The NRA, AARP and Pool?

[macguy]

The NRA is widely known for it's political power and influence. What a lot of people probably don't realize is as powerful as they are, they only actually have about 4.5 million members. If you compare that to say AARP with it's 40 million members the NRA is not really that big an origination. Heck, they Boys scouts of America have like 3 million members along with another million adult members.

Every successful sport or hobby have an organization that members can join and be a part of. Except for the BCA pool seems to have nothing. That may be where the sport has been missing the boat all along.

I wonder how many pool players there are in this country? I also wonder how many would be willing to join a non profit organization that was dedicated to the promotion and betterment of the sport of pool? If such a pool organization was formed it would of course take years to really grow but at least it would be moving in a positive direction.

One of the things that both AARP and NRA have going for them is they have partnered with businesses to make having a membership of some value often worth more then the cost of the membership it's self. I don't see where the BCA does anything to promote the sport.

Maybe the players themselves need to take the lead. Of course I am just talking, who is going to do it, but it is something that is obviously missing from our sport that other more successful sports have.

Heck, we can't even get the results of our largest tournaments reported by any news or sports organizations. They don't seem to even know there is such a thing as professional pool. Pool needs a spokesman, right now it has none.
Just something to think about

 

[336Robin]

Waiting

The NRA is widely known for it's political power and influence. What a lot of people probably don't realize is as powerful as they are, they only actually have about 4.5 million members. If you compare that to say AARP with it's 40 million members the NRA is not really that big an origination. Heck, they Boys scouts of America have like 3 million members along with another million adult members.

Every successful sport or hobby have an organization that members can join and be a part of. Except for the BCA pool seems to have nothing. That may be where the sport has been missing the boat all along.

I wonder how many pool players there are in this country? I also wonder how many would be willing to join a non profit organization that was dedicated to the promotion and betterment of the sport of pool? If such a pool organization was formed it would of course take years to really grow but at least it would be moving in a positive direction.

One of the things that both AARP and NRA have going for them is they have partnered with businesses to make having a membership of some value often worth more then the cost of the membership it's self. I don't see where the BCA does anything to promote the sport.

Maybe the players themselves need to take the lead. Of course I am just talking, who is going to do it, but it is something that is obviously missing from our sport that other more successful sports have.

Heck, we can't even get the results of our largest tournaments reported by any news or sports organizations. They don't seem to even know there is such a thing as professional pool. Pool needs a spokesman, right now it has none.
Just something to think about

Macguy,
Ditto on all of that and its been discussed here. Hopefully one day the Messiah will emerge that has the name and the organizational skills to make it happen. Without money coming in I don't see anything happening and you likely couldn't get half of the 47 thousand members here to join. Everyone has their own reason to say its not good enough so they wait for others to do it for them.

I think there is an huge opportunity for the BCA to rethink their position and be a member organization again.

I think the writing is on the wall. and threads like this point it out. From what I hear we have lost half of the players nationally, half of the wholesalers as well and since the BCA sold the pool leagues well they are now a Trade Organization whose members are losing revenue.

I think being a Trade Organization is a bit elitist and not practical in our economic environment. I just wonder really how long its going to take them to see it....I guess its going to be when they just cant stand it anymore without us and who knows when that will be if ever.

 

[Scott Lee]

You have incorrect information. There not only have not been any players "lost", in fact there has been an increase, both in sanctioned league play, and in the total numbers of dues paying, nationally sanctioned. amateur league players. That number stands at somewhere near 400,000 (give or take 50,000, due to people playing in multiple leagues). The real number, that needs to be reached out to is the 10x as many people who just play in their own little local leagues...no Vegas, no championships, just local play. Reach those people and you've started a ball rolling. The BCA has nothing to do with Professional or amateur poolplayers...and that is not going to change. I don't disagree with what macguy said, but it will have to be a grassroots organization, non-affiliated with any sanctioned league. JMO

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Macguy,
Ditto on all of that and its been discussed here. Hopefully one day the Messiah will emerge that has the name and the organizational skills to make it happen. Without money coming in I don't see anything happening and you likely couldn't get half of the 47 thousand members here to join. Everyone has their own reason to say its not good enough so they wait for others to do it for them.

