1. Its always prudent to check well ahead of time with the promoters to see
if your vehicle is welcome and if there is a class. 99% of the time your
vehicle is welcome, but mostly this puts promoters on notice if they have not
considered a military class award. (An award that might be yours) If you
are bringing something really unusual like a Scorpion tank or an APC, they
might make your vehicle part of thier ad campaign given proper notice.
2. When possible make up a bulletin board of photos showing the restoration
process, past shows or unusual features of your mil-veh. This need only be on
a nicely painted half sheet of plywood or similar.
3. Have available customized fliers telling not just the technical data, but
a colorful story how your vehicle might have been used in service. A typical
flier might have a B/W photo or line art drawing of the mil-vehicle, the
nation of origin, appropriate military insignia, vehicle history (and I am
not talking your historic maintenance) make it interesting and factual.
4. Sound effects are new trend and a welcome crowd pleaser. This could be
anything from period music, (WW II big band music is great). Or it could be
simply loading dock sounds to sporadic machine gun fire and sounds of war.
An inexpensive boom box can provide sounds on demand. (Check with promoters
first though)
5. Set up a theme with props. Camo netting, flag/s, saw dust filled sand
bags and battle dress uniforms ... suddenly you have a combat theme! Many
inexpensive and easy to setup props make the vehicle more attractive and tell
more than just a jeep sitting among dozens of other identical looking jeeps.
6. Lights, camera...action! A video camera, player and monitor are typical
tools needed for this one. A home video can continuously tell people about
your vehicle without you wearing out your vocals cords during a long day.
Keep it short and professional.. about 30-45 seconds on average. Feeling
like Speilberg? Hey... get really creative! Maybe use snippets of movie
footage to dramatize your vehicle in it's theater of operation?
7. Display tools or typical equipment in a way that tells the viewer what
you have. Keep it simple, clean and above all....secure from sticky fingers.
Note: It is also appropriate to display trophies from prior shows.
8. Use yellow plastic "caution" tape used in construction to direct viewers
away from dangerous protrusions like trailer hitches or areas you wish to
protect.
9. Be part of the display or encourage others as reinactors. This adds to
the fun and allows your non-mechanical friends to take part, but best of all
the crowd really likes it. We keep an extra DPM uniform or two for viewers
wishing to be part of our Kodak moment.
10. All displayed mil-vehicles, but especially armor/armour should never pass
up the opportunity to sell people on the idea of living history and
remembrance.... rolling history if you will. This is a hobby that needs
public support, never miss a chance to help yourself and other members with
positive publicity.
Good luck at the shows!
DO YOU HAVE A DISPLAY TIP? IF SO, PLEASE SEND TO ME AND I WILL COMPILE A
LIST AND REPUBLISH LATER. THANKS. JACK LEE LeeNcalif@aol.com
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