Article by Badi Nazhat

[azhousepro]

I view everyone who "has all the answers" the same way as I did John Rousseau.

He claimed to have fortune 500 companies chomping at the bit to throw money at the WPBA. But he would only bring them to the table if he was made president of the WPBA. They made him president and those companies disappeared.

There are hundreds of people on this forum who, if they had any company chomping at the bit to throw money at pool, would lead them to the proper people. They would do this just because they love the game. Not because of some demand for power.

But people just keep listening to the guys who claim to have all the answers. The game never goes anywhere, and people keep wondering why.

When the players, manufacturers, promoters, league operators and media all get together to help this game, then it will have a chance. Until then, we are all playing Hungry Hungry Hippo with a limited # of marbles.

 

[Johnnyt]

That is one of the biggest issues. The current leaders NEVER have to answer to their followers.

They just keep leading the players into an alley, where they get mugged. They say "That's too bad that you got mugged" and then lead them into the next alley.

The players never stop to ask why the muggers are meeting up with the leaders later.

Very well put Mike. Johnnyt

 

[markgw]

if they had any one in charge of advertising that person did poor job.

i live in memphis which is just 30 minutes north of tunica. memphis is always saturated with ads concerning events in tunica. i am talking about tv, radio , daily nrespapers,monthly magazines , billboards you name it .

every where you look you see ads for this concert or that promo..... except for the derby city classic. nothing , nada , zero , zilch.

pretty sad when you can see or hear ads every day for 2 months about a bike rally down there or for 3 months about a rodeo "non sanctioned at that " but nothing about the biggest pool event to ever be held in this area. we are talking about over one million people in the metro area and no advertising at all.

i posted on here last year and commented about no advertising for the 1st southern classic.

Do you know what the cost of getting radio and tv appearances would be to promote this event? Zero, zilch, nada. We go on the radio and do tv appearances before almost every show my band plays. I do radio interviews to help with the promotion a few weeks before the show and the day of show we go on the morning news and play a couple of tunes. All it takes is a few phone calls from an experienced publicist to set this up. They could have Archer, Strickland or any of the top pro's on the morning news. The radio is more forthcoming than you would think also. This is a way to promote the event free. So you have a couple of pro's on the local news, pro's doing radio interviews prior to the event, and everyone within' a 100 mile radius getting information on this event. Use the internet effectively also<<<<<That's huge!!!

 

[CJ Wiley]

it would make sense for him to hire a marketing/advertising agency to do this job..

Interesting insight Michael.

Badi is a really cool guy and one of my main consultants, John,met with him several times when he was in Frisco 2 years ago. We tried to follow his logic when it came to promoting Pro Pool, however, we never could identify what his objective were. If it was to promote the game then it would make sense for him to hire a marketing/advertising agency to do this job.....and do it VERY WELL....but instead there was no one at all.

We would be doing him a disservice if we didn't point out that he had a very sub par venue and without marketing, advertising and public relations there's NO WAY he or anyone else could have succeeded in the Tunica Event.

I'm just the messenger, everything I stated is the truth and anyone that's in business that reads it will agree. Pool is not unique, it CAN SUCCEED, however, it still must follow all the same rules of business that the other major sports and games follow.
[/SIZE]
Can you imagine any other major sport not having.

Marketing
Advertising
Public Relations
PRO AMs
CHARITY Affiliates
Business Plans
Short and Long Term Planning
Managers for the Players/Events
TV COVERAGE
Internet Representatives


Badi can succeed, however, he must first define what success is going to look like. No one could ever tell what the objectives truly were, if not profit, what??? Without TV it couldn't have been publicity or notoriety.

The reason for him doing these events is, indeed, a mystery. I wish we could help, but we would have to get some of these questions answered and we didn't have much luck the last time we tried in Frisco.

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

I view everyone who "has all the answers" the same way as I did John Rousseau.

He claimed to have fortune 500 companies chomping at the bit to throw money at the WPBA. But he would only bring them to the table if he was made president of the WPBA. They made him president and those companies disappeared.

There are hundreds of people on this forum who, if they had any company chomping at the bit to throw money at pool, would lead them to the proper people. They would do this just because they love the game. Not because of some demand for power.

But people just keep listening to the guys who claim to have all the answers. The game never goes anywhere, and people keep wondering why.

When the players, manufacturers, promoters, league operators and media all get together to help this game, then it will have a chance. Until then, we are all playing Hungry Hungry Hippo with a limited # of marbles.

Until then, it's 10 squirrels fighting over a nut (or marble).

 

[joelpope]

Badi is a really cool guy and one of my main consultants, John,met with him several times when he was in Frisco 2 years ago. We tried to follow his logic when it came to promoting Pro Pool, however, we never could identify what his objective were. If it was to promote the game then it would make sense for him to hire a marketing/advertising agency to do this job.....and do it VERY WELL....but instead there was no one at all.

We would be doing him a disservice if we didn't point out that he had a very sub par venue and without marketing, advertising and public relations there's NO WAY he or anyone else could have succeeded in the Tunica Event.

