Video Cameras at the Pool Hall

Yes.

There was a time when cameras of any type were forbidden in casinos.

I still consider any venue where wagering is to be off limits, regardless of the amount. IMO YMMV

Not long ago the police chief in my town "resigned" after being caught in a bar drinking while on duty.

I can think of many reasons why people wouldn't want to be recorded in a pool hall.

Perhaps better placement of the camera so that it does not pick up background activity. It is so easy for video to end up in the public domain.

jimmyco said:

Yes.

There was a time when cameras of any type were forbidden in casinos.

I still consider any venue where wagering is to be off limits, regardless of the amount. IMO YMMV

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Agreed, I would not tolerate that.

I am not sure what the anger is about.
Could be that they just don't want their picture or video taken, (nothing to do with money.)

Maybe they were playing particularly well and even at the stakes you mentioned didn't want others seeing.

I always ask and try to take the camera on the end of the table so all I shoot is me and the person I'm playing. You can't pick up anyone else when you have that view. Side views or something shot from a floor above could capture others.

Ghosst said:

I used to take my Everio HD camera down to the pool hall to record practice and playing sessions. I did it for about 6 months and learned a great deal of things to work on. A few years later I took my a friend down as she was learning and I thought it would be a great tool for her.

I found out about a year later that some of the players were really upset about this. I never heard a word about it from them directly either. The funny thing is none of them are world-beaters, nor do they gamble terribly high (max $3-400/day) so I don't really know who they're hiding from.

Their situation aside, would you be upset you were knowingly video-taped from across the room behind a pair of players? I mean two players walking in front of the lens constantly as they practiced.

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Ghosst said:

I used to take my Everio HD camera down to the pool hall to record practice and playing sessions. I did it for about 6 months and learned a great deal of things to work on. A few years later I took my a friend down as she was learning and I thought it would be a great tool for her.

I found out about a year later that some of the players were really upset about this. I never heard a word about it from them directly either. The funny thing is none of them are world-beaters, nor do they gamble terribly high (max $3-400/day) so I don't really know who they're hiding from.

Their situation aside, would you be upset you were knowingly video-taped from across the room behind a pair of players? I mean two players walking in front of the lens constantly as they practiced.

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IMO the 'room is a refuge from this shit. If you can't video yourself without showing others then DON'T do it. At least a cam was used and not a cell-phone but i still don't like it. To be clear, i'm 59, old-school and absolutely hate cams of ANY kind in the 'hall.

I take my phone in and use a tri-pod to do videos at my home room, but I am doing trickshot videos where it is just me. If you are video taping your practice session, then I would have no problem with that. You are trying to get better and people are using technology like never before. I think if you are shooting where it is just you then people shouldn't have an issue with that. Just my 2 cents.

Ghosst said:

I used to take my Everio HD camera down to the pool hall to record practice and playing sessions. I did it for about 6 months and learned a great deal of things to work on. A few years later I took my a friend down as she was learning and I thought it would be a great tool for her.

I found out about a year later that some of the players were really upset about this. I never heard a word about it from them directly either. The funny thing is none of them are world-beaters, nor do they gamble terribly high (max $3-400/day) so I don't really know who they're hiding from.

Their situation aside, would you be upset you were knowingly video-taped from across the room behind a pair of players? I mean two players walking in front of the lens constantly as they practiced.

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I would not have any problem with the camera. Of course, I'm not a public figure and also have nothing to hide.
I'm going to retire in August and thought I would pick up a camera to record sessions of my own. It is a great tool. Some players just refuse to take your word about a problem with their stroke until they actually see it on video.
I say, keep using the camera........JMHO

misterpoole said:

Perhaps better placement of the camera so that it does not pick up background activity. It is so easy for video to end up in the public domain.

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That was my thought also.
Set up the camera on a corner table and the cameras view is two walls.
How could anyone complain on that? ... well exception being a snowFLAKE. :grin-square:

In this day and age, you are probably being video taped every day at one time or another....even in a pool room. And there is nothing you can do about it. Get used to it.

