"Hey, Can I Play" Marketing Campaign

[CJ Wiley]

Today the game of pool is outlawed by the government

Judging by the payouts in pool, a better campaign might be a guy selling his cues, climbing in the backseat of an unlocked car (after trying many others), falling asleep while a voice-over says, 'Pool, it's what's for dinner'.

That's funny......it's interesting how effective advertising reverse psychology can be.

I think an aggressive ad campaign would be a press release stating the following:

TODAY THE GAME OF POOL IS OUTLAWED BY THE GOVERNMENT - PEOPLE ARE NOW FORBIDDEN TO PLAY THE GAME WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION

Of course there would be a "republican version," as well as a "democratic version".

The Teacher is the Game

 

[CreeDo]

This scenario actually has an ad agency approach. Situation,Dialogue,Tag. I would green rep you, but mods require some spreading,lol!!

I sent a Facebook photo to Ray Hanson(BigTruck), of my Friend, Pro Bass Fisherman Dennis Tietje, who is on the road again, driving up to New York for a tournament [snip]...
However, NONE of this is possible without an organization like BASSMASTERS
developing the concept and being the authority in the Pro Bass Fishing Sport.

This is what we, in Pool, desperately need, and we need it Now!

cajunfats

Cheers! ...for a laugh (show dennis if he's not aware) go to http://www.dennistietje.com/
Who would bassmasters be in pool? I guess the closest thing is brunswick?!
Lately diamond and simonis do more I guess.
I think anyone with a set of golf clubs and some buddies could do this ad on Youtube and
let it go viral

 

[gxman]

Get Manny Pacquiao to sponsor some pool tournaments. I saw a youtube video of him shooting pool and he plays pretty solid. I've read he backs ronnie alcano.

 

[cajunfats]

Lmao!!!

Cheers! ...for a laugh (show dennis if he's not aware) go to http://www.dennistietje.com/
Who would bassmasters be in pool? I guess the closest thing is brunswick?!
Lately diamond and simonis do more I guess.
I think anyone with a set of golf clubs and some buddies could do this ad on Youtube and
let it go viral

Hahaha!! I guess his name got jacked! But, those babes are pretty sporty in their own right. I'd Green You, but I gots me sum Mod restrictions!

Not Really Brunswick, because they are strictly a business arm of pool. Bassmasters as the ruling tournament entity is kind of like the BCA from years ago,sort of.

That's the problem. There is no entity that is the governing body for pool.

Hell, I'm thinking of renting a building, putting a Pool Table in the front room, and calling myself the Official Governing Institution for Pool in the United States. OGIPUS!

Since I am OGIPUS, all decisions are final. You don't have to worry about the buck getting passed,I'm it! This could be fun.

cajunfats
aka OGIPUS

 

[CreeDo]

OGIPUS can you hire some actors and make one of these commercials?
It'd be a good start, we gotta scare people off the golf course.

Get Manny Pacquiao to sponsor some pool tournaments. I saw a youtube video of him shooting pool and he plays pretty solid. I've read he backs ronnie alcano.

I wonder if there's a governing body of pool in the PI? I've heard of Puyat Sports sponsoring Efren.
I dunno if that's basically one rich guy who loves pool or some huge organization.
Maybe we should just ask them to handle pool in the USA.

 

[cajunfats]

Commercial

OGIPUS can you hire some actors and make one of these commercials?
It'd be a good start, we gotta scare people off the golf course.



I wonder if there's a governing body of pool in the PI? I've heard of Puyat Sports sponsoring Efren.
I dunno if that's basically one rich guy who loves pool or some huge organization.
Maybe we should just ask them to handle pool in the USA.

That's the beauty of Me being OGIPUS. My experience as an Actor in Film and TV put me in an ideal position to make this commercial. However, CreeDo I don't play Golf, so I will be needing a "stand in" to play that role. Interested? The pay is lousy,"isn't everything in pool?", but I can Cook like a MoFo,that would be the only compensation.

As far as I know, Puyat Sports is a private sponsoring entity that has a lot of control over some aspects of pool in the Phillipines, but the Asian Pocket Billiard Federation covers that area for international play.

If the OP would have used a kid looking on saying,"Hey,can I Play?", I believe he would be a lot closer to the target of the real future in pool.

OGIPUS REX

 

[BasementDweller]

...
If the OP would have used a kid looking on saying,"Hey,can I Play?", I believe he would be a lot closer to the target of the real future in pool.

OGIPUS REX

Mr. OGIPUS,

Unfortunately, I've asked this question on behalf of my young son and the answer is usually "No, you can't play."

I emailed a local league operator the other day and this is the response I got back:

Chris....We do not offer junior leagues at this time. There are not enough youngsters that are interested, and most all of our pool tables are in “21 and older” bars and such. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for inquiring with us.