I'm just the messenger, everything I stated is the truth and anyone that's in business that reads it will agree. Pool is not unique, it CAN SUCCEED, however, it still must follow all the same rules of business that the other major sports and games follow.
[/SIZE]
Can you imagine any other major sport not having.

Marketing
Advertising
Public Relations
PRO AMs
CHARITY Affiliates
Business Plans
Short and Long Term Planning
Managers for the Players/Events
TV COVERAGE
Internet Representatives


Badi can succeed, however, he must first define what success is going to look like. No one could ever tell what the objectives truly were, if not profit, what??? Without TV it couldn't have been publicity or notoriety.

The reason for him doing these events is, indeed, a mystery. I wish we could help, but we would have to get some of these questions answered and we didn't have much luck the last time we tried in Frisco.

Again, if you have the formula... Why not execute your plan and reap the rewards

All I hear is after the fact commentary from someone who had no skin in the game.

Badi had the balls to take a risk and put his money where is mouth is, clearly you do not.

Badi has my respect. You, not so much.

 

[kwakaa]

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[CJ Wiley]

in this case it appears that someone didn't do their job.....or should I say "jobs".

]Do you know what the cost of getting radio and tv appearances would be to promote this event? Zero, zilch, nada. We go on the radio and do tv appearances before almost every show my band plays. I do radio interviews to help with the promotion a few weeks before the show and the day of show we go on the morning news and play a couple of tunes. All it takes is a few phone calls from an experienced publicist to set this up. They could have Archer, Strickland or any of the top pro's on the morning news.[/B] The radio is more forthcoming than you would think also. This is a way to promote the event free. So you have a couple of pro's on the local news, pro's doing radio interviews prior to the event, and everyone within' a 100 mile radius getting information on this event. Use the internet effectively also<<<<<That's huge!!!

Yes, this is exactly what we used to do, and when you have a PRO AM attached to a local charity MANY media doors are opened.

This isn't "rocket science" I promoted many, many bands and other entertainers through the years and we were averaging over 2500 people EVERY FRIDAY at an event we hosted every friday in Dallas.

There is an art to promotion, but it's not a "secret art," someone has to do the let work and write up the press releases. Then the players can be freed up to know what's expected of them.

I couldn't understand what was going on in Tunica, there was no media at the tournament, and no apparent advertising or marketing for the event. It made no sense to me and playing and watching other top pros play in front of 15 people was demoralizing......

It's like Concert Promoters that just draw 15 people....the can't blame the band, or the venue, at some point everyone's going to know it was not advertised correctly. The target demographic was missed or something is obviously wrong with the Event.....in this case it appears that someone didn't do their job.....or should I say "jobs".....and it definitely wasn't the players, they were all there ready to play.....in front of 15 fans.

 

[xplor]

No juice for Badi.

 

[TX Poolnut]

Do you know what the cost of getting radio and tv appearances would be to promote this event? Zero, zilch, nada. We go on the radio and do tv appearances before almost every show my band plays. I do radio interviews to help with the promotion a few weeks before the show and the day of show we go on the morning news and play a couple of tunes. All it takes is a few phone calls from an experienced publicist to set this up. They could have Archer, Strickland or any of the top pro's on the morning news. The radio is more forthcoming than you would think also. This is a way to promote the event free. So you have a couple of pro's on the local news, pro's doing radio interviews prior to the event, and everyone within' a 100 mile radius getting information on this event. Use the internet effectively also<<<<<That's huge!!!

I think Badi is...
(takes off shades)
once bitten, twice shy baby. :smile:

 

[CJ Wiley]

We are considering getting back into promoting pool again.

Again, if you have the formula... Why not execute your plan and reap the rewards

.

We already did - through pool we've generated over $53,000,000 in the pool room and night club business. We are considering getting back into promoting pool again......only time will tell. 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[CJ Wiley]

There was no plan for Tunica, it was just thrown together and expected to succeed.

I view everyone who "has all the answers" the same way as I did John Rousseau.

He claimed to have fortune 500 companies chomping at the bit to throw money at the WPBA. But he would only bring them to the table if he was made president of the WPBA. They made him president and those companies disappeared.

There are hundreds of people on this forum who, if they had any company chomping at the bit to throw money at pool, would lead them to the proper people. They would do this just because they love the game. Not because of some demand for power.

But people just keep listening to the guys who claim to have all the answers. The game never goes anywhere, and people keep wondering why.

When the players, manufacturers, promoters, league operators and media all get together to help this game, then it will have a chance. Until then, we are all playing Hungry Hungry Hippo with a limited # of marbles.

You do agree that it helps to have a business and/or marketing plan first? There was no plan for Tunica, it was just thrown together and expected to succeed.....although there was no clear definition of success, so I guess it was just expected to...............

No one has all the right answers, and luckily we don't have to re invent the wheel. One thing's for certain, if there's no management, advertising or marketing implementation the business dies......and really ha$ no chance to live.

