My Visit To The IPT Office And Conversation With Deno Andrews

Eydie Romano

Eydie Romano

Finally Retired!
Silver Member
On Tuesday I ventured over to the address in Elk Grove Village (my old stomping grounds) to meet with Deno and see for myself what was up. There have been many concerns that this address does not exist or it's a front of some sorts, so I can now reassure all of you that it does in fact exist. I had tried to contact Deno earlier that day to tell him of my visit, but he was not answering his phone, so I elected to venture over anyway. I pulled up outside the office which has no business ID, just a street number of 802. In front of the office stood a huge "For Rent" sign. It listed 2 separate rental areas, the space next door to the IPT/Natural Cures office was empty and I am not sure if the sign was for the entire building or for just the space next to that office. My impression from looking at the entire realm was it was a temporary location for the IPT.

The office is packed with employees. I counted 9 within eye sight, yes I was counting and there were more in the back. With that said, I was under the impression that most of these employees were working for the Natural Cures Book or other avenues rather than the IPT.

When I walked in, I asked to talk with a certain employee which I have been in constant contact or with Deno. He was not at that office and was at the "Chicago" office which is about 30 minutes away and a direct shot from that office on I 90.

I met with 2 of the IPT employees in what I believed to be Deno's office when he is at that location. We talked for about 20 minutes regarding many topics including qualifiers, the Chicago event, different locations for events and of course the non payment of the players. I have to applaud their integrity considering that I put them on the spot.

The guys answered my questions and were very professional and courteous to me considering that I had come in with no notice. They tried to answer all of my questions, but in many cases, they had no answers. This I expected, considering I had caught them off guard, and the person I was really looking for was Deno.

I thanked them for their time and left the office.

Yesterday, there is a text message to call Deno, and I promptly did. We had a long conversation, over an hour.

We spoke of many issues, the IPT as a whole, the qualifiers, the Chicago event, his recent article in InsidePool, the deal with Ho, the letter from Kevin, some personal issues and the current issue with the players.

I asked Deno why have the players not been paid? His answer was that it is in transition from KT to Ho and this is why. When I asked him "Okay, why doesn't KT just cover the funds that he is waiting on and pay the players?" His answer was "That's a good question, I don't know." He followed it up with saying that KT had been in Europe for several weeks and had just returned to the country, and that it had been difficult to get in touch with him while he was out of town.

I then asked about the "waiting list" for getting on the IPT which they had originally stated to submit your name, and you would be considered for free, which we all were under the impression was going to happen. He answered it by stating that KT had said it was going to be the qualifiers from now on, and that information was no longer applicable.

So, here is my impression. I honestly and sincerely think that Deno is sure that the IPT is on track and is not in financial problems, only in transition at this moment. He had left a cushy job to head this program and I believe that he is doing his best with it. I feel that certain things are completely out of his control, and that he is in the position to give answers to questions that he has no answers for. I respect him for this, he is caught in a difficult situation.

Regarding the current InsidePool and the "notorious interview" Deno said the following: He apologized to me personally for the comments stated, considering that I felt they were directed to me and some of my hard working fellow competitors. He stated that the interview was done by one journalist who was not associated with IP and then finished by another at IP. He denies using the term willy-nilly and states that he never has used that terminology in his life.

Regarding the qualifiers which is now the only way to join the IPT (and which I know several places still wanting to participate): The players are now very timid about playing/participating, and rightfully so. The qualifiers are way down and some room owners are hesitant to participate in fear of being used. The players are timid because who knows if there will be the next event, and if so, will they get their earnings?

Deno insists that things will be fine. I think that if what he is saying is correct, that the IPT will now favor the rooms that have been loyal to them.
I assume this considering how many others have spoken out on what a scam they think this is.

I think Chicago will be. I don't think that it will not be. I just hope that the players are paid by that time so they show up. It is going to be a huge event that they are spending a lot of money on. I can personally tell you from experience working with the same location in the past, it is EXPENSIVE! This convention center is all union which means there are no short cuts. You get a union electrician who works at his speed at mega bucks an hour. It will cost them to bring in each table and cost them to remove each table from the center. From what I recall, back several years ago, it was a $150.00 to bring in each table and $150.00 to move them out, a total of $300.00 per table. I don't know how many tables they plan to bring in, but I was looking at several hundred tables times $300 per table.This particular center is one of the largest in the world, It is a hike to get to the show space from anywhere even if you are staying at one of the adjoining hotels, which I highly recommend.

