Any billiards companies interested in working with us? - Dartmouth Billiards Student Organization

jasondavis4422

jasondavis4422

Member
Hey guys,
I hope this post finds you well during this winter season. My name is Jason A. Davis and I am the president and founder of Dartmouth Billiards Student Organization, the official billiards program at Dartmouth College. I've reached out before on this forum with lots of success, and I was hoping to see if there were any companies that wanted to work with us.

18-24 year old college students are a very promising demographic that companies should look into, and we believe that we can help grow the game of billiards to a wider audience. I think this would be a really cool opportunity, since I really love this game and want to see its appeal grow

We were wondering if any companies would be interested in partnering with us to support our endeavors and we hope that we could speak with you sometime in the next couple of weeks to discuss logistics. We are here to improve the community of billiards players, and we hope that you can collaborate with us in our mission.

Please let us know if you would be interested in speaking with us. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. You can use the email in the email or use the personal email associated with my account.

Best wishes,
Jason A. Davis
__________________________________
Dartmouth Billiards Student Organization
[W]: www.sites.dartmouth.edu/billiards
: @dartmouth_billiards
[E]: dartmouthbilliardsstudentorganization@dartmouth.edu
 
What is the annual tuition at Dartmouth?
What is the median annual income of Dartmouth's students' parents?
How much does Dartmouth contribute to your organization annually?
Isn't Dartmouth an Ivy League school?
 
Biloxi Boy said:
What is the annual tuition at Dartmouth?
What is the median annual income of Dartmouth's students' parents?
How much does Dartmouth contribute to your organization annually?
Isn't Dartmouth an Ivy League school?
Click to expand...
Is this the info you need while deciding on whether to sponsor this group? Even the New York Yankees have corporate sponsors, and a whole department of people who send out solicitation emails just like this one. Good to see young folks trying to create change for the better.
 
I know it seems like we have infinite resources because of Dartmouth's name, but it doesn't work like that. Schools don't consider billiards to be a serious program, which makes them less likely to allocate funding to us. I have tried speaking to Dartmouth's student activities board about asking for more funding, but they are very stingy due to the hundreds of other clubs that are at Dartmouth. Just like us, they usually try to host events and travel to events and conferences, which costs money. The money gets allocated towards clubs that Dartmouth supports heavily, and the billiards program isn't necessarily one of them, even though I believe there is promise there.

For example, we have tried to gain wider engagement of the club through promoting some club banners and placing rules for each of the primary games played (8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, and so on...). Yet, we were not even allowed to put this stuff on there because the space is supposed to be completely open and putting any information about our club would be seen as making the space less open to other people. We definitely want more people to discover the space and enjoy their time there, and it would much easier to maintain those newcomers if they knew there was an actual club/program where people can learn, socialize, and play the game.

We are just trying to create change for the better. From my brief time in the game, billiards has taught me dedication, commitment, and resilience, all important facets to my character. Even more so, it has given me a community of like-minded individuals who share the same passion, and in this modern age, community is dying in a world of greater alienation, isolation, and atomization. As such, we are looking to help do that both within and beyond Dartmouth, especially considering the game is slowly beginning to resurge with Matchroom sponsoring events. Change is a gradual process, but DBSO believes we can have a positive influence on the sport. And hopefully, we can find some partners that would be willing to do so in collaboration with our mission.

Please feel free to read out mission statement and current goals. I also have any budget information for those interested, but please reach out to me individually if interested.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
For what it's worth -- you communicate very well. Way better than an actual, newly launched pool venture that I read about on here. I'm just a basement dwelling pool player so I can't help you but you seem to be on the right track. Good luck.
 
I think the way to get the gatekeepers with money to pay attention to you is to get as many members and event participants as possible. Find every table on or near campus and contact the people who play on each one.

I don't understand the part about not being allowed up put up info. I assume you wanted to do it where the tables are in the student center. And can't you leave copies of the rules around the tables with your club contact info on it?
 
Consider creating a "billiards outreach" program for local teens. "Help us help them" might be an easier sell than "help us" when approaching corporations. It is a far more palatable pitch. Also, I am sure there has to be some Dartmouth alums who strayed into the pool world. If such can be located, they would be my target group. And, although I an certain you must have, I would contact corporations directly. The only "Pool Hall CEO" I know of around here is John Barton with JB Cases.
 
As well as you write, why not just start chronicling your journey on social media? Write about what you love about the game and why it should be valued on campus. Have a 50/50 education to pool ratio or something. See if you can get your classmates to pay attention and get your club to grow.

You seem to be attacking this the old fashioned way. Today you create the content first, then figure out a way to monetize it second.

I get it if you really aren't looking to spend that much time on it though.
 
Ive seen companies that do pop up events with esports equipment.

Do you have any open and public events on the schedule?

It is more traditional to make services available on display at conventions for the college crowd. This month is Black History, are you volunteering at any cultural institutions that serve people of color in black or brown communities?

