A question for the pros.

[Jodacus]

Let me start off by saying I'm a B- player.

I have also been to a lot of major pool events
as a spectator. DCC, SBE, Tunica, etc...

Here is a thought I've had for a long time
about a way to help breath a little more life
into pool.

For the most part the pros a very approachable
for the common folk. I applaud them for this.

What if a pro would donate a few hours a day,
at major events, to helping the rest of us. Imagine
J A on a table, in the public areas, answering
questions and demonstrating on a Brunswick or
Diamond table.

JA for one hour then SVB the next hour, JJ the third
and the Lion on the fourth. Let the questioners stand
line to ask questions. If the pro would bring the questioner
to the table for clarification of the question or the answer,
even better.

IMO the pros willing to do this would develop fans in direct
proportion to the number of hours they spent helping others.

I know this because this is exactly what happens at football
and baseball camps where well known pros show up to
help.

Would this work? Why? Why not?

Joe

 

[RBC]

Very well put, Joe!

You are absolutely right in that the missing link in the US Pro Pool scene is Fans.

We just don't have enough of them to generate the interest of advertisers.


Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com

 

[bdorman]

It's a great idea in theory...but difficult to execute because the pros are competing in an event while the fans are there. Sure, baseball players do it at BB camp, but not during the World Series.

 

[Jodacus]

It's a great idea in theory...but difficult to execute because the pros are competing in an event while the fans are there. Sure, baseball players do it at BB camp, but not during the World Series.

True enough and I would not want them to sacrifice
anything just to pass out free advice. Still, there is time
before, during and after elimination.

It seems to me they are missing a huge opportunity here
to generate an individual fan base and maybe even create a
new player.

Joe

 

[Pidge]

Good idea.

They do something similar in snooker at the World Championships. The hosts of the show and commentators - none other than Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Parrott and Ken Doherty once done filming match discussions will go to the table behind where they film. The table always has a crowd of fans around it because they have a little competition going on. Set up 10 balls, break and try pocket the remaining balls in 1 minute. Its free and open to the public so the crowds get big with people just wanting to get on TV playing snooker. After filming the ex-pros mingle with the crowd and eventually it ends in some kind of Q&A and the ex-pros showing what's asked of them on the table. If they spot someone with real promise they will go into real detail of what they could fix fundamentally and for those who don't shoot so good they keep it simple. Either way they teach players for free, without being forced to. Last year one of them even handed a young kid his instructors number and said he'd get 10 lessons for free.

In pool, and snooker for that matter players won't do anything like this in the middle of a big tournament. At smaller ones though the players' sponsors could give them a little gentle persuation to go out and mingle with the fans and show them a thing or two for a couple of hours. Even if it was just to plug their sponsors every 10 minutes it would be great to see.

 

[Mark Griffin]

For what it is worth. . . . .


CSI will be havign invitational events in July 2014.
All participants will be available for free group lessons and Q & A sessions.

This is good for our 6,000+ amateurs - and good for the players because they get to create fans.

In many situations it might be difficult to happen - but we are structuring our event to make it very pleasant and an expected behavior.

Mark Griffin

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Either way they teach players for free, without being forced to.

Maybe so, but they're paid handsomely by the beeb for their time. Pool players aren't in the same boat.

As for what pros can do for the game, they can stop spending two days deliberating over a routine shot, stop staring at the rack for half an hour, stop endlessly chalking their cues, stop bending over then getting up again and shaking their heads, and start getting the hell on with it whilst the few remaining spectators are still breathing.

 

[bdorman]

Maybe so, but they're paid handsomely by the beeb for their time. Pool players aren't in the same boat.

As for what pros can do for the game, they can stop spending two days deliberating over a routine shot, stop staring at the rack for half an hour, stop endlessly chalking their cues, stop bending over then getting up again and shaking their heads, and start getting the hell on with it whilst the few remaining spectators are still breathing.

Good ideas, but I still need them to rack and re-rack the balls for 30 minutes. Gotta eat dinner.

 

[JTs cuerepair]

Most do it already

Most do it already in the form of paid lessons and by selling videos, Good luck if you think most will do it for nothing, Remember this is how they make there living.

 

[macguy]

Let me start off by saying I'm a B- player.

I have also been to a lot of major pool events
as a spectator. DCC, SBE, Tunica, etc...

Here is a thought I've had for a long time
about a way to help breath a little more life
into pool.

