$500 Entry For Us Open?

[Jude Rosenstock]

Sort of right...but now matter how well Efren plays, or how well Charlie Williams markets himself, neither of them look like Jeanette Lee.

You'll see on the AZ homepage that Olhausen picked Jennifer Barretta as their spokeswoman, and they didn't do it because she is the best pool player.

Kollegedave

Honestly, there may not be room for ANOTHER big name in pool. I mean think about it, is there anyone on the golf tour other than Tiger Woods? In many sports, one big name rises to the top and that's it. Sometimes, they don't even need to continue playing to be preceived as the representative of their sport (see Michael Jordan).

There are players that have done all of the above and they still don't come close to the popularity Jeanette Lee has received. You're looking at a person who is very talented, good-looking, determined and someone who had EXCELLENT timing. She filled a void. Although we'd love to see others attain similar fame, I don't think the world is seeking out another big pool name as of yet. I'll let you know if any requests hit my inbox but I think that's all they need for the moment.

 

[chefjeff]

Great post Jeff, tap tap...too bad midgets are not the next big thing in pool, I would be raking it in. I hope when I retire from this computer work I will have time to start practicing and marketing myself as well.

Great advice for the up and comer...no matter how good you are with the stick, it is all about perception sometimes.

Shorty

Shorty, you might just have one of the best products of any of us to market. I could imagine a company that sells some small thing that does a big job. Maybe a new computer chip or something like that. You'd be the perfect spokesman.

Go get 'em!

Jeff Livingston

 

[chefjeff]

ChefJeff, that's all good, the marketing factor. However, without ACCOMPLISHING No. 2 in particular, it'd be a little difficult to "start working on Number 4, the highest value."

For you to say "everyone worrying about the expenses of playing, do what Jeanette does" will not help aspiring pool players who desire to take their game to the next level of PROFESSIONAL-caliber player. No. 2 in the equation is kind of important.

Sadly, the railbirds and paying spectators incur just about the same expense as the traveling professional pool players when attending pool events, like the U.S. Open. Personally, though, I wouldn't miss it for anything!

JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

Thanks for responding, JAM. I probably should have had the example of #1 be: "I think I'll turn professional and maybe even win the Open, too," as I didn't mean to limit my post with just going to the Open.

Yes, number 2 is kinda important...it is VERY important, or you don't have a product to sell. But let's look at how many players do number 2 exclusively. Maybe 100,000 or so? How many of those make a living at it? Zero.

Number 3 is even more important than 2 as the product is now proven to be of superb quality and durability. How many players are at that level? 300 or so? How many make a living at it? 10?

What value is a "warehouse" full of the greatest product if no one is selling/buying or selling it? Zero. Less than zero, actually, as that capital is sitting, doing nothing but taking up valuable money, space, and time. The best example in the pool world right now of players not going beyond Numbers 2 or 3 is resulting in many good players leaving the game for poker, for the money.

Note the value assigned to each stage. Let me redo it as a factor:

Level 1 Idea = 1 X 10^0
Level 2 Prototype = 1 X 10^1
Level 3 Production = 1 X 10 ^2
Level 4 Marketing = 1 X 10 ^3

Take a great product like Keith. He's definitely got proven value at the table and beyond. Now, take that product and multiply it by 10^3 and now there's lots of cash flowing in. Reinvest that several times and see what happens.

I heard you're writing a book about Keith's adventures. Great idea (1 X 1). When it's done, you'll have one hell of a story, I'm sure (1 X 10). Get it published (1 X 100). Now...now sell the book over and over and over to many satisfied customers (1 X 1000). To your competitors in the publishing world, "it's like a nightmare, isn't it?---it just gets worse and worse," as you outsell everyone.

Each level is definitely necessary for the next, otherwise there is nothing to multiply by (a million times zero is still zero), but the biggest factor of all is the marketing. Without that, your perfect product is basically worthless to the world, and therefore the world witholds its money and power. Pooldom needs money and power.

As to your last paragraph, I'd say that is not sad that us railbirds have to pay; I'd say that is good. Why? We're buying the product. Now, how can this market be expanded to include more railbirds? Ahhh...

Jeff Livingston

 

[chefjeff]

Sort of right...but now matter how well Efren plays, or how well Charlie Williams markets himself, neither of them look like Jeanette Lee.

You'll see on the AZ homepage that Olhausen picked Jennifer Barretta as their spokeswoman, and they didn't do it because she is the best pool player.

Kollegedave

These examples prove my point.

Efren doesn't need more practice, he needs more exposure, more marketing IF he wants more money. If he simply wants to be the best pool player in the world, then OK, he is. That, alone, won't get him a cup of coffee.

Jeanette looks hot. How do we know this? Because she made us notice!!!! She separated herself from the pack of beautiful, talented women. How? By marketing herself to the point where her product (her game that she spent years in the making) went downhill. But her income still went up! This is because the marketing factor overcame the lull in her game.

Those who only practiced playing and rose above Jeanette's game are still waiting for an angel to come and save pool so they can get paid a decent amount. Meanwhile, Jeanette has her money coming in and time to practice and play more so she now has a BIG advantage over her pool playing competitors. And the world has her product to enjoy.

Jeff Livingston

 

[chefjeff]

Honestly, there may not be room for ANOTHER big name in pool. (snip).

Don't let preconceived notions stop you. There's always been room for another great product in any endeavor. Markets are dynamic and constantly change. Make the room for it, ie, market it. That's my point. Simply playing pool and complaining about the lack of money does nothing.

And one doesn't have to be the biggest name in order to make money. Lots of golfers make a great living, because Arnie, et al, got off their golf courses and sold themselves to the TV watching public.

Marketing has a trickle-down effect that benefits others, too. A handful of smart pool playing marketers has the potential to bring the whole pro tour to a decent amount of money.

Jeff Livingston