Is the IPT going to continue? I don't know because my magic 8 ball is not working. I sincerely hope that it does if the kinks get worked out, it is and can be the best thing to ever happen to pool.
It's really up to the individual on if they choose to participate.

I personally think that the IPT was wrong in discontinuing the part about consideration for players who signed up previously, when the IPT stated the players would be considered for free and on their ability, not just for the qualifier sake. In addition to the qualifiers being a last minute thought by the IPT when they saw the response from the first. That really is disappointing for the lesser player who stands no chance in any of the big qualifiers. The boycotting of this event and the qualifiers will surely continue if they stand by this new change of qualification. In addition to the loss that the room owners are taking with the pitiful showing of players that are wanting to participate.

So, with all of this being said, I am not going to get into a pissing match with anyone on this forum. I am telling you what I know and trying to be helpful. I have no invested interest in the IPT, I do not back any of the players and my husband Bob, is not a member.
 
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Text this to Deno, since he has a lot to learn about sales & integrity. The worst thing you can do when trying to sell something (which is what KT & he have been trying to do to the pool world) is make a promise you can't keep. Don't tell the customer that you can have new tires put on the car if your boss won't allow it. Don't tell the customer that you have a different size or color in the back room if you don't have it. Don't tell them what the special of the day is if the kitchen already ran out. Don't tell the pool world.....

Real Pool, Real Rules, Real Money

if you don't have any money.
 
Way to go!

Eydie, nice going. I take it you had a little inside knowledge on the address from the qualifiers at ProTyme? Cause I Googled and scoured the IPT website and I couldn't find a thing!

Again, nice going!
 
Da Poet said:
Eydie, nice going. I take it you had a little inside knowledge on the address from the qualifiers at ProTyme? Cause I Googled and scoured the IPT website and I couldn't find a thing!

Again, nice going!
Click to expand...

Thanks I appreciate it! I didn't get the info form Pro-Tyme. I got the address from the forums here in the IPT section. Someone posted the address and I couldn't believe how close it was to my house, let alone in an area I grew up in!

Pro-Tyme has been and still is a huge supporter of the IPT. They are real good people who I care about over there, and I would never involve them with any of this.
 
I appreciate the time you spent looking around the corner. If it comes off I will let my relatives in the area know about the event. IsDr
 
watchez said:
Text this to Deno, since he has a lot to learn about sales & integrity. The worst thing you can do when trying to sell something (which is what KT & he have been trying to do to the pool world) is make a promise you can't keep. Don't tell the customer that you can have new tires put on the car if your boss won't allow it. Don't tell the customer that you have a different size or color in the back room if you don't have it. Don't tell them what the special of the day is if the kitchen already ran out. Don't tell the pool world.....

Real Pool, Real Rules, Real Money

if you don't have any money.
Click to expand...

Tap-tap-tap.

I think what KT is speaks for itself. Fwiw, Deno seems sincere with all this. Of course he may not think highly of me, given my the opinions of the IPT I've openly expressed in various posts.

Good report Eydie, but I remain a huge doubting Thomas.
 
Awesome work Eydie, thanks for putting the time in to get us some of this info!!! Truly nice of you!
 
Eydie,are you sure your not a detective?:D

The part I relate with is the qualifiers. I would have a ton of trouble pulling the trigger right now. Hopefully the kinks get worked out, but to pony up $2000, then HAVE to finish 1-2 just get a chance to play 200 killers for 50 spots? I might do it if the situation is good like not too many players in the qualifier....like 2!:D

I was thinking about what would be happening today if EVERY player in the IPT had put up the $2000 and qualified their way in, not just filled out the paper work. Talk about some P'od pool players.:cool:

I hope it works out, and I get a chance to qualify next year. Right now I'm sitting tight like a lot of people waiting to see what happens.

Gerry
 
Questions ...

I am all for the IPT to be a viable long run tour, BUT:

1) Why would KT go to Europe for several weeks with the players not being paid? IPT being televised in Europe? Ho Interactive representatives there instead of Macau? Something to do with being listed publicly on London Stock Exchange?

2) Remember, there is suppose to be a big announcement THIS WEEK (per Linda - Ramsuckr's thread about her email and answer from KT himself).
(should we date compare KT email to Linda vs. his return from Europe?)

