quittywhip 12/13/2013 at 13:46

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What's wrong with being a salesperson?

quittywhip > Jayhawk Jake 12/13/2013 at 13:49

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I don't suppose anything is wrong with being a salesperson. Personally, I'd much rather work as part of a team or as an individual rather than actively compete with coworkers for sales/closing and meeting quotas, etc.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > quittywhip 12/13/2013 at 13:53

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College + PR Internship at an automotive company? That would be a good way to get into some kind of automotive spokesperson type role.

quittywhip > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 12/13/2013 at 13:54

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I'm actively looking for similar roles, as I graduated in May.

It's a "Porch-uh" > quittywhip 12/13/2013 at 13:55

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If you want to be in automotive marketing, move to Orange County/LA and start getting involved in the scene and networking with folks in the area. The automotive manufacturers will be harder to get into (I'm not saying don't try), but the suppliers/aftermarket/accessory companies would be a good foot in the door.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > quittywhip 12/13/2013 at 13:59

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Welcome to San Francisco! There are lots of great cars out here, but its also a bit tough being a car guy living IN the city. I'm just about ready to give up on keeping 2 cars, which is super sad...financially and practically it would make sense for me to get rid of my E30, but I know I'll regret it and miss it dearly for many many years.

What brought you to the west coast? A new job, or literally looking for a new career? Being a booth professional sounds like a ton of fun - but I find a lot of the people don't really know much about the cars or have too much love for them, they just vomit out canned responses....which I suppose would be where you'd have an upper hand, assuming the manufacturers actually care about such enthusiasm!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > quittywhip 12/13/2013 at 14:01

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Oh I'm not, I was suggesting it to you.

Converse > quittywhip 12/13/2013 at 14:34

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Booth professionals (not the ones there for them, ahem, smiles) are a very competitive bunch usually not liking outsiders for fear of losing what they have going. Believe it or not, from what I understand, Tim Allen was discovered when he was a presenter for Cadillac as a booth professional and later went on to his television career.

With all of that being said however, pursue it if that's what you want to try. It involves an absolute shit ton of travel and talking with a lot of people that seem like they should not be let outside without a helmet.

Here's how you do it. Find automotive promotion, marketing and event production companies. They're out there, just start Googleing (Googling? What's the correct contraction there?) and look for these companies and start emailing the contact me page. The first gig is the hardest to get because there is nothing saying that you won't curse out half the people and tell them why the brand you're representing is Satan's henchman trying to ruin American business (heard crazier I assure you). Take the first gig offered and start from there. When you have some experience on your resume (1 gig is enough) you will be able to pursue more work and network with the people you work with.

It's a tough deal, loads of travel, and you're always going to be looking for a job. Worth it if it's something you must cross off the bucket list. Just don't blow all the money while you're working. It's awesome when you live like a conservative rockstar and come home to money you saved.

Jayhawk Jake > quittywhip 12/13/2013 at 14:35

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I can see that. I would think that some experience as a salesman would help though. Just a thought.

quittywhip > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 12/13/2013 at 14:43

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Thanks, I really like this city so far. Rite of passage: I've already earned two parking tickets on my Volvo, but I'm insisting on hanging onto it. My partner's job brought us to the city. As for my career search, I was at the same job for nearly 5 years and I was feeling stagnant, having not made any moves since graduating in May. Honestly, I have my doubts that manufacturers are looking for enthusiasm and technical knowledge versus sex appeal when it comes to being a booth person, but I can dream right? I kind of dread working as a sales person based on my experiences back east.

Stef Schrader > quittywhip 12/13/2013 at 16:14

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TBH, event work sounds fun. If you're actually knowledgeable about your products and can know when to move out of the way of a picture, yes! Go for it. And good luck.