(Part Two of Three. Almost Finished!)
Dear Gentle Readers,
Because I’ve never actually attended a major pool event, the following is my least-informed foray into the ever-nebulous Pool Suggestions Marketplace.
So, please forgive me for being a bit wobbly on the logistics -- room layouts, scheduling, promoter constraints, personality conflicts, interaction potential, etc.
Nevertheless … Full Steam Ahead!
What, then, could an amateur / pro mashup look like?
Could our ‘success side’ (amateurs) somehow champion more professional cross-involvement? In a more assertive way? In a more positive way?
Hmm … let’s imagine a modest insertion of professional players into a major amateur event. (I’m vaguely aware that this wouldn’t be an instant-easy. Apparently, most league players have no idea who most professionals are. And many of them don’t have much interest in learning any more on the subject. Dudus Americanus!)
Nevertheless, let’s imagine a couple of charm-imbued players -- say, a Vivian and an Alex. Yes, I realize Alex isn’t an American, but what a terrific ambassador to that League of Amateurs he could be!
For my dimly-conceived outreach campaign, I could envision how the two of them could attend, tag-team, charm a Las Vegas amateur crowd. They could quite possibly enliven some grassroots interest in the professional game. (The most effective -- affective? -- effective marketing communications campaigns are, so very often, via word-of-mouth.)
So ... at this particular amateur extravaganza, we could start with a few dedicated professional exhibitions ... pre-publicized, appropriately scheduled and well-spotlighted.
Demonstrations. Q & A. Ad hoc lessons. Work-the-room. A friendly process that would inform and animate.
All of the above would be organized not to interfere with any amateur matches. Perhaps these pro events could be scheduled in a dedicated room.
To add seasoning to the gumbo, let’s include some giveaways to the amateurs ... free vids of rousing professional matches for the participants to take home. Signed posters. Tees.
Let’s not stop there …
Free brunches with winning amateur teams. Free beer busts. (Any savvy editor will tell you how ‘Free Beer’ in her headline will generate the most readers. I think they may teach it in J-School!)
Since, on the non-professional side, we’re discussing Generation Internet, let’s incorporate candid pics, group photos and brief videos which feature these kids interacting with pro players.
And then let’s e-distribute all of it back to these amateurs visiting from around the country. Let’s include links to professional social media, pool forums, blogs, etc.
Further … here’s a public relations idea that wouldn’t cost much and should be relatively easy to accomplish. Start with the above visual media. Add the tournament results and a few pithy quotes from both sides. Then send the edited packages to the local media in the hometowns of the top-placing amateurs.
Executed adroitly, there should be some extensive and positive local and regional coverage.
All of the above suggestions are, of course, obvious invitations for you to explain to me why any and all of this can’t work. And, okay, maybe you’re right!
But, with a friendly -- the bong is half full! -- spirit, the concept ... top pros interfacing with today’s amateurs ... perhaps there is an idea-starter lurking somewhere in there? Anywhere in there?
Friendly professionals, using their talent, employing their charisma, inspiring players several levels below them … well … it could help. Maybe.
One key? The pros have to be genuinely enthusiastic about aiding and abetting the future of pool … involving more amateurs, encouraging younger players, inviting more exposure … well, you know the drill.
Since I seem unable to dismount from this particular rant -- that our pros could crochet something positive into the tapestry of American pool -- let’s further imagine our savviest professional players cooperating -- more positively than they do now -- with:
> Promoters / manufacturers (who -- let’s celebrate it! -- underwrite events, pay the cash, enable the streams, make possible the DVDs and memorialize the historical records),
> Streamers, free and paid, (who deliver the extra exposure),
> Pool forums / social media sites (who provide additional coverage to the already-existing and the someday-to-be-there cadre of fans),
> Booth commentators. (Don’t underestimate the passions of stream viewers and chat-roomers!).
Example?
I remember, with affection, a weekend Kolby’s Corner stream — where in the chat room — Scott F. was answering questions from the great unwashed. (Okay: literary license. I bathe daily. Often more often!)
I typed ‘who is the best one-pocket player?’ He responded, in his made-for-commentary manner, ‘Efren.’ The Freezer listed himself in second place, then named three others. (One of whom, if memory serves, was incarcerated.)
It was -- even given the modest audience numbers -- rather electrifying to me. Why? It was live, it was candid and it involved a great player. Responding to a mere doofus. Pretty nifty!
Meager point? I was so positively impressed that I posted that particular Freezer interchange to the one-pocket forum. And sent it to a few chums. The process can, indeed, pay it forward. As my dad’s favorite Chicago philosopher, the Word Jazz impresario, noted, “It feeds upon itself and of itself is fed.” (I hope I remember that quote correctly!)
Rough translation: a delicious story circulates, gathers momentum and … well, you get the drift!
In addition to an increased and more positive professional involvement in the overall world of pool, what are some other possible success-generators? Let me start ...
I dunno!
Although I would guess an acknowledgement from the current American professional congregation that whatever they’re doing isn’t working so well. Isn’t very successful. For most players. On a variety of echelons.
Perhaps they could consider a new orientation? A reassessment of the current management team? New leadership who might contemplate a revitalized role of more active engagement with all levels of the pool hierarchy?
Last meager point … if national media are interested in boxcar numbers, and if our only freight cars rest in amateur railroad sidings ...
Never mind!
Once again I’ve lost my train of thought!
Or, mayhaps, I haven’t. I guess we could continue this meager thread in Part Three, my final mumble in this quixotic rumble.