 

[joelpope]

We already did - through pool we've generated over $53,000,000 in the pool room and night club business. We are considering getting back into promoting pool again......only time will tell. 'The Game is the Teacher'

53 million dollars... Wow, that is quite impressive.

With that kind of cash flow, capital can't be a problem...

Must be something else lacking.


Tell me again about how they follow the pied piper...

 

[thewhiffer]

We already did - through pool we've generated over $53,000,000 in the pool room and night club business. We are considering getting back into promoting pool again......only time will tell. 'The Game is the Teacher'

Hmmmmm! I would like to see the detail behind the 53 million! I know of clubs that do 3-5 million annually and still have a modest bottom line.

 

[leto1776]

Yes, this is exactly what we used to do, and when you have a PRO AM attached to a local charity MANY media doors are opened.

This isn't "rocket science" I promoted many, many bands and other entertainers through the years and we were averaging over 2500 people EVERY FRIDAY at an event we hosted every friday in Dallas.

There is an art to promotion, but it's not a "secret art," someone has to do the let work and write up the press releases. Then the players can be freed up to know what's expected of them.

I couldn't understand what was going on in Tunica, there was no media at the tournament, and no apparent advertising or marketing for the event. It made no sense to me and playing and watching other top pros play in front of 15 people was demoralizing......

It's like Concert Promoters that just draw 15 people....the can't blame the band, or the venue, at some point everyone's going to know it was not advertised correctly. The target demographic was missed or something is obviously wrong with the Event.....in this case it appears that someone didn't do their job.....or should I say "jobs".....and it definitely wasn't the players, they were all there ready to play.....in front of 15 fans.

CJ, with all respect, What does any of your non stop rant about promotion have to do with the biggest factor behind the "failure" of Ultimate 10-Ball: too many male pros had their collective heads up their asses and didn't attend?

I've said it before in other threads, but it's a shame that the women will lose out on a good tournament too. They showed up.

 

[CJ Wiley]

yes, I will again put money in another Pro venture asap.

53 million dollars... Wow, that is quite impressive.

With that kind of cash flow, capital can't be a problem...

Must be something else lacking.


Tell me again about how they follow the pied piper...

The players are doing the best they can under these conditions. They aren't "bad guys" and I would help any one of them out in an instant.

For some reason you have an issue with me having an opinion and not "putting my money up".....this has never been a problem, if I see the right opportunity I have not hesitated to invest significant cash money in my ideas, commitments, and concepts.

When Earl Strickland had a legal problem I gave him $50,000 of my own money and another $300,000 in legal representation. These are the facts, and they are well documented. I want nothing more than for Pool and the Pro Players to have a chance to make a decent living. And, yes, I will again put money in another Pro venture asap.

I financed a tour in 1996-1999 and spent an additional $100,000 to fund the tournaments and we did over 70 ESPN shows with ESPN and the WPBA. These shows made revenue for ESPN and enabled some of our players to make 6 figures in endorsements. They don't have that opportunity these days without TV.

For changes to take place we must be "willing to believe" that it can happen. One way that it will never happen is to use the Tunica Tournament as any kind of "model" for success........again, we must have professional marketing, advertising and public relations or there's no chance to make a difference. 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[CJ Wiley]

Most of the Top Players WERE THERE for the Ultimate 10 Ball Tournament we discuss

CJ, with all respect, What does any of your non stop rant about promotion have to do with the biggest factor behind the "failure" of Ultimate 10-Ball: too many male pros had their collective heads up their asses and didn't attend?

I've said it before in other threads, but it's a shame that the women will lose out on a good tournament too. They showed up.

The men did show up.....the issue was they didn't stay around for the other tournaments....Most of the Top Players WERE THERE for the Ultimate 10 Ball Tournament we are discussing.

It was AFTER this tournament that they left to play the events in Las Vegas.

It wouldn't have mattered is Mosconi, Greenleaf and Fats were there, if it's not advertised no one would have any way of planning to attend the event.

 

[CJ Wiley]

we do "REAL EYES" we have a VERY tough job in front of us.

Hmmmmm! I would like to see the detail behind the 53 million! I know of clubs that do 3-5 million annually and still have a modest bottom line.

Carsons Palace was my upscale billiard club and for 3 years in a row sold more Beer/Liquor and Wine than any other restaurant, bar or night-cub in the state of Texas.

The Pool Room was CJ's Billiard Palace where Earl Strickland ran the 11 racks in a row for the Million Dollar Challenge.

I owe everything to the game of pool and will do what it takes to help the game get back on "it's feet".....I don't really care what it takes....we are forming a team in Texas to see what we can do for the game and we do "REAL EYES" we have a VERY tough job in front of us......but at the end of the day it will all be worth while to see the game and it's players in the spot light again. 'The Game is Our Teacher'

 

[Bigtruck]

Is anyone else about to throw up?

 

[joelpope]

No kidding

I'm going to go looking to see if I can find what he is smoking.

The BS is the teacher... Errgh, the teacher is BS, ughhh... Ahh whatever. Life on planet CJ must be grand