Pro Pool Players Can't Make A Living!

Banks said:
No, I'm saying that hall owners need to pull up their panties and invest in their business if they want it to turn into something. Having a business is not giving anything tangible if it doesn't make any money. Even if you put on a pro event at a hall, if that hall is not making a profit normally, nobody's going to think doing what they do is a good idea.
Click to expand...

Owning/running a business is not easy. It often starts with an idea and a passion, but then reality sets in when more money is going out than coming in. Rent, operation expenses, taxes, loans, etc..

Most small business owners are not getting filthy rich. They are just surviving, earning a small profit. They do it for the joys of being their own boss running a business in an industry they enjoy.

Investing is tricky, especially in this economy. This is assuming the small business owner is turning a big enough sustained profit to generate money to invest. Do you reinvest into your business, your kids college fund, a retirement account ?
 
Last edited:
ronscuba said:
Owning/running a business is not easy. It often starts with an idea and a passion, but then reality sets in when more money is going out than coming in.

Most small business owners are not getting filthy rich. They are just surviving, earning a small profit. They do it for the joys of being their own boss running a business in an industry they enjoy.
Click to expand...

Yes, but unless you've got a long-term deal going on where you can pocket a little bit off the status quo, you have to invest at one point or another. A new owner took over the bar I play at last year and I agreed to foot the bill for Diamonds. It's taken some work, but it's turning around what was once a dingy little dive bar that hadn't seen anything new since at least the 80's, maaaybe the 90's. Was barely hanging on to two APA teams. This past season there were 4. Next season, at least 4 APA teams, an in-house BCA division and also planning some tournaments. I may also be doing the same for another bar or two in town in a while. Past that, I've got bigger plans.
 
Club system is the best way to go for the future, IMHO...

I love the way the Germans do it.... check out last year's results and look at some of the names on these teams:

http://portal.billardarea.de/cms_leagues/plan/2644/3777

For those of you too busy to look, names on some of these teams you might recognize are Ralf Souquet, Neils Feijen, Albin Ouschan, Nick Van den Berg and Chris Melling. This is a serious league, with players who are serious about playing pool. Other German players who have been on some of these teams include the likes of Oliver Ortmann, Thomas Engert & Thorsten Hohmann.

And some of these clubs actually have money to pay their top players...

The 1.Bundesliga is the top tier, but these same clubs might also have multiple teams in lower levels, depending on how many members each club has. There is also a junior league for youngsters.
 
Pro Pool players can and do make a living playing pool. The secret is money management.
 
Banks said:
Yes, but unless you've got a long-term deal going on where you can pocket a little bit off the status quo, you have to invest at one point or another. A new owner took over the bar I play at last year and I agreed to foot the bill for Diamonds. It's taken some work, but it's turning around what was once a dingy little dive bar that hadn't seen anything new since at least the 80's, maaaybe the 90's. Was barely hanging on to two APA teams. This past season there were 4. Next season, at least 4 APA teams, an in-house BCA division and also planning some tournaments. I may also be doing the same for another bar or two in town in a while. Past that, I've got bigger plans.
Click to expand...

Nice. An idea, passion, and some money to invest. Hope it turns out well and continues to grow.
 
Banks said:
Yes, but unless you've got a long-term deal going on where you can pocket a little bit off the status quo, you have to invest at one point or another. A new owner took over the bar I play at last year and I agreed to foot the bill for Diamonds. It's taken some work, but it's turning around what was once a dingy little dive bar that hadn't seen anything new since at least the 80's, maaaybe the 90's. Was barely hanging on to two APA teams. This past season there were 4. Next season, at least 4 APA teams, an in-house BCA division and also planning some tournaments. I may also be doing the same for another bar or two in town in a while. Past that, I've got bigger plans.
Click to expand...

Nice. An idea, passion, and some money to invest. Hope it turns out well and continues to grow.
 
Duh, been like this for many years, cellphones are the final nails in the coffin. Pool players all have to get a job or starve !
 
jaetee said:
Club system is the best way to go for the future, IMHO...

I love the way the Germans do it.... check out last year's results and look at some of the names on these teams:

http://portal.billardarea.de/cms_leagues/plan/2644/3777

For those of you too busy to look, names on some of these teams you might recognize are Ralf Souquet, Neils Feijen, Albin Ouschan, Nick Van den Berg and Chris Melling. This is a serious league, with players who are serious about playing pool. Other German players who have been on some of these teams include the likes of Oliver Ortmann, Thomas Engert & Thorsten Hohmann.

And some of these clubs actually have money to pay their top players...

The 1.Bundesliga is the top tier, but these same clubs might also have multiple teams in lower levels, depending on how many members each club has. There is also a junior league for youngsters.
Click to expand...
Is that a national league that plays all over the country? If so it is a bit easier in Germany then the US.

