Billiard/Pool Outlook Poor?

[Mr. Bond]

In attempting to forecast the future, many conditions must be considered, as matters commercially are somewhat chaotic.

We have a revision of the tariff [and] large corporations are being slowly controlled by government supervision. Banking business is to be another government feature through the passing of the currency bill; and capitalization and inflation of values have taken place. Now, with the above formidable array of conditions confronting us, who [c]ould prophesy with any degree of accuracy?

.....

The country has undergone many changes in the way of amusements for the people. Golf, tennis, baseball, indoor skating, and lately dancing have taken a strong grip upon our [pool playing] clientele. Still, if the room keepers could be brought to see and understand matters properly, they would take lessons from the past; and by publicity and excitement they would not only hold most of their patrons but continually make new ones.

The efforts in this direction invariably fall upon the shoulders of one big concern. [aka: "The Industry Leaders" ] They struggle to create an interest in and foster the business; but they [also] do not get sufficient help from all others directly interested in its development.

.... [the industry leaders are] a bit sluggish [but] sooner or later they also will be sufferers.

Now this is a bad state of affairs, to allow a pastime so full of interest, technique and social life as billiards to drift away from the public is deplorable, and eventually good rooms where a gentleman and his wife can come to play and see good playing will have passed out of existence or into some small unsanitary place where people will not venture.

When I said the past should be our guide for the future, by that I meant up to within a few years [ago] we had matches and tournaments continually, and billiards was always in the public eye.

We need them now more than ever, for the competition in amusements is greater, and unless the room keepers, manufacturers, and all others interested in the game get together in conclave to cooperate, stimulate, and educate the public continually to the beauties of billiards, I am afraid the outlook is indeed gloomy.








The above article was originally written by Maurice Daly
President of the Billiard Room Owners Association
Published in the New York Times: November 28, 1913

read the entire article here



Still rings true doesnt it?

It would seem that some things havent changed.

 

[Gmanpoke]

In attempting to forecast the future, many conditions must be considered, as matters commercially are somewhat chaotic.

We have a revision of the tariff [and] large corporations are being slowly controlled by government supervision. Banking business is to be another government feature through the passing of the currency bill; and capitalization and inflation of values have taken place. Now, with the above formidable array of conditions confronting us, who [c]ould prophesy with any degree of accuracy?

.....

The country has undergone many changes in the way of amusements for the people. Golf, tennis, baseball, indoor skating, and lately dancing have taken a strong grip upon our [pool playing] clientele. Still, if the room keepers could be brought to see and understand matters properly, they would take lessons from the past; and by publicity and excitement they would not only hold most of their patrons but continually make new ones.

The efforts in this direction invariably fall upon the shoulders of one big concern. [aka: "The Industry Leaders" ] They struggle to create an interest in and foster the business; but they [also] do not get sufficient help from all others directly interested in its development.

.... [the industry leaders are] a bit sluggish [but] sooner or later they also will be sufferers.

Now this is a bad state of affairs, to allow a pastime so full of interest, technique and social life as billiards to drift away from the public is deplorable, and eventually good rooms where a gentleman and his wife can come to play and see good playing will have passed out of existence or into some small unsanitary place where people will not venture.

When I said the past should be our guide for the future, by that I meant up to within a few years [ago] we had matches and tournaments continually, and billiards was always in the public eye.

We need them now more than ever, for the competition in amusements is greater, and unless the room keepers, manufacturers, and all others interested in the game get together in conclave to cooperate, stimulate, and educate the public continually to the beauties of billiards, I am afraid the outlook is indeed gloomy.








The above article was originally written by Maurice Daly
President of the Billiard Room Owners Association
Published in the New York Times: November 28, 1913

read the entire article here



Still rings true doesnt it?

It would seem that some things havent changed.

Very interesting topic to me. I think another interest point is when this article was written, there were literally thousands of pool rooms in the USA. I know every small town in the Mid West had at least one room. I grew up on a farm in NE Oklahoma. The county seat had a population of about 2,500 and that town had two pool room in the mid 70's. Now, that town does not even have one. A couple of the local bars have a valley table (in poor condition). The tread does not look favorable for our sport.

Steven

 

[Dartman]

From a manufacturers perspective one only needs to look at Arachnid and what they do for darts.
No tv but 400+ players at their regional events and 2000+ players at the annual main event says they are
doing something right to maintain interest and participation in the sport.

Look at what Barry Hearn has done for darts and billiards in Europe.

IMO, too many looking for a piece of the pool pie here in the US with no clear leader or willingness to work together.

 

[tom mcgonagle]

When the original article was written, there wasn't that much going on in our lives. Pool was a game a lot of people, men, played at the time. It was very insightful that the person that wrote the article saw the future of the game.

Today, I'm not so sure, we have the same insight.

The industry leaders are trying to do the same thing ,many of us are doing, trying to survive.

When things were going well, it was time to make a move and establish pool as a legitimate game. Unfortunately, everyone was busy trying to make as much money as they could and they thought the future would take care of itself. As we all know, that didn't happen and unless there's a miracle, it probably won't happen.

I wish I could be more optimistic but pool has fallen way behind the pack when it comes to public awareness.

I've written a fiction novel, I self published, Right on Cue, that I personally think, has movie potential. So far my sales aren't enough to catch the attention of a major publishing company. If they were, it might lead to bigger and better things for the industry.

