Do you confront people who sit on/drink over the tables?

Patrick Johnson said:
I give them a friendly "heads-up" like: "Hey, just so you know, the owner will yell at you if he sees you (sitting/putting a drink) on the table. He's afraid it'll (unlevel/stain) it."

I've said this to all kinds of people, young, old, sober and drunk, and never had a negative reaction. Most thank me for the "warning". They might even remember the brief explanation about why "the owner" doesn't like it.

pj
chgo
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This is probably the best way to handle a situation like this. Your next step is to let the staff deal with it or say nothing at all. Saying anything else makes you look confrontational and obnoxious which will ALWAYS have a negative response and you should never invite this into your life. It's just cloth.
 
Way back in the day I managed a room in So Cal. The equipment wasn't the greatest, Acme tables, but very well maintained. If an individual was mistreating a table either I or one my help would advise them to refrain from doing so. If they did it again I'd get on the P.A. and let them know in no uncertain terms to stop. That would usually do the trick.

Gerry S
 
Where I play, it's a fraternal organization, so it's a little different. Fortunately, no one ever puts a drink on the tables (though I did see someone actually spill some beer on a table a couple months ago....completely unintentional, the lady was walking by, talking to a player, and didn't realize she had the beer over the table and slipped. Still, it annoyed the hell out of the few of us there) and no one actually sits on them, either.

(No more than leaning on them, when standing next to them. Probably not great for any table, but not really putting any more weight on them than when a player is leaning over the table, reaching for a shot.)

I'm pretty sure if there was a "guest" that was treating the equipment poorly, there would be no shortage of folks that would gently point out the error of their ways...
 
BHQ said:
...
but after the time there was a kid about 16 on top of the table,
on both knees, with his friends holding the light over and out of his way so he could make his shot and the room owner stood right there ...
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Well, apart from no hoof in the hay, I have no problem with that scene. Where I play the beads sometimes get stuck badly enough that they can't be loosened with a bridge so I get up on the table on my knees and move them by hand. Slate should be able to take the full weight of a player without a problem. If not, get a different brand of table. The main problem is the cushions which might get loosened by sitting in the wrong place.

As for holding the light out of the way, that's an authorized chore for the referee. From the WPA regulations:
8. Instructions for Referees
The referee will determine all matters of fact relating to the rules, maintain fair playing conditions, call fouls, and take other action as required by these rules. The referee will suspend play when conditions do not permit fair play. Play will also be suspended when a call or ruling is being disputed. The referee will announce fouls and other specific situations as required by the rules. He will answer questions as required by the rules on matters such as foul count. He must not give advice on the application of the rules, or other points of play on which he is not required by the rules to speak. He may assist the player by getting and replacing the mechanical bridge. If necessary for the shot, the referee or a deputy may hold the light fixture out of the way.​
 
regarding my home table (which is in the entertaining part of the house) ~

My wife and her very large family dont believe in coasters, so they set glasses anywhere, including on the rails of my pool table! Yes, I tell them instantly, but I cant always be there to catch them. :mad:
The little grandkids like to hold onto the rails and swing like its a jungle gym.........
:mad:
 
I may not work there but I play there. On every table in the place. Respect is EVERYTHING!! I will come from across the room to suggest an alternate action to placing drinks on the table, smoking over the table (when it applied), lifting it to get stuck balls out, throwing the stick on the table when you miss, sitting on the edge, using house cues to jam into the ball return, spreading talc from one end to other, getting drunk and load and bothering other players, using your own BLACK chalk cause you think its cool. I could think of a few others but my point is, even if the employees won't defend the place I WILL!
 
I think everyone should bear in mind, even as a poolroom manager, you have to handle situations like these with care. People are crazy. Even if you're built like a Mack truck, who wants trouble? You're not there for trouble. You're there to play pool, have a drink, gamble a little and admire the scene. The great advantage to informing the manager is that he has experience handling this situation. You, as a patron, have nothing to gain and everything to lose.

My common approach is to say, "Hi, I apologize for interrupting. I'm an employee here and I just wanted to ask you to please use the provided cocktail tables and shelves. We are (with a sarcastically serious look) a very serious room with serious rules and ask all are patrons to respect the tables." Usually they laugh a little and move their drinks. The key is to be entertaining. As a patron, it's really hard to pull this off which is why I recommend not saying anything.
 
table

WELL I HAVE A ROOM WITH 12 TABLES, AND IF YOU WONT TO PISS THIS OLD MAN OFF PUT FOOD OR DRINK ON OR AROUND MY TABLES----YOU WILL HAVE A BAD DAY!!!!!MOSTLY TEENS I ASK THEN POINTING AT CHAIR??? they ANSWER CHAIR, I POINT AT POOL TABLE WHAT THAT--THEY ANSWER POOL TABLE, THANKS NOW YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE I WANT HAVE TO THROW ALL MY CHAIRS AWAY.:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
 
I quit saying anything to anybody. Let the proprietors/staff say something if they value their equipment and dedicated poolplaying customers. Anymore, all people wanna do is fight, and they don't just fight with their fists anymore. They all carry knives and sometimes guns. I'm not losing my life over some bar/poolhall's equipment.