Germany is not as big as Montana. You can drive most any place in Germany in just a few hours. If you have to drive from one end to another it is under 9 hours. We can't get anywhere in the US without a plane. What ever we did like that would have to be small and local.
 
Last edited:
Banks said:
Yes, but unless you've got a long-term deal going on where you can pocket a little bit off the status quo, you have to invest at one point or another. A new owner took over the bar I play at last year and I agreed to foot the bill for Diamonds. It's taken some work, but it's turning around what was once a dingy little dive bar that hadn't seen anything new since at least the 80's, maaaybe the 90's. Was barely hanging on to two APA teams. This past season there were 4. Next season, at least 4 APA teams, an in-house BCA division and also planning some tournaments. I may also be doing the same for another bar or two in town in a while. Past that, I've got bigger plans.
Click to expand...

Will 4 APA teams be exactly twice as moochy as 2 or is there some kind of group rate the bar owner gets?:smile:

JC
 
JC said:
Will 4 APA teams be exactly twice as moochy as 2 or is there some kind of group rate the bar owner gets?:smile:

JC
Click to expand...

I can only think of maybe one or two people(from our bar) that don't drink when they show up. That's pretty good out of about 30 people. We'll have 30 people for BCA night, I'm expecting about 20 of them to drink. The owner and bartenders still thank me, so I think that kinda speaks for itself. The tables are a minor component, so I'm always making sure that the bar is taken care of. If I hear that one of the teams is showing up for a free night out, I'll have no problem telling them to take their lack of business elsewhere. If it's only a few people out of 4 teams, no big deal. 1 team in the bar = up to 16(usually around 12-14) people between them and their opponents. More people in the bar makes it look like a better place to be. Like I said, it's doing pretty well so far.
 
The Europeans look like they have their shit in one sock in regards to pool... How about in Asia, specifically China and Taiwan? Do they have similar programs?
 
Ouch, you don't wanna know what I just erased lol.
The course of action I suggest is a course of action I can't suggest.
:D
 
Banks said:
No, I'm saying that hall owners need to pull up their panties and invest in their business if they want it to turn into something. Having a business is not giving anything tangible if it doesn't make any money. Even if you put on a pro event at a hall, if that hall is not making a profit normally, nobody's going to think doing what they do is a good idea.
Click to expand...

Banks,
I can agree with you but the investment I would like to see doesn't cost a lot of money all it takes is some time and creativity to bring a new demographic in. Im thinking that this will be the trend coming if people are to do well in the pool business. The amount of players and new people being brought in by pool leagues alone isn't making a big dent in what the room owners need so other means seem necessary.

Its simple....declare a Pool Club time. Invite guests and make sure they have fun.,,,some of them you get,,,,some you don't. I think its a better plan than nothing and it starts something that has a chance to develop maybe one day into a club like the Europeans have. Now wouldn't that be nice!
 
336Robin said:
....Its simple....declare a Pool Club time. Invite guests and make sure they have fun.,,,some of them you get,,,,some you don't. I think its a better plan than nothing and it starts something that has a chance to develop maybe one day into a club like the Europeans have. Now wouldn't that be nice!
Click to expand...

you should bring your buddies & drive 30 minutes to Break Time @ Greensboro. for $20 annual membership, yáll would shoot for free. all the time. 9 GCIV's & Diamonds, 9'. Earl's old stomping grounds.

but it won't help the Pros make a living.
 
Joe T said:
We're trying that approach; www.AmericanBilliardClub.com hoping to have 64 qualifying clubs in 2015.
Click to expand...

After watching the videos and checking on the American Billiard Club website last night, I do think that Joe is on to something huge.................. Im trying to still get more info for my area, but this could help raise some eyebrows and excitement :grin-square:
 
PINKLADY said:
you should bring your buddies & drive 30 minutes to Break Time @ Greensboro. for $20 annual membership, yáll would shoot for free. all the time. 9 GCIV's & Diamonds, 9'. Earl's old stomping grounds.

but it won't help the Pros make a living.
Click to expand...

I used to play in that place. Breakers a long time ago nice atmosphere.
 
Matt Tatum said:
After watching the videos and checking on the American Billiard Club website last night, I do think that Joe is on to something huge.................. Im trying to still get more info for my area, but this could help raise some eyebrows and excitement :grin-square:
Click to expand...

Matt Tulsa can definitely get on board and we look forward to it. JTtenball@gmail.com anytime. Thanks for visiting the site.
 
I'll be playing in an ABC league here in Dallas, starting in a few weeks. A few of my teammates played it last season it looks like a great game.
 
Txstang1 said:
I'll be playing in an ABC league here in Dallas, starting in a few weeks. A few of my teammates played it last season it looks like a great game.
Click to expand...

Can't hear that enough ;)
I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself and hopefully improve simply by playing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top