Article by Badi Nazhat


......the core problem is the lack of promotional expertise and this is not the players problem, it's the promoter's problem and it can easily be fixed.....but NEVER with "streaming video" it must be with BIG media ie: TV!


Maybe so BUT how much longer do we have before the two become one and the same?

Not much I don't think.
 
Lots of truth in this post.

Griffin and I have a long running joke:

Mark: You know someone could buy pro pool for a few million bucks......

Me and Mark:....but then what would you do with it?

Cue rimshot and laugh track....

Seriously though how do you sell something no one wants to watch? Not even the people who play?

When someone figures that out maybe things will be different.
reminds me of an old joke...


... if you want to make a small fortune in the pool industry all you need to do is start out with a large fortune!

bingo... automatic
 
Tunica's promotion was as quiet as a mouse peeing on a cotton ball

Maybe so BUT how much longer do we have before the two become one and the same?

Not much I don't think.

Ask the question "who was responsible for promoting the event in Tunica?"

Chances are you will here crickets......or a pin drop. The truth was there was no promoter handling Tunica, they had every other department covered, but not the promotional aspect. This is the one that makes events "SIZZLE" and Tunica had 0 sizzle.....if the promotion of Tunica was noise it would have been equivalent to a mouse peeing on a cotton ball. :D

There is a solution to these issues, and it's not doing the same thing over and over!!!

quiet-as-a-mouse-peein-on-a-cottonball-men-s-heaveyweight-t-shirt_design.png
 
I wish you good luck but if you need "good business sense, knowledgable players and solid industry support." in pool is like me saying I need a 32 inch waist, a Ferrari and a date with Oprah. All theoretically possible but highly unlikely. Especially all at the same time.

100% agree that a ground up structure would be very effective at changing the future for the better. I hope you can pull it off.

You can def bang Oprah son...you got Stedman beat, might be a few million light in the bank but you still are the favorite
 
This is the Gettsburg Address, the I Have A Dream, the Sermon On The Mount of the pool world. This guy gets it.

I wish he would have pointed out the positives more to the pool players and pointed them in that direction, but it is hard in human nature to be positive when you are talking about a negative subject.

What is sad is that all the pro players will read it and either react like CJ and say that he should have done this or that better or they simply won't respond at all. Most won't respond. And the ABP, BCA, WPBA won't respond either.

SVB responded on Facebook that it will take a celebrity to clean up pool. What is a celebrity's motivation? It will take players like SVB to stand up, call out their peers and let them know when the are f-ing up a good thing. It will take a player(s) on the ABP list of membership to stand up and state they never joined anything and question what their true intentions are.
 
I wish you good luck but if you need "good business sense, knowledgable players and solid industry support." in pool is like me saying I need a 32 inch waist, a Ferrari and a date with Oprah. All theoretically possible but highly unlikely. Especially all at the same time.

100% agree that a ground up structure would be very effective at changing the future for the better. I hope you can pull it off.

Oprah is your dream date? Who woulda thought.
 
Will any of the players listen or just blame someone else?
Will any of the organizations listen or blame someone else?
Will bonus ball take over the world or are we all still too stupid to understand it?
 
Although I played a lot as a kid, at 48 yrs. old, I am kind of new to pool having joined my 1st league 2 yrs. ago.

It looks like pool is having more success in Asia and Europe than here in the US. Why is that ? Seems like I see quite a few strong young Asian and European men and women competing successfully.

Is it promoting pool to women and children ? Is it some kind of business or promotional savy ? Is it long term thinking, planning, investing ?

Or is pool in Asian and Europe in just as bad a shape as here in the US ?
 
If a Million Dollar tree falls in the forest and no one's around does it still make a noise?

Dishing out $100,000 to the players made no noise, this is just a fact. As a promoter your sole ambition should be to make noise for your promotion.

TV is the only way for a sport/game to do this, streaming video at that even didn't bring one new person into the game.......in other words IT MADE NO NOISE.

My suggestion to Badi would have been simple. Put $50,000 into the tournament and $50,000 into a REAL TV BROADCAST and at least MAKE SOME NOISE.