I think there is an huge opportunity for the BCA to rethink their position and be a member organization again.

I think the writing is on the wall. and threads like this point it out. From what I hear we have lost half of the players nationally, half of the wholesalers as well and since the BCA sold the pool leagues well they are now a Trade Organization whose members are losing revenue.

I think being a Trade Organization is a bit elitist and not practical in our economic environment. I just wonder really how long its going to take them to see it....I guess its going to be when they just cant stand it anymore without us and who knows when that will be if ever.

 

[StraightPoolIU]

The comparison is not a good one. The NRA has members that aren't just hobbyists. They belong to the organization because they are exercising their 1st amendment rights and flex political muscle because they feel the need to protect their 2nd amendment rights. The AARP is a giant organization that can draw from a broad base of motivated voters (senior citizens) who are often concerned (rightly or wrongly) about entitlements. Pool players are neither a large demographic willing to or wanting to flex their muscles politically on behalf of the sport, nor are they a group that feels like pool is a right that others are trying to take away. It's all about motivation. If only old James Madison had put pool in the Bill of Rights.

I think a more fair comparison would be the governing bodies of other sports who's job it is to protect and grow their games. The USTA, the USGA, the PGA of America...etc etc etc.

 

[336Robin]

You have incorrect information. There not only have not been any players "lost", in fact there has been an increase, both in sanctioned league play, and in the total numbers of dues paying, nationally sanctioned. amateur league players. That number stands at somewhere near 400,000 (give or take 50,000, due to people playing in multiple leagues). The real number, that needs to be reached out to is the 10x as many people who just play in their own little local leagues...no Vegas, no championships, just local play. Reach those people and you've started a ball rolling. The BCA has nothing to do with Professional or amateur poolplayers...and that is not going to change. I don't disagree with what macguy said, but it will have to be a grassroots organization, non-affiliated with any sanctioned league. JMO

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Scott,
You are certainly in a better place to get the information than I but an increase of players since when is what I would wonder.

A friend of mine is in the wholesale billiard business and we discuss the loss of wholesalers pretty regularly when sellers are going out there is a deficit of equipment being sold, with the stream of pool equipment going downward that could be just a trend that has been nosediving for a long time, but it indicates less players coming into the market but might not reflect the total numbers you suggest.

I would like to see a National movement of some kind but I doubt it will ever happen because I see no revenue in it that doesn't involve garnering a membership of people who generally don't support that sort of thing. Which is probably why the BCA is a trade organization to start off with.

This increase in pool leaguers you speak of...that's wonderful...I just hope they will have a place to play. Around here not so much.

 

[336Robin]

The comparison is not a good one. The NRA has members that aren't just hobbyists. They belong to the organization because they are exercising their 1st amendment rights and flex political muscle because they feel the need to protect their 2nd amendment rights. The AARP is a giant organization that can draw from a broad base of motivated voters (senior citizens) who are often concerned (rightly or wrongly) about entitlements. Pool players are neither a large demographic willing to or wanting to flex their muscles politically on behalf of the sport, nor are they a group that feels like pool is a right that others are trying to take away. It's all about motivation. If only old James Madison had put pool in the Bill of Rights.

I think a more fair comparison would be the governing bodies of other sports who's job it is to protect and grow their games. The USTA, the USGA, the PGA of America...etc etc etc.

Exactly,
It makes me wonder where did pool get off the track? We should have an organization that represents not only standardized play but the existence and promulgation of the body of the sport itself.

Its like we have absolutely no legs on which to stand and besides the fact that the pool league systems are gaining players in some places in my area rooms are still closing and from what I see league play doesn't do much for the rooms. Its sad and its a fact so you have to wonder whether this increase as Scott said is truly helpful to the room owner if they expect a free place to play.

That seems sort of lopsided to me, they get free table time for their matches they take up the tables and the owner gets to sell a beer but other than that, very little of the efforts goes to supporting the place where pool takes place.

