How can we effect changes to better Pool?

[Snapshot9]

Through my involvement with Pool, as a player, a tournament
director at times, a former publisher of a billiards newsletter,
and a concerned Pool citizen, I often wonder how we as a
Pool community can directly and effectively better our sport
as a whole.

Do we just have to work away in our little local Pool cells, or can
we effectively impact the major Pool organizations in our country
to establish, work towards, and measure goals that will TRULY
promote our sport to a better and higher standard and participation.

Sometimes it seems that even if a majority wants something, that
the organizations just keep doing their own thing, much like
a congressman that will vote one way, even if the majority of
his constituents want him to vote the other way.

I want some 'valid' ideas on how we can impact these organizations.
Something that will work, and not just be an exercise in futility.

Let us be the difference that we want to see come about in our sport.
Idealistic? maybe ... but you have to start somewhere, but if we
join together with all of our knowledge and experience, we might
be able to make a difference.

 

[Purdman]

Through my involvement with Pool, as a player, a tournament
director at times, a former publisher of a billiards newsletter,
and a concerned Pool citizen, I often wonder how we as a
Pool community can directly and effectively better our sport
as a whole.

Do we just have to work away in our little local Pool cells, or can
we effectively impact the major Pool organizations in our country
to establish, work towards, and measure goals that will TRULY
promote our sport to a better and higher standard and participation.

Sometimes it seems that even if a majority wants something, that
the organizations just keep doing their own thing, much like
a congressman that will vote one way, even if the majority of
his constituents want him to vote the other way.

I want some 'valid' ideas on how we can impact these organizations.
Something that will work, and not just be an exercise in futility.

Let us be the difference that we want to see come about in our sport.
Idealistic? maybe ... but you have to start somewhere, but if we
join together with all of our knowledge and experience, we might
be able to make a difference.

We have to change the image Scott. So lets start there. What is wrong with the image of pool players and the game today? Let's make a list. You can't fix the problem unless you know what it is. I will start the list and people can add to it. Maybe we will get an idea here.
1. Associated with gambling and hustling
2. No cooperation between the top organizations. ( Greed )
3. Drugs and alcohol
Purdman

 

[Coop1701]

We have to change the image Scott. So lets start there. What is wrong with the image of pool players and the game today? Let's make a list. You can't fix the problem unless you know what it is. I will start the list and people can add to it. Maybe we will get an idea here.
1. Associated with gambling and hustling
2. No cooperation between the top organizations. ( Greed )
3. Drugs and alcohol
Purdman

4. No big money sponsors.
5. Not enough TV Airtime.

 

[cigardave]

6. 'Tudes... the sport is ripe with 'em. They turn off the general public IMO.

 

[Purdman]

4. No big money sponsors.
5. Not enough TV Airtime.

I believe this is due to the image.
Don

 

[Purdman]

6. 'Tudes... the sport is ripe with 'em. They turn off the general public IMO.

Could you be more specific. Who's attitude? Sponcers, players, directors, etc.
Don

 

[jhendri2]

We have to change the image Scott. So lets start there. What is wrong with the image of pool players and the game today? Let's make a list. You can't fix the problem unless you know what it is. I will start the list and people can add to it. Maybe we will get an idea here.
1. Associated with gambling and hustling
2. No cooperation between the top organizations. ( Greed )
3. Drugs and alcohol
Purdman

Purdy,

Besides the gambling, your list sounds like every major sport in the US. I really don't think that's the problem.

I think to better our sport we need for the Leagues to do something in the community, maybe have room host a charity event. Get pool and pool halss assiciated with the good things. Helping people and good publicity can do wonders for us.

IMHO,

Jim

 

[9 Ball Girl]

1. Associated with gambling and hustling
2. No cooperation between the top organizations. ( Greed )
3. Drugs and alcohol

100% agreement with Purdman. Also, tv shows like "Ball Breakers" which just brings "truth" to what the pool life is like.

If I were a big time potential sponsor, I would not want to involve myself with people who look slobbish, doing their little "cig" thing outside (at least go to your car!), cry when the handicaps are too high or low (regardless of how well the player plays), and most importantly, can't respect their own sport!

 

[Coop1701]

I believe this is due to the image.
Don

Not so sure about that Don... The reason I say this, is lots of sports have evolved just due to the impact of sponsors. Look at Stockcar racing..., It would have never became what it is today without RJ Reynolds. Pool's problem maybe the fact that The President of the UPA or whomever else doesn't have what it takes to walk into a major corporate business. Sit down at a table and prove to them, that a relationship with pool would beneficial to both parties.

 

[Snapshot9]

Not entirely ...

references made to "pool cells"

cells usually being reserved for terrorists

Haven't you ever heard of business cells?

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

You know, it amazes me how people will run off these terms so easily. "Change pool's image. Clean it up"... What does that mean? What does that translate into? Do you really think professional pool is the leadership of the industry?

Pool is suffering but the damage isn't in the tournament purse. It's the books of your local poolroom. The poolrooms are suffering and that's the reason why the game is going into decline. Change the image? People are going to have their images painted by their local rooms and nothing more than that. If you play at Hollywood Billiards or Amsterdam, image is not the issue. If your local room is a shady dive with drugs and gambling, guess what? Momma won't want you going there and it won't have anything to do with pool!

So you want to get constructive. This has been an ongoing battle for decades now! When The Hustler came out, everyone was crossing their fingers just as they were when The Color of Money was released. Well, it's been nearly 20 years since The Color of Money and the lapsed time has had an impact.

