I don't want to comment on the venue etc. because obviously I don't know it (other side of the Atlantic). But I can comment on not playing pros. I have from time to time played against, usually not upper echelon pros, but players that are as close as you can get. It's always interesting. The problem is: I'm not made of money. I can't play for money I don't have, and getting your brains beaten in over and over really isn't going to help me as much as focused practise. For a couple of hours worth of "cheap lessons" at the hands of a hustler, I could easily get the same amount of time of someone watching my game and helping me improve. I play tournaments against these people, it's better value.
I'd much rather pay for lessons, than playing with someone who's interest is in keeping in the dark as much as possible. The better you get, the truer that is. They'lll happily throw a c player a bone, but if they think you are, or might become a threat, they clam up really fast. And seriously, why pay top dollar for dry bones, when you can get a full meal for the same price?
For instance I played with a former snooker pro, when I was still fairly green at snooker. This guy doesn't give pointers, but he'll play with people, sometimes for free. It was awesome at first, but really, picking balls out the pockets eventually gets old. He didn't want to tell me anything and he kept making every ball. At that time, I didn't have the knowledge needed to benefit from watching him, either. At one time I played him for about 3 solid hours and never had a shot at anything and I don't think he missed a single ball. It was completely demoralizing. I'm much better at observing now, then I was back then, but still you can't expect people to magically pick up tips from watching this sort of thing. If that was the case, you'd be a pro from watching tv. About the only difference was that I picked up the balls, apart from that it was much like watching tv.
Seriously, only pool has this obsession with playing players far superior to yourself Would you put a beginner or even a weekend player up against a tennis pro? What can possibly be learned from not being able to return a single serve? If you can't run out regularly and easily, you are far better served to take lessons. If you are close to equally good, occational sparring will tell you where you are. Take that info and practise.
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