Custom Cue Build Off For Charity

bob griffin

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
See what you custom builders think about this. Lets all get in and have a custom cue build off for charity giving the money to a needy childrens fund. Heres what i thought every custom builder pay $25.00 to enter a cue. then post the pics of the cue on lets say if we can get some of the pool magazines to put them in there magazines and post them on there sight letting the public vote on the cues thru the sight and maybe a 800 line when they list the cues to be voted on the names of all the builders would be listed all together at the bottom of the cues but not with the cue they build at this time so the votes would be for the cues and not the builder. they vote for the top five cues and the winners would be posted in the mag,s with there cue in there hand and the first place finisher would get to give the check to the childrens fund personally. after everything is voted on use the $25.00 to post each builders cue on ebay for auction $25.00 would be enough to list each cue twice if it don,t sale first time out but if it doe,s sale the remaining money would be put with the check for charity. now all money would be given to the charity from sales.also merchants could donate and have there names listed with the cue builders in the magazines.we could also have one big charity tornament where calcuta money,s would go to players and tornament money to charity and have all the cues there for the public to veiw and vote on and the merchants could be there with there products. just a thought please let me know and we will work together to make it happen. you know guys alot of people out there that need the help and who better to help than children that way where giving back whats been given to us from are great sport. MADISON BOB CUSTOM CUES
 
I am afraid you would not get much participation if they have to donate the cue, since if it is a build off competition everyone is going to try and build something really high end. I would probably present a five figure cue myself. Something that might get more participation would be make it a $100 entry fee and all entries go to charity. Cue makers can present as many cues as they want and have to pay $100 for each entry. You could have a CNC category, hand pantograph category and maybe a v-point category and jump cue. This way there could be several winners and each cuemaker might enter multiple cues. All cues would be displayed with logo not showing.
I would be willing to put in a cue or two if we did it this way or something similar.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
 
Madison Bob

cueman said:
I am afraid you would not get much participation if they have to donate the cue, since if it is a build off competition everyone is going to try and build something really high end. I would probably present a five figure cue myself. Something that might get more participation would be make it a $100 entry fee and all entries go to charity. Cue makers can present as many cues as they want and have to pay $100 for each entry. You could have a CNC category, hand pantograph category and maybe a v-point category and jump cue. This way there could be several winners and each cuemaker might enter multiple cues. All cues would be displayed with logo not showing.
I would be willing to put in a cue or two if we did it this way or something similar.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

I thought about something like that to but i thought the other way would bring in more cash for the children. i also thought about the different category"s but droped it because of the ebaying of the cues but i think we should work this out for 2 reasons 1 give to the needy 2 show the people cue builders are great guys and gals and are concerned about needy children and the image of the sport which we all can agree is not the best because alot of people are misinformed and think its like the old days which us that play pool know better . it has changed alot but can be changed even more bringing more people to the sport which helps the image the tornament purses and merchants such as yourself. lets get some ideals and run with them letting people know that todays pool is not just old smoke filled rooms and a hustle going on and drugs flowing like a river because the ones who play pool know better theres some great room owners and players and people now involved in the sport and with things like this we can change the image and help the needy . MADISON BOB CUSTOM CUES
 
I can see the pantograph Vs cnc being an issue to. Also having different levels would bring more people in. Even a catagory for non-inlayed cues, not just for the builders without inlay ability, but seems like quite a few cue lovers actually prefer non-inlayed instead of breaking up the beauty in the different woods with them.
I know CNC is quicker and less back breaking once through the aggravation of setting up correctly is achieved, but pantograph work is really long hours and back breaking. Might be tuff for someone with a steady flow of work coming in to devote that kind of time, depending on how long they had to summit the cue.

I've thought of that build-off Idea like the biker shows also, would be hard to get something like that on discovery, But someone could produce a video simular to them with the above mentioned event. I bet a few cue lovers would buy. depends on how cheap It can be produced, as to if It would be worth It or not.

As far as the ebay fee part, how come it could'nt be done here, in the for sale/wanted section somehow (with Mike's permission ofcoarse)? There are alot of members on here, most of them specific to billiards.

