Exactly
Robin, sorry about the late reply. It solely lies within the marketing of the game. You can price anything whatever you want, it's how you sell it. I think that sounds very cliche, but it's the truth.
There are several things that an owner can do for marketing, but have you ever seen a pool hall have a commercial, an ad in the paper, or a radio ad, or even a remotely asthetically pleasing website that would attract viewership? I've seen like one or two websites, but that's about it.
You can't have the "Field of Dreams" mentality any more when it comes to opening a business. You have to get out there and get people in the door.
The easiest thing I can think to do is to get kids in the door. Have a free monthly tournament with the yearly winner go to Junior Nationals or something. However, I'm not a marketing specialist -- just a data analyst.
Mr. Sykes,
I completely agree its the lack of marketing that is the problem or at least one of them.
I think the answer to the marketing issue can be found but the answer is only part of the problem as your statement considering the Field of Dreams suggests.
If you build it they will come......not so anymore. Too many things are competing for peoples attention so if some form of direct marketing isn't applied likely any advertisement concerning pool or the Sports Bar may very well fly right over peoples heads.
Traditional forms of advertisement are usually expensive however a personal invitation to come out and play is nearly free yet it seems to be the very last thing that owners are willing to do.
People postulate about associations for making sure players get paid and they complain about the fact that our governing body association seems to be absent from the scene...well how about this for twist on that.
Perhaps its the Pool Room Owners that need an Association. I would say they do if they are to learn to coerce business through their doors because it appears to me that many of them have fallen into a trap. They turn the key on alcohol sales and wish for more yet miss the mark when it comes to recruiting people.
Pool Tables are bait.
If you invite people to come in and play some for free occasionally as advertisement to them, you might recruit someone who enjoys pool or you might get some bar business.
If you do nothing you get nothing and standing on the fact that you might deserve $5 an hour for your pool tables isn't getting people through the door.
If find that usually the hardest person you will ever have to get past is ....yourself.
That seems to be where Room Owners are at. They don't see they possess the bait to bring people in. All they can see is a liability of cost and not the fact that people want to play.....maybe they just need to be invited.
or they might not be able to see that they have a good amount of regulars who would play more if they were offered a membership that made it easier for them to afford the pool time.....and if they are getting a value then they will drink and eat more.
Activity begetting activity a crowd of regulars is great advertisement in itself.
I think Room Owners need an association to provide them guidance that they might listen to because it obvious they are the ones in charge of the industry.
Everything happens at the Pool Room and nothing happens without the owner approval.
Just my two cents worth.