3) Did Eydie ask the employees if they were receiving their paychecks on time?
 
There's Hope

Eydie,
Nice report - very interesting though we hoped for more answers.

On the up side, the qualifiers over seas attendance is up a bit (to 9) and better than here in the US where we have AZ poster's speculation of doom.
 
Eydie Romano said:
On Tuesday I ventured over to the address in Elk Grove Village (my old stomping grounds) to meet with Deno and see for myself what was up. There have been many concerns that this address does not exist or it's a front of some sorts, so I can now reassure all of you that it does in fact exist. I had tried to contact Deno earlier that day to tell him of my visit, but he was not answering his phone, so I elected to venture over anyway. I pulled up outside the office which has no business ID, just a street number of 802. In front of the office stood a huge "For Rent" sign. It listed 2 separate rental areas, the space next door to the IPT/Natural Cures office was empty and I am not sure if the sign was for the entire building or for just the space next to that office. My impression from looking at the entire realm was it was a temporary location for the IPT.

The office is packed with employees. I counted 9 within eye sight, yes I was counting and there were more in the back. With that said, I was under the impression that most of these employees were working for the Natural Cures Book or other avenues rather than the IPT.

When I walked in, I asked to talk with a certain employee which I have been in constant contact or with Deno. He was not at that office and was at the "Chicago" office which is about 30 minutes away and a direct shot from that office on I 90.

I met with 2 of the IPT employees in what I believed to be Deno's office when he is at that location. We talked for about 20 minutes regarding many topics including qualifiers, the Chicago event, different locations for events and of course the non payment of the players. I have to applaud their integrity considering that I put them on the spot.

The guys answered my questions and were very professional and courteous to me considering that I had come in with no notice. They tried to answer all of my questions, but in many cases, they had no answers. This I expected, considering I had caught them off guard, and the person I was really looking for was Deno.

I thanked them for their time and left the office.

Yesterday, there is a text message to call Deno, and I promptly did. We had a long conversation, over an hour.

We spoke of many issues, the IPT as a whole, the qualifiers, the Chicago event, his recent article in InsidePool, the deal with Ho, the letter from Kevin, some personal issues and the current issue with the players.

I asked Deno why have the players not been paid? His answer was that it is in transition from KT to Ho and this is why. When I asked him "Okay, why doesn't KT just cover the funds that he is waiting on and pay the players?" His answer was "That's a good question, I don't know." He followed it up with saying that KT had been in Europe for several weeks and had just returned to the country, and that it had been difficult to get in touch with him while he was out of town.

I then asked about the "waiting list" for getting on the IPT which they had originally stated to submit your name, and you would be considered for free, which we all were under the impression was going to happen. He answered it by stating that KT had said it was going to be the qualifiers from now on, and that information was no longer applicable.

So, here is my impression. I honestly and sincerely think that Deno is sure that the IPT is on track and is not in financial problems, only in transition at this moment. He had left a cushy job to head this program and I believe that he is doing his best with it. I feel that certain things are completely out of his control, and that he is in the position to give answers to questions that he has no answers for. I respect him for this, he is caught in a difficult situation.

Regarding the current InsidePool and the "notorious interview" Deno said the following: He apologized to me personally for the comments stated, considering that I felt they were directed to me and some of my hard working fellow competitors. He stated that the interview was done by one journalist who was not associated with IP and then finished by another at IP. He denies using the term willy-nilly and states that he never has used that terminology in his life.

Regarding the qualifiers which is now the only way to join the IPT (and which I know several places still wanting to participate): The players are now very timid about playing/participating, and rightfully so. The qualifiers are way down and some room owners are hesitant to participate in fear of being used. The players are timid because who knows if there will be the next event, and if so, will they get their earnings?
...
Click to expand...

Thanks Eydie. Information is so important even if it is not all positive. Your posts at least gives some rest to what is going on. I know that in buyouts employees and customers sometimes feel a little up in the air. Clearly if KT is in the process of closing the deal it is most important that he gives it fullest attention to ensure success.

As I stated before, right or wrong and I exclude employee payments due, any large expenses out of pocket are best deferred until after the deal so the new party become responsible for it. This is just the way it is done sometimes, I've been through this a few times before.
 
Thanks!