They certainly have a sweetheart deal, got to hand them that.

 

[macguy]

The comparison is not a good one. The NRA has members that aren't just hobbyists. They belong to the organization because they are exercising their 1st amendment rights and flex political muscle because they feel the need to protect their 2nd amendment rights. The AARP is a giant organization that can draw from a broad base of motivated voters (senior citizens) who are often concerned (rightly or wrongly) about entitlements. Pool players are neither a large demographic willing to or wanting to flex their muscles politically on behalf of the sport, nor are they a group that feels like pool is a right that others are trying to take away. It's all about motivation. If only old James Madison had put pool in the Bill of Rights.

I think a more fair comparison would be the governing bodies of other sports who's job it is to protect and grow their games. The USTA, the USGA, the PGA of America...etc etc etc.

It is not really meant to make a comparison. Just to show their numbers are not that great. To watch TV you would think the NRA had 100 million members and they don't. Pool has more then enough people involved that if just a small percent were organized
they could gain some visibility.

The point was that if you are not organized you can't really accomplish anything. Most all sports do have an organized governing body, pool does not. I have owned several pool rooms and tried to open several more. It is tough standing in front of a city commission trying to convince them to give me a variance on some stupid ordnance to open a pool room.

I was completely alone up there. It would be nice to have someone helping me. Figures I can show and maybe dispel some of the poor image. This is absolutely true. I was once turned down by a landlord because it was going to be a pool room. About six months later the building had an adult (porno) theater there.

 

[9Ballr]

One of the things that both AARP and NRA have going for them is they have partnered with businesses to make having a membership of some value often worth more then the cost of the membership it's self. I don't see where the BCA does anything to promote the sport.

The NRA and the AARP are political organizations that make it their business to fight for their members.

Far as I know Congress is not about to pass any bills "infringing" on us pool player's rights.

Can't compare NRA, AARP to the APA.

 

[macguy]

The NRA and the AARP are political organizations that make it their business to fight for their members.

Far as I know Congress is not about to pass any bills "infringing" on us pool player's rights.

Can't compare NRA, AARP to the APA.

I hate to have to say this but the NRA doesn't do as much fighting as you may think. They spent like 4 cents of every dollar given them by their members working for gun rights and lobbying. The rest the consumed in salaries and expenses.

My point was, pool players probably could out number their 4.5 million members and use those numbers to promote the sport. AARP has so many members, 10x the NRA because you present the card for a discount on a motel or rent a car and it is cheap to join, in fact they give the memberships away much of the time.

I should ad this, you talk about no one "infringing" on us pool player's rights, have you ever tried to open a pool room? Then you will find if your rights are being stepped on or not. At one time it was not legal in many states for anyone under the age of 21 to even be in a pool room. Yet at the same time they could bowl sitting next to their parents or other bowlers while they were drinking beer and having mixed drinks. Bowling was highly organized.

I was involved in overturning the crazy pool law in my state mainly the minor law. Part of the argument our lawyer made was the laws obvious over looking anything bowling did while holding pool rooms to the letter of the law. Exclusions mentioning bowling specifically were written into in the laws. They didn't even define a bowling alley pool room as a pool room.

A minor could play pool at a bowling center but not in my pool room. Many of the laws were specifically written to make it impossible for a pool room to even open in many towns. Parking restrictions that made no sense. Taxing and licensing every pool table often as much as $200 a year per table. A 15 table pool room would cost like $3000.00 just for table licensing every year. Mean time a 200 seat restaurant may cost $75.00 a year.

Our backwards state actually had a pool table defined in the statutes. as a "gambling device". If they wanted to really be nuts they could have taxed privately owned tables and said your minor child can not play pool not even in your own house.

One of the laws that involved gambling actually had an exclusion for bowling because their leagues could have been seen as organized gambling run by the bowling center. Bowling had all this power because it was organized and big money people like Brunswick were involved.

In the end they threw out all the laws regarding pool pool tables as well as how it applied to pool rooms. In fact one of the justices commented as to how did these silly laws ever get passed in the first place.

