One more practice day trashed.

[us820]

Happens to me all the time.Waitress knows my regular far end table spot when I show up and keeps a buffer until it's needed.

Still when the dummy patrol comes in,I explain super nice how you only stand at the ends unless shooting.Next time is "how fing stupid are you guys?".If that doesn't work I'll break to eat or talk a little and they usually don't stay long.

 

[Pushout]

Time to have a talk with the guy on the counter.

Where I played for almost 25 years, the owner would ask the customers where they wanted to play and then put them there no matter who/what they were near. Had to change tables numerous times to avoid them. I remember one guy who was just getting into pool who would whistle all the time and we weren't allowed to ask him to stop. {we did, though} Couldn't ask people with small children to move/keep quiet, etc.

 

[ElLeon]

Really the problem boils down to the below.

And you have the right to A) Tell them to move, B) Tell them to be more considerate of your space or, C) Move to a new table yourself.

 

[michael4]

If you and your crew show up early at the pool room and there is one guy off alone hitting balls and he looks pretty good, HE DOES NOT WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

I'm guessing they did not think you "look pretty good"


Just Kidding my friend...:grin-square:

 

[FranCrimi]

One of the things I miss most about the old pool hall days is that the houseman was actually a player. A savvy houseman would never do that to someone trying to practice, especially a regular customer. --- And you didn't even have to bribe him.

These days, owners often will put people behind the desk who don't understand the business. These owners think it doesn't matter who's behind the desk. It does. Big time.

 

[decent dennis]

I know this has been discussed before. I think that it must be brought to forum again in the hopes that someone may read this who is not aware how rude and inconsiderate they are being. I go to the pool hall at the times when it is most likely that no one is in there. As far away from the APA events as possible. I am only there to practice to advance my own skill level. I do not want to gamble. I am not there to socialize. I am there to work. The pool room layout is a rectangle. 75% of the pool room is empty. I am on the edge of the 25% occupied. I have 2 tales empty on one side and 6 tables empty on the other side. I have 8 tables empty on a diagonal.

A party of 5 guys comes in which later grew to 8 and where do you think they take up residence. That's right. Right next to me. And where do you think they are all standing around. In the empty table area on the other side. In the empty area the is 75% of the entire pool room. No! of course not. They are parked in my practice area where I can't even walk around my own table. I can't even get to my own case laying on the counter three feet away to answer my phone because there are two guys standing there. There is no excuse for this level of rudeness and it goes on and on. I was so fed up today I just shoved guys out of the way then said excuse me after. WTF is wrong with these people.

If you and your crew show up early at the pool room and there is one guy off alone hitting balls and he looks pretty good, here 's a clue. HE DOES NOT WANT TO TALK TO YOU. Leave him alone.

Rule # 1 Don't worry about getting to your phone, you are there to practice.

 

[Icon of Sin]

Time to have a talk with the guy on the counter.

I think a good counter guy should know not to put the social hacks next to the more serious players, whether they are practicing or gambling.

 

[Icon of Sin]

Rule # 1 Don't worry about getting to your phone, you are there to practice.

Yes, put it on silent and ignore it just in case something urgent pops up and someone needs to get a hold of you.

 

[jeffj2h]

Alot of the stuff I got away with I wouldn't even dream of posting up but you get the idea.

Actually... I don't get the idea.

Are you saying you get away with putting the chalk upside down on the rails? Or are you break-dancing on the Simonis?

I'm thinking you have some best practices here I should incorporate into my routine

 

[9ball5032]

About every two weeks or so somebody will take a table next to me when there are a multitude of empty tables to choose from. I immediately move to another table. It's best not to sit and stew in your own juices

 

[ceebee]

Hi Chopstick... been there, done that. It seems that folks, that just wanna be over in a corner, must be a beacon to all... The scenario "leave me alone", is always construed as I am lonely, bring me some company.

Good Luck next time. Hope you are well.

 

[chefjeff]

When in a plane and you can see an almost deserted highway, it seems there are almost always two cars one tailgating the other and none other in sight.

It's like that movie, I Robot, where the bots in storage tend to gather together for some unknown reason.


Jeff Livingston

 

[ChopStick]

Rule # 1 Don't worry about getting to your phone, you are there to practice.

I almost forgot I posted this thread. The reason my phone is on my mind is because about a week and a half before this happened, there was another group that moved in on me. I looked up from a shot and this guy is sitting in my chair where I had all my stuff and he had my jacket in his hands turning it over and over. My phone was in the pocket of that jacket and it is an expensive one. I said nothing. Just walked over and took it out of his hands. My expression and body language said all that needed to be said. "Hey man, I wan't trying to steal your stuff." Yeah right. That's why it was in your hands.

