Things people don't like about Pool Halls

Druid

Druid

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I see a lot of talk has been going on about what has changed externally to the Pool Room in our culture today that's impacted participation negatively (video games, smoking bans, bad economy, etc.)

But when I think about things going on inside the Pool Room that's made me not want to return, the list would include:

1) Pool Rooms that keep some "Premium" tables for the owners friends and "special" clientele. Excuse me that I'm not a famous pool player or friends with the owner. I'm not cool enough and my money isn't good enough to play on your special table? Then I'm probably not coming back.

2) Arrogant staff that spends their time socializing and playing pool, and treating me like a second class citizen when I interrupt them to get me a candy bar. Pausing your conversation with your buddy while you ring me up would be appreciated. Keeping someone behind the counter at all times is a nice thing.

3) Gangsters/punks/druggies. Pool Halls who cater to these types, you know who you are. I don't want to feel like I am taking a chance getting into a fight, or getting my car messed with at the Pool Hall. Keep them out of your Pool Halls.

4) Price. If I end up paying over $50 for a couple hours of pool + some beers & nachos, there's a good chance I won't be back very often if ever. (Can think of two Halls around Chicago like this... one just went out of Business)

5) No Pro Shop or Cue Services.

I'm sure I can think of more... anybody else have some ideas of what some Pool Halls do wrong?
 
Druid said:
I see a lot of talk has been going on about what has changed externally to the Pool Room in our culture today that's impacted participation negatively (video games, smoking bans, bad economy, etc.)

But when I think about things going on inside the Pool Room that's made me not want to return, the list would include:

1) Pool Rooms that keep some "Premium" tables for the owners friends and "special" clientele. Excuse me that I'm not a famous pool player or friends with the owner. I'm not cool enough and my money isn't good enough to play on your special table? Then I'm probably not coming back.

2) Arrogant staff that spends their time socializing and playing pool, and treating me like a second class citizen when I interrupt them to get me a candy bar. Pausing your conversation with your buddy while you ring me up would be appreciated. Keeping someone behind the counter at all times is a nice thing.

3) Gangsters/punks/druggies. Pool Halls who cater to these types, you know who you are. I don't want to feel like I am taking a chance getting into a fight, or getting my car messed with at the Pool Hall. Keep them out of your Pool Halls.

4) Price. If I end up paying over $50 for a couple hours of pool + some beers & nachos, there's a good chance I won't be back very often if ever. (Can think of two Halls around Chicago like this... one just went out of Business)

5) No Pro Shop or Cue Services.

I'm sure I can think of more... anybody else have some ideas of what some Pool Halls do wrong?
Click to expand...

i dont go into pool rooms anymore because of one thing.... the people inside them. not sure how to cure this problem.
 
Druid- I agree with everything you said except #1. Why can' the owner keep special tables for "the regulars"? It is a different story if you have to wait for a table while those sit empty, then you have a gripe. But I used to have two tables I would give out to bangers last. They were reserved for the guys that understood and appreciated the game. When you think of it, it really ties in with your point #2. You want to be treated special. If you are a regular customer that makes it into that special status you have earned it. You are a guy that appreciates the game and understands it.

Bob
 
greedy room owners

that one says a lot
I understand that the owners are there to make money, but i think being greedy will only hurt you in the long run.
I've seen businesses go down hill because of a greedy owner, of course there were other factors that tied in with that.
One of the most successful rooms here is run by 2 humble gentlemen, who are interested in making money, but not in being greedy and scaring away customers.

i also thing ergonomics (for lack of a better word) of the pool room are very important.
a room here I used to frequent was sort of split down the middle of the clientel, but no divider, on one side, you had 9 valleys and 3 gold crowns, with video games in the corner, 1 mens room, 1 ladies room and a juke box, so the music was much louder on this end. the non-pool player types, bangers and younger kids would frequent this end, the 3 gold crowns got little play and when they did, it was your average joe usually knocking around 8b with a friend.
the OTHER end had 10 valleys (2 covered up with wood and plastic to make tables for dart players)
1 gold crown, by the bar, 2 mens and 2 womens restrooms, 3 poker tables and several dart boards. This side of the room would be frequented by league players, gamblers and occasionally the average joe, who didnt know about the unsaid room split.
im not sure how dart players are in other areas, but they usually dont get along well with avid pool players, its sort of a lack of respect thing, the whole 'im not in your way' when youre down shooting and what have you.
so when they pack in a dart crowd, theyre loud, rowdy, drunk and rude. this affects pool players, but it WOULDNT necessarily affect the bangers and kids on the other end.
so we suggested to the owner to move the gold crowns to the player end and move the dart players to the banger end, its closer to the bar and everything, so the dart players could get beer and never have to come near the players.
not to mention, youd have more business on your gold crowns, rather than having them put on the loud, obnoxious end of the room.