Thank you and have a great day,

Can't say that I blame them. They at least emailed me back, which is more than I can say for the others I have sent emails to. All I know is - it sure is tough keepings kids interested in a game that they can't compete at.:scratchhead:

 

[Treyf123]

What pool needs IMHO

I've Read a bunch of these threads from front to back about how to help pool as a whole and Everyone I have read is Missing why this sport is dying. I want everyone to ask themselves how many sports that you see on National TV can you not go and watch a local high school go play in?

I am 19 and up until last year I had no Idea the BEF even existed. Even though I had been playing pool seriously for about 3 years. If this sport is to grow it has to be done through the younger generation. I went to two different high schools while attending high school and I know less than half of them actually consider going out and playing pool even once a month.

I agree That an ad could do good for the game but I think you are targeting COMPLETLY the wrong group. Instead of targeting adults that already have hobbies they do for fun, maybe target teenagers and younger by showing some of the younger crowd that play pretty well and have fun doing so. In college now you have the ACUI which I know has attracted a couple new pool players. So, why cant highschools start there own leagues and maybe the winners from every state then go on the Junior National tournament?? I feel like something like this would be possible not easy but possible.

 

[Ponytail]

I think it's a great idea, but have it where it's a mother and father with a teenage son who get turned away, and then the guy who asks, "Can we join you?" be a father and his teenage daughter. This would appeal to families as well.

 

[cajunfats]

Good Post Trey!

I've Read a bunch of these threads from front to back about how to help pool as a whole and Everyone I have read is Missing why this sport is dying. I want everyone to ask themselves how many sports that you see on National TV can you not go and watch a local high school go play in?

I am 19 and up until last year I had no Idea the BEF even existed. Even though I had been playing pool seriously for about 3 years. If this sport is to grow it has to be done through the younger generation. I went to two different high schools while attending high school and I know less than half of them actually consider going out and playing pool even once a month.

I agree That an ad could do good for the game but I think you are targeting COMPLETLY the wrong group. Instead of targeting adults that already have hobbies they do for fun, maybe target teenagers and younger by showing some of the younger crowd that play pretty well and have fun doing so. In college now you have the ACUI which I know has attracted a couple new pool players. So, why cant highschools start there own leagues and maybe the winners from every state then go on the Junior National tournament?? I feel like something like this would be possible not easy but possible.

Trey, this is a great post. You are exactly the demographic that was being sought back Twenty Years Ago! Yes!! Before you were born, there were people in the industry deperately trying to develop some sort of outlet for young people.

The difficulty was and is, that the majority of the billiard business is centered on the adult population who spend money in adult oriented businesses. The opportunity to submit pool to every high school in America was missed in the early 90's economy. Instead, manufacturers made the home table equipment and full scale billiard rooms their target market. This has brought us to young people like yourself who had to enter the adult market via non public participation.

It is sad, that for the most part, the BEF has become a sort of scholarship fund for industry insiders, and doesn't branch out into the real public realm.

Your criticism is justified, because myself and my peer group didn't do enough to make High School Pocket Billiards a recognized sport. We were too busy worried about Professional Pool, and the damn Olympics, and PBTA/Don Mackey, and a host of other now meaningless ideas!

If you want to see youth success, go to Germany and observe the Pool Billard Club System they have. It is excellent. It, like all other sports however, are not school related.

cajunfats

 

[CJ Wiley]

Is this a bad thing? Not really, it's just realistic

I've Read a bunch of these threads from front to back about how to help pool as a whole and Everyone I have read is Missing why this sport is dying. I want everyone to ask themselves how many sports that you see on National TV can you not go and watch a local high school go play in?

I am 19 and up until last year I had no Idea the BEF even existed. Even though I had been playing pool seriously for about 3 years. If this sport is to grow it has to be done through the younger generation. I went to two different high schools while attending high school and I know less than half of them actually consider going out and playing pool even once a month.

I agree That an ad could do good for the game but I think you are targeting COMPLETLY the wrong group. Instead of targeting adults that already have hobbies they do for fun, maybe target teenagers and younger by showing some of the younger crowd that play pretty well and have fun doing so. In college now you have the ACUI which I know has attracted a couple new pool players. So, why cant highschools start there own leagues and maybe the winners from every state then go on the Junior National tournament?? I feel like something like this would be possible not easy but possible.

I won the National High School Championships in Chicago and from my experience it's not good for kids to encourage them to play pool. Taking all things into consideration I have come to believe it's an adult game, like beer, liquor and wine are "adult beverages".

Is this a bad thing? Not really, it's just realistic, if I had any influence over kids I would use my martial arts abilities to teach them, not my pool playing abilities. One is healthy in nature and the other is not (at this time in history).