Stretching analogies is my life,
Sunny
Dear Gentle Readers,
Because I’ve never actually attended a major pool event, the following is my least-informed foray into the ever-nebulous Pool Suggestions Marketplace.
So, please forgive me for being a bit wobbly on the logistics -- room layouts, scheduling, promoter constraints, personality conflicts, interaction potential, etc.
Nevertheless … Full Steam Ahead!
What, then, could an amateur / pro mashup look like?
Could our ‘success side’ (amateurs) somehow champion more professional cross-involvement? In a more assertive way? In a more positive way?
Hmm … let’s imagine a modest insertion of professional players into a major amateur event. (I’m vaguely aware that this wouldn’t be an instant-easy. Apparently, most league players have no idea who most professionals are. And many of them don’t have much interest in learning any more on the subject. Dudus Americanus!)
Nevertheless, let’s imagine a couple of charm-imbued players -- say, a Vivian and an Alex. Yes, I realize Alex isn’t an American, but what a terrific ambassador to that League of Amateurs he could be!
For my dimly-conceived outreach campaign, I could envision how the two of them could attend, tag-team, charm a Las Vegas amateur crowd. They could quite possibly enliven some grassroots interest in the professional game. (The most effective -- affective? -- effective marketing communications campaigns are, so very often, via word-of-mouth.)
So ... at this particular amateur extravaganza, we could start with a few dedicated professional exhibitions ... pre-publicized, appropriately scheduled and well-spotlighted.
Demonstrations. Q & A. Ad hoc lessons. Work-the-room. A friendly process that would inform and animate.
All of the above would be organized not to interfere with any amateur matches. Perhaps these pro events could be scheduled in a dedicated room.
To add seasoning to the gumbo, let’s include some giveaways to the amateurs ... free vids of rousing professional matches for the participants to take home. Signed posters. Tees.
Let’s not stop there …
Free brunches with winning amateur teams. Free beer busts. (Any savvy editor will tell you how ‘Free Beer’ in her headline will generate the most readers. I think they may teach it in J-School!)
Since, on the non-professional side, we’re discussing Generation Internet, let’s incorporate candid pics, group photos and brief videos which feature these kids interacting with pro players.
And then let’s e-distribute all of it back to these amateurs visiting from around the country. Let’s include links to professional social media, pool forums, blogs, etc.
Further … here’s a public relations idea that wouldn’t cost much and should be relatively easy to accomplish. Start with the above visual media. Add the tournament results and a few pithy quotes from both sides. Then send the edited packages to the local media in the hometowns of the top-placing amateurs.
Executed adroitly, there should be some extensive and positive local and regional coverage.
All of the above suggestions are, of course, obvious invitations for you to explain to me why any and all of this can’t work. And, okay, maybe you’re right!
But, with a friendly -- the bong is half full! -- spirit, the concept ... top pros interfacing with today’s amateurs ... perhaps there is an idea-starter lurking somewhere in there? Anywhere in there?
Friendly professionals, using their talent, employing their charisma, inspiring players several levels below them … well … it could help. Maybe.
One key? The pros have to be genuinely enthusiastic about aiding and abetting the future of pool … involving more amateurs, encouraging younger players, inviting more exposure … well, you know the drill.
Since I seem unable to dismount from this particular rant -- that our pros could crochet something positive into the tapestry of American pool -- let’s further imagine our savviest professional players cooperating -- more positively than they do now -- with:
> Promoters / manufacturers (who -- let’s celebrate it! -- underwrite events, pay the cash, enable the streams, make possible the DVDs and memorialize the historical records),
> Streamers, free and paid, (who deliver the extra exposure),
> Pool forums / social media sites (who provide additional coverage to the already-existing and the someday-to-be-there cadre of fans),
> Booth commentators. (Don’t underestimate the passions of stream viewers and chat-roomers!).
Example?
I remember, with affection, a weekend Kolby’s Corner stream — where in the chat room — Scott F. was answering questions from the great unwashed. (Okay: literary license. I bathe daily. Often more often!)
I typed ‘who is the best one-pocket player?’ He responded, in his made-for-commentary manner, ‘Efren.’ The Freezer listed himself in second place, then named three others. (One of whom, if memory serves, was incarcerated.)
It was -- even given the modest audience numbers -- rather electrifying to me. Why? It was live, it was candid and it involved a great player. Responding to a mere doofus. Pretty nifty!
Meager point? I was so positively impressed that I posted that particular Freezer interchange to the one-pocket forum. And sent it to a few chums. The process can, indeed, pay it forward. As my dad’s favorite Chicago philosopher, the Word Jazz impresario, noted, “It feeds upon itself and of itself is fed.” (I hope I remember that quote correctly!)
Rough translation: a delicious story circulates, gathers momentum and … well, you get the drift!
In addition to an increased and more positive professional involvement in the overall world of pool, what are some other possible success-generators? Let me start ...
I dunno!
Although I would guess an acknowledgement from the current American professional congregation that whatever they’re doing isn’t working so well. Isn’t very successful. For most players. On a variety of echelons.
Perhaps they could consider a new orientation? A reassessment of the current management team? New leadership who might contemplate a revitalized role of more active engagement with all levels of the pool hierarchy?
Last meager point … if national media are interested in boxcar numbers, and if our only freight cars rest in amateur railroad sidings ...
Never mind!
Once again I’ve lost my train of thought!
Or, mayhaps, I haven’t. I guess we could continue this meager thread in Part Three, my final mumble in this quixotic rumble.
Stretching analogies is my life,
Sunny
