2013 Chicago Auto Show Blog

I decided to venture out to the show floor to see what people really thought of the Chicago Auto Show. Instead of trying to jot down quotes and make a journalistic report based on attendees’ answers, I went with something a bit more candid.

On Feb. 12, during the media preview days of the Chicago Auto Show, traditional and new media alike were joined together in one room. Was there conversation? Sure. Were there debates? Oh yeah. Did it get heated at times? You betcha!

All flocked together for a common interest, the press conference “Engaging the Blogosphere,” the attendees were greeted with a presentation from J.D. Power & Associates’ Gene Cameron, vice president, and Chance Parker, executive director. . . .

Kids aren’t the only one with wild imaginations. At the Chicago Auto Show, adults and children alike sit in their favorite car and pretend to see the road stretch before them while clutching the wheel. One can see the determination in their face as they place their foot to the pedal. Adults sit in real cars and trucks while children wait their turn for race simulators located throughout the show floor.

Media members were swarming outside the door to the Media Center awaiting the 7 a.m. opening in the early-morning hours of Feb. 11—the kick-off to the media preview. Banter about credentials and cars filled the “green” room (literally green), and the 10 Chicago Auto Show interns were frantically bustling about trying to accommodate the bulging crowd.

Log on to our Twitter account "ChiAutoShow09" to read posts related to the Chicago Auto Show.

Chicago Automobile Trade Association staff, as well as the 10 Chicago Auto Show interns, will post frequently from the show. Of course we'll still have our blog, but if you're looking for the quick version, all you have to do is search the hash tag #CAS09 to follow the tweets!

We completely and sympathetically understand that everyone is trying to save money these days. But we don’t want to hear the excuses, “It’s too expensive,” or “I’m just trying to save money,” on why you can’t attend the Chicago Auto Show.  When we’re (literally) giving tickets away to the show, we’re not going to let you use the state of the economy as an excuse.

There are numerous ways to receive free and/or discounted tickets to February’s show. And, since we’re not taking any excuses, I’ve provided below the many ways for you to receive a free or discounted ticket.

I am far from a pro when it comes to taking pictures. Sure, I have a digital camera that I occasionally snap pictures with but I don’t even come close to being a professional. Even though I was never trained in photography, I happen to work in an office where everyone is well-connected and, thus, was able to get in touch with two renowned professional photographers. We thought this information will benefit the “average Joe” who wants to take professional-looking shots with his/her digital camera at this year’s Chicago Auto Show. That’s right, folks, remove the old camera from the shelf and blow off the dust because I’m going to share tips that’ll have you looking like the paparazzi.

As the new year approaches and the auto show is just around the corner, I ponder what the year of 2009 will bring. Obnoxiously cold weather is certain--at least for the next few months--a new president will take the reigns, and we'll hopefully see the economy begin to rise. 2008 was certainly eventful, albeit daunting at times.

It seems these days you can't go to a movie without breaking the bank. A bucket of popcorn and a drink can be as pricey as $15 (+)--and that's not including the movie ticket. Paul Brian was shocked at this phenomenon when he recently went to see the Quantum of Solace flick.

If you think MySpace refers to your own personal space or Twitter is some kind of a strange verb, then you probably should’ve grown up in the 1800s. We’re in an age where the word “Facebook” is used as a verb (as in “Facebook me later!”) and where your own pet probably has his own blog. Yes, we have entered an age of new media.

There’s no denying the momentum in Chicago right now. Everywhere you turn, it seems that Chicago is smack-dab-in-the-middle on everyone’s radar. It appears journalists and Hollywood alike can’t get enough of the Windy City. Some might wonder what created all of this hype and why more people seem to be humming along to the tune of “Sweet Home Chicago.”

The Obamas certainly haven’t helped to keep Chicago a secret on the map. With loads of media attention during the Grant Park rally on Election Day and spotlight coverage of the President-elect’s Hyde Park residence, Chicago has been a constant media focus the past couple of months. Even though the media attention has somewhat died down from the excitement of the election, people everywhere are buzzing about Chicago. . . .

If you haven’t already seen the grueling images smacked all over the TV, you’ll hear this interesting piece of information now. While Paul Brian quaffed a tall Sapphire and tonic in the lounge after the first day of the L.A. Auto Show’s media preview, to his amazement a CNBC reporter by the name of Jane, who Paul says “isn’t credible or interesting enough to determine her last name,” (ouch!) did a special report from L.A.’s show floor to show the harsh lack of attendees. Playing off the suffering economy bit, she stood in front of a dark, abandoned show floor and said how devastating it was that the public could no longer afford to go to the show—or some such nonsense. What viewers at home didn’t know, was that she was reporting an hour after the show had closed down on a media preview day (the show hadn’t even open to the public!). During media previews, only accredited media and industry execs have access to view the auto show’s cars, which was shown on TV an hour after it shut down. Journalistic objectivity? We don’t think so!

The new buzz in the blogosphere is that manufacturers are cutting back on exhibit space at auto shows. Examples can be found in posts such as the one in KickingTires (http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2008/11/auto-show-cutba.html). The KickingTires post refers to an article in the L.A. Times. The problem: the whole story is not being reported.