Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

FEATURE INTERVIEWS:

This week on The MuscleCar Place we are honored to welcome Dan Kahn, president and CEO of Kahn Media, to unpack how to extract maximum value from the SEMA experience. Dan brings an exceptionally deep background on both ends of the automotive world—from building his own project cars to serving in leadership roles within the SEMA ecosystem—and that unique vantage gives him clarity most don’t have. For those of you who are content creators, first time business presenters, and new job seekers, this is intentionally meant for you!

Why Dan Kahn matters — and why you should listen

Dan’s journey began as a teenager restoring a Mustang and writing his own article to land magazine coverage. From there he moved into automotive journalism, digital content platforms, and eventually founded Kahn Media in 2008 to marry storytelling and strategy for the automotive, luxury and outdoor sectors.

His book, The New Rules of the Road: How to Navigate the Rapidly Changing Marketing Landscape (published January 2025), maps the evolving terrain of PR, digital marketing, authenticity and brand-building.

Beyond that, Kahn Media is not a small boutique in name only—it serves major luxury, automotive and lifestyle clients (Lotus, Maserati, Rolex, The Quail, the Petersen Automotive Museum, among others) and acts as a strategic partner in major experiential events.

In short: Dan is not just talking about the industry—he’s been actively shaping, executing and promoting it for decades. That means his insights for SEMA aren’t hypothetical—they’re battle tested.

What we cover in this episode

1. Strategic Content-Creation at SEMA

Dan highlights how the rules of the game have shifted. Although the SEMA Show (the trade event and media / influencer ecosystem) still carries the “industry only” badge, it is increasingly social-media savvy and consumer-friendly in certain segments. As Dan puts it: Don’t just crash the show—be ready to engage.

He points out that brands invest heavily (booth space, build-costs, travel) and when a media badge is hanging around your neck, you instantly become part of that ROI conversation. That means the way you carry yourself matters: be professional, set appointments, respect the brand’s time. That personal approach separates you from the throngs of random attendees.
He underscores that while spontaneous hallway connections matter, the appointments you take are what give structure and gravitas to your content capture strategy.

2. Inside the Booth — Brand & Business Perspective

Dan takes us behind the curtain of what brands are doing at SEMA. It’s not just a show—it’s a platform for brand storytelling, networking, re­-introducing themselves to the industry and consumers, and for building long-term relationships.
Simple details, he says—like hanging your logo from the ceiling—still matter a great deal in a dense environment of thousands of exhibitors. The smart attendee keeps that in mind, because your ability to see and be seen is part of the value you bring to brands with your content.
In the booth context, Dan advises: go beyond parts-for-your-car; look for the people behind the brand, ask the reason why, understand the product’s story. That’s how you turn a quick camera shot into a meaningful narrative.

3. Networking = Opportunity (This is for you Job Seekers!)

One of the best under-leveraged features of SEMA is the job-/career-/partnership-potential it offers. Dan points out: you may not walk out with your “dream job” in hand at the show, but you can walk out with contacts, intel and a plan. He encourages attendees to have a map—literal and mental—of who they want to meet, with plenty of business cards in hand, and follow-up after the show when the dust has settled.
He also emphasizes the importance of knowing when the crowd is largest (Friday is open to general public) versus when you have the best access (industry days). Time your big plays accordingly.

Why this is critical for The MuscleCar Place audience

You run content businesses, you build communities, you promote brands. Whether you’re making muscle-car builds for the show floor, marketing parts to an enthusiast audience, or telling stories of craftsmanship and legacy—SEMA is your arena.
By listening to Dan’s strategies, you gain movement beyond strolling the show with a camera: you get a blueprint for how to capture content that serves your mission (authenticity, craftsmanship, community). You get the “inside view” of how brands think so you can align your content accordingly. And you get the mindset that builds long-term influence, not just short-term clicks.

Quick action checklist inspired by Dan Kahn

• Register as a media creator ahead of time. When you show up with the right badge, brands know you’re there to deliver value, not just shop parts.

• Book 3–5 pre-planned interviews at booths with brands you want to cover—leave a business card and follow up later.

• Leave space in your schedule for “random” connections: hallway meet-ups, after-hours events, vendor mixers.

• When grabbing content inside a booth, ask: What’s the story behind this product/build? That deeper narrative = more shareable, memorable content.

• Post-show: send personalized follow-up notes or DMs to the contacts you met while everything is still fresh. The probability of meaningful collaboration drops fast if you wait too long.

Final word

We’re excited for you to hear Dan’s full discussion in our episode. His textbook title—“The New Rules of the Road”—really applies here: as the automotive industry and its event-platforms evolve, you’ve got to think ahead, move with purpose, and tell stories that matter. Dan’s built his career at that nexus of innovation, storytelling and community.

In addition, you can listen in to Dan’s own podcast show as well called “Only the Strong Survive.” Its a great bi-monthly show featuring the stories of people who have been there, done that, and survived (and thrived) to tell the tale – and lessons learned – if their business experiences!

We hope you walk away from this week’s episode not just ready to attend SEMA 2025, but to thrive with purpose, take bold action, and deliver content and connections that lift your brand and voice.

Thanks, Dan! We’ll see you at SEMA.

— Rob Kibbe
Host, The MuscleCar Place

This interview is sponsored by our pals at National Parts Depot – your premier source for muscle car restoration parts!

======================================================