I have been saying this for a while...the ABP and Professional Pool players need to make themselves a commodity in order to get the attention of promoters and event coordinators.
The current state of Professional Pool is not great at the moment. I know who Tiger Woods and Phil Michelson are, but I dont follow or play golf, let alone know the rules or anything about the equipment. But current league players dont even know who Efren Reyes, Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Ralf Souquet, etc are. They need to get their names out there, promote the sport and engage the audience and help pool grow, that way promoters and sponsors can see the ABP and professional Pool as a commodity.
As a new organization, they need to donate their time to get their name out there. One thing I can think of is to work with event coordinators to help promote the event, such as going to Local Leagues up to two weeks before the event and promote and engage with the league players. It might be harder to do for international events, but shouldnt be hard for US events, where ABP has members throughout the country. Events like the US Open, Super Billiards Expo, Turning Stone, Seminole Tours, etc, the ABP members could go around to pool halls in states within travel distance of the event and promote to league players. They should be working with League operators and owners to find out which area has the biggest leagues and join league players for a night and show them how to grow their game, while at the same time promoting the event.
The ABP should also get a booth at big name events such as SBE, and BCA, APA, TAP Vegas events. To get their names and their branding out there. A table or two (one full size, one bar size) near their booth would be a tremendous help too, that way they can have a 'challenge the Pro' event. As well as helping the league players out with any questions they might have about position play, stroke analysis, shot making, etc. The ABP booth should have brochures of websites, schedules, social media (twitter/facebook) of various Pro players, that way they can get their name and brand out there.
I remember back at this years SBE they had a fund raiser for Ginky's memorial, they should have more fund raising events like that. Even after SBE, a lot of pro players went to NYC to continue the fund raising event. It was something like $10 to play a pro player, and you get one ticket into a raffle for a cue, and if win the match, you get another ticket for the raffle. They need to have similar events for other charities. Maybe the Pros play a single elimination tournament such that the winner decides which charity it goes to. And they should promote the fund raising event over the radio and on local news whenever possible. Maybe they should have a fund raising event like this during every big Billiards event, such as Vegas in May, or SBE, US Open.
Another goal for them should be to get back on television, a live show would be great. I dont get how people can watch golf, but if there is an audience for watching golf, there can be an audience for pool as well. It just has to be regulated such that its exciting or interesting to watch.
Another goal should be to gain outside sponsors, apparently Pepsi bottling company is a sponsor of this years US Open 9 ball. The Pros should be working with said outside sponsors to find a way to promote their products and keep them as a continuing sponsor. Maybe Pepsi can even create a product just for Pool Players. Maybe the pros can contact Pepsi and do a commercial for them, a commercial that involves pool as well as Pepsi's products. Maybe they can get some outside sponsors like fast food companies, or car manufacturers.
Another goal is to rebrand what the general public thinks about professional pool players. The general public has the image that pool players and pool halls are a hustlers and are usually portrayed in a negative light. Perhaps a national interview with a news program, like 20/20 or Nightline, can inform the general public that pool players are not hustlers or con men as portrayed in the movies and tv shows. Current Pro Players have families to support, mortgages and bills to pay, others play pro pool on the side while working full time or part time jobs, some teach pool, some might have college degrees, some run tournaments or act as consultants for tv shows. The ABP should also protect their brand by instituting certain rules amongst their members, such as staying clean from drugs. Maybe have some members that are recovering users (if any) do some community service by going around to schools to send a message to kids (about drugs and alcohol), and again to promote the image.
The current state of Professional Pool is not great at the moment. I know who Tiger Woods and Phil Michelson are, but I dont follow or play golf, let alone know the rules or anything about the equipment. But current league players dont even know who Efren Reyes, Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Ralf Souquet, etc are. They need to get their names out there, promote the sport and engage the audience and help pool grow, that way promoters and sponsors can see the ABP and professional Pool as a commodity.
As a new organization, they need to donate their time to get their name out there. One thing I can think of is to work with event coordinators to help promote the event, such as going to Local Leagues up to two weeks before the event and promote and engage with the league players. It might be harder to do for international events, but shouldnt be hard for US events, where ABP has members throughout the country. Events like the US Open, Super Billiards Expo, Turning Stone, Seminole Tours, etc, the ABP members could go around to pool halls in states within travel distance of the event and promote to league players. They should be working with League operators and owners to find out which area has the biggest leagues and join league players for a night and show them how to grow their game, while at the same time promoting the event.
The ABP should also get a booth at big name events such as SBE, and BCA, APA, TAP Vegas events. To get their names and their branding out there. A table or two (one full size, one bar size) near their booth would be a tremendous help too, that way they can have a 'challenge the Pro' event. As well as helping the league players out with any questions they might have about position play, stroke analysis, shot making, etc. The ABP booth should have brochures of websites, schedules, social media (twitter/facebook) of various Pro players, that way they can get their name and brand out there.
I remember back at this years SBE they had a fund raiser for Ginky's memorial, they should have more fund raising events like that. Even after SBE, a lot of pro players went to NYC to continue the fund raising event. It was something like $10 to play a pro player, and you get one ticket into a raffle for a cue, and if win the match, you get another ticket for the raffle. They need to have similar events for other charities. Maybe the Pros play a single elimination tournament such that the winner decides which charity it goes to. And they should promote the fund raising event over the radio and on local news whenever possible. Maybe they should have a fund raising event like this during every big Billiards event, such as Vegas in May, or SBE, US Open.
Another goal for them should be to get back on television, a live show would be great. I dont get how people can watch golf, but if there is an audience for watching golf, there can be an audience for pool as well. It just has to be regulated such that its exciting or interesting to watch.
Another goal should be to gain outside sponsors, apparently Pepsi bottling company is a sponsor of this years US Open 9 ball. The Pros should be working with said outside sponsors to find a way to promote their products and keep them as a continuing sponsor. Maybe Pepsi can even create a product just for Pool Players. Maybe the pros can contact Pepsi and do a commercial for them, a commercial that involves pool as well as Pepsi's products. Maybe they can get some outside sponsors like fast food companies, or car manufacturers.
Another goal is to rebrand what the general public thinks about professional pool players. The general public has the image that pool players and pool halls are a hustlers and are usually portrayed in a negative light. Perhaps a national interview with a news program, like 20/20 or Nightline, can inform the general public that pool players are not hustlers or con men as portrayed in the movies and tv shows. Current Pro Players have families to support, mortgages and bills to pay, others play pro pool on the side while working full time or part time jobs, some teach pool, some might have college degrees, some run tournaments or act as consultants for tv shows. The ABP should also protect their brand by instituting certain rules amongst their members, such as staying clean from drugs. Maybe have some members that are recovering users (if any) do some community service by going around to schools to send a message to kids (about drugs and alcohol), and again to promote the image.