the owner wouldnt hear any of it.

now of course, you could try to get the players to switch sides, but the music was louder, there was 1 less bathroom, there were games (including one of those damned punching bag games) and ultimately, it was just that way for so long, it would have taken a LOT to get both groups of players to move.

this room is still in business and still doing well, but it could be doing EVEN BETTER with small changes like this.
 
If a pool room is going to serve alcoholic beverages, I would like a nice selection of non-alcoholic beverages for those who don't drink. Fresh coffee, smoothies, juice, hot chocolate, anything like that would be nice.

A diversified menu of food items. Most pool rooms serve blood mud-type food, fried cheese sticks, French fries, fried this, fried that. Homemade soup, daily specials, fresh sandwiches, healthy alternatives to those watching their weight would be welcome.

I never thought I'd say this, but I cannot stand cigarette smoke-filled pool rooms. It makes the hairs in my nose stand up, and after a while, I get sick. Even when I was smoking, I would sometimes get sick from pool rooms with cigarette smoke. Those smoke-eaters don't catch it all.

Friendly staff. I want to feel like I'm walking into a clubhouse where I am welcome. I don't want some snooty staffperson act as if they're doing me a favor by getting me something to drink or eat. I like to spend my money where I am appreciated and welcome.

I don't enjoy pitbull staff people who get all bent out of shape if there is gambling going on. Sure, the action can be handled discreetly, and it should, but some staff people act like they're going to beat you up if you pass a sawbuck to another while engaged in action. A friendly warning can suffice and is accepted much better than the pitbull personalities that I have seen over the years. I think sometimes people who work behind the counter think that they're "the authority" and like to show who's boss by shoving their weight around in an unpleasant manner.

Rick M., a staffperson at the old Bill and Billie's near Annapolis, MD -- (can't remember how to spell his last name) -- came up to me one time and gave me a glass thingie to rub the dents out of shafts. He wanted us to have it. He went out of his way to give it to us as a gift. I have never forgotten it. Being nice goes a long way.

Comfortable seating. I don't want to sit on a tree stump and sweat an all-night one pocket match. I'd like to be comfortable. Also, having enough seating near tables where you can sweat the action is also good.

Well, I could probably think of a couple dozen more, but I'll end it there. :p
 
that damn punching bag machine . . . .

Silvr Rcr ,I know that sound is annoying , but to the room owner it's the sound of angels singing from the heavens .
EVERY punch=$1
if you hear that machine CONSTANTLY , it's making $60-$100 PER HOUR , or about the same as 8-14 pool tables @ $7.50/hr each . . . .and costing a tiny fraction in square footage .
Get a group of testosterone-laden guys around it , and each one of them put $20 in it before they know what happened . Very few other machines eat customer money that fast . . . Gold Crowns sure don't . . . :cool:


p.s.- Pat Sajak called ~ something about selling you some vowels ? :confused:
 
Most of the pool players I know will complain about anything, here are a few:

  • Noise
  • Lighting
  • Table condition
  • I don't like Gold Crown's
  • I don't like Diamond
  • The balls are dirty
  • The cueball is too small
  • Food
  • Prices
  • Distance inbetween tables
  • The color of the felt
  • The flooring
  • Too much weight
  • Not enough weight
  • The good looking waitress is too slow
Personally, i'm just happy to be in a pool hall with so many closing.
But I can still find something to ***** about.
 
It was either last year or the year before, I went to a former NYC poolhall that seen its heyday as premier poolhall. They changed format, and catered to the club and VIP crowd. I went back a few times to try, in case my first visit was a fluke.