This tournament had hundreds of players and 15 fans.....if anything it should be the other way around, use 8 Quality Players, put it on TV and PROMOTE IT!!!

To only get a hundred or so total fans over the course of 4 days is a promotional failure.

QUOTE]
Some good points.

In respect of fan attendance it would be hard to get a lot of fans from the immediate area to attend regardless of promotional dollars spent because there is not a large enough fan base in in terms of people who would want to attend that live near where these are typically held. In addition it is not like a football, baseball or hockey game, 1 three hour event that is local to you. It requires travel (for many fans) and a stay of four or more days.

Your point in respect of a real television broadcast is right on but even that would not attract the viewership needed to justify itself (initially). It will take patient money, a long term view and a whole lot of tweaking to hit the right formula. Made for TV invitational events with limited fields, fueled by a feeder system of local and regional tours might have merit.

It takes a knowledge of the game and an appreciation of the subtle strategies and nuances involved to fully appreciate it.I was struck, when listening to Earl Strickland when he joined the commentator booth during the Ocean state finals last week, that this type of insightful, knowledgeable commentary certainly would go a long way in helping the less knowledgeable fan appreciate what is going on.

I just booked my travel, hotel, vip-tv tickets etc. for DCC and by the time everything is said and done I'm in for over $2500. On the plus side it makes for a great vacation seeing the best of the sport play a game I enjoy watching.
 
Glad I got online today and saw Badi's article. Pool needs more people like him, but I'm not going to hold my breath. I day dream daily about the fun I had in the seventies and early 80's playing pool.:)
 
If a Million Dollar tree falls in the forest and no one's around does it still make a noise?

Dishing out $100,000 to the players made no noise, this is just a fact. As a promoter your sole ambition should be to make noise for your promotion.

TV is the only way for a sport/game to do this, streaming video at that even didn't bring one new person into the game.......in other words IT MADE NO NOISE.

My suggestion to Badi would have been simple. Put $50,000 into the tournament and $50,000 into a REAL TV BROADCAST and at least MAKE SOME NOISE.

This tournament had hundreds of players and 15 fans.....if anything it should be the other way around, use 8 Quality Players, put it on TV and PROMOTE IT!!!

To only get a hundred or so total fans over the course of 4 days is a promotional failure.

The solution is TV, not prize money, it would be better to have two players a week playing for charity donations than a $1,000,000 tournament in Tunica Mississippi.

It wouldn't have mattered if the prize money was a MILLION dollars there still would have been 15 fans in the stands......the core problem is the lack of promotional expertise and this is not the players problem, it's the promoter's problem and it can easily be fixed.....but NEVER with "streaming video" it must be with BIG media ie: TV!

This could not possibly be more accurate CJ. I can only relate this to my band and music. Being in a somewhat successful rock band that has sold in excess of 12 million records, I can tell you it's not without a lot of people working in a lot of different departments.. You have management which helps with your direction and image, a record company with an artist development department, a producer, a sound engineer, and most importantly a "PROMOTION DEPARTMENT". The promotion department are responsible for getting our music to the people. If all these people aren't working in harmony and doing their jobs, we don't sell millions of records, because no one would know we existed.

So if someone throws a million dollars at pool that's all fine and good, but if they don't have promotion dollars, it's not going to fly and generate revenue. It sounds like that is pretty much what's happening in the pool world. I wasn't thrilled with bonus ball, but one thing that seemed like could generate excitement is the team concept. The uniforms were a nice touch also.

Regardless, more focus has to be put into promotion and they do have people that are experts in this field, they just need to be sought. I am a huge pool fan who would really love to see all the great players rewarded for their skills. I don't have the answers but I know what worked for my line of work and just thought I would share that....

Good Luck..
 
Although I played a lot as a kid, at 48 yrs. old, I am kind of new to pool having joined my 1st league 2 yrs. ago.

It looks like pool is having more success in Asia and Europe than here in the US. Why is that ? Seems like I see quite a few strong young Asian and European men and women competing successfully.

