Would this work ?

peteypooldude

peteypooldude

I see Edges
Silver Member
If you could present players training to play for big stakes on TV commercials(reality style)and the stake horses talking about taking a big loss if they lose. The players weighing in on their chances to take down the big score. It seems to me if there is something to anticipate then people would be interested in it for the storyline if nothing else. I think the gambling and hustling side of the game has always been what intrigued people to begin with. I obviously couldn't pull it off but maybe someone else can.
It wouldnt necessarily even have to be champion players as long as the risk and story is there. It just seems possible
 
No offense, but I don't like it.

Could it make money? Probably so. Just look at what is on television & is 'successful'. People will watch just about anything & sponsers will pay for whatever people will watch.

Would it be good for the game? That is why I don't like it. The public's image of the game is already that it is 'seedy'. Showing them the insides of 'gambling' with backers etc, would not be good for the game IMHO.

I would rather see a 'real' reality show maybe showing a young gun or any struggling pro getting ready for a big tournament. Maybe two guys or gals that are 'trainig together & wind up in different ends of the draw & may have to meet up.

Just my thought on it.

But to answer you question, yes it could work. But to what end?

Regards,
 
I like the overall concept, Petey. I've been trying to come up with a different format for a new video, too. Something that shows more of the players and little details of playing pool. The stuff we take for granted. I'm personally not planning on a big movie or anything, but I'm trying to expand my content and creativity to show more of "the game" and less of the technical stuff.

My current project is kind of like a little microcosm of your idea. I'm planning on following a couple of players through a tournament, and putting together a little storyline. From warming up, to playing matches, taking breaks, to getting knocked out (or winning!). I'll probably also do some narration, just to see how it all comes together.

I have no idea how it will turn out, or even if it will be worth watching, but I'm gonna try it anyway.

-Blake
 
ENGLISH! said:
No offense, but I don't like it.

Could it make money? Probably so. Just look at what is on television & is 'successful'. People will watch just about anything & sponsers will pay for whatever people will watch.

Would it be good for the game? That is why I don't like it. The public's image of the game is already that it is 'seedy'. Showing them the insides of 'gambling' with backers etc, would not be good for the game IMHO.

I would rather see a 'real' reality show maybe showing a young gun or any struggling pro getting ready for a big tournament. Maybe two guys or gals that are 'trainig together & wind up in different ends of the draw & may have to meet up.

Just my thought on it.

But to answer you question, yes it could work. But to what end?

Regards,
Click to expand...

I know it's kind of working against a clean image but I don't think the clean image of pool would appeal to the public.
I like your spin on it though I think the back room workings of a match is sometimes the best part of it
 
I guess someone could show both sides of it rather than just a few guys getting money together and going bust or taking down the cheese.
A night out gambling can definitely be interesting though
 
Who will pay for the commercial airtime? A 30 second commercial is not cheap, so if you are going to buy ad time you generally hope to make money. It sounds like the advertising money for these commercial spots will have to come from the promoter of the event. The broadcaster such as ESPN or whatever will not air a commercial unless someone buys the advertising slot. A broadcaster will air a promo of said event if its in their best interests, and by that I mean that said event is making the broadcaster a lot of money because advertisers have already booked commercial slots. Advertisers will not invest in commercial airtime slots unless the said event is getting viewership. In TV world that means it is drawing enough viewership in the ratings in the key demographics.
 
I'm not sure I like it, but I do think it would sell. The thing is, Joe Sixpack isn't interested in the finer points of the game or the challenge of some tournament they've never heard of. It's always the underbelly of the pool world (the gambling, the desperation, the "dark art" of the hustle) that sells. Name one pool movie or book that doesn't glorify it...you really can't.

I've long thought a reality show like UFC, with teams of shortstops being coached by HOF players could sell...but a more successful show would probably be something like "Playing Off the Rail", a show about a player and his backer going cross country playing money matches and culminating with a run at the U.S. Open. A better one would be following Earl Strickland around for 6 months...the American public wouldn't know what hit 'em. I doubt Earl would do it, though, he'd probably feel (rightly) that he was being made sport of.
 
What about both?

Sports part * young gun/seasoned Pro/returning Pro getting ready for a tournament

Gambling part * all Petey wrote

And then the two get in the match against each other in some way - sports vs gambler :)
 
vapoolplayer said:
We already know the dirty image of pool doesn't appeal to the public.....
Click to expand...

The woofing and bullshit is what made the game interesting in the 1st place
It wasn't watching the balls roll around
The public could care less about watching 2 preps
sitting quietly and respectfully playing a game

Late edit.. Why do you think 2 of the greatest pool movies ever were named
The Hustler and Color of money? That's what people want to see
Minnosota Fats was loud and talked about gambling... Public loved him
 
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peteypooldude said:
If you could present players training to play for big stakes on TV commercials(reality style)and the stake horses talking about taking a big loss if they lose. The players weighing in on their chances to take down the big score. It seems to me if there is something to anticipate then people would be interested in it for the storyline if nothing else. I think the gambling and hustling side of the game has always been what intrigued people to begin with. I obviously couldn't pull it off but maybe someone else can.
It wouldnt necessarily even have to be champion players as long as the risk and story is there. It just seems possible
Click to expand...


Of course it would a work..ha ha now funding it is another story..


vapoolplayer said:
Unfortunately, pool players don't really live interesting lives. Their day consists of sleep, pool, arguing over games, and more sleep.

Also, even in games for large amounts of money......there's really no excitement. How exciting was it to watch Alex and Scott play? Interesting to watch, but no real excitement, at least in the sense of what a viewer would consider exciting.

Even with the magic of tv editing to make things look more intense than they really are, you still have to resort to marketing people playing pool to an audience that will very likely be bored watching pool.

In things like UFC reality shows, you eventually have two people physically fighting one another........in things like poker, you have average joes winning millions or the story of a doctor or university professor who quit their job to gamble.

What do you have in pool? Typically under educated, not so healthy looking, degenerates who end up arguing over how to match up..... huge difference, and would likely not sell very well.
Click to expand...

Ha ha if u think there is not an interesting side to it u may need to hit the road with me it Mikey frost..ha ha
 
Maybe getting Earl involved as an interviewer & a commentator would spice things up. Some cursing, BS, & flat out honesty mixed in can't hurt ratings.

Just a thought that hit me.
 
Most successful shows about sports make it about the characters. You gotta get the right people to work their magic turning normal people into 'characters' (the quiet intense gambler, the happy-go-lucky short guy, the flipout nutjob, etc.). Then it won't matter if they're playing 8b/9b/10b/bonus ball. It won't matter even if it's tournaments or money matches.

Though I like the odds better of following around a few road players and watching them try to pull the wool over some fish's eyes. And occasionally biting off more than they can chew.
 
The only way I see pool getting TV airtime anytime soon is if the promoter pays the broadcaster to air the event on a OTO (One Time Only) special basis. In that case the broadcaster wont care what the ratings are on that program because they already got paid. Selling advertising time slots is how the Broadcasters make their money. They will NEVER put on a show that doesn't appeal to advertisers that buy commercial airtime.

I think its time to forget about getting pool covered on TV and concentrate on getting and perfecting Pool in the internet via live streaming or available for download.
 
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