Big TRUCK • Ray Hansen • poolactiontv.com

Back in late 2010, I semi-converted my garage in Texas to accommodate a pool table. Ray sold me his beloved 9’ Diamond and light at a hell of a good price to upgrade his camera equipment for the streams. Ray is a stand up guy that does a ton for the sport. Glad to hear he is still out there hustlin, doing what he loves, for us.


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A brief thumbnail, not much I know. Ray was indeed selling used ten wheelers, the reason for the big truck handle. Either the trucks or the demand went away, not sure which. Ray had dabbled in streaming a little, I remember when things were very rude and crude streaming a tournament in a bar in New Orleans. Ray was chief cook and bottle washer as they say. Unloading and setting up, figuring out how to video from a place not set up for video, long long hours in the booth. He would latch onto knowledgeable guys like JoeyA or almost any warm body to side him in the booth. Tried to get me in a couple times but with my pronounced drawl I would still be talking about the break when the money ball fell!

The early days were rough on a lot of fronts for Ray. He hung in there when he was bleeding cash and finally started making a little at most events. I don't know that he made minimum wage, I didn't pry. I do know that what he did was a hell of a lot of sugar for a dime!

Ray stuck it out when most people would have quit, going through a lot of lean times. I lost track of regular communications with him long ago and don't know much beyond the early days when I saw him at The Big Easy and Buffalo's. I wish him well. If he is doing well now, I don't know his status, he has earned it. No getting lucky or falling into a gold mine, he worked hard for every bit of success in the early days and I suspect things haven't changed much. Hopefully a little easier, hopefully a little more profitable. I think he was sinking every spare penny in equipment for awhile.

All I have, I am sure others know more of his story.

Hu
 
woody_968 said:
Ray let me set in with him for commentary during his show at the Brickyard. What a class act! Puts on one of the best streams in the business. It was an honor to enjoy the matches with him.

I can tell you this, people do not realize how tiring commentating can be after a long day. Not to mention all of his set up and break down time. Ray is dedicated beyond belief.

I truly believe live streaming is one of the keys to the future of this wonderful game. So to Ray and all of the other dedicated streams out there a BIG thank you!!!
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Pool streaming has really taken off since this thread was started.

Hats off to all the pioneers who took a chance and helped it take off the way it has.
 
I’m a little unclear about what you are asking for here. Are you saying that we need to show him some appreciation by just giving him money, for nothing? Is Ray hurting and begging for people’s money? Last I checked he charges a premium for his streaming (which I gladly paid for, for years), and I imagine he gets paid to do these tournaments.

I agree, he has contributed a hell of a lot to pool over the years. But the begging for charity is disgusting, the man earns his living like everyone else.
 
Great thread! Ray Hansen and PoolActionTV has kept pool streams alive and well, and he goes out of his way to share the action on and off the table, with commentators who know the game and the players themselves. He deserves all the accolades in this thread. I admire the way he's been able to step over the social media and pool forum mud puddles and keep on keeping on. He's one of the pioneers in live streaming and brings the best of the best to us virtual railbirds.
 
Badpenguin said:
I’m a little unclear about what you are asking for here. Are you saying that we need to show him some appreciation by just giving him money, for nothing? Is Ray hurting and begging for people’s money? Last I checked he charges a premium for his streaming (which I gladly paid for, for years), and I imagine he gets paid to do these tournaments.

I agree, he has contributed a hell of a lot to pool over the years. But the begging for charity is disgusting, the man earns his living like everyone else.
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You do know this thread was started about 13 years ago, correct?
 
I met Ray for the first time at the White Diamonds tourney in 2015. He was so easy to talk to and even though Ray was very busy he took the time to have a conversation.

Spent some time in his action room earlier this week at the Derby and once again he got out of his booth and sat down for another long chat.

He really has been an ambassador and pioneer for our game.
 
JoeyA said:
I hesitated about starting this thread but my heart of heart knows that poolactiontv.com deserves the recognition.

Some of us know how much Ray does for the pool community but I doubt that most of us do.

This guy travels all over the United States of America, providing Live Stream Broadcasts for those of us who love the game, but are unfortunately sitting at home.

I know LiveStreaming pool isn't a lucrative business, at least not at the moment but I try to support poolactiontv.com whenever I can.

This weekend he will be down deep in South Louisiana at Richochet's in Houma, LA. As soon as he leaves there, he will be driving to New Town, North Dakota for the 4 Bears Casino Event. That's dedication to our sport.
I don't know how he does it but I am thankful that he is involved with our sport and provides the service that he does.

If you want an eye-opener, just click on this link which is Ray's SCHEDULE and you'll see just how much he travels. Scroll around on the months and check out all of these events. I know from sitting in the booth and talking with Ray on numerous occasions that he does it for the love of the sport and not for the money. I'm sorry to say that I could never do what he does for the little pay that he "earns".

The drive from Houma, LA to New Town, North Dakota is over 24 hours long, ONE-WAY.

I'm thankful for his dedication to our sport and his desire to continuously improve his products and services.

He promotes pool tournaments.
He sponsor players and tries to help them promote themselves.
He advertises pool rooms and their events.
He advertises pool industry products and services.
He reaches out to the industries outside of the pool industry to obtain their involvement with our sport.
He even has a willingness to promote other live streams as well as his own and has done so on more than an occasion or two.
Ray also consults with pool room owners about how to improve their events. He's got a lot of experience at it and does a great job.

One day, maybe he will start making enough money to buy a new vehicle to travel on these long trips and pay off some debts. In the meantime, show BigTruck a little love if you haven't already done so by checking out his website, schedule an event, or purchase his Premium Membership for a year's worth of PPV Live Streaming and more, and or buy some of his products or just send him a note thanking him for his efforts.

If you want to see pool elevated, consider having your local pool room, live-stream their next event. If you have a league championship, consider having poolactiontv.com come down to your state championship and LiveStream that event. His rates are far less than what most people would think. Give him a call to discuss the possibilities.

If you can think of another way you can help Ray to continue doing what he does for pool, drop him a line or give him a call at 254-379-2569 and let him know your thoughts.

In thinking about Ray's contributions to the sport, I relate the quote from Rudyard Kipling's poem Gunga Din:
"Tho' I've belted you and flayed you,
By the livin' Gawd that made you,
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"

In closing, Ray Hansen, I thank you for what you do for pool.

You are a credit to pool and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
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Somebody oughta buy that guy a van!!
 
Ray was one of the pioneers of live steaming. He bled money in the early days and had to get very creative in the days it was many places first try at live streaming. He toted all he could with him and often had to source stuff locally on the fly! He made things work and had gotten to the point he was at least breaking even on venues last I knew. No idea if that is true or not today. I haven't been getting around much and haven't talked to him in ages now. I know he put in ridiculous hours and more cash than he took out in the early years.

If he has marketed the early video or decides to, I'll be a star! Kinda like Tim Allen's neighbor though, I was just featured below the knee in a video from The Big Easy. My choice. Scotty placed well, might have won, while getting around a quart of the hard stuff!

We had four or more of the early streamers on AZB. One died, I think that took the heart out of his partner although I may be wrong about that. Some gave up, streaming is far from all sugar and spice and get rich quick!

When I first met Ray he didn't have much more than a dream. He told me then he was in streaming for the long haul. He has been, both in time and distance!

Ray is a pioneer and a survivor. Most pioneers in all areas find they have bitten off more than they could chew. Ray hung in there and made things work. He has my respect because he has earned it.

Hu
 
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