If you want to help the industry, you have to figure out a way to remind people that pool is a weekend option. Right now, a lot of activities are suffering. Movie receipts are down, bar receipts are down, going out in-general is down. So what are we competing against? Why are people staying home? What can you do to tell them that instead of playing poker or watching DVR, they can go to the poolroom? What's out there that would romanticise it because that's what Color of Money did. It made it cool to be a pool shark.

In the meanwhile, all we really can do is be as organized as we can and accept the ebbs and flows. The industry will eventually climb again. Unfortunately, it may be years before that happens and no amount of work on our parts will change that.

 

[jhendri2]

100% agreement with Purdman. Also, tv shows like "Ball Breakers" which just brings "truth" to what the pool life is like.

If I were a big time potential sponsor, I would not want to involve myself with people who look slobbish, doing their little "cig" thing outside (at least go to your car!), cry when the handicaps are too high or low (regardless of how well the player plays), and most importantly, can't respect their own sport!

Well, basbeall, football, baseketball, and hockey all have the same problems as pool as far as drugs (steroids, Rickey Williams, etc.), gambling (Pete Rose, fans want in the hall of fame), Drinking (well everyone), no cooperation in the top organizations/greed (look at the owners versus the players).

Poker has the same characters we do (and the same image), but since the entry fees are so high, the prize fund is enormous. Therefore this draws attention from the public. How many entries do you think we'd get in a $10,000 entry fee tourny?

I guess I'm content playing a sport that's more fun to play than it is to watch. Chess is a great game, but I don't particularly want to watch it on TV.

I think a central organized pro-tour would do great things though.

Jim

 

[cigardave]

Don - Regarding attitudes, whose I had in mind was only the players.

For a sport to become more popular and to grow, I believe that the public needs to embrace the players... not just the sport itself.

 

[jhendri2]

a pool room owner i'm acquainted with blames stay at home video gamers in part for the decline in pool room revenues

he went from making record highs last year to record lows this year

That's odd...record highs last year - they had video games last year too. There has to be another factor/variable there.

Jim

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

The fact is, it's getting more and more comfortable to stay at home than it is to go out. With the ban on smoking, the crack-down on drunk-driving (in New York City, you can lose your car) and the advancements in home entertainment, why go out when you can simply invite your friends over, save money and not get arrested.

Even in New York City (the city of Pedestrians), there is a decline in the nightlife industry. Pool needs more than co-operation from the powers-that-be. What it needs is another movie and a plan for the next high-tide.

 

[ScottR]

I think a central organized pro-tour would do great things though.

Jim

I am with you on this, Jim. Until we have a central "authority" on pool (or, at least aligned authorities, like golf has with the USGA and the R&A), I really don't see the game becoming more than it is now - one of many recreational options available to people. Just curious, with the seeming explosion of pocket billiard games in the Asian countries, are they more limited on their recreational options?

As Jude noted, the business is cyclical and affected by economics, seasons, other priorities (such as wars), etc. I have a good friend who works in the bowling industry (within their governing organization). They also suffer the same cyclicality and drivers and struggle with the situation daily. But, they also have that central organization and they are getting (slowly) healthier. They also recently combined the two (semi) competing governing organizations to help the survival of all.

 

[jhendri2]

. . ."in part". . .

I'm not trying to be arguementative. But home video games have been around for 30 years and popular for at least the last 20. It may have taken a minute amount of business. It just doesn't make sense that he has his best year ever last year, obviously video games didn't hurt him then.

I'm not flaming or trolling. Did his clientele change, area demographics change? Prices?

Jim

 

[pete lafond]

Through my involvement with Pool, as a player, a tournament
director at times, a former publisher of a billiards newsletter,
and a concerned Pool citizen, I often wonder how we as a
Pool community can directly and effectively better our sport
as a whole.

.

First of all there is no governing body of pool, period. So there is no unified direction. Next, we need to get leagues in the billiard rooms across the country. I understand that some areas in the country lack billiard rooms though most have them.

There is, however, a new league starting up called iPP that has the right idea. They plan to promote billiard room play. This league organization will not consider bar (tavern play) at all. They consider tavern play as the putt-putt golf of billiards. They also structured a way to form a league that does not suck every penny from billiards leaving it dry.

After evaluating this leagues objectives and drives, I have decided to become a sponsor of theirs. As those that know me, I have a passion for pool and promoting billiard rooms. This is were the pool player can be found and IS the golf course of billiards.

To answer your question, we need to get into billiard rooms. We need pro shops in billiard rooms and we need pros there. This is were to start building it.

 

[jhendri2]

The fact is, it's getting more and more comfortable to stay at home than it is to go out. With the ban on smoking, the crack-down on drunk-driving (in New York City, you can lose your car) and the advancements in home entertainment, why go out when you can simply invite your friends over, save money and not get arrested.

I think you hit the nail on the head right there!!! Why pay $8 an hour and $4 for a beer on bad tables and the drunk guy next to you running his mouth and bumping you. When I can play at home, drink $1 beers, listen to the music I want and only those invited are there.

It may very well be, the cheap home table killed the pool hall.

Jim

 

[Raodwarior]

It all starts at the room level

Poker is a bad analogy because EVERYONE thinks they are a poker player and the only reason they lose is luck. In pocket billiards I can show you how bad you really are or how good you really are.

That being said, I believe that any effort to upgrade pool and participation must be done at the grass roots level. I as an instructor constantly give little tidbits of info when a player asks me something. We also try to