Greg
 
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custom cue build off for cherity

bob griffin said:
See what you custom builders think about this. Lets all get in and have a custom cue build off for charity giving the money to a needy childrens fund. Heres what i thought every custom builder pay $25.00 to enter a cue. then post the pics of the cue on lets say if we can get some of the pool magazines to put them in there magazines and post them on there sight letting the public vote on the cues thru the sight and maybe a 800 line when they list the cues to be voted on the names of all the builders would be listed all together at the bottom of the cues but not with the cue they build at this time so the votes would be for the cues and not the builder. they vote for the top five cues and the winners would be posted in the mag,s with there cue in there hand and the first place finisher would get to give the check to the childrens fund personally. after everything is voted on use the $25.00 to post each builders cue on ebay for auction $25.00 would be enough to list each cue twice if it don,t sale first time out but if it doe,s sale the remaining money would be put with the check for charity. now all money would be given to the charity from sales.also merchants could donate and have there names listed with the cue builders in the magazines.we could also have one big charity tornament where calcuta money,s would go to players and tornament money to charity and have all the cues there for the public to veiw and vote on and the merchants could be there with there products. just a thought please let me know and we will work together to make it happen. you know guys alot of people out there that need the help and who better to help than children that way where giving back whats been given to us from are great sport. MADISON BOB CUSTOM CUES


I donate 3-4 Qs a year & would gladly be a part of something like this. If the details can be worked out.....COUNT ME IN...JER
 
Im not a cuebuilder but I think that is a great idea. I would agree that you may get more builders involved if they pay a little higher fee but dont have to give up the cue. I would imagine you may even get donations from other people in the billiards industry to help increase the amount to be donated.

I also think a video of the cuemakers doing their work would sell rather well, but keeping costs down would be a problem since you would have cuemakers in so many different locations. One way you could keep this cost down would be to contact colleges in the areas of the builders and see if students studying film would want to get involved and do some filming and editing. Then you would need someone to edit all the different films together.
 
cueman said:
I am afraid you would not get much participation if they have to donate the cue, since if it is a build off competition everyone is going to try and build something really high end. I would probably present a five figure cue myself. Something that might get more participation would be make it a $100 entry fee and all entries go to charity. Cue makers can present as many cues as they want and have to pay $100 for each entry. You could have a CNC category, hand pantograph category and maybe a v-point category and jump cue. This way there could be several winners and each cuemaker might enter multiple cues. All cues would be displayed with logo not showing.
I would be willing to put in a cue or two if we did it this way or something similar.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

I don't see what difference anyone could tell from a CNC or a pantomill cue. The same cutters are used and the only way anyone can tell the difference is if they are told.
Dick
 
I AM NOT a Shriner, or Mason.

Bob I think you idea has Merit, but I think you need to Identify Your Charity of Choice before starting your Project.


having worked PART TIME for a Health Charity years ago I know first had there are both Good, and Bad Charities. Good to me mean spend most of the money on a Cause, or Need. Bad to me is Executive with Big Salaries, Posh/Lavish Headquarters Building, Celebrity Spokesperson with Big Salaries/Expense Accounts, and only a small percentage of the money donated getting to the CAUSE.

May I make a Suggestion, and before I do I will state I AM NOT a Shriner, or Mason. But the Shriners run a bunch of Children's Hospitals across the U.S.A., and give MILLION of Dollars of FREE CARE to Children in Need Annually.
...... :)
 
If someone builds a cue for a build off and they are trying to win. They would probably build five figure cues. To put your heart into building a five figure cue and watch it bring $1000 or $2000 on ebay would be sickening. A build off is supposed to be a competition and so people would want to build cues way up there in price. I am not interested in putting a 100 or 200 hours in a cue to see it dumped on ebay. I would rather give cash to a charity and know they got full value for my work than see me work hard so they could only benefit 1/4 of what the labor was worth. Your idea is good but it needs a little something to make it work.
 
cueman said:
If someone builds a cue for a build off and they are trying to win. They would probably build five figure cues. To put your heart into building a five figure cue and watch it bring $1000 or $2000 on ebay would be sickening. A build off is supposed to be a competition and so people would want to build cues way up there in price. I am not interested in putting a 100 or 200 hours in a cue to see it dumped on ebay. I would rather give cash to a charity and know they got full value for my work than see me work hard so they could only benefit 1/4 of what the labor was worth. Your idea is good but it needs a little something to make it work.
Bob's idea is a good one, but I can see your point, Chris. I like your idea of having entry fees. The cues could be photographed and the winner would get a token prize, trophy or ribbon. The photos could be posted in a special section, then AZ'ers could vote for the winner. Then the winning cue could be raffled off. Raffles are a good way to get maybe even more for the charity. A lot of clubs sell two thousand dollars worth of tickets for items that may have only $500 in value. The losers would be on there own to find buyers and could donate the proceeds, if they wish to do so.

