Should a pool hall give free table time to warm up before an event?
- Thread starter alstl
- Start date
Every event I've played in has open tables to warm up on.
Maybe an hour before the event only, only if ENTRY FEE is PAID.
We have FREE practice time prior to all our events.
The only requirement for the FREE practice time is to enter the tournament FIRST.
Can you believe that there are players that want to practice first to see if they want to enter?
I've had players gamble prior to the free practice time, clock out and pay up the table time, then go back and gamble during the free practice time (btw this is a big NO NO) and forget to ENTER the tournament.
They ask where is their name on the bracket. I tell them their name isn't on the brackets because they didn't enter the tournament.
The say they've been in the pool hall for 3+ hours. I tell them they had plenty of time to signup.
They say they didn't hear the announcement that the signups are closed.
I asked them why they didn't tell me they couldn't hear?
Then, after the brackets are filled out and the table assigments have been made and the announcements have been made, they ask if they can still sign up. I say NO, signups have been closed for 15 minutes.
Then I inform them that they owe another hour worth of time for the rented table.
That really gets them heated.
The only requirement for the FREE practice time is to enter the tournament FIRST.
Can you believe that there are players that want to practice first to see if they want to enter?
I've had players gamble prior to the free practice time, clock out and pay up the table time, then go back and gamble during the free practice time (btw this is a big NO NO) and forget to ENTER the tournament.
They ask where is their name on the bracket. I tell them their name isn't on the brackets because they didn't enter the tournament.
The say they've been in the pool hall for 3+ hours. I tell them they had plenty of time to signup.
They say they didn't hear the announcement that the signups are closed.
I asked them why they didn't tell me they couldn't hear?
Then, after the brackets are filled out and the table assigments have been made and the announcements have been made, they ask if they can still sign up. I say NO, signups have been closed for 15 minutes.
Then I inform them that they owe another hour worth of time for the rented table.
That really gets them heated.
in my experience:
They give it away in VA but I have seen it cost in NC!
They give it away in VA but I have seen it cost in NC!
It is always.. once you are out of the tournament, if you want to continue to play YOU MUST RENT A TABLE.
No exceptions.
No exceptions.
While I agree with you on a business level, I think that its somewhat cheap. I mean the player has already paid his entry fee plus the cost to get there, leaving him/her play a few extra hours is nice and he/she will remember it.
But I have seen room owners so cheap that they wanted the players to rent a table if they wanted to practice between matches while still playing in the tournament. I wish I could spit in their faces.
First time player(s) might get a break, but not the regulars. They regulars will expect the free table time all the time. Before and after a tournament.
"Cheap" that is a very insulting word.
Very few Pool rooms can match the added money Hard Times Billiards in Sacramento has posted in the last 12 years.
I don't know what your experience with pool rooms is, but I am willing to guess you haven't been to a 33 table room that has a separate 8 table tournament room. With stadium seating for 100 spectators.
"Cheap" that is a very insulting word.
Very few Pool rooms can match the added money Hard Times Billiards in Sacramento has posted in the last 12 years.
I don't know what your experience with pool rooms is, but I am willing to guess you haven't been to a 33 table room that has a separate 8 table tournament room. With stadium seating for 100 spectators.
You should open your own pool room. I would love to play in your place...for the short time it is in business. :wink:
Roger
Are the room owners charging a green fee? If not, do they get a cut of the tournament fees to cover table time?
Is it added money tournament, where the owner has to add his own money, because the registration fees don't cover the payout.
In order for a pool room to exist, it needs to make a profit for the owner to stay open. Otherwise, the owner will look at another line of business that has a better rate of return. A tournament with the conditions I described above will generate foot traffic, but leaves the owner with an upfront expense (loss of table time and added money) that he/she hopes to recoup before making a profit.
Is it added money tournament, where the owner has to add his own money, because the registration fees don't cover the payout.
In order for a pool room to exist, it needs to make a profit for the owner to stay open. Otherwise, the owner will look at another line of business that has a better rate of return. A tournament with the conditions I described above will generate foot traffic, but leaves the owner with an upfront expense (loss of table time and added money) that he/she hopes to recoup before making a profit.
I think a room owner should want to promote players taking the tournament seriously, and warming up before you play is a good idea. So yes, I think rooms should offer some warm-up time and charge a green fee or whatever that makes it right for the room.
Afterwards could go either way, imo. We have our Monday 9-ball tournament going on right now, and I'd say it's pretty generous.
$10 to enter. race to 3/2 100% paid out
free pizza buffet
tournament tables open for two hours before and all night afterward.
Right now a couple knocked-out guys are playing straight pool. Another pair is matching up at 9-ball
I gotta tell ya, it's worth $10 JUST for the pizza buffet. Mike's pizza crust is some of the best I've had anywhere...and that includes Chicago and NYC! When you add the luxury of the great equipment, a great sound system, cute waitresses, and Mike's own handicap system (Fargo ratings), this may be one of the best tournament offers in the entire country.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Pizza!!
Yeah! Mike puts on some great tournaments, and is always very accommodating to the players. I go there EVERY opportunity I have! I don't know if many other rooms could follow his example. It's great for his patrons.
Charlie
Yeah! Mike puts on some great tournaments, and is always very accommodating to the players. I go there EVERY opportunity I have! I don't know if many other rooms could follow his example. It's great for his patrons.
Charlie
I've never been to a place that didn't give you all the time you wanted to warm up for free.
IMO, 15 minutes of time to hit balls before a tournament is fine if every player gets a few minutes at the table. After all, it is warm up, not wear out time.
During the tournament, I like to have a table or 2 available to keeep in stroke on. Again, not to play rack after rack. . .
After your out, the clock should start. Now if you want to hit some shot you thought knocked you out 5 times, that could be free. . .
The key is "playing", before, during and after could be pay time. Warm up, stroke tune, quick aim check, should be covered.
Last, a room owner should have his/her priorities right. The tournament is kind of a loss leader to build player pools, and regular customers. They should have the place filled with appropriate wait staff for their money maker, which is the liquor sales. There focus of the night should be to keep the beer flowing and to create retuern customers. If you give a guy a cheap tip tool, cue rental, tip repair or some other cheap item, you might make a life long 2 hr a week customer. Then again, . . .
IMO, 15 minutes of time to hit balls before a tournament is fine if every player gets a few minutes at the table. After all, it is warm up, not wear out time.
During the tournament, I like to have a table or 2 available to keeep in stroke on. Again, not to play rack after rack. . .
After your out, the clock should start. Now if you want to hit some shot you thought knocked you out 5 times, that could be free. . .
The key is "playing", before, during and after could be pay time. Warm up, stroke tune, quick aim check, should be covered.
Last, a room owner should have his/her priorities right. The tournament is kind of a loss leader to build player pools, and regular customers. They should have the place filled with appropriate wait staff for their money maker, which is the liquor sales. There focus of the night should be to keep the beer flowing and to create retuern customers. If you give a guy a cheap tip tool, cue rental, tip repair or some other cheap item, you might make a life long 2 hr a week customer. Then again, . . .