Tar subscription-possible?

3RAILKICK said:

Hi Justin-sorry about the recent sudden change of plans re Dippy/Bartrum.

It was good to hear that an effort was made by Dippy to help make you whole to some degree on up-front money that you advanced to help make this match happen. That's good. Recognizing and resolving an obvious, but (possibly) non contractual obligation for such costs is good.

QUESTION:

Is there a way that we can pay a subscription fee to TAR to be notified (email/leave cell phone message?) of an impromptu, fast developing match up that is being streamed?

Possibly a 'free stream' to subscribers that have already paid the monthly or yearly fee?
The nature of the beast of matchups seems like they can come together or come apart pretty fast.

Since you and TAR are taking on the majority of cost, headaches, and logistics fixed costs-I'm wondering if there are ways that we railbirds can help with some overhead, while hoping to access some good old school matchup action by paying a 'club member' fee?

Just a thought. Not a well organized thought. But then, I just know what I would like to see-I don't know how to get there. I do know that you and your crew shouldn't have to take on all the financial risk of trying to herd these cats into making a game, and showing up as 'agreed' to play it.

As a straight up business venture in an uncertain environment-another revenue stream-tied to access of these uncertain events...could it work?

PPV works, when it happens. Pay to Wait... to see if it happens... and then be notified...could it happen? How many of us have gotten a call that a match was going off-and made the travel-just to be disappointed that it didn't happen that night. Rather, it happened 3 days later at a different room and nobody called us.

I'm trying to ask if with today's technology-can we pay to be notified of some action going down in real time. Primarily, the timely notification-the fee structure to watch-access per event, a monthly or yearly subscriber fee-something should be workable.

NOBODY TOLD ME/I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO KNOW THAT WAS GOING ON...sort of thing.

Justin - we really appreciate what you do. We want it to succeed and continue. There is a monthly nut-maybe we can help.

Sorry for the ramble.

Click to expand...

I think this is a great idea. Keeping in mind I have no idea how Justin has to his streams and PPV and how they work. The only way I see this would be possible is say he gets 100 codes for ppvs, he would have to assign codes 1-25 to be allowed to always have access to the streams and 26-100 to be temporary one use codes. The problem I foresee is say someone pays x amount a month to always view the stream. In month 1 Dippy is in town and doesnt mind getting streamed. He is in constant action and the viewer sees the stream most of the month. In month 2 Dippy is gone wherever and they are a few players around and the viewer only sees the stream for part of the month. He still feels he got his money worth but is disappointed there wasn't as much action as the previous month like he was used to. In month 3 you guessed it. Either noone shows up or whoever shows up doesnt want to be streamed. Now whoever is paid sees nothing and is extremely upset. In my opinion that is just the luck of the draw. take the good months with the bad months but we all know someone will complain.
Just My 2 cents whether its right or wrong.

Maybe, he could update the TAR Studio page on his web site and keep us informed of upcoming matches so we may purchase them. Keep up the good work JUSTIN.

thats EXACTLY what JCIN needs to do, if he really wants to make $$$.


I'm a marketer, I know lots about this topic. I made more $$ with recurring monthly memberships than anything ever. The biz we been working on the past 2 years is based on the same model. It hasnt launched yet, when it does i'll let everyone know. Its been a long 2 years...


The porn guys did it first back in 96 online, A friend of mine did the girls with the web cam thing (which is basically what TAR does, pool not girls.), He did this in 96 and after a year was making $20,000/week. He had a 3 year run. That biz has changed. Pool wont change. My friend died of cancer he was 41, that really sucked.

A studio like TAR has and being in Vegas, with a reputation good like JCIN has is the right combination of things for him to charge a access fee for content. There are different ways to go about monetizing what he has built. But he is in a position to do that. The pay as you go thing is NOT the best way forward for him. Because his reputation is so good and he has ability to create content on a regular basis and people will sign up and pay a regular fee, like a gym fee. Then when there is content its there for people, if it falls apart then its understood it is what it is.

For example, If there was 500 subscribers at $15/mo there would be $7500/mo and then still PPV for people who dont subscribe. I dont have the numbers for his biz but I know I could hone it into maximum $$$ and make sure the customers are happy, With the libary of content he has built over the years that too could be accessable to the monthly subscribers. Like Hulu or netflix streaming video. This way there is always something to watch and live stuff as it happens. There is enough in the can now IMO for him to make a real business out of the streaming video market in addition to whats up comming.

I would make a business out of this if I had the time. It would be great for pool and profitable. And for it to really work it must be profitable. Nobody can work for free, If it made $200,000/yr can you imagine how hard he another people would work it?? Profits drive everything.

I really hope this takes off. I dont think it will ever work if he keeps it as a "Pay as you go" business model. I do feel enough people trust JCIN to sign up and understand that earily on there will be less live action and more streams of old matches available. His reputation is 100% IMO and that's why he can do this biz, everything is there-like I said his rep, Vegas, studio, action, and catalog of past stuff. Its taken him years to get where he is at, now is the time to take the next step, well within the next 6-12 months. The studio is huge in and of itself, but the next step must be taken soon to ensure its success. And My offer of a free one still stands. I dont ever want to make $$ in pool, i'd just put my end back into paying appearance fees to players, free rent, etc. But I'm not in the biz, I do have a free building walking distance from Cue Club for JCIN if he ever wants it, no strings attached. I dont want to get into the biz. I have a office building with a vacant space-i'm offering. right now he dont need it, if it rents then its not avaliable. But if its vacent and he wants it I'll pay 50% of the rent. I own 50% of the building so I get half off the rent and it wouldnt cost TAR a penny. I'm not a partner in TAR and never will be, I just am willing to help if it becomes necessary. I just want to see players make $$ and TAR as well. this is the future of pool, not big tournments. Guys that cant gamble will have to get jobs, action will drive pool. And I'll play Vif 8ball heads up, just call me.

best
Eric:smile:

All good ideas. All way over my head technically. So far I have had little luck finding someone who can make those things happen for a reasonable cost. I'll keep looking though.

As for the website I have absolutely no clue what match is next. I guess I could post that.

Would I be treated as a Paid Guest if I subscribed to TAR????

Seems to me (just my impression from watching TAR from day 1) that for the company, TAR really has been about providing the best content for the viewers they could muster up with the best quality, and like most smart goal-oriented people, I think they have been very successful at that goal and get better at it the time.

Had their goal been only "make it pay" as well as they could, they maybe would have been more successful at the money making part and maybe far less successful at creating the really pretty dedicated following they have now.

Let face it, subscription porn sites are rip offs, and the subscription aspects are often designed with the idea of best ripping the customers off. I have never had that feeling from TAR at all and I really don't think that TAR's next move now that they have a dedicated customer base should be finding a way to best exploit their customers.

Thanks

Kevin