Just in case you did not visit the link I mentioned...
I copied and pasted my thoughts...
Will you be serving food and beverages? Even microwave (sorry KT) burritos and pizzas, but the more selection, the better. Buy from Costco and mark them up. Candy bars - people like sweets and chips and energy drinks/juices. If you have more money to invest in the quality of food, that is recommended, as you can make more of a reputation, but then it may involve a kitchen and a cook too. Same with drinks, where you could invent your own 'branded' drink. Serve lattes, etc. Sometimes, you might want to just serve free coffee as a loss leader to people who PAY for pool.
When I was a house pro at Jillian's, they would put out a fish bowl, have business people put in their business cards or kids write their email and phone numbers down for a monthly drawing to win a 'party' which included 7 friends and table time (only 1-2 tables) for a few hours. Most of those parties could be held before 6. Your 'house pro' schmoozes, gives cheap lessons to non-players, etc. Serve free chips. Also can do birthday parties the same way, but add cake, ice cream, balloons and candles. The last 2 you can get cheap at the dollar store.
Also, get microwave popcorn and salty stuff that they need to drink with. The smell of good popcorn (don't get the cheap stuff) is contagious. Have large napkins (not the cheapo ones) so people will wipe off the grease.
Give kid's slumber parties on week nights in the summer or on school breaks(or advertise as parent's night out and do it on a Friday night). The kids campout with their sleeping bags and are chaperoned at all times by more than 1 adult. This is to allay fears of sexual misconduct. The kids come in around 8, (6 if you want to feed them and add on to the price), have snacks, planned activities, games (I can tell you some if you want), and kiddy 'tournaments. Have inexpensive prizes for all different categories, like most inventive shot, etc. Play HORSE on the table. Get a few quick lessons in on basics.
Try to attract business people in your area by giving lunch specials - a burger menu, 1 soda and an hr. of free pool anytime between 11-1 for $5-$10.
I agree on a membership, but I would do a monthly one. So much for the membership, maybe $25-$30, but don't also charge time. Let them play in the dead hours.
Another good idea is to get corporate party bookings (even weddings!) Have your house pro do 'biathlons' or 'triathlons' with pool, ping pong and darts, if you have them. They are fun mixers. I would pair up 2 people or compose a team out of people from different departments that don't ordinarily work together, with really lax rules. They thought it was hilarious.
Have daytime leagues or tournaments if there are enough people with night or no regular jobs.
Have a small pro shop - sell low to mid priced cues and equipment. Some pool places will let you get their stuff on consignment. Do cue repair and tips.
Throw a grand opening where you might raffle off some cues or equipment. Give out some relatively cheap items that they can win as doorprizes - 8ball antenna toppers, cue scuffers, cue cleaner, tip tappers, etc. Then they might buy a cue as well. If you have the dough, there are tons of pros and semipros (both players and trick shot artists) that will do exhibitions. I know some personally who do a great job. Have pictures they can have autographed with the pro and do challenge matches. Put out press releases to all media. Some off-night in sports might get tv coverage. Another good tie-in would be to hold a benefit for a charity (Katrina?) with the proceeds or a portion of them going to the charity. That will get you press for sure. And you can deduct all the expenses as advertising on your taxes.
Be creative - you can have a tournament or special party night just based on the holidays or tax time or anything to use as a theme. Don't just use US holidays - you can use international or goofy ones too.
Same with sponsoring a couple players in local tournaments or tours. Have them wear your logo and pay their entries in return for house pro-ing or running tournaments. Give them free table time in off hours. Tax-deductible as advertising.
Make sure you have a hip, identifiable logo. Emblazon your logo on shirts, pool towels, etc. and that can be a good sideline income if they become in- demand. Brand recognition and loyalty can bring on a life of its own. Set your identity early and stick with it - it can influence the decor, what kind of music is played (and the volume!) and what food and drinks are sold.
Advertise in your local billiard paper. If you throw regular weekly tournaments, sometimes you can get in that section without paying for advertising. Tax-deductible.
Sponsor pool teams to go to Vegas and run leagues. Tax-deductible as advertising.
And a poolroom may not make money, but they really have to hold tournaments. One way to be able to add more money is done all the time with green fees. The green fee is to compensate the owner for lost table time they would normally get during tournament play. Players expect to pay this. So say you had a weekend tournament and were going to add $500. If you had 32 players and they paid a $30 entry and a $10 green fee, you have just gotten $320 of your $500 to add, so in reality, all that is coming out of pocket is $180 which if you serve any food or drinks at all, you should at least break even. The players get $1460 in payouts and you only paid $180. I like giving the first bracket out of the money free table time in off hours or a free meal. So you look good to the players and it's a win-win. Make sure there is a camera to record winners, etc. It's vital that your tournaments run smoothly with a good director. Pay them if you have to. Some will work for a meal!
Scotch doubles tournaments are fun and the women drag the men there and vice-versa. Have local businesses donate door prizes/meals and make them fun.
Can you have pull tabs? Those are great money makers, but I'm not sure what the criteria is for being able to have them - it probably varies by city or state.
Get an inexpensive website. One of your regulars will know how to put it up if you don't. Trade them table time for site maintenance. Make sure the website is on your business cards and all ads. Put up the pictures of people, tournaments, etc.
Hope you get some ideas from this. I have more but this is all I can think of right now. Good luck!
Oh, I forgot something - the reason you are collecting those email addresses in the fish bowl is to have an emailing list to send out notices of specials, tournaments, etc. This will save a ton of $ in flyers, etc. and people have extensive email lists themselves that they will forward on to. There are automatic mailing programs that once you input the addresses, it will automatically email. It is not spam because they offered you their email. Remember the hosting fees are tax deductible!
On your website or just separately, you may want to do a newsletter to let people know of the specials for the month, past tournament results, even news about regulars (babies, marriages, etc.) so people start to feel like family.
Another technology thing - look into making your place a wi-fi hot spot. We computer geeks are attracted to pool. You can set it up that to get access they need to buy an hour's worth of table time or whatever.
OK, I really am done now.
Linda