Tracy

Tracy
 
I believe it would be better off that a cuemaker would donate a cue of his choice to charity instead, less the $25 entry fee... send it to a common depot, say Mike... and sales could be done here on Az with the proceeds goin to charity.
 
cueman said:
If someone builds a cue for a build off and they are trying to win. They would probably build five figure cues. To put your heart into building a five figure cue and watch it bring $1000 or $2000 on ebay would be sickening. A build off is supposed to be a competition and so people would want to build cues way up there in price. I am not interested in putting a 100 or 200 hours in a cue to see it dumped on ebay. I would rather give cash to a charity and know they got full value for my work than see me work hard so they could only benefit 1/4 of what the labor was worth. Your idea is good but it needs a little something to make it work.

Chris i don,t understand at all whens the last time any of us has give 4 are 5 figures to charity and as we know we are donateing time not that much cash like you say now i know time is money but your labor shows the charity has meaning to you and not just the winning of the event. i would enter a cue in the same numbers are higher and not even worry about the money are time i lost because i would know that it would show more people that the people involved in pool or cue building are some great guys there for it would bring new people to the sport and they might just buy a cue from you because they know you were involved in something like this not just to win but show theres still unselfish people out there that care about needy children and are willing to give up not just there money but there time for a great cause . now lets look at this if a guy buys your cue for $2000.00 less than what you think its worth then he takes it to the pool room shows the guys and says look at the deal i got on ebay its a cue chris hightower, madison bob are scruggs build for a charity drive. and the guys think well hes a hell of a guy to do that i might just order me one from him and then you start reaping your rewards for what you have done. we could post a starting bid and put a reserve on each cue within reason.and we might be able to get ebay to run the cues for free.are like whats been mentioned so far run them in many places such as here on az if they would allow and take the highest bid. so there would not be a better feeling than to see a child with a new lease on life and a gleam in there eye and know your work and sweat made that happen and for other people to know you did it unselfishly without wanting anything but to see them shine. whats giving up one cue to see that gona hurt hell i throwed away a cue one time that had 100 hours of work in it because it went warped and i could,nt save it and i cured and cut on the cue for 3 years. lets make this happen not for ourselfs so much but for the cause you can look around all are shops and see we have what we need for are familys and ourselfs but some kids don,t have nobody to even hold them and say i love you that hurts me to just think about. Some might think i,am a puss but so be it i just care about needy children.this was wrote not for me but for the children it,s my plea to the cue builders to help these kids and make them and yourself feel better about this greedy world in which we live in, where they stand alone without us. MADISON BOB CUSTOM CUES

PS.WHAT would be the difference if you gave a needy child a $1000.00 cue and lost all your cash you thought it was worth still they shined with excitement what a reward. :D :D :D
 
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madison bob

Bruce S. de Lis said:
Bob I think you idea has Merit, but I think you need to Identify Your Charity of Choice before starting your Project.


having worked PART TIME for a Health Charity years ago I know first had there are both Good, and Bad Charities. Good to me mean spend most of the money on a Cause, or Need. Bad to me is Executive with Big Salaries, Posh/Lavish Headquarters Building, Celebrity Spokesperson with Big Salaries/Expense Accounts, and only a small percentage of the money donated getting to the CAUSE.

May I make a Suggestion, and before I do I will state I AM NOT a Shriner, or Mason. But the Shriners run a bunch of Children's Hospitals across the U.S.A., and give MILLION of Dollars of FREE CARE to Children in Need Annually.
...... :)

THE CHARITY you mentioned the last is a great one and one i think we have decided to go with if everyone agrees. MADISON BOB CUSTOM CUES
 
I do one every year for the Bradley childrens hospital in Conn. Every cue except one has found it's way to ebay, I feel great for doing it but totally discouraged when I see it end up there. I am definately considering just given cash from now on.
 