I tried to take a group of people to play billiards, it would be fun to take it after showing them Matchroom nineball promotions and player social media. I know several from different parts of the world that would have their jaw drop. Pool player stories do not fit the Ivy League crowd well.

Pool players would be more like 2 year college students that had to stay local because it was affordable. They were qualified but ...
 
It is a tough row to hoe. I wish you well as I have put four of my children through an Ivy league school.
This school had a small pool room and at one time an organized student club. It fizzled while my kids were there. No interest/no support. Really bummed me out, I would visit and go to see the room, the students working the counter were shocked when I rented a rack of balls. Not sure how long they had worked there but they acted like no one had ever tried to play at the five table room.

Its great that you are working on this and I don't want to be discouraging. Where there is a will there is a way.

Good luck Jason, proud of you.
 
My son was on the billiards team at North Texas. They had a faculty sponsor and traveled around Texas to compete. Do you have a faculty member organizing and supporting your efforts?
 
Playing pool at college is a lot better than just drinking or drugging your life away at school. I played a lot of pool at school over 50 years ago. I hope that you are successful in gaining traction for your hopes and plans.
 
jasondavis4422 said:
I know it seems like we have infinite resources because of Dartmouth's name, but it doesn't work like that. Schools don't consider billiards to be a serious program, which makes them less likely to allocate funding to us. I have tried speaking to Dartmouth's student activities board about asking for more funding, but they are very stingy due to the hundreds of other clubs that are at Dartmouth. Just like us, they usually try to host events and travel to events and conferences, which costs money. The money gets allocated towards clubs that Dartmouth supports heavily, and the billiards program isn't necessarily one of them, even though I believe there is promise there.

For example, we have tried to gain wider engagement of the club through promoting some club banners and placing rules for each of the primary games played (8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, and so on...). Yet, we were not even allowed to put this stuff on there because the space is supposed to be completely open and putting any information about our club would be seen as making the space less open to other people. We definitely want more people to discover the space and enjoy their time there, and it would much easier to maintain those newcomers if they knew there was an actual club/program where people can learn, socialize, and play the game.

We are just trying to create change for the better. From my brief time in the game, billiards has taught me dedication, commitment, and resilience, all important facets to my character. Even more so, it has given me a community of like-minded individuals who share the same passion, and in this modern age, community is dying in a world of greater alienation, isolation, and atomization. As such, we are looking to help do that both within and beyond Dartmouth, especially considering the game is slowly beginning to resurge with Matchroom sponsoring events. Change is a gradual process, but DBSO believes we can have a positive influence on the sport. And hopefully, we can find some partners that would be willing to do so in collaboration with our mission.

Please feel free to read out mission statement and current goals. I also have any budget information for those interested, but please reach out to me individually if interested.
Click to expand...
3. Increase community within organization
a. Restructure the team events to have a social aspect Recast the image as one of a social space through increasing number of social events.

This should be your main path.

bm
 
Yes, very good communication.

I have worked with engineers whose parents were professors, and I was inspired by their ability to communicate slowly and clearly. I was never able to master this skill like they could.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I think the way to get the gatekeepers with money to pay attention to you is to get as many members and event participants as possible. Find every table on or near campus and contact the people who play on each one.

I don't understand the part about not being allowed up put up info. I assume you wanted to do it where the tables are in the student center. And can't you leave copies of the rules around the tables with your club contact info on it?
Click to expand...
The administration was very strictly against us putting up items making reference to our club, including copies of the rules. It's very nonsensical, but the rules are the rules.
 
BasementDweller said:
As well as you write, why not just start chronicling your journey on social media? Write about what you love about the game and why it should be valued on campus. Have a 50/50 education to pool ratio or something. See if you can get your classmates to pay attention and get your club to grow.

You seem to be attacking this the old fashioned way. Today you create the content first, then figure out a way to monetize it second.

I get it if you really aren't looking to spend that much time on it though.
Click to expand...
I actually like that idea. I could potentially post it online with our Instagram or even try to get it in the school paper. Let me look into that.
 
derangedhermit said:
My son was on the billiards team at North Texas. They had a faculty sponsor and traveled around Texas to compete. Do you have a faculty member organizing and supporting your efforts?
Click to expand...
We have a faculty member, but that's because every club has to have a faculty member. She doesn't spend much time in the billiards arena, but she was willing to help be a part of the club, so it means a lot. I'm not sure of any professors on campus who are super involved, as I haven't seen them enter 8Ball Hall (our billiards center).
 
jasondavis4422 said:
We have a faculty member, but that's because every club has to have a faculty member. She doesn't spend much time in the billiards arena, but she was willing to help be a part of the club, so it means a lot. I'm not sure of any professors on campus who are super involved, as I haven't seen them enter 8Ball Hall (our billiards center).
Click to expand...
8Ball Hall.

Nicely done
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top