Should be easy to record without videoing other people around you.

Doesn't bother me at all - although I'm no criminal mastermind like half the people in this thread

Ghosst said:

I used to take my Everio HD camera down to the pool hall to record practice and playing sessions. I did it for about 6 months and learned a great deal of things to work on. A few years later I took my a friend down as she was learning and I thought it would be a great tool for her.

I found out about a year later that some of the players were really upset about this. I never heard a word about it from them directly either. The funny thing is none of them are world-beaters, nor do they gamble terribly high (max $3-400/day) so I don't really know who they're hiding from.

Their situation aside, would you be upset you were knowingly video-taped from across the room behind a pair of players? I mean two players walking in front of the lens constantly as they practiced.

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I can go on YouTube and watch the recent weekly Hard Times tournaments, those guys don't care. Everybody else is a legend in their own minds.

No issues here. Our hall has security cameras inside so no problem. they also throw some select games up on facebook and twitch I think when they have tournaments. They streamed one of my sets once. it was painful. the other guy was slow playing, and it took almost 2 hours to play 5 games. I was sitting for 20 minutes so he could run 2 balls, and miss his third. I felt bad for anyone watching that game. I felt bad for myself as well, I just wanted to go home, but had committed to the set.

I don't have a problem with it. The more cameras the better, IMO. In fact, if you're in a public space/location/building, you should probably assume that you're on someone's video.

There's a difference in public space and a business being "open to the public." A poolroom/bar/club, while open to the public, is private property and the owner can allow/disallow video if he wants to.

Funny enough, I just bought a camera and mini tripod a couple weeks ago. I've taken it to the pool hall the last two weeks and have recorded 4 matches on it. I set it up on a window sill, slightly above the end table where we play. I never thought about anyone being upset by it as it really doesn't catch anyone on camera and I'm away from the main part of the pool hall.

After I watched the first match I recorded, I noticed I was being too agressive in my warm-up strokes, and have since adjusted my game, with slight improvement.

This thread has raised a bit of concern for me as I find the tape valuable for my business and for my game. There certainly is gambling going on at the place I've recorded the most - it's a bunch of old Italian dudes hanging out there. They play poker and I'm sure gamble on pool, but we are on the other side of the pool hall away from them and don't capture any of them on tape. There are more discrete ways of filming someone with a cell phone now, so I don't really see how there is a sound argument if I am just capturing my table and a few degrees extra. So long as I'm not walking around with it recording people, I think it's okay.

I will keep recording my games, and suggest you do the same. That is, until mangement or the owners inform you not to do so.

Ghosst said:

I used to take my Everio HD camera down to the pool hall to record practice and playing sessions. I did it for about 6 months and learned a great deal of things to work on. A few years later I took my a friend down as she was learning and I thought it would be a great tool for her.

I found out about a year later that some of the players were really upset about this. I never heard a word about it from them directly either. The funny thing is none of them are world-beaters, nor do they gamble terribly high (max $3-400/day) so I don't really know who they're hiding from.

Their situation aside, would you be upset you were knowingly video-taped from across the room behind a pair of players? I mean two players walking in front of the lens constantly as they practiced.

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Out of curiosity, did you get permission from the owner of the pool room to do this?

I've recorded a bunch of my matches as well. The information gleaned from those videos has been priceless.

As an earlier post mentioned, put the camera on a table in the corner out of the way and focus on the pool table bed. I also have a fairly tall tripod that I can point the camera down towards the table top, so the shooting angle is pretty much focused on that.

Finally, I always ask my opponent if they mind. If they object, I don't tape it. Never had anyone object though.

When I’ve recorded myself practicing,
(With iPhone on a small tripod) I go to
the pool hall when it’s not busy and
try to get a table away from everyone.

Now, if you’re shooting video near someone
while they’re in action.. not advisable.