Do you like having an audience?

Do you like to be watched?

  • Yes

    Votes: 21 65.6%

  • No

    Votes: 11 34.4%
  • Total voters
    32
D

Drater

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A friend and I were talking last night about phobias, and we both agreed that we're afraid of people, but on opposite sides of the fence.

I hate dealing with individuals, but groups don't bother me. I'd much rather give a (well-prepared) presentation to a large audience than I would make impromptu conversation with someone one-on-one.

She, on the other hand, feels the reverse. One-on-one is fine for her, but she hates groups of people.

Because of the alcohol involved we didn't delve too deep into the "why".

And this led us to playing pool in front of an audience. It doesn't bother me if people watch while I'm playing/gambling/whatever. In fact, I kinda like it.

She hates it. Doubly so because she's a chick and is concerned about people looking down her shirt and/or staring at her ass. (I tried to tell her that people are checking her out whether she's playing pool or not, but that didn't help).

Anyways, what about the rest of the world? Do you mind an audience when playing pool?
 
When I was younger and stationed at Ft Benning Ga. I was dating a local girl....Her g/f watched once....I kinda liked it....It was like I was a movie star for 45 seconds :grin:

Oh yea...there was alcohol involved too....man I was drunk that night
 
During a match I don't mind. If I'm practicing I would appreciate it if people minded their business. I don't like it when someone sits and watches me practice.
 
I don't care how many people watch me PLAY POOL (nice ftgokie). I tend to shoot better if I respect the people in the audience too, which is nice :)
 
I can go either way with respect to an audience. I do prefer an audience, however, when I am doing trick shot competitions, especially against players of the caliber of Mary Avina.
 
Hierovision said:
I don't care how many people watch me PLAY POOL (nice ftgokie). I tend to shoot better if I respect the people in the audience too, which is nice :)
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OOps, my bad:o

An audience does not bother me when playing pool...Heck, I get scared enough on my own when I am shooting the money ball....
 
NewStroke said:
I can go either way with respect to an audience. I do prefer an audience, however, when I am doing trick shot competitions, especially against players of the caliber of Mary Avina.
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I forgot to mention, I love the crowd chanting "Mary...Mary...Mary". It almost feels Springer like :).
 
Cameron Smith said:
During a match I don't mind. If I'm practicing I would appreciate it if people minded their business. I don't like it when someone sits and watches me practice.
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Good point Cameron. I'm not a big fan of onlookers while I'm working alone. When I do go out to practice (hardly ever nowadays), I try to get to the room as early as possible to minimize the number of eyes.

eric
 
I've played before large attentive audiences and there is no better feeling in the world, especially when I played to my full potential. It's a high, I can't explain.

I've also played before crowds that seemed to care less about me or other players playing before them. They were often distracted by WHOFFING that was going on in other parts of the room. I hated playing under these conditions.

I can't answer the pool. I have mixed feelings on the subject.
 
As I'm still new to competitive pool-playing, I'm a bit nervous on occasion. It's funny, sometimes it doesn't bother me, while other nights I can notice it. I've competed in other things enough to recognize it, and realize that if I'm gonna continue to do this, I had better be able to thrive on it eventually.

Someday.
 
NewStroke said:
I forgot to mention, I love the crowd chanting "Mary...Mary...Mary". It almost feels Springer like :).
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NewStroke, has anyone ever told you that your picture looks like a monkey? :wink:

There is a girl here in my office that actually resembles your picture....funny how things like that work out.

Id put my money on Mary anytime she does trickshots against you....She is touring with all the great trick shot artist I hear...and they are making a movie about her life as a Trick Shot Star...Yea, you just wait......her autobiography is coming to a bookstore near you!
 
I generally don't mind in either case (practicing or competition). If anyone except my wife is watching me during competition, I tend to play better... :p
 
An Audience

Don't see the audiences like I use to experience at Burke's steakhouse here in Wichita. On Thursday through Saturday nights, you could be playing in front of 50-80 people (separate room with booths around the only bar Pool table in the back). People came in to eat and watch the good Pool going on in the back room.

In 48 years of playing, I never experienced anything like I did when I was playing Jr. Brown a $1,000 set (race to 11), the score was 10-9 with me ahead, and the 9 was on the foot rail and cue was a little past the side pocket. The bank, I thought was not on, because of the 9 being frozen to the rail. The room was packed full, people standing even watching, a smoky haze, background chatter, and the Pool table light the only one on in the room. Some guys shhhed the crowd to where you could hear a pin drop.

There was a lot of sidebetting going on anywhere from $50 to $400.

I looked over the shot, thought the bank would double kiss, so I opted to kick the 9 in. I went in back of the shot, calculated the bank for the cue ball as best as I could, went around, took a deep breath and let it out, got down on the shot, shot straight center high english, and shot the kick shot. Seemed like the cue ball paused for a second or two, and I watched as the cue ball hit the 9 ball and the rail at the same time, and the 9 rolled straight into the corner pocket. I couldn't have cut the ball any better.

As soon as the 9 went in, a roar erupted from the audience, lots of cheering and whooping and hollaring, it was like the whole place went crazy. I was just thankful because if I had missed it and Jr. got the 9, he would have been breaking in a hill-to-hill situation.

That was as close to winning a Super Bowl as I will ever get, but I will never never forget it.

Yeah, I kind of like an audience.
 
Drater said:
A friend and I were talking last night about phobias, and we both agreed that we're afraid of people, but on opposite sides of the fence.

I hate dealing with individuals, but groups don't bother me. I'd much rather give a (well-prepared) presentation to a large audience than I would make impromptu conversation with someone one-on-one.

She, on the other hand, feels the reverse. One-on-one is fine for her, but she hates groups of people.

Because of the alcohol involved we didn't delve too deep into the "why".

And this led us to playing pool in front of an audience. It doesn't bother me if people watch while I'm playing/gambling/whatever. In fact, I kinda like it.

She hates it. Doubly so because she's a chick and is concerned about people looking down her shirt and/or staring at her ass. (I tried to tell her that people are checking her out whether she's playing pool or not, but that didn't help).

Anyways, what about the rest of the world? Do you mind an audience when playing pool?
Click to expand...


Dan't care who is watching when I'm playing a match.

Hate any eyeballing when I'm practicing.

Someone once told me: Practicing pool is a little like masturbation. It feels good while you're doing it, but you don't necessarily want anyone watching.

Lou Figueroa
 
I think that almost everyone likes to have an audience. Whether they are playing pool, a round of golf, or in a school play. It's the reward for all the hard work.
 
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