Lighting and Customer Service
On the main floor, every table had black cloth. When I asked if they could turn on the table lights, I was told there were no overhead lighting. Later I discovered they had tables with regular green cloth in the basement, so I went back. I was told the basement was closed until evening hours.

The first set of balls had two 9-balls, and was missing a 12 ball. I returned them, and the next set was a mixed of Centennials and Aramiths.

They advertised a lunch special, buy lunch and get 1 hour of pool for free. First two times were fine. The third time the desk charged me for table time. I pointed out that I bought the lunch special, then she made the excuse that it was for two or more people, but she'll giving me a break. No where was a sign posted about the two people per table minimum for the lunch special. I don't like it when people cover up a mistake with a lie.
 
Its hard for me to justify driving 30+ minutes to a pool hall that has decent equipment when I have a perfectly restored GC at home with a Diamond light fixture.

All the places closer to my house suck ass as far as the tables and equipment go.

They are just not maintained properly.

I deal with it when I play a tournament.
 
Some of the things I don't like in pool halls:
1. People who don't respect the equipment and slosh their beer onto the cloth.
2. People who smoke in the playing area. Some rooms have seperate sections with seperate ventilation and the same quality tables, some don't.
3. The loud music and dancing or live band that cranks up the volume. (Most often seen in pool rooms that really want to be everything that anyone could want, restaurant, nightclub, pool room etc. They try to do it all and do none of it well.
4. $8-10 per hour per player rooms (especially on off peak hours and days).
5. Loud obnoxious people who frequent rooms.
6. People that stand not only around their tables and run back and forth between them while you're trying to shoot but who also sit on your table and crowd you and won't move when you ask them nicely.
7. People with Negative energy/attitude
 
Druid said:
I see a lot of talk has been going on about what has changed externally to the Pool Room in our culture today that's impacted participation negatively (video games, smoking bans, bad economy, etc.)

But when I think about things going on inside the Pool Room that's made me not want to return, the list would include:

1) Pool Rooms that keep some "Premium" tables for the owners friends and "special" clientele. Excuse me that I'm not a famous pool player or friends with the owner. I'm not cool enough and my money isn't good enough to play on your special table? Then I'm probably not coming back.

2) Arrogant staff that spends their time socializing and playing pool, and treating me like a second class citizen when I interrupt them to get me a candy bar. Pausing your conversation with your buddy while you ring me up would be appreciated. Keeping someone behind the counter at all times is a nice thing.

3) Gangsters/punks/druggies. Pool Halls who cater to these types, you know who you are. I don't want to feel like I am taking a chance getting into a fight, or getting my car messed with at the Pool Hall. Keep them out of your Pool Halls.

4) Price. If I end up paying over $50 for a couple hours of pool + some beers & nachos, there's a good chance I won't be back very often if ever. (Can think of two Halls around Chicago like this... one just went out of Business)

5) No Pro Shop or Cue Services.

I'm sure I can think of more... anybody else have some ideas of what some Pool Halls do wrong?
Click to expand...



I like your list, and honestly think we have NO POOL ROOMS in Phoenix, like the Old Pool Rooms I was around as a kid in NYC, Miami, and Southern California.

The OLD TIME POOL ROOMS were about Pool, NOT SELLING BOOZE, if you were lucky they did have REHEAT ABLE HOT DOG IN CELLOPHANE, and A Silver Box to Reheat the Cellophane Wrapped Hot Dogs, and those places do not exist any longer.
 
I like just about all pool rooms right now, regardless of the gripes mentioned in this thread. I live in an area where I have to drive 100 miles to play on a 9 footer, so I'm usually stuck playing on shitty bar tables (in bars) when I play...

You guys think you have it bad? :rolleyes:


(My ass is twitching...you people make my ass twitch)
 
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JAM said:
If a pool room is going to serve alcoholic beverages, I would like a nice selection of non-alcoholic beverages for those who don't drink. Fresh coffee, smoothies, juice, hot chocolate, anything like that would be nice.
Click to expand...