I still have the paperwork around somewhere. It is interesting how nuts the laws were 40 or 50 years ago regarding pool. It is no accident pool has suffered as it has, there was an effort to keep it like that.

I used to have a church that picked my pool room regular, you would think it was like an abortion clinic is today. These nutty type of people are always trying to be in your business. Heck, we still have dry counties in my state. They want to tell you you can't even have drink and this is 2014. WTF.

 

[BRussell]

you present the card for a discount on a motel or rent a car and it is cheap to join.

it occurs to me that I have a card, my BCA league membership card. It just doesn't really do anything for me. Wouldn't it be cool if you got discounts on equipment or tournament entry fees? Come to think of it I did get a discount on a tournament one time.

 

[336Robin]

I hate to have to say this but the NRA doesn't do as much fighting as you may think. They spent like 4 cents of every dollar given them by their members working for gun rights and lobbying. The rest the consumed in salaries and expenses.

My point was, pool players probably could out number their 4.5 million members and use those numbers to promote the sport. AARP has so many members, 10x the NRA because you present the card for a discount on a motel or rent a car and it is cheap to join.

Your point is well taken here. I agree. Its going to take someone or a group of people that want to dedicate the rest of their lives in building a membership of people who pay a small dues in hopes of building a war chest that would have a huge effect on the pool industry. I would join in a heartbeat and they could hit get my money for the rest of my life but I just wonder how many would join.

All those numbers that Scott was talking about comprise of pool leaguers from what I remember and those organizations many of them give little if any back to pool. If those organizations didn't back it, then it would pretty much fall away.

You or anyone wants to form one I will be right there with you for life but for a lot of people they will give 10 bucks and complain because they want to you to do something for them immediately and that's not going to happen, its going to take a long time to build.

I agree with you totally it could happen the numbers are there but the passion Im afraid is not, people love pool but they want someone else to foot the bill.

 

[macguy]

The NRA and the AARP are political organizations that make it their business to fight for their members.

Far as I know Congress is not about to pass any bills "infringing" on us pool player's rights.

Can't compare NRA, AARP to the APA.

This is from our current Florida gambling laws. You notice there is no mention of any other sport regarding gambling just pool. You don't see that if you run a golf course and allow gambling you can be arrested.

But on the other side of the coin they actually give bowling a written exemption for tournament play which actually is referring to their league play. So in not so many words in the state of Florida pool tournaments if the players put up an entry fee and play for them, as well as league play would be by the strictest reading of the law illegal. While with bowling it is exempt.

CHAPTER 849
GAMBLING

849.07 Permitting gambling on billiard or pool table by holder of license.—If any holder of a license to operate a billiard or pool table shall permit any person to play billiards or pool or any other game for money, or any other thing of value, upon such tables, she or he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 14, ch. 6421, 1913; RGS 5505; CGL 7663; s. 1062, ch. 71-136; s. 1357, ch. 97-102.

849.141 Bowling tournaments exempted from chapter.—
(1) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be applicable to participation in or the conduct of a bowling tournament conducted at a bowling center which requires the payment of entry fees, from which fees the winner receives a purse or prize.

 

[macguy]

Your point is well taken here. I agree. Its going to take someone or a group of people that want to dedicate the rest of their lives in building a membership of people who pay a small dues in hopes of building a war chest that would have a huge effect on the pool industry. I would join in a heartbeat and they could hit get my money for the rest of my life but I just wonder how many would join.

All those numbers that Scott was talking about comprise of pool leaguers from what I remember and those organizations many of them give little if any back to pool. If those organizations didn't back it, then it would pretty much fall away.

You or anyone wants to form one I will be right there with you for life but for a lot of people they will give 10 bucks and complain because they want to you to do something for them immediately and that's not going to happen, its going to take a long time to build.

I agree with you totally it could happen the numbers are there but the passion Im afraid is not, people love pool but they want someone else to foot the bill.

That has always been the case, they don't seem to think long term.

 

[Scott Lee]

So...as long as SOMEONE ELSE is willing to "start" an organization, you're "willing" to be right there for life! LOL Why don't YOU start the organization. You're certainly one of the most vocal posters here on the crux of the problem, and where to place the blame! Just sayin...

