Big Apple Clarifications

9 Ball Girl

9 Ball Girl

aka Wendy
Silver Member
First, I'd like to congratulate Neils Feijen for a superb job! He has a lot of heart and showed it this weekend in the tournament.

Now, about the "organization" of this tournament.

First, Jose Burgos got into it last minute and I have to say that he pulled it off swell being that it was his first promotional event (and I'm not saying that 'cause he's my friend either). Unfortunately, he did not have the control that he wanted to have throughout the tournament.

It's very hard to work with someone who is constantly thinking of money and how to get more. The owner of the room started the door fees at what I think was supposed to be $15/session. On Thursday, it started at $25/session. By Friday, the price was jacked up to $40/session and $60 for the whole day. The same went for Saturday and by Sunday, I don't know if this is true or not, but I heard someone say that they paid $100 to get in--and that was to watch just 2 matches--the semifinals and finals. That's another thing, the tournament could've been finished by Saturday night but the owner wanted to stretch it out to Sunday to rake in on some more door fees (this is why there were only 2 matches on Sunday and I hope it answers someone's question from a previous post). The owner collected about $10K from door fees if not more. It's his room and whatever he makes from door fees is his, but jacking the prices up? You can pay $10-$15 a day at the U.S. Open and that's 100+ players you get to watch!

I'm not going to get into specifics on how much money was taken out of the players' fees by the owner (something like $40 out of each player's $250 entry fee) but I can tell you that after all was said and done, he had at most $6,000 for himself. WTF? Meanwhile, a 5/6th place finish payout was only $1,000? Well, now you know why. That doesn't include food and beverages, buffet food that I think was catered, and he actually charged a friend of mine on Saturday for playing on a practice table on Friday that EVERYBODY plays on behind the curtains.

There was a lot of grumbling going on and displeasurement and those that did, know that Jose and his staff (that would include me) had nothing to do with what we had no control over. This tourney almost didn't happen this year because of something similar to this happened last year.

Kudos to Jose Burgos for pulling it off in the short amount of time that he had and for having the patience of a saint. He is one honest and standup guy.
 
You were made famous in another thread...I believe it was titled "Is This It" or somehing to that affect. I'd be a bit PO'd if the door fee kept changing. Hope you and the payers had fun though.
 
9 Ball Girl said:
First, I'd like to congratulate Neils Feijen for a superb job! He has a lot of heart and showed it this weekend in the tournament.

Now, about the "organization" of this tournament.

First, Jose Burgos got into it last minute and I have to say that he pulled it off swell being that it was his first promotional event (and I'm not saying that 'cause he's my friend either). Unfortunately, he did not have the control that he wanted to have throughout the tournament.

It's very hard to work with someone who is constantly thinking of money and how to get more. The owner of the room started the door fees at what I think was supposed to be $15/session. On Thursday, it started at $25/session. By Friday, the price was jacked up to $40/session and $60 for the whole day. The same went for Saturday and by Sunday, I don't know if this is true or not, but I heard someone say that they paid $100 to get in--and that was to watch just 2 matches--the semifinals and finals. That's another thing, the tournament could've been finished by Saturday night but the owner wanted to stretch it out to Sunday to rake in on some more door fees (this is why there were only 2 matches on Sunday and I hope it answers someone's question from a previous post). The owner collected about $10K from door fees if not more. It's his room and whatever he makes from door fees is his, but jacking the prices up? You can pay $10-$15 a day at the U.S. Open and that's 100+ players you get to watch!

I'm not going to get into specifics on how much money was taken out of the players' fees by the owner (something like $40 out of each player's $250 entry fee) but I can tell you that after all was said and done, he had at most $6,000 for himself. WTF? Meanwhile, a 5/6th place finish payout was only $1,000? Well, now you know why. That doesn't include food and beverages, buffet food that I think was catered, and he actually charged a friend of mine on Saturday for playing on a practice table on Friday that EVERYBODY plays on behind the curtains.

There was a lot of grumbling going on and displeasurement and those that did, know that Jose and his staff (that would include me) had nothing to do with what we had no control over. This tourney almost didn't happen this year because of something similar to this happened last year.

Kudos to Jose Burgos for pulling it off in the short amount of time that he had and for having the patience of a saint. He is one honest and standup guy.
Click to expand...

Im not so good at math but if the prize figures on AZB are correct, $25,400.00 was given out. There are 68 entries at $250 for an early payer and $300.00 if paid after a certain date. Assuming no late entires which could never happen in the pool world, that is $17,000 in entry fees. It was adveritsed as $15,000. added guaranteed so the total purse should be $32,000.00 minimum. There apparently was $6600.00 removed from the purse for ''greens fees".

I heard two players say $5700.00 was taken out of the purse by Masters. I dont know how they came up with that figure but it may be right somehow. But $5700. or $6600.00-either one is a big chunk of change.

I paid $100.00 for a sat/sun pass by the way. The owner made plenty for sure. He is entitled to make money of course but when you advertise $15,000 added and take out 40% of it- that to me is the wrong way to go about it. It's deceitful IMHO.

