Want to go BF at a car show at the convention center

In a few weeks the local International Car Show event, put on by Motor Trend magazine, will be coming to the local downtown convention center. I've seen and heard of people going barefoot at conventions like ComicCon and others, and would love to try it myself. Walking around on nice carpeted floors, sitting in cool cars, while BF sounds amazing to me.

I just wish they held the show in a month warmer than January. Oh well, I'll be parking in the underground garage and going directly inside so maybe it won't be too bad.

Also I hope security and people checking/taking tickets don't hassle me too much. I'll be purchasing my ticket online in advance, so getting thrown out and not going isn't really an option for me. I have thought about making some kind of huarache sandal that I could discreetly remove after entering, and then roll up and stick in my back pocket or something. However I'm not sure if I should just wear them in and then take them off, or only put them on if someone says something. I hate somebody saying anything, because I generally am non-confrontational. But I do get agitated, and end up not saying the things I should say, which I think of later.

Hope it goes well. My wife used to go with me, in which case she wouldn't have any part of me going BF. But last year I went by myself, which truthfully I enjoyed a bit more, as she's not all that into cars anyway like I am.

 

Patrick ive read some of your other posts and i'd just do what you normally do - leave some flip flops in the car in case anyone makes a fuss about it. I doubt it though, I would have thought those indoor events would be pretty tolerant?

Good to see a fellow car nut though - I like me motors too! Been refurbishing some BBS alloy wheels over the summer, still going with them as a couple have sprung air leaks so have had to break them down a second time - annoying!! If you like pm me and ill put some pics up when theyre all finished and polished up!

 

Yeah, the thing is that it's a fair hike from the underground parking area to the part of the convention center where the show will actually be. Oh well, more exercise I guess if there's any issue.

And yeah since going BF last spring, I've done pretty much all mechanic work in my garage while BF, with the exception of anything requiring the angle grinder! Oil changes, brake jobs, tire/wheel changes, air conditioner replacement and overhaul, you name it.

Feels good man!

 

Well, I've done lots of classic car shows and auctions barefoot...Greenwich and Fairfield for example.....and never got hassled. Granted they're in the summer, but sometimes Greenwich can resemble the mud at Woodstock. First time I did an auction I was apprehensive but last year at Bonhams in Fairfield I knew it wasn't gonna be a big deal. Never a problem. Go for it. I doubt anyone in Javits will care.

 

Same here! Even respraying the odd component in the garage - eye protection, respirator - but bare feet!! It has got a few laughs before actually, LOL i guess i see their point really!

 

Definitely go barefoot....my bf and I always take our kids to any motor shows we have here in Auckland and we are all barefoot. Have occassionally seen other barefooters too. My bf is a mad petrolhead, owns a car repair and wrecking business.
It seems sad to me that you have to carry flip flops in your car, and have them strategically available in case the shoe police get you. I could think of nothing worse than having to 'plan' for those sort of eventualities...:love:

 

Well my wife does not like to be seen BF with me if we go inside a store, because she doesn't want to endure potential embarrassment if someone calls me on it. But I prefer to drive BF so I just keep the flops in the floorboard. Plus, even though it's technically not illegal to drive BF, if I were ever pulled over for any reason I would still slip them on, just in case the cop tried to make something of it.

At this particular auto show, there are security in various places (can't remember if they're rent-a-cops or actual city police officers), some of which check if you have a ticket to see whether you should be in that area or not. Then there are the actual convention center employees who actually take the tickets before letting you in the door. I can just see/hear it now "uhhh 'scuze me sir, you need shoes on if you want to go into the show". If I try to make an argument, it'll for sure be a scene, and I'm not prone to making a scene. And having already paid for the ticket and me being a cheap@$$, I'm sure as hell not going to risk getting thrown out and losing my money.

That's why I thought of making something that I could roll up and stick in a pocket, and just take them off after entering, in some corner or even inside a vehicle when no one is looking.

 

I hope you go for it and report on here how you got on. I am a petrolhead too and go to numerous classic car shows in the summer months, but of course they tend to be outside in fields and suchlike where comment is unlikely, although one held last summer in a local supermarket car park was good fun...a chance to drool over some motors and get filthy black soles at the same time, heaven!!

I remember seeing a girl going bf round the Earls Court motor show years ago and feeling agog with admiration (and jealousy), but never tried it myself. There again I was more shy about being bf in public then, maybe I'd try it now

 

I dunno, maybe I'll still try to make some kind of huaraches that I can roll up in my pocket, and if anyone says anything just be like "yeah sure no problem" and throw them on. Then when I get inside, take them back off heh

 

In October 2011, I went to the Big Texas Train show barefoot. It was held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. That day it was chilly and raining. We parked several blocks away. I rolled up my pants so the cuff would not get wet and left the car with no shoes. I know what you mean when you talk about someone saying something about going barefoot. I was too! Since it is a "open to the public" event, although there is a door fee, I knew they could not say much. Going Barefoot is a lifestyle choice, and if they will not allow you to enter the public event because of this, it is discrimination. I was telling my wife, on the walk to the door how I was worried. She re-insured me by telling me that the reason for going barefoot could be faith based, and employee want to challange a faith based discrimination issue. At the door there where no anti-barefoot signs, and no one stopped me from going in. There were both convention center secuirty as well as city police working the event. We walked around for a few hours looking at everything, before leaving. I did not have any negative comments by anyone, however a few "vender did make nice comment about how the remember being while younger. Overall it was a positive experance and I would do it again at another convention. I deffentaly would recomend this to a friend.

 

You say it was open to the public, but there was still an admission charge, correct? Was it not inside a building on private property? If someone there had said you must have shoes to come into the show, what would you have done?