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

You or anyone wants to form one I will be right there with you for life but for a lot of people they will give 10 bucks and complain because they want to you to do something for them immediately and that's not going to happen, its going to take a long time to build.

I agree with you totally it could happen the numbers are there but the passion Im afraid is not, people love pool but they want someone else to foot the bill.

 

[BugHunter]

I also wonder how many would be willing to join a non profit organization that was dedicated to the promotion and betterment of the sport of pool?

That line of thought is a bit idealistic. A non-profit organization is anything but non-profit. Many (if not most) are corrupt as hell. I think they are more a legalized racket than anything else. Don't forget, the NFL, NBA and NHL are all non-profit organizations. The United Way,just go google them once. Talk about the poster child for corruption.

No, if any organization dealing with pool will ever begin, it will be at the manufacturing /service side of things. It would need to be businesses which form some type of alliance to organize the game. It would require TV marketing ($$ cha-ching), there would need to be cooperation amongst the principals (not something pool is notorious for), and it would have to provide 'some' benefit to the average joe. Trying to figure out how to implement things like that is the tough part. Valley has a fairly good thing going, but the target demographic is unfortunately the bar players. Not only does the Valley league not cater to room pool, there is no reason on earth for them to join up with anyone else in order to increase their market penetration.

If someone can come up with a way to make it beneficial to manufacturers to organize and cooperate, now you've got something.

I could go on forever about the roadblocks that will need opened...
Good luck.

 

[336Robin]

Spot On

So...as long as SOMEONE ELSE is willing to "start" an organization, you're "willing" to be right there for life! LOL Why don't YOU start the organization. You're certainly one of the most vocal posters here on the crux of the problem, and where to place the blame! Just sayin...

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Scott,
Youre spot on right there. I am vocal about it and I am deeply involved in way too much at the present in other things to take on anything else. Hopefully after Ocotber 31st I will have more time and I have plenty to do yet, but thats not off the table. I sure wouldnt take up a crusade like that alone there would have a be a significant amount of support or it would be a complete waste of time. Just for the record since you sort of said I am laying blame....Im not sure that anyone is to blame because things are as they are and it doesnt matter what a body does or doesnt do. People have had the misconception that the governing body of pool is supposed to do something for pool, they arent obligated because they are a trade organization so its really not their job. If pool people want an association of pool players for pool players and the promotion of pool. That would in my opinion be the beginning of the first organization as such. I dont blame the BCA. They just arent what a lot of people think they are from what I see. I may be totally mistaken but I see absent from the sport any reason for anyone to want to recognize any entity as the Top of the Rung when there is no clear step ladder from the bottom to the top. If there were then when someone became a member of a pool league that body of pool would be there from day one. When that same player advanced from pool league play into semi and professional ranks that same organization would follow him. There would be statistics that followed him, Monies from Pool leagues would go from the coffers of the pool league system for players with in in the form of yearly dues so that a budget was had for such development. From that trade shows, tournaments and promotional events would come and a new crop of players with ethics and professional conduct would be present and the individual pool league systems would feed into one common pot for the development of the sport.
That does not exist on a level that is prevalent across the country. It appears that pool is everyone for themselves and almost none together, getting support for the sport across the board is going to be a tough thing to sell if all people are concerned with is what are you going to do for me?., but like Mac said maybe someone could get an incentive program up that is large enough that people would be willing to join just to rake in the benefits. Then you would really have something.

 

[macguy]

That line of thought is a bit idealistic. A non-profit organization is anything but non-profit. Many (if not most) are corrupt as hell. I think they are more a legalized racket than anything else. Don't forget, the NFL, NBA and NHL are all non-profit organizations. The United Way,just go google them once. Talk about the poster child for corruption.