Target the "Baby Boomers" they need the entertainment and exercise AND they have the money to get involved in new hobbies. They are also mature enough to not let the negative influences in pool effect their futures. 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[Neil]

I won the National High School Championships in Chicago and from my experience it's not good for kids to encourage them to play pool. Taking all things into consideration I have come to believe it's an adult game, like beer, liquor and wine are "adult beverages".

Is this a bad thing? Not really, it's just realistic, if I had any influence over kids I would use my martial arts abilities to teach them, not my pool playing abilities. One is healthy in nature and the other is not (at this time in history).

Target the "Baby Boomers" they need the entertainment and exercise AND they have the money to get involved in new hobbies. They are also mature enough to not let the negative influences in pool effect their futures. 'The Game is the Teacher'

I agree with you here. I've thought about setting something up with the local room or the schools for kids. I never have done it because of one problem.... when parents inevitably ask what's in it for their kids, what's their possible future, why should they learn to play pool..... all I can think of to answer them would be something like- so the rooms have future players and don't close down, so this country has some pros in the future, other than that, I come up empty.

Honestly, why should any kid learn to play pool? There is no future in it, so why spend that kind of time and money to just play for fun?? Especially when their time can be used much, much more advantageous to them?

I hate it to, but it's the honest truth...there is no future for pool players. There is nothing to strive for.

 

[cajunfats]

Barriers to Youth

Mr. OGIPUS,

Unfortunately, I've asked this question on behalf of my young son and the answer is usually "No, you can't play."

I emailed a local league operator the other day and this is the response I got back:



Can't say that I blame them. They at least emailed me back, which is more than I can say for the others I have sent emails to. All I know is - it sure is tough keepings kids interested in a game that they can't compete at.:scratchhead:

BD, I can appreciate the consternation at not being able to figure out why there so many barriers to youth players. Most adult leagues are in places that are 21 and older. Many youth gaming parlors are saturated with high tech games that attract the kids much easier.

As I stated in my response to Trey, the only way to generate the development of youth pool, is through a concerted effort in High Schools or via small pool-billiard clubs. One has a huge barrier with Educational Administration and the Logistics of implementing it. The other requires the risk capital to open a small club and focus on teaching and development with a long term vision for success.

There are solutions. There are people who care about this issue.

Thanks for describing your and your son's experience.

cajunfats

 

[CJ Wiley]

But overall I would Defiantly consider pool GREAT for kids in my book.

I agree with you here. I've thought about setting something up with the local room or the schools for kids. I never have done it because of one problem.... when parents inevitably ask what's in it for their kids, what's their possible future, why should they learn to play pool..... all I can think of to answer them would be something like- so the rooms have future players and don't close down, so this country has some pros in the future, other than that, I come up empty.

Honestly, why should any kid learn to play pool? There is no future in it, so why spend that kind of time and money to just play for fun?? Especially when their time can be used much, much more advantageous to them?

I hate it to, but it's the honest truth...there is no future for pool players. There is nothing to strive for.

Yes, I spent time with the guy that did the "Cash For College" inframercials and we tried to figure out a way to make pool an educational game that could teach spelling, math, etc (by numbers/letters on the balls), however, we just couldn't invent someting that we thought would catch on with kids and parents.

The game does have mathmatical qualities and it's great for hand/eye coordination, but besides that the element is difficult to deal with in most cases.

HOWEVER, I just got this letter from someone {With an Experienced Opinion} that I thought would be a positive perspective to share:

Thanks for replying to my post CJ. I was going to put all of this in my comment part when I added to your rep but It wouldn't let me.

As far as one of the negative parts you talked about Alcohol. I'm not sure how it was when you went to school but I had some kids I considered friends start drinking/smoking as early as 8th grade.

I was fortunately a little smarter than them (or at least made better choices than them) and didn't hang out with them as much or at all really outside of school. So whether a kid plays pool or not they are always going to be exposed to that. I actually believe that it would be more difficult for a kid to be given alcohol at any respectable pool hall versus one of their own friends house.

I started playing pool in the middle of my Freshman year of High school, My dads always been a Very good amateur so we would travel around usually only go to nice places but every once in a while we would find ourselves somewhere undesirable. If I wouldn't of been playing pool I know for a fact I would of been doing the same thing as my friends drinking and smoking.

I PMed you just because i'm not trying to start a huge argument whether pool is overall a good pastime for kids or not. But overall I would Defiantly consider pool GREAT for kids in my book.

Here in VA I have 3 younger friends that I also travel around with that play pool very well. I know that pool has also kept them away from the drug/alcohol scene. There's good, bad, and evil in everything its all in how you embrace it in my opinion.

If you get in the right crowd you can make out much more positive in pool vs negative in pool. I know its a long post CJ thanks for reading.