For the most part the pros a very approachable
for the common folk. I applaud them for this.

What if a pro would donate a few hours a day,
at major events, to helping the rest of us. Imagine
J A on a table, in the public areas, answering
questions and demonstrating on a Brunswick or
Diamond table.

JA for one hour then SVB the next hour, JJ the third
and the Lion on the fourth. Let the questioners stand
line to ask questions. If the pro would bring the questioner
to the table for clarification of the question or the answer,
even better.

IMO the pros willing to do this would develop fans in direct
proportion to the number of hours they spent helping others.

I know this because this is exactly what happens at football
and baseball camps where well known pros show up to
help.

Would this work? Why? Why not?

Joe

Mike Sigel was good for something like that. I saw him a number of times practicing and people would quietly gather to watch. In no time at all he was interacting with them, He would explain what he is doing or why he played a shot a certain way. He seemed to like it it was like a free clinic.
Believe it or not, Earl is the same way. You can ask him anything. I think they both have such big egos they can't wait to show how smart they are and love the sound of their own voices. Earl is only nuts when he is competing, the rest of th time he is a really nice guy..

 

[CJ Wiley]

I believe the Pro Players should choose ONE CHARITY and raise money every tournament

Let me start off by saying I'm a B- player.

I have also been to a lot of major pool events
as a spectator. DCC, SBE, Tunica, etc...

Here is a thought I've had for a long time
about a way to help breath a little more life
into pool.

For the most part the pros a very approachable
for the common folk. I applaud them for this.

What if a pro would donate a few hours a day,
at major events, to helping the rest of us. Imagine
J A on a table, in the public areas, answering
questions and demonstrating on a Brunswick or
Diamond table.

JA for one hour then SVB the next hour, JJ the third
and the Lion on the fourth. Let the questioners stand
line to ask questions. If the pro would bring the questioner
to the table for clarification of the question or the answer,
even better.

IMO the pros willing to do this would develop fans in direct
proportion to the number of hours they spent helping others.

I know this because this is exactly what happens at football
and baseball camps where well known pros show up to
help.

Would this work? Why? Why not?

Joe

You are bringing up some very good points, Joe.

We used to do these free clinics and I still do them in my local area here in Ft. Worth. We did one two months ago at WITTENS and I'm open to do as many as needed if it will help the game.

Giving away time and effort is the most rewarding thing a human can do.....and sends out a wave of good "karma," "positive energy," or Blessings (whatever someone chooses to call them).....it's certainly one of the missing links to the community and all major sports participate in charitable events.


Anther thing we did regularly was charity events at Pro Tournaments.....supporting charities opens many doors and it's just a great WIN/WIN scenario.

I believe the Pro Players should choose ONE CHARITY and try to raise some kind of record amount for them. When we had the MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE here in Dallas we did a charity fund raiser for TONY HILL's Cancer Charity and raised money.

We also raised over $30,000 in Dallas for the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital with the DJs for the top radio talk shows (CLEAR CHANNEL STATIONS)......they gave us a tour of the children's hospital in Dallas and it was something I'll always remember.....what an enormous facility doing awesome things for children that need artificial limbs.

 

[Island Drive]

Let me start off by saying I'm a B- player.

I have also been to a lot of major pool events
as a spectator. DCC, SBE, Tunica, etc...

Here is a thought I've had for a long time
about a way to help breath a little more life
into pool.

For the most part the pros a very approachable
for the common folk. I applaud them for this.

What if a pro would donate a few hours a day,
at major events, to helping the rest of us. Imagine
J A on a table, in the public areas, answering
questions and demonstrating on a Brunswick or
Diamond table.

JA for one hour then SVB the next hour, JJ the third
and the Lion on the fourth. Let the questioners stand
line to ask questions. If the pro would bring the questioner
to the table for clarification of the question or the answer,
even better.

IMO the pros willing to do this would develop fans in direct
proportion to the number of hours they spent helping others.

I know this because this is exactly what happens at football
and baseball camps where well known pros show up to
help.

Would this work? Why? Why not?

Joe

Joe, your perspectives are ''refreshing''....

Baseball and pool are different, but people, human nature, interaction, concern of others and new relationships are a constant, across the board.

One of the great hidden qualities of most all pro pool players is...
their lifestyle gives them the ability to interact COMFORTABLY, with ALL types of personalities, many are Excellent listeners. Many are Natural born salesmen.