No, if any organization dealing with pool will ever begin, it will be at the manufacturing /service side of things. It would need to be businesses which form some type of alliance to organize the game. It would require TV marketing ($$ cha-ching), there would need to be cooperation amongst the principals (not something pool is notorious for), and it would have to provide 'some' benefit to the average joe. Trying to figure out how to implement things like that is the tough part. Valley has a fairly good thing going, but the target demographic is unfortunately the bar players. Not only does the Valley league not cater to room pool, there is no reason on earth for them to join up with anyone else in order to increase their market penetration.

If someone can come up with a way to make it beneficial to manufacturers to organize and cooperate, now you've got something.

I could go on forever about the roadblocks that will need opened...
Good luck.

I am afraid a good bit of what we write on her is idealistic. There was a time when pool rooms flourished in big and small towns all across the country. When new players discovered the game and old players rediscovered the game. I think I hear the theme from "Camelot" playing in the background.

I don't know if pool will ever be on TV and I am not sure that would mean anything anyway. My wish would be to see the business of owning a pool room become possible or for that matter, desirable again. When I was a kid every player I knew wanted a pool room and many of them later did. I owned a 12 table room when I was only 24 and made a pretty good living.

I just want to see nice places where the game can be played around the country again. If there is ever a pro tour great, but I don't think the future of the sport in any way depends on the pro. It depends on rooms opening for the game to be played and passed on. Right now it is in the bars and that is fine, but we can only hope it can some day again move back to the classic game that has been played for more the 150 years on big tables.

I know, sounds idealistic.

 

[336Robin]

Perhaps , perhaps not

I am afraid a good bit of what we write on her is idealistic. There was a time when pool rooms flourished in big and small towns all across the country. When new players discovered the game and old players rediscovered the game. I think I hear the theme from "Camelot" playing in the background.

I don't know if pool will ever be on TV and I am not sure that would mean anything anyway. My wish would be to see the business of owning a pool room become possible or for that matter, desirable again. When I was a kid every player I knew wanted a pool room and many of them later did. I owned a 12 table room when I was only 24 and made a pretty good living.

I just want to see nice places where the game can be played around the country again. If there is ever a pro tour great, but I don't think the future of the sport in any way depends on the pro. It depends on rooms opening for the game to be played and passed on. Right now it is in the bars and that is fine, but we can only hope it can some day again move back to the classic game that has been player for more the 150 years on big tables.

I know, sounds idealistic.

I agree I would like to see the pool rooms come back. I dont think its out of the question but I havent looked at rents and such perhaps in the form of cue clubs..or places for retirement guys to hang out.

 

[macguy]

I agree I would like to see the pool rooms come back. I dont think its out of the question but I havent looked at rents and such perhaps in the form of cue clubs..or places for retirement guys to hang out.

We all remember the line from the Hustler
"Thats what I want, a ten tables with a book on the side, getting old Eddie".

I am going by memory but that is close.
When did this stop being a players dream. You name an older player and many of them had rooms.
Mizerak
Martin
Toby Sweet had several
Wade Crane
CJ Wiley
Jean Balukas (I believe took over family owned room)
Bernie "The Hawk" Schwartz
Bill "Weenie Beenie" Staton
The Fusco's I forget which one.
Bill Amadeo owned several
Grady Mathews
Dallas West
Bill Stegall
Dick Lane
Bill Malony billiard player

and the list can go on my memory is poor sometimes. Feel free to add to the list there is a lot. Now add to that a zillion players whose names will never be found in any books but loved the game and decided to make it more then just a pastime. What happened.

I know some will blame the economy but that excuse only goes so far. If it is what you want you make it happen. Where did the players who want to be in the business go? Is it not even a dream anymore?

No you will not get rich but that is the case with almost any POS job you get as well. Even a good job you are one paycheck from the street.

I don't want to keep beating this issue into the ground but you can't tell me no players want to be in the pool room business anymore. Or there is no money in it because there is. You can get commercial property in many places for a song now. As bad as people like to paint the economy this may be a perfect time for a pool room.

Many of the recent pool room failures have nothing to do with the viability of the business or the economy. It had to do with bad business plans, ridiculous nuts thats around their necks strangling them and one of the worst, bad partnerships. There is only so much money to be made you can't be cutting it up 3 or 4 ways.
I am off my rant now.