Custom Cue for Charity

How about this? Offer a gift certificate for one of your cues. Say it would be $800-1000 range cue. I usually buy (2) cues each year. I have written for pool books and magazines. Advertisers (read cuemakers) usually seem cue rich and cash poor and would rather trade cue for ads. I usually trade my writing for the cues verses the cash.

I would certainly bid on a Madison Bob cue or Micheal Webb cue, if you guys are interested. That way the buyer (me) gets the exact cue I want and you guys get the $$$ for the charity.

My standard cue is (2) shafts, ivory farelles, moori tip, ivory joint, 4 point with 4 veneers, and hoppe butt. I would guess that this is about $800 to $1000 for most cuemakers.

Any thoughts?

Ken Strain
 
Charity

Michael Webb said:
I do one every year for the Bradley childrens hospital in Conn. Every cue except one has found it's way to ebay, I feel great for doing it but totally discouraged when I see it end up there. I am definately considering just given cash from now on.

AS long as the cash went to the kids mike you have done a good thing rather it brought what you thought it might be worth are not. keep donating your cues your work shows the children mean more to you than just reaching in your pocket and throwing cash at the problem. i,am sure the kids thank you mike. MADISON BOB CUSTOM CUES
 
Let me know when the details are finalized, but I have some suggestions. If I understand correctly, This is mainly to raise money for kids, not a pissing match between cuemakers. I'd say keep it relatively simple. Chris mentioned five figure cues, I don't think this is feasable. As Mike mentioned, if the cues go to individuals they usually end up on ebay at a devalued price. Maybe some of the cue dealers who frequent the forum could get involved and act as brokers for, shall we call it a "foundation" that could be set up to sell the cues at a fair price and turn over the money to whatever charity's deemed appropriate. I'd be happy to build a cue on an annual basis for something like this and we could even tie it in with the Derby City Classic and have whatever type of ceremony, judging or raffle that we wanted. I'm sure Greg Sullivan would welcome such a thing.

just more hot air!


Sherm
 
madison bob

cuesmith said:
Let me know when the details are finalized, but I have some suggestions. If I understand correctly, This is mainly to raise money for kids, not a pissing match between cuemakers. I'd say keep it relatively simple. Chris mentioned five figure cues, I don't think this is feasable. As Mike mentioned, if the cues go to individuals they usually end up on ebay at a devalued price. Maybe some of the cue dealers who frequent the forum could get involved and act as brokers for, shall we call it a "foundation" that could be set up to sell the cues at a fair price and turn over the money to whatever charity's deemed appropriate. I'd be happy to build a cue on an annual basis for something like this and we could even tie it in with the Derby City Classic and have whatever type of ceremony, judging or raffle that we wanted. I'm sure Greg Sullivan would welcome such a thing.

just more hot air!


Sherm

amen sherm i like your ideal alot lets put a cap on the price range lets say $2000.00 range in the highest catagory and if you wish to only build a $250.00 cue then thats fine to that way we can have a winner in each division say 5 divisions $250.00 $500.00 $1000.00 $1500.00 and $2000.00 that way we get alot of cue builders involved such as myself i would enter one in every division but not everybody would have to at all that way if a builder is bogged down with work he can still enter what he has time to build. and you are right it,s not a contest for us put still build to win your division just for self gradtification and let it be known as we all know if you win that anyone winning there division is lucky to do so because all of the custom builders in the charity build off are the finest in the world of building custom cues and thats a fact and we have done this for the kids not for ourselfs.and i like the ideal about the cue collectors if we could get them involved as foundation brokers they could be a big part of making sure the cues are sold for a good fair price and that the money goes to the foundation for the kids. i will see if we can pull this together and make everyone happy but we need the builders to give a decribed look at how they want things and then vote for the best ways with everyone getting involved in the voting so lets hear it guys then i,ll setup a vote here on az so we can vote on everyone concerns. if someone else would want to help me please email and if you know some collectors discuss this with them and send them my way.sherm i think your involved with the aca and chris hightower started ica so guys talk to the guys that would be a great start to getting this to take off i would sure hate to see it just sweap under the rug. and that would bring the 2 organization"s together for a great cause showing theres no bountrys when it comes to charity for children in the custom cue building world. MADISON BOB CUSTOM CUES
 
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