Can someone help me understand the thought process behind these requests?

So you, being a new promoter to the pro side of pool, wouldn't of it made more sense to not schedule a tourney around the same dates as another? Beings that the Rum Runner has been going for far longer, and in some peoples words, more prestigious due to a harder field.

But, the bigger issue is that the payouts for either tourney flat out suck. First place should be a minimum $25,000 for these smaller tourneys. That way even the lower ranked pros could still make enough money to travel.

You pick and choose the problem. The lack of payouts or you scheduling a tourney on top of a tourney.

A minimum of 25k , what dream world are you living in,,, ,,


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kevin...I cannot speak to that. Only Kimberly knows that answer (once again, I am not sticking up for scheduling conflicts). That said, the Rum Runner event is on barboxes, and their event is on 9' tables. One is 600 miles from the other. Pick your event, and show up. I just think it's hysterical that some of these guys think they're so self-important that they should get a free ride. Who do they think they are...Keith McCready? Now I will go on record and say, imo, that if Keith wanted to play, he might be considered "eligible" for some kind of consideration, inasmuch as he is a true legend in the sport (albeit 'retired'), and always draws a huge crowd due to his 'exhuberant' personality. :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I am gonna give A100% consideration to the mccready's Thursday night entry, if he wants to get out*

*48 hr advance notice required, jam!
 
Good luck with your tourny. What advantage would you have by having any top pro at your event? Will it draw a bigger crowd if they are there? Will they put on a show or instructions? If you don't get value out of them why would you pay their expenses? The pros could put on a show everyday of your tourny and some instructional time as well to give value to them being there and for you to cover any cost.

Golf gets big money because people watch it and buy products. Golfers buy new clubs every year because the guys on tv have new ones and that is big money. Everyone knows who Tiger is outside the golf world and I'd say less then half know who SVB is in the pool world. It's hard to compare.

I hope your event is full and the best one this year.


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There are pros that would ask for airfare/lodging/appearance fess if this was the only tournament going that weekend.

And if they were involved in any other sport they would get it all in spades. Not saying the pool pros should get it, but I certainly don't see the problem with them asking for it or trying to market themselves.

Try and get Phil Michelson to show at your event and be ready for an endless list of demands made by his reps while he's out smiling and signing autographs for kids. What's wrong with that?
 
Yep...and when one buyer says to the dealer, "This is what dealer X offered me. What are you gonna do?", it's up to the dealer to meet or beat the deal, or tell 'em to POUND SAND! Happens every day 100 times in the car biz (this exact scenario just happened with a friend of mine, and two Toyota dealers). Definitely apples and oranges here though. There aren't pool tournament promoters standing on every corner with playing oppotunities.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Yeah i don't have any judgement of guys looking to pit competitive offerings against each other to their advantage.

Two dealers with driving distance of each other both offering the same make and model car are gonna get ground on by prospective buyers. "Who do you think you are?' is simple, they are the guy deciding what car to buy or what promotion to attend.
 
Cmon, the Rum runner conflict is a red herring to the original point.

There are pros that would ask for airfare/lodging/appearance fess if this was the only tournament going that weekend.

To answer the original question, greed, avarice and an over inflated sense of importance.

And that's the rub...

How many of the askers were already promised some financial consideration from the rum runner?

How many asked both hosts for a guarantee $ and will attend the better offer?
 
And if they were involved in any other sport they would get it all in spades. Not saying the pool pros should get it, but I certainly don't see the problem with them asking for it or trying to market themselves.

Try and get Phil Michelson to show at your event and be ready for an endless list of demands made by his reps while he's out smiling and signing autographs for kids. What's wrong with that?

You make a good point, I would counter with:

When pool gets to that level I will not begrudge them any of that. Reality is, it is not at that level and until it is, what better way to market yourself than to show up ?
 
I am asking because from a business standpoint it makes no sense to me. Why would promoters put the money up for the tournaments, pay players entry fees, and cover all their expenses to play in it? In my opinion you are stacking the deck against the players who actually did pay their own entry and expenses.

I would appreciate any insight/feedback.

To answer your original question it depends on how much of a draw that player is versus how much they are asking for. I would imagine some top draws would include Efren Reyes, Earl Strickland and SVB. They have many fans that would want to attend just to see them play.

It is reported Tiger Woods can get up to three million per appearance for non PGA tour events. He is the one the fans want to see. For these tournament to get the coverage they want they need the best player in the world to attend.
 