Off topic now, a train show eh? Like real trains or model trains? Man I would love to see a show like that, sounds awesome. I love trains. We watched the 2010 Denzel Washington movie Unstoppable the other night, I was in train heaven the whole time lol.

 

Cool! Another barefooter who loves trains! I enjoy both the real and model ( O gauge as in Lionel), can't get enough of them. There's a certain mystic about trains and going barefoot I say. It gets into your blood and stays in there forever and keeps you coming back for more!

 

I know another train-loving barefooter... he lives in Austria, oh, and he's a furry, too... weird combination, isn't it? But he's a nice bare-pawed person, to be sure.


Wiggling bare toes,

~*Ganesha*~

 

The convention center is owned by the City (ie taxpayers). Anyone could attend, as it was not by invitation only. The fee paid typically covers the organizers cost for the utilization of the building. Many open to the public events are held here every day, and a few privet, invitation only event too. If someone there had said I must have shoes to come into the show, here is what I would have done... Tell the person(s) "No I don't". If further pushed, I would say something to the effect of "Going barefoot is a life style choice I have made. There is nothing illegal about it, or anything otherwise that prohibits it. There are no legitimate safety concerns, as you are letting in others guest in that are wearing flip flops." After these points have been made an there is still a issue with not letting me in, the next thing I would say would probably be... "I feel that this is a case of discrimination based on perception, could I please speak with your supervisor/event organizer/manager." As I have found out in most cases the person who makes these remarks are speaking from a personal belief, and have no legal standing. There job training usually never covers organization polices that deal with guest. Typically there supervisor or a manager, holds a higher re-guards to protecting the organization best interest. When speaking to this person, I would try to make them feel as this could be a "I hate to interrupt your busy schedule, however I felt as this is something that should be brought to you attention. I feel that my life style choice to wear shoes disallow me from entering/attending/shopping here. Furthermore I feel that your organization is discriminating against me based of perception. I have explained to your employee/greater that there is nothing illegal about it, or anything otherwise that prohibits it. There are no legitimate safety concerns, as you are letting in others guest in that are wearing flip flops." I would pause a few moments to see if the manager would like to apologize for there employee misconception, and let me continue with my business. If not I would as the following questions next. "Is this the oganization's offical stance on this issue?" "And you understand the legal remificaton of discrimination based on perception." "For my record, could I pease get both of your names/or some way to identify you, and the person name who represent the orgainization/store/company." At that point I would have to leave. Now I have one of those pre-paid legal services through work. One of the benifits is they will have a attorny write a letter on your behalf. If this is a city own building, there is a very good chance if you really wanted to prove a point you can go barefoot where you want by finding a attorney who will sue based on the discrimnation. Honestly where I live I have never even gotten to the point where I have been stopped.

Off Topic:
They can not fit real trains into a convention center, that would be just silly. It was model trains from N to O. Train clubs had brought in there modular set, and some where actually big. Plus the vendor who where trying to sell everything from train painting to train horns. There where a few small real train cars like found in a underground mine. Lots of fun, and the guy playing the train horn cd he was selling made the atmosphere even more enjoyable.

Since I was the only barefooter that day, I can say a bunch of shod people love trains too. I think everyone like them. Now we know something common between each other, the love for train. Enjoy.

 

oh man, I would love to see a show like that. I had a couple of simple HO and O-27 sets when I was younger that my dad put together for me, but nothing real complex.

When my wife and I were in Chicago on our honeymoon, we visited the Museum of Science and Industry, where there is a HUGE model train setup that represents many different areas of Illinois, including Chicago. The set was probably 50' x 50' at least. It was amazing.

Yeah I guess I should have realized that they couldn't get real trains into a convention center lol

I still have some of my dad's O-27 stuff, the kind that runs on 3-rail track. I have a Lionel O27 locomotive and tender that's pretty much solid metal, from the 1950's.

 

Just ordered and printed my ticket online for the show next weekend. I noticed that the fine print on the ticket states this:

"The bearer of this e-ticket assumes all responsibility for any risk of bodily harm or loss of property sustained while attending this event, and agrees to hold blameless and harmless the Motor Trend Auto Shows, LLC, Source Interlink Companies, Inc., and its subsidiaries and affiliates in the event of personal injury or loss or damage to property, waiving all rights to lay claim for damages resulting from any cause whatsoever either before, during or after the event."

So, I guess they shouldn't bar me from entering barefoot due to risk of injury, because they're already releasing themselves from any such liability.

 

So have you decided if you are going to go barefoot, or wear shoes?

 

under these premises i think they're not going to give a damn about your attire. if then some staff mofo bothers you, bitch-slap the guard dog in the face with your ticket. yo :afro:

 

Just got to the show, came in and no one said a thing. I left all my "backup" footwear in the car, so it feels awesome on these carpeted floors and not having to drag around extra stuff in my pockets or a bag. :2thumbsup:

 

Just got back. It was awesome being BF the whole time. I think I got a few looks, but no one said a thing, except for one comment from the lady in the Chrysler/Dodge area.

I was looking at a 2012 Chrysler 300S, when I heard someone behind me say "So you're okay with that?" I turned around and was like "huh?" "Being barefoot, you're not scared?" I explained not at all and that I've been barefoot for the most part since May 2011. "You mean no shoes at all?" Well I do at work, or if it's really cold. "And they didn't say anything about it when you came in?" Nope, nothing.

She didn't seem critical or anything, more just curious about it.

All in all a great time. And OMG that Scoobie Impreza STI with the STI short-throw shifter - best manual shifter in the whole place. Although the $125K Corvette ZR1 was locked up tight so I didn't get to try that one to compare haha.