This time there were two guys at the counter with their back to me where my case was laying and I could not see my case anymore. This was right off the head of my own table and there is no way I am going to tolerate that.

 

[ChopStick]

Why not just move to a different table? Go up to the counter and tell them it just got really crowded by yours and you'd like to move to a table in a quieter area. You get your quiet table and they might realize not to do the same in the future.

I have done that many times. Sometimes multiple times in the same day. Sometimes that option is not available. In this case there are 3 tables in a row configured with the same specifications. The pockets are tighter, which I do not care about, the rails are good and they roll well, which I do care about. I was on one end of the row of three these guys settled in the middle. The table on the other side was empty but they did not collect over there. They parked in my area. You got 8 guys and only 2 are playing at a time. The other 6 are hanging around my table. If they had gone to the table on the end, they not only have a huge space but also a cafe table with chairs they could sit at. Nope. They wanted to hang out and rail bird my table.

 

[decent dennis]

Yes, put it on silent and ignore it just in case something urgent pops up and someone needs to get a hold of you.

That's how we did it in the 70s, 80s oh wait no we didn't.

 

[ChopStick]

Really the problem boils down to the below.

And you have the right to A) Tell them to move, B) Tell them to be more considerate of your space or, C) Move to a new table yourself.

Perfect. Now put 10 other guys around that guy. I am not exaggerating. It has happened with that many of them. When I asked if they could collect on the other side of their table which was completely empty instead of in my practice area, they told me to go play somewhere else. I did report this to the houseman. He appeared to be as offended as I was. I do not know what happened. I left and have never returned to that pool room. The hell of it is, I was in that room trying to get away from the people in the room I am talking about in this thread.

My friend tells me there are no pool halls anymore. Just places for people to hang out and get drunk. I resist this notion. I think at least a part of what it is today still belongs to the players and should be respected.

 

[ChopStick]

When in a plane and you can see an almost deserted highway, it seems there are almost always two cars one tailgating the other and none other in sight.

It's like that movie, I Robot, where the bots in storage tend to gather together for some unknown reason.


Jeff Livingston

There may be something to that. I used to have a problem in traffic when I was pulling my boat. I would go to change lanes and there would me a guy who was pacing me because he wanted to check out my boat. Really pisses you off when the guy ignores your turn signal and won't move causing you to miss the exit and it's 10 miles to the next one. People are so thoughtless and inconsiderate.

 

[Cameron Smith]

When in a plane and you can see an almost deserted highway, it seems there are almost always two cars one tailgating the other and none other in sight.

It's like that movie, I Robot, where the bots in storage tend to gather together for some unknown reason.


Jeff Livingston

There is something to this. I think in restaurants where people can seat themselves, people will gravitate towards areas where there are other people already seated if the place is quiet. It's the only thing that makes sense.

I've dealt with this a lot, even just two people come in and choose a table next to mine in a empty room and it can be annoying. Although two people aren't too invasive, we still shouldn't have to be dodging each other and making sure we aren't in each other's way when there are literally 29 other tables available lol.

 

[Daryle]

There is something to this. I think in restaurants where people can seat themselves, people will gravitate towards areas where there are other people already seated if the place is quiet. It's the only thing that makes sense.

I've dealt with this a lot, even just two people come in and choose a table next to mine in a empty room and it can be annoying. Although two people aren't too invasive, we still shouldn't have to be dodging each other and making sure we aren't in each other's way when there are literally 29 other tables available lol.

Could call it the herd mentality! I personally like a quite eating and playing table. I like my dinner conversation and pool game to be not interrupted by loud mouths. So best to give others, I don't know some space.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[philly]

I agree with everyone in this thread that puts the blame on the houseman. Hopefully your houseman is a player who loves the game and it's people. Mine is. All 9 footers in this room. One side has Gold Crowns and a Diamond and are maintained impeccably. One Gold Crown is used specifically for one pocket and is triple shimmed. The back of the room has has four more Gold Crowns also maintained impeccably. The owner/houseman reserves these tables for players. On the other side of the room are 4 Gold Crowns and 6 Gandys and that is where he puts non serious players. Works out well. Shameless plug. This room is 20 minutes from the Expo. Classic Billiards. There will be action every night into the morning. Last year players came up that were not even playing in the Expo just looking for action. The pros from the Expo come in at night. End of shameless plug.