Is it promoting pool to women and children ? Is it some kind of business or promotional savy ? Is it long term thinking, planning, investing ?

Or is pool in Asian and Europe in just as bad a shape as here in the US ?


I think pool is constantly competing with rather conservative moral values in America. Combine that with interests (or lack of interests) for each generation and you're looking at a game that never peaks like baseball and doesn't evolve like poker. I'm hoping the generation born today is the "IRL" generation and gets off their computers but who knows what will happen and even if they do turn-off their screens, it's anybody's guess if they'll turn to pool.

Whether I'm right or wrong is irrelevant. It's a complicated question. I don't think pool can look to Europe or Asia and learn much. We're different people.
 
You know, there's the same general theme that this is all the pro players' fault, but I would like to insert in this thread that I do not think it prudent to stereotype all pro players under the same broad brush.

There are some pro players who did support both events, Ultimate and Southern Classic, and there are some pro players who were not following the Bonus Ball Pied Piper's false promises.
 
500K isn't enough to broadcast a pool match on tv.

Pool just isn't made for U.S tv in todays time. People just rather watch or do other activities.

If you cant get 2000 people to pay 15$ to watch shane vs efren, pool doesnt stand a chance on tv no matter how much is spent on promotions and advertisements.
 
You know, there's the same general theme that this is all the pro players' fault, but I would like to insert in this thread that I do not think it prudent to stereotype all pro players under the same broad brush.

There are some pro players who did support both events, Ultimate and Southern Classic, and there are some pro players who were not following the Bonus Ball Pied Piper's false promises.

I agree completely. Pools diminished standing and popularity isn't any one particular groups fault. But for it to become more popular and profitable, the players will most certainly have to become part of the solution.
 
Great article on the reality of pro pool indeed.

But pool itself need not professionals to survive. It needs players. It needs fathers, sons, college buddies, coworkers, college students, etc. No pro pool? Well, that just means less tournaments to attend and less YouTube videos to enjoy. But for those who love the sport of smacking spheres, any night at the local pool room is a clash of titans, and good times spent with those who share a similar passion.

Pool just needs a grassroots movement. Support your local pool rooms, local tournaments, and leagues. Teach your sons and daughters about it. Suggest it as an outing to coworkers and friends. Hold company events at a pool room. Partner with a pool room to hold kids summer camps or other junior programs.

I love watching the pros play and a few are my idols. But I love pool more.
 
500K isn't enough to broadcast a pool match on tv.

Pool just isn't made for U.S tv in todays time. People just rather watch or do other activities.

If you cant get 2000 people to pay 15$ to watch shane vs efren, pool doesnt stand a chance on tv no matter how much is spent on promotions and advertisements.

What you say makes a lot of sense. Maybe that is the root of the problem. Pool in the US in it's current state is not popular enough. What is the solution ?

A lot of debate about what can be done in the short term. But in the long term, I think most agree that pool needs to grow. Grow by bringing in new and future players, which I think are today's women and children. Grow the industry as a whole, not just the serious players. Casual players spend money too.

Problem is who has the $$ and desire to spend money towards the future of pool with the payback benefiting the next generation. Investing is the wrong word. Investment $ is better spent on the stock market. Money towards the future of pool is more like charity $ towards something close to the heart.
 
You know, there's the same general theme that this is all the pro players' fault, but I would like to insert in this thread that I do not think it prudent to stereotype all pro players under the same broad brush.

There are some pro players who did support both events, Ultimate and Southern Classic, and there are some pro players who were not following the Bonus Ball Pied Piper's false promises.

Correct JAM - but there are players that simply don't speak out or take leadership. I think SVB has been great for pool but seriously, how does his mind work that a celebrity needs to get involved to save pool? Mike Dechaine speaks out but his approach is not always the greatest. The Filipino's 'spoke out' about the US Open by not showing up but they really didn't do any vocalization.

The players need someone that can lead them - it doesn't have to be a player and at this point most likely should not be (but certainly not a celebrity). One that can listen to their issues, one that can connect with the promoters and what is left with industry leaders, to get something accomplished.