It's hard to justify a large selection of non-alcoholic beverages simply because there's a bar. Some of your suggestions make perfect sense. Fresh coffee and hot chocolate are easy to have and I cannot think of a good excuse not to have them. On the otherhand, smoothies require a blender which can be distracting for pool players and fresh juice can be expensive especially if it's not being sold for alcoholic beverages.


JAM said:
A diversified menu of food items. Most pool rooms serve blood mud-type food, fried cheese sticks, French fries, fried this, fried that. Homemade soup, daily specials, fresh sandwiches, healthy alternatives to those watching their weight would be welcome.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree with you more. At Society Billiards, it's amazing to see which foods end up being popular and the only way to sift that out is by mixing it up.


JAM said:
I never thought I'd say this, but I cannot stand cigarette smoke-filled pool rooms. It makes the hairs in my nose stand up, and after a while, I get sick. Even when I was smoking, I would sometimes get sick from pool rooms with cigarette smoke. Those smoke-eaters don't catch it all.
Click to expand...

In 2003, NYC went non-smoking and I thought it would be the death of pool. It's proven to have no impact whatsoever and I'm actually a bit surprised that there are states that continue to allow smoking in poolrooms.

JAM said:
Friendly staff. I want to feel like I'm walking into a clubhouse where I am welcome. I don't want some snooty staffperson act as if they're doing me a favor by getting me something to drink or eat. I like to spend my money where I am appreciated and welcome.
Click to expand...

This point you raise is a sticky issue for most poolrooms and there's always going to be conflict here. The staff wants to be available for the bangers. Bangers drink and tip a lot. On the other hand, poolroom owners are well aware of the importance of regulars. It's a juggling act that will never be mastered. Occasionally, rooms will appear to get it right but that will only be for a a short while.

JAM said:
I don't enjoy pitbull staff people who get all bent out of shape if there is gambling going on. Sure, the action can be handled discreetly, and it should, but some staff people act like they're going to beat you up if you pass a sawbuck to another while engaged in action. A friendly warning can suffice and is accepted much better than the pitbull personalities that I have seen over the years. I think sometimes people who work behind the counter think that they're "the authority" and like to show who's boss by shoving their weight around in an unpleasant manner.
Click to expand...

A gapper is always a great way to smooth things over. Just like it's customary to tip a dealer at a casino, tipping the staff after a big win will work in your favor. You shouldn't feel obligated to do it every time - just enough for them to know it's there. As a player, the occasional tip helps me create a bubble around my table - the staff gets super mindful if they know there's money to be had.


JAM said:
Comfortable seating. I don't want to sit on a tree stump and sweat an all-night one pocket match. I'd like to be comfortable. Also, having enough seating near tables where you can sweat the action is also good.
Click to expand...

Agreed. This is one of the greatest mistakes by poolrooms. People should never be looking for a seat EVER. It's absurd to think people are going to spend hours in your room if they can't sit down comfortably.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:

I like your list, and honestly think we have NO POOL ROOMS in Phoenix, like the Old Pool Rooms I was around as a kid in NYC, Miami, and Southern California.

The OLD TIME POOL ROOMS were about Pool, NOT SELLING BOOZE, if you were lucky they did have REHEAT ABLE HOT DOG IN CELLOPHANE, and A Silver Box to Reheat the Cellophane Wrapped Hot Dogs, and those places do not exist any longer.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you used to frequent Chelsea Billiards!
 
Ok, I'm gonna get flamed, but screw it....what's wrong with the poolhalls I've visited is their cheapass clientele! Sure, they can complain about the tables not being maintained very well, and that the place has to have video games and loud music to draw in non-players (well, bangers for lack of a better term). Why is that? What do most of the complaints boil down to? Players *****ing that anything over a 10 dollar ALL DAY rate is outrageous! Oh, they may be able to bet for hundreds a set, but there's no way they can pay CRAZY table time rates! :rolleyes: It's laughable really.

You want to play in an establishment that caters to the needs (all of them) that you want? PAY for it.....MOST won't, and the business will certainly go under! It's a business....golfers will shell out the cash for a pricey course if it's worth it. If they are overcharging for what they offer, they lower the price, or they too will be out of business. As with most things, you get what you pay for....the nicer things cost more, so don't expect a nice room with all the amenities to charge the same table time rates as the run down room in the less than desirable part of town.
 
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