Does Your Poolroom Allow Players to Eat While Playing?

[jay helfert]

By letting them know up front that we are stopping their pool time when their food comes out so they can eat without being charged for their pool, they realize we are enforcing this policy to maintain the quality of the tables, for everyone's benefit, as opposed to trying to maximize our profits. Most of our regulars learn this rule and accept it, understanding that is how we operate. As we are the only nice poolroom within 50 miles, we've had no problems losing regular customers due to this, at least that I know of. Of course you can't please everyone, and we don't try to.

The only time it becomes a potential issue is during tournament nights when players order food while playing in the tournament. Most of them have learned that if they place their order in the middle of a match, when that match is over, I'll allow them time to eat their food before calling them for their next match.

In certain situations where matches needing to be played are holding up the tournament and I need to have them start playing their next match ASAP, I have been known to bend the rules for players that I know will be extra careful - such as if they agree to use a fork/knife to eat their fries or wrapping their sandwich in a napkin to eat, as opposed to their hands.

Sounds like you've got it handled in a way that works for every one. Good for you Chris! :thumbup:

 

[ChrisinNC]

Sounds like you've got it handled in a way that works for every one. Good for you Chris! :thumbup:

Thanks Jay. I enjoyed your book - particularly the part about Frank Tullos and your road trips with him. I've known Frank for 23 years. I used him for consulting / advice before opening my poolroom here - some advice I took, some I didn't! We're currently negotiating our next matchup - I'm trying to get him on our 10-foot table, but he's resisting. I figure as he's 10+ years my senior, it would be to my advantage. I wouldn't dare play him in banks or one-pocket, but we've gone back and forth in our 9-ball sessions over the past 20 years, always playing in my poolroom, which certainly helped me.

We haven't matched up in well over 10 years. I've heard that for his age (early 70s), he still plays a strong game. Funny store about Frank and our sessions - One night I really got the best of him and we didn't finish until nearly dawn. Apparently he didn't think he was going to lose much, so he didn't have much cash on him to pay me at the end of the session, as we've played many times so we trusted each other to square up when we finished. As he said he was running short and would square up with me next time, I was a little ticked off, and I told him I'd run his credit card for the difference he owed me. He thought I was kidding - I wasn't. He begged me to come back again later that same day, even though he had a 90 minute drive to get back home. I told him I needed to get at least one night of sleep to catch up, as I had a business to run. Anyway, he bugged me until we matched up again a day or two later. He was determined and on his game, playing the best I'd ever seen him play, winning virtually every set and winning back all the $$ he'd lost a few nights before and then some!

 

[BasementDweller]

This really sounds like you're solving a problem that doesn't exist. When you consider the fact that you may be the ONLY room in the entire country that does this you may realize you are seeing boogymen.

I know....I know -- we just don't get it.

 

[jay helfert]

Thanks Jay. I enjoyed your book - particularly the part about Frank Tullos and your road trips with him. I've known Frank for 23 years. I used him for consulting / advice before opening my poolroom here - some advice I took, some I didn't! We're currently negotiating our next matchup - I'm trying to get him on our 10-foot table, but he's resisting. I figure as he's 10+ years my senior, it would be to my advantage. I wouldn't dare play him in banks or one-pocket, but we've gone back and forth in our 9-ball sessions over the past 20 years, always playing in my poolroom, which certainly helped me.

We haven't matched up in well over 10 years. I've heard that for his age (early 70s), he still plays a strong game. Funny store about Frank and our sessions - One night I really got the best of him and we didn't finish until nearly dawn. Apparently he didn't think he was going to lose much, so he didn't have much cash on him to pay me at the end of the session, as we've played many times so we trusted each other to square up when we finished. As he said he was running short and would square up with me next time, I was a little ticked off, and I told him I'd run his credit card for the difference he owed me. He thought I was kidding - I wasn't. He begged me to come back again later that same day, even though he had a 90 minute drive to get back home. I told him I needed to get at least one night of sleep to catch up, as I had a business to run. Anyway, he bugged me until we matched up again a day or two later. He was determined and on his game, playing the best I'd ever seen him play, winning virtually every set and winning back all the $$ he'd lost a few nights before and then some!

If you can play Frank even, then you play pretty good. He was a champion level player when he was a young man. How good he plays now I don't know, but I suspect he's no slouch.