It also comes down to more than players coming out and supporting events. Pool needs rules that are black and white, adhered to by all players. I just had a friend get second place in a poker tourney - $87K - and he had to sign a waiver stating he would not chop. He had a microphone on him the entire time and if he even hinted that he wanted to chop, he would have been disqualified and gotten nothing. If the promoters were advised there was some backroom deal, he would have been disqualified and gotten nothing and/or barred from future events. The promoters of the event wanted to capture, REAL emotion as they played the finals. They didn't want to see players go thru the motions knowing their money was already secured. You think pool would ever institute that rule? You think American pool would ever ban any player? When was the last time it happened?
 
In all these interesting replies, I haven't seen a definition of "success."

After all, you need to define what you're working toward before you make and implement your plan.

I define success as increasing the number of people playing pool on a regular (twice per month) basis. 98% of those people will begin playing for the social rewards (fun with friends). A small number of those will get hooked on the game and try to improve by playing more often, taking lessons...and yes, buying gear. The best ones will leave the bar and go to a pool room. The best of those will enter tournaments and feed the professional prize pot.

As a previous poster said, it's a grassroots thing. Pool can only grow from the bottom up. All the maladies confronting pool today are just signs of a decreasing pool-player universe. There's no "magic" or quick fix that is going to make professional pool a big-money sport. I know it's hard for diehard pool fans like AZBers to accept, but the professional segment will be the last segment to benefit.
 
FIRST thing we did was get a FIRST CLASS Promotional Director

markgw;4452940[B said:
]This could not possibly be more accurate CJ. I can only relate this to my band and music.[/B] Being in a somewhat successful rock band that has sold in excess of 12 million records, I can tell you it's not without a lot of people working in a lot of different departments.. You have management which helps with your direction and image, a record company with an artist development department, a producer, a sound engineer, and most importantly a "PROMOTION DEPARTMENT". The promotion department are responsible for getting our music to the people. If all these people aren't working in harmony and doing their jobs, we don't sell millions of records, because no one would know we existed.

So if someone throws a million dollars at pool that's all fine and good, but if they don't have promotion dollars, it's not going to fly and generate revenue. It sounds like that is pretty much what's happening in the pool world. I wasn't thrilled with bonus ball, but one thing that seemed like could generate excitement is the team concept. The uniforms were a nice touch also.

Regardless, more focus has to be put into promotion and they do have people that are experts in this field, they just need to be sought. I am a huge pool fan who would really love to see all the great players rewarded for their skills. I don't have the answers but I know what worked for my line of work and just thought I would share that....

Good Luck..

Yes, we put on hundreds of promotional events in the night club business and the FIRST thing we did was get a FIRST CLASS Promotional Director....and PAY them a percentage of the door and/or the revenue from the event.

We would have done this for Badi or anyone else for that matter and it wouldn't cost them a cent.....unless we made the event MONEY.....this is how it works in the world of promotional events YOU EAT WHAT YOU KILL.....and nothing was even "wounded" in Tunica. ;)

The thing Badi has to look over is his promotional "action list". Who's responsibility was it to do the following tasks that make up a well executed promotion:

1) Who chose Tunica over Dallas (where it was last time) as the ideal venue to put on this promotional Pocket Billiards Event?

2) Who was hired to take care of the Marketing and Demographic profiles?

3) Who was hired to do the Public Relations ie: Charities, Press Releases, Local Interest Evaluations and Media Promotional strategy.

4) Who was in charge of getting the BIG MEDIA ie: Newspaper Stories, Radio Broadcasts and TV Show negotiations?

5) What was the projection for revenue for the event....did they even have one???

6) Who was in charge of the players and management of the event staff?

7) What was the strategy of the Short Term, and Long Term goals?

8) What would he consider success? Would it be to make a profit, or to generate a certain number of viewers or participants?

9) What was the media of advertising and who was in charge of doing the Advertising....ie: Advertising Director

10) What was the strategy to develop good will within the industry ie: AZbilliards, and other internet sources that connect to the fans?



 
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