I also have major complaints about the Calcutta which i may post when i have more time tomorrow.
 
doesn't matter who or what or under what circumstances the tourney operated, or how someone did under half-*ssed circumstances. it was what it was............crummy.

and btw,,,last year's tourney "director", alexandra, who happens to be well loved and somewhat the pool doyenne of nyc, was(as i hear it) unceremoniously UNPAID for her effort. it is probably fact because she was nowhere to be found this week. the room owner is a p**ck, and everyone will suffer because of him.

but it all sounds like business as usual in the world of pool, whereas miles at the end of the 7 line, a 3C tournament was held last week with class and dignity at carom cafe.
 
Last edited:
I think trying to use an event to actually drive immediate profit is short sighted.

I would budget this as a marketing expense and expect it to cost a few thousand.

Spend on some media, maximize audiences (future customers), provide good seating. Provide a special gift to the fans, don't leave them feeling like you were trying to pick their pockets all weekend.

It's just bad business. Hope you can find an intelligent supporting venue operator for future event 9-Ball girl.
 
Last edited:
As a roomowner and organiser of BIG tournaments, i think that a owner never must make profit off the entryfee.....
I always give everything away, all entryfee + sponsormoney, and sometimes add a little of my own to make it a nice overall prizepackage......

MH
HOB Weert
 
Colin Colenso said:
I think trying to use an event to actually drive immediate profit is short sighted.

I would budget this as a marketing expense and expect it to cost a few thousand.

Spend on some media, maximize audiences (future customers), provide good seating. Provide a special gift to the fans, don't leave them feeling like you were trying to pick their pockets all weekend.

It's just bad business. Hope you can find an intelligent supporting venue operator for future event 9-Ball girl.
Click to expand...

that makes wayyyy too much sense for people who are shortsighted and senseless.
 
landshark77 said:
You were made famous in another thread...I believe it was titled "Is This It" or somehing to that affect. I'd be a bit PO'd if the door fee kept changing. Hope you and the payers had fun though.
Click to expand...
Hmmm. I'm going to have to check that one out. Haven't seen it yet! :eek:
 
Nostroke said:
Im not so good at math but if the prize figures on AZB are correct, $25,400.00 was given out. There are 68 entries at $250 for an early payer and $300.00 if paid after a certain date. Assuming no late entires which could never happen in the pool world, that is $17,000 in entry fees. It was adveritsed as $15,000. added guaranteed so the total purse should be $32,000.00 minimum. There apparently was $6600.00 removed from the purse for ''greens fees".

I heard two players say $5700.00 was taken out of the purse by Masters. I dont know how they came up with that figure but it may be right somehow. But $5700. or $6600.00-either one is a big chunk of change.

I paid $100.00 for a sat/sun pass by the way. The owner made plenty for sure. He is entitled to make money of course but when you advertise $15,000 added and take out 40% of it- that to me is the wrong way to go about it. It's deceitful IMHO.

I also have major complaints about the Calcutta which i may post when i have more time tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Hi Dave. I don't know the exact rigamaros of it, but supposedly he (the room owner) even charged green fees for players that were already out of the tournament! I don't see how that makes sense.
 
bruin70 said:
unceremoniously UNPAID for her effort. it is probably fact because she was nowhere to be found this week. the room owner is a p**ck, and everyone will suffer because of him.
Click to expand...
And that's exactly why it almost didn't happen this year. I helped her out the first 2 years of the tourney and when she told me what happened, I was surprised and not surprised if that makes sense.

Can you believe that there were people who came in from Jersey to watch these guys and turned away from the door when they realized how much the p**ck was charging. The price would go up at a blink of an eye!
 
I think part of the 5700/6600 confusion stems from a slightly lower entry fee for ladies and juniors. The housepro at Masters also got in for free.

Mike

Nostroke said:
Im not so good at math but if the prize figures on AZB are correct, $25,400.00 was given out. There are 68 entries at $250 for an early payer and $300.00 if paid after a certain date. Assuming no late entires which could never happen in the pool world, that is $17,000 in entry fees. It was adveritsed as $15,000. added guaranteed so the total purse should be $32,000.00 minimum. There apparently was $6600.00 removed from the purse for ''greens fees".

I heard two players say $5700.00 was taken out of the purse by Masters. I dont know how they came up with that figure but it may be right somehow. But $5700. or $6600.00-either one is a big chunk of change.

I paid $100.00 for a sat/sun pass by the way. The owner made plenty for sure. He is entitled to make money of course but when you advertise $15,000 added and take out 40% of it- that to me is the wrong way to go about it. It's deceitful IMHO.

I also have major complaints about the Calcutta which i may post when i have more time tomorrow.
Click to expand...
 
AzHousePro said:
I think part of the 5700/6600 confusion stems from a slightly lower entry fee for ladies and juniors. The housepro at Masters also got in for free.

Mike
Click to expand...
2 Ladies ($200 ea) and 1 Junior ($?)

The house pro is George "Ginky" Sansouci
 
I used to like Masters because I lived nearby it and this is where I learned to shoot pool.

I attended the last two but was not willing to spending the crazy amount of money they were asking for just to watch some matches, and the air conditoner wasn't even working that well.

Though, I do have to say that on Sunday, I played half an hour of 3 cushion, paid for my time and ended staying and watching the finals to the end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top