Eydie,

Many thanks for your efforts! It does sound like the other employees and Deno were upfront with you. Unfortunately Deno lost my trust and respect when it became obvious that he was twisting in the wind early on in this IPT venture. I'm sure that there is much he doesn't know however I am equally sure that there is much that he wouldn't be honest about if he does know. I wouldn't have his job . . . even if he is getting paid.

Hu
 
Edyie, Thanks for taking the time and effort to get some answers to the questions we all have.

I think that the IPT players and the pool community might be more sympathetic to the challenges that the IPT is facing if KT and Deno would have been more responsive in answering the many questions that people have (especially about getting paid and the future of the IPT).

A good manager knows that communication is key to maintaining employee morale. In the absense of information, rumors and hearsay will flourish. KT and Deno need to understand that they need to do a much better job of communicating and responding to the questions that the players have.
 
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Eydie,

The upfront costs for the Chicago tourney are next to nothing.

The table expenses are entirely eaten by Diamond.

KT has an arrangement to pay the convention Centre "at a later date".

I have this from a reliable source, the entire IPT business model is
based on such arrangements with KT fronting no capital.
 
Tell us how you really think. lol.

I for one find your honesty refreshing, albeit a bit crass. I'm trying very carefully to err on the side of caution in expressing my opinions, but you might be right. I certainly have a very low of KT at any rate.
 
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Disagree

I do not, for a minute, believe Deno is like that. He may be in a precarious position because KT is his boss, and the one that pays him (and Deno has a family to feed), but I think Deno is a class individual.

I am sure Deno is just doing like he has been 'mandated' to do. If it becomes too compromising for him, I am sure he would pursue other interests in his own behalf and for the good of his family.

Bet your BOSS loves you .... go learn to make 3 fookin balls before you character assassinate someone of Deno's character and reputation. (again and again)

BTW, thought you were banned from here?
 
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Thanks Eydie, or is that the CIA = Chicago Investigator Asks?

Mike and I appreciate your efforts and only confirmed what we already knew. I knew KT had been out of town until the 8th, but I assumed to deal with Ho or put broadcasting rights together in Asia, not Europe.

To Snapshot - I have been in constant contact with someone from the office and they have all been paid and had no fear of not being paid. In fact, they don't think their jobs are in jeopardy for another 5 years, that's how much they believe KT will stay at the helm, even after the sale.

I feel sorry for Deno being put into this position. I don't think he has any control over the money, except to be told when to get the money out once it's there. When he did the article, he truly believed the players would all be paid on time. It would be a very tough position now to have to eat his words and through no fault of his own.

Will we get our big announcement today as KT told me in an email? If not, it will be seen as another delaying tactic. All I know is that KT is on his own time table. :rolleyes:
 
Snapshot9 said:
I do not, for a minute, believe Deno is like that. He may be in a precarious position because KT is his boss, and the one that pays him (and Deno has a family to feed), but I think Deno is a class individual.

I am sure Deno is just doing like he has been 'mandated' to do. If it becomes too compromising for him, I am sure he would pursue other interests in his own behalf and for the good of his family.

Bet your BOSS loves you .... go learn to make 3 fookin balls before you character assassinate someone of Deno's character and reputation. (again and again)

BTW, thought you were banned from here?
Click to expand...

Scott

With every day that passes, they assassinate their own character and credibility. I am my own boss, and come to think of it, I think I'm pretty effective in that position. I would never allow myself to be in the position that the IPT/Kevein Trudeau/Deno Andrews is in. I'm sure that if the staff is showing up to the office that they are getting paid. The players have families, rent/mortgage/car payments just like everybody else. They deserve the same consideration that the IPT staff gets. Are you saying I'm wrong about that, or are you saying that I should be banned for being honest and tossing the politically correct nonsense out the window and speaking from my heart? "Benefit of the doubt" has a time limit - a short life expectancy in the business world. Nobody has time to wait around for others to get their act together - have your act together prior to doing business - don't allow your lack of proper planning slow me or anybody else down. That's reality. In my world I would have tossed them after day #5. This is amateurish - and now I can clearly see how all of Kevin's Trudeau's past business ventures have failed. If pointing that out irritates you - or causes you to ask the moderators to ban me because Deno Andrews has associated himself with this mess - all I can tell you is that in the real world - my point of view will float, and the excuses that Eydie received wouldn't buy you a Happy Meal.
 
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