Helping my tour grow

C

cwilmeth

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I own the Lucasi Hybrid All Star tour. Right now the game of pool is a tough business. Poolrooms don't want to guarantee the money, they just want to put the green fees back into the tournaments just to minimize their loss. Sponsors just wanna donate product for the same reason.
My goal is to have a nationwide tour but without bigger sponsors and guaranteed added money I see this dying before it gets started.
My delima right now is the Poolrooms aren't doing their part to advertise. They put one or two flyers on their wall and that's it. As of right now I don't have a huge mailing list. Working on that. I email league operators in the area I'm having a tournament but they don't help. Do I have to rely on face book and AZ.
Any ideas on marketing skills that may help? Please help me grow this tour
 
Not everyone who plays pool checks AZ. Yes, its a shock. So, you'll likely need a website to post your tour schedule and announce your presence.

Create a mailing list, using
e-mail,
text messaging
Facebook and Twitter

Take out ads in the magazines, such as Inside Pool, Billiard Digest, and others. You'll likely get an article covering your tournament.

Super Billiard Expo 2011 is coming up. Tons of amateur pool players, consider getting a booth to advertise the presence of your tournament. Nothing like face to face contact to reach out to players and owners.
 
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cwilmeth said:
I own the Lucasi Hybrid All Star tour. Right now the game of pool is a tough business. Poolrooms don't want to guarantee the money, they just want to put the green fees back into the tournaments just to minimize their loss. Sponsors just wanna donate product for the same reason.
My goal is to have a nationwide tour but without bigger sponsors and guaranteed added money I see this dying before it gets started.
My delima right now is the Poolrooms aren't doing their part to advertise. They put one or two flyers on their wall and that's it. As of right now I don't have a huge mailing list. Working on that. I email league operators in the area I'm having a tournament but they don't help. Do I have to rely on face book and AZ.
Any ideas on marketing skills that may help? Please help me grow this tour
Click to expand...

Why would you think league operators would help. 95% of those guys have 1 thing in mind and that is lining their own pocket, especially APA operators. They don't want their members playing anything but a bunch of handicap give me crap. If their players actually participated in something that rewarded them for becomming better they would lose that league, sandbagging, new generation philosophy that allows those Ops to make money off the players. Good luck, I hope your efforts succeed.
 
The first question you need to answer is how much money are you willing to commit to marketing?

answer that, and then we can figure out how to make your tour grow.
 
Get a Databank of pool players Cell phone numbers and keep in touch by TEXT message. That is the NEW world of contact in my opinion. My cell is 864-871-1535 ( I am a owner and not a tournament player but text is so easy in the world today. )
 
Help an okie out

Welcome to the business world! Last place to look would be league operators. They don't like competition. I promise you one thing though, when the money is there the players will drive to Lawton to play. Gotta spend money to make money.
 
I have a website. Allstartour.net. It has all my tournaments.
When I register people for my tournaments I have them fill out registration forms. I don't even do a tournament in Lawton. No place really big enough.

Of course I ask the pool rooms to put flyers up everywhere. Not so there tacky but so they can be seen. Best place I could think was bathroom stall doors. What else is there to do when you're squatting?
 
cwilmeth said:
I have a website. Allstartour.net. It has all my tournaments.
When I register people for my tournaments I have them fill out registration forms. I don't even do a tournament in Lawton. No place really big enough.

Of course I ask the pool rooms to put flyers up everywhere. Not so there tacky but so they can be seen. Best place I could think was bathroom stall doors. What else is there to do when you're squatting?
Click to expand...

Promoting a Tour is something we can discuss when you come to school. I "might" be able to help....:-)
SPF=randyg
 
Tournament Scheduel's

Is the tournament listing at Krome's Bar & Grill, North Little Rock,Ar. on Jan. 22-23 a $1,000 ADDED , and the same format as Mac Daddy's, North Little Rock, Ar. on Jan. 8-9 $1,000 ADDED 9-Ball?


David Harcrow
 
cwilmeth said:
I own the Lucasi Hybrid All Star tour. Right now the game of pool is a tough business. Poolrooms don't want to guarantee the money, they just want to put the green fees back into the tournaments just to minimize their loss. Sponsors just wanna donate product for the same reason.
My goal is to have a nationwide tour but without bigger sponsors and guaranteed added money I see this dying before it gets started.
My delima right now is the Poolrooms aren't doing their part to advertise. They put one or two flyers on their wall and that's it. As of right now I don't have a huge mailing list. Working on that. I email league operators in the area I'm having a tournament but they don't help. Do I have to rely on face book and AZ.
Any ideas on marketing skills that may help? Please help me grow this tour
Click to expand...


You've got a start up business and those take allot of time and effort, no different than trying to get good at pool when you have never hit a ball. If you've got the sticktuittiveness (think that's a word) and work ethic and TIME, you might be able to make it work. Personally I would start with just one pool room or bar/club and work that one to death and see if it's your cup of tea. You'll be dealing with on a small scale what you'll be dealing with in your chosen profession. It takes a certain personality to tackle this elephant. Once the word gets out about ''another'' league or tour then matters will either take off or not. It is nice to shoot for the moon, it's also important to first learn to fly.
 
new tour

A lot of the players will base it off your first tourn. If the payout to the players is taken advantage of by the poolroom owners or promoters, look for your tour to crash. You have to "show them the money" , and they will come!
 
Well my first tournament was $1500 added. Drew 44 players and payed out through 5-6 in tournament and auction. Since then my biggest turnout was 34 @ white diamonds.
 
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