 

[BugHunter]

I don't know if pool will ever be on TV and I am not sure that would mean anything anyway.

I think it would mean marketing exposure which pool desperately needs in order to become mainstream.

My wish would be to see the business of owning a pool room become possible or for that matter, desirable again. When I was a kid every player I knew wanted a pool room and many of them later did. I owned a 12 table room when I was only 24 and made a pretty good living.

Why did you stop?

I just want to see nice places where the game can be played around the country again. If there is ever a pro tour great, but I don't think the future of the sport in any way depends on the pro. It depends on rooms opening for the game to be played and passed on. Right now it is in the bars and that is fine, but we can only hope it can some day again move back to the classic game that has been played for more the 150 years on big tables.

I know, sounds idealistic.

I disagree with some of that. I think it absolutely depends upon the pro situation.

Then, pool in the bars is meaningless, totally irrelevant with respect to the type of person you'll find on this forum or in a pool room. Unless there's a 'player' around, I have absolutely no desire to play a game of pool in a bar, and other than subbing in a bar league recently, I have not done so in years. I consider them 2 different animals altogether (pool room pool, bar pool).

I know some will blame the economy but that excuse only goes so far. If it is what you want you make it happen. Where did the players who want to be in the business go? Is it not even a dream anymore?

I happen to be a business owner, and I now frequent one of central Pa's most established rooms. I've known the owner of the place for almost 25 years, and he's really built the business well. But, he doesn't make his money on the pool room, nor the pro shop. If he had to rely on that I'm pretty sure he and his wife would starve to death.

I don't know the inside scoop on what it takes to run a pool room. But getting a room started up has got to be a tough endeavor. Lets face it, if you've got enough cash laying around to open a pool room and make a go of it, then you're obviously not real bad with money, (or it's old money). In the case of the prior, you'll quickly figure out there are better investments for that cash. In the case of the latter, you probably won't have the money long anyway.

I don't want to keep beating this issue into the ground but you can't tell me no players want to be in the pool room business anymore. Or there is no money in it because there is. You can get commercial property in many places for a song now. As bad as people like to paint the economy this may be a perfect time for a pool room.

Wanting to be in the business, and being able to get in the business are two different things. If I may be so bold, I'll let you in on one of my personal observations. I've seen lots and lots of pool players in my days. Maybe not as many as some folks on here, but quite a few. I've been away from the game for over a decade, so I've also got some history to look back upon. So, I'll restrict this to players I've known for 20 years or more.

The ones who were successful in their own business or job, treated the game like the recreation it was, but they still kept their priorities in line. They had zero desire to open a pool room or to get involved with one.

The ones who were most gung-ho and had aspirations of opening a pool room are basically still broke, and are much farther from room ownership than they ever were before. A few are so broke then don't own a cue any more and are the next best thing to street people. That is not the type of person you want owning these pool rooms you wish to see sprout up. They won't be around long.

Then, there is this. For years and years, I wanted to get out of my business and open a restaurant. I love food prep, and I'm fairly good at it. I thought maybe a bar, or something of that nature. But, I never did it. (smartest move of my life ) A guy who used to work for me had a son who was top of his class at the CIA in NY. Quite a chef. He made one statement to me about his work that he said he wished he could change. He's working when everyone else isn't. Well, that applies to pool rooms as well. There's not much going on at the pool room at 8:00 am....

Many of the recent pool room failures have nothing to do with the viability of the business or the economy. It had to do with bad business plans, ridiculous nuts thats around their necks strangling them and one of the worst, bad partnerships. There is only so much money to be made you can't be cutting it up 3 or 4 ways.
I am off my rant now.

Try hiring someone who's worth their salt and actually cares about the business they work for. Now imagine trying to run a pool room as a one man show. It's tough. And if you've got a wife or family who can help with the business, unfortunately that means they also depend on you for survival. Another double edged sword.

Several rooms have opened and failed in this area. I'd say the sum total of their effect was to dilute the already small market for the one that is already here and established. Thank gawd that one is reasonably secure, because if it wasn't, there'd be no room at all here anymore.