Lots of show up money has been paid to pool players over the years but also consider you are not being told the truth if the guy is isnt a big draw.

I know a tour director/Pro who refused to pay "Tour Fees" in the past because he felt he was a draw. They let him do it for a while too.


Pool players will try to hustle up/save what they can. It's just the way it is. They dont make much and many of them can't manage what they do make.
 
, what better way to market yourself than to show up ?

In this case I don't think the pros were debating whether to show or not, just deciding WHERE to show and Kimberly put herself and her even directly in that line of fire by scheduling in competition with another event.
 
I imagine the Pro Players think that they are Movie Stars that should receive appearance fees.

It has been a long time that these guys have been shooting themselves in the feet.
Hope they aren't using large caliber ammo as they will have to stump it around the tables.

Like Ray Poitras mentioned, when he asked the Pros if they would be willing to do a little extra for their expense money, they said NO.

Many are in the Has Been Dept now and soon, more to keep them company.

We already seen an example of what happens when you Pee Off one major promoter.


Comparing them to the Movie Industry, most of the people that pull off this type of action are not much better than C grade actors.

At least a B Grade actor will do just about anything to get a little exposure and claw their way to the top.

Maybe they won't learn their lesson until all or many of the tournaments will be Invitational and they ain't on the guest list.

If they think that the Promoters out there won't remember who they are, then they have another thought coming.
 
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kevin...and nothing wrong with telling them "NO, we can't afford to pay your expenses". Also these same guys are not Phil Mickleson. Know how much charity work Phil does on an annual basis? Lots. Know how much the majority of these players do ANY charity work? Little to zero! Before I get into hot water here, there are certainly some pro players that give back...but they're unfortunately in the minority.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

And if they were involved in any other sport they would get it all in spades. Not saying the pool pros should get it, but I certainly don't see the problem with them asking for it or trying to market themselves.

Try and get Phil Michelson to show at your event and be ready for an endless list of demands made by his reps while he's out smiling and signing autographs for kids. What's wrong with that?
 
In this case I don't think the pros were debating whether to show or not, just deciding WHERE to show and Kimberly put herself and her even directly in that line of fire by scheduling in competition with another event.

Been to the Rum Runner many times. I can count on one hand the top level pros I've seen there. It's really not an issue in this context.
 
Lots of show up money has been paid to pool players over the years but also consider you are not being told the truth if the guy is isnt a big draw.

I know a tour director/Pro who refused to pay "Tour Fees" in the past because he felt he was a draw. They let him do it for a while too.


Pool players will try to hustle up/save what they can. It's just the way it is. They dont make much and many of them can't manage what they do make.

Yeah they don't make much and they don't have sponsors picking up their expenses. You can't really blame them for scraping they ARE scraping.

Hell, if I'm having to buy a low-line car because I'm short of cash, I'm not going in there all embarrassed and laying down for the dealer program because I'm a mooch. I'm grinding exactly because the money comes dear to me. And god bless the dealer if he sets up right next to another low-line offering I'm going to grind them against each other.
 
I am not really sure why straight shot even care. I heard through facebook that they are already filled or close to being filled. Unless that was just trying to hype it up. I just hope that they don't hurt the Rum Runner event along the way.
 
Yeah they don't make much and they don't have sponsors picking up their expenses. You can't really blame them for scraping they ARE scraping.

Hell, if I'm having to buy a low-line car because I'm short of cash, I'm not going in there all embarrassed and laying down for the dealer program because I'm a mooch. I'm grinding exactly because the money comes dear to me. And god bless the dealer if he sets up right next to another low-line offering I'm going to grind them against each other.

Is that truculent?:D
 
SVB just turned 30 right? He has been playing that this same level for the last. 7-8 years or so. So starting at the age of 20, he probably saw how good he was becoming. So when I say that I know people who could compete with SVB, I'm being totally honest. It's you who is implying their age. I never said they were the same age as SVB. The people I'm talking about are in their 40's and 50's. They'll play pool whenever they get the free time to. Last time I saw one of the people I'm talking about gamble, he was giving up the break, and he still didn't miss a single shot in 9 games. He didn't miss. When was the last time you were gambling and didn't miss for 9 games in a row?

I have seen at least thee players in Buffalo do that (one is Dennis Hatch) and this is NOT a big market for pool by any means. There are obviously lots of players that can play that well, but saying they play world speed (or SVB speed) is silly.
 
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