If I could get every room owner in the country, to make a small investment in my story, it might lead to a large increase in their business. I might have a chance to convince them if they were in the same room as I 'm in but they are to spread out and they have dealt with far to many bullshitter's in their lives to even give this a second thought.

I'm not only talking about room owners. Cue makers, league operators, table manufacturers, regional tour operators, and anyone else that earns any of their income from the game of pool. You would all benefit.

___________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com

 

[The Pool Hall]

I am new to the business (open for 2 years) but dont see the intrest that I seen when I started playing 15 years ago. You dont have anyone on here talking about anything but bullshit and trying to make money for themself. If someone asks a question and someone can't make money off it then it does NOT get answered. Do pool room owners ever gather at a centeral location and talk about what is going on? Not just vendors trying to sell you something?

 

[Dartman]

I am new to the business (open for 2 years) but dont see the intrest that I seen when I started playing 15 years ago. You dont have anyone on here talking about anything but bullshit and trying to make money for themself. If someone asks a question and someone can't make money off it then it does NOT get answered. Do pool room owners ever gather at a centeral location and talk about what is going on? Not just vendors trying to sell you something?

For the record - there are many of us "in the business" that are glad to answer member questions "without" trying to sell them something. On the other hand there are a few that never miss an opportunity to get a business plug. Don't judge the whole forum by the actions of a few.

I've seen many threads focusing on "what works" and good ideas that some room owners find helpful. This part of the forum doesn't get a lot of traffic but reviewing older threads should give you some ideas that work. As for owners getting together - if that's not happening in your area then why not take the first step and do something about it.

 

[The Pool Hall]

I have tried very hard to work with pool halls in my area. I showed one how I cooked my wings even taking him in my kitchen through the whole process. Another I tried to work with just closed down. My area has bars and pool halls are 30-45 miles away. I am sure some have helped others but I have been in several adventures trying to make money and online is a place for people to sell people something and not to help.

 

[poolist]

Pool outlook/YOUNG EAGLES

Our EAA chapter (#1) gave airplane rides to over sixty kids last month. This is a monthly event where schools and other organizations are invited to bring the youngsters out for a Saturday morning of fun and education.

A short lesson with educational material provided, followed by a pre-flight and then a flight in a small single engine airplane is given to each child. After the flight the kids are given a signed log book, and of course the parents or others are always there with the cameras.

Because of the high cost of flying most of them will never take up flying, but we have several who joined the club, and are now pilots, or on the way to becoming airman/women. There are two young pilots who had their first flight with the YOUNG EAGLES program and have become instructors here on the field.

The pilots in our club, who fly five, six or more flights each month with the youngsters are not reimbursed for flying the kids, they do it for the love of flying.

What is the cost of a couple of hours of free time, with a lesson thrown in! Just maybe, some of the kids may want to come back to your room and play on their own. You could wind up with a Corey Deuel, or John Schmidt.

 

[The Pool Hall]

Our EAA chapter (#1) gave airplane rides to over sixty kids last month. This is a monthly event where schools and other organizations are invited to bring the youngsters out for a Saturday morning of fun and education.

A short lesson with educational material provided, followed by a pre-flight and then a flight in a small single engine airplane is given to each child. After the flight the kids are given a signed log book, and of course the parents or others are always there with the cameras.

Because of the high cost of flying most of them will never take up flying, but we have several who joined the club, and are now pilots, or on the way to becoming airman/women. There are two young pilots who had their first flight with the YOUNG EAGLES program and have become instructors here on the field.

The pilots in our club, who fly five, six or more flights each month with the youngsters are not reimbursed for flying the kids, they do it for the love of flying.

What is the cost of a couple of hours of free time, with a lesson thrown in! Just maybe, some of the kids may want to come back to your room and play on their own. You could wind up with a Corey Deuel, or John Schmidt.

Very well said. I always try to take time out for young players that show intrest in the game. Although I am no great player I can show some a few things.

 

[mreightball]

As I have said before and still beleive that unless we get Pool as a competitive sport in schools the industry will die. The children today have other interests and Pool is not one of them. When they get old enough to hang out in a bar and play in those types of leagues (basically hitting balls around and drinking bear with their friends) thats when they start playing pool or should I say hitting balls around. There isn't a decent 21 year old pool player in my area. All the better shooters are much older. The pool hall owner in my area charges $2.75 per person on Gold Crowns with simonis and he is starving maybe a couple of shooters a night. Yet we have 3 or 4 different leagues in our area and there are over 150 players in at least 2 of the leagues that I know of, so where is the interest in pool. There might be area's of the country where interest in really being a good pool shooter is better than this area but we have a lot of guys & girls shooting pool here. When you try to have a local tournament only like 10 people show up.
Ron

 

[The Pool Hall]

I go after high school almost daily with very little luck. I do have a few young players that are decent but in my Bible Belt area if you have beer then you must be a bad place to be. We have talked to high school coaches with no luck yet. I do believe like you that we have to have YOUNG people interested in playing pool NOT drinking if things are going to get better.

 

[garczar]

Pool Business

I'm the cigar vendor at Magoo's in Tulsa and since the weather's cooled off play has picked-up for sure. League play and in-house rated tournaments keep most mid-speed players busy but the ACTION that this town is known for is HISTORY. If somebody posts a c-note for a set it's time to alert the media. Thank the casinos for much of this. Pool runs on stakehorses and most of the good ones have been treated like chumps and they have taken refuge at the casino. Guess it's time for a new pool movie.