Maniac
 
all I'm saying is

Hope this does not come across bad ,however the truth is subject to the interpreter .I live close to one of the nicest pool rooms in the south .It just breaks my heart to see tables damaged due to an ID 10 T problem . That's right IDIOTS !! One of the best playing tables in the room now has a huge stain on the foot end of the table due to this kind of thing . I have said things to younger kids and older alike in this room and used to think of it as my home away from home .Mostly I gave respect in my delivery and recieved like in turn .I understand that "King Alcohol " Sales rule the day but if you want to keep it a "players room" please keep an eye on drunken folks who can't play dead in a western.Really I have seen well trained wait staff handle this and be on the look out for it .I guess I am a softy but it really hurts me to see simonis go from blue to a greenish ,brown or yellow color .....it really hurts man ....I love pool .:sad: Respect the room your in and help keep it in good order , that's how I was taught ."Where do they get these people ??" :rolleyes:
 
As a former employee at a few rooms and as a player who will probably play on the table, I feel a responsibility to act any time I see this happen. I'm always polite and concise. If they give me any resistance, I explain that they are potentially harming expensive equipment and the play will be compromised. I have never had to summon an owner or manager to get involved.
 
I know some pool rooms put up signs. But I notice a lot of people go about signage the wrong way (in general, not just in the pool room). The rules are small, plain, and not prominent.

I wonder how much it cuts down on this behavior, if you have a large, clear, bold, colorful sign?

I know they don't want to go overboard and make it look like road work signage... but if I can't read it from 10 feet away, you're not doing it right. I think Q-masters has some signs like this. Does anyone have a pool hall with really prominent signs? If so, does it seem to help compared to other places you shoot?
 
CreeDo said:
I know some pool rooms put up signs. But I notice a lot of people go about signage the wrong way (in general, not just in the pool room). The rules are small, plain, and not prominent.

I wonder how much it cuts down on this behavior, if you have a large, clear, bold, colorful sign?

I know they don't want to go overboard and make it look like road work signage... but if I can't read it from 10 feet away, you're not doing it right. I think Q-masters has some signs like this. Does anyone have a pool hall with really prominent signs? If so, does it seem to help compared to other places you shoot?
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I've been on both sides of the counter and I was never big on signs.
It's up to management and customers who care to see things right.
..hands-on education is the way to go..

..and I'm courteous when I ask people to respect the equipment...
..one shouldn't ask for respect if you're not prepared to give it.

I learned early, played golf as a pre-teen.
One kid in our semi-regular foresome missed a short putt and buried his
putter head in the green...we repaired the damage and refused to play
with him anymore....until he begged us and promised to play right.
 
pt109 said:
I've been on both sides of the counter and I was never big on signs.
It's up to management and customers who care to see things right.
..hands-on education is the way to go..
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This is another sore point with me. Or maybe this is the only sore point, and the rest is just a side effect:

Management at pool halls these days hire anything with a pair of tits and experience waiting tables. They walk in front of your shots, interrupt you while you're down and about to shoot, and more importantly... they are 100% oblivious to guys sitting on the tables, climbing up on them, smoking over them, setting beers on the rails, etc.

If I owned a room, every employee would know to correct these things... automatically and instantly... or they're out of here. I've had situations where I told an employee and they just kind of shrugged and said something like "I think they're leaving soon anyway"

... what??

Still, I think a sign is just as important. Someone who lacks common sense might only put their beer on the table one time... but that one time is enough, it gets spilled before the employee even gets a chance to notice. With a sign, even if the employees are busy and not watching everything like a hawk, you at least have some hope of prevention.
 
CreeDo said:
I know some pool rooms put up signs. But I notice a lot of people go about signage the wrong way (in general, not just in the pool room). The rules are small, plain, and not prominent.

I wonder how much it cuts down on this behavior, if you have a large, clear, bold, colorful sign?

I know they don't want to go overboard and make it look like road work signage... but if I can't read it from 10 feet away, you're not doing it right. I think Q-masters has some signs like this. Does anyone have a pool hall with really prominent signs? If so, does it seem to help compared to other places you shoot?
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Pool players DON'T READ SIGNS in my experience. When TPBL hosted the NYS 9 ball Championship in Binghamton there was a 3' x 2' sign just after you came in the door for over a month. Saturday, first day of the tournament, several locals would walk in, look around at all the people and
"Is there a tournament today?"
 
Pushout said:
Pool players DON'T READ SIGNS in my experience. ...
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Where I learned, we did read the signs. Every time someone started to shoot a masse shot, we all said "Use the Ashtray" (which was also on the sign) and everyone laughed and he went ahead and shot the masse shot. We were probably gambling, too.
 
Respect the investment..

Yes as a matter of fact ,,I do confront people who put drinks on my table..
I confront them 1st with a stiff left ,then a right hook, then I finish my confrontation with a glorious muay thai knee.. :thumbup:

I'm just playing :),, but it is annoying if someone does set a drink on a pool table,especially during my match with them, if it's my table it's infuriating.......

If its not my table and its not in my way during play ,I dont say anything..

If it is my table I kindly asked them "not to put drinks on the table",, had no problems so far with that request..

Though in a public setting,, I could see someone getting a sore a$$ about being corrected in front of people, especially when liquor is involved.
 
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I agree with this...it's not so much what you say, but how you say it. I will almost always say something when I see someone sitting on a table, or putting their drink on the rail. Usually I just come up to the offender quietly, and whisper in their ear, "Please don't sit on the table, etc". It always works.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

C.Milian said:
There is always a nice way to ask someone to do something. Sometimes its hard, but if you come over and smile while talking in a calm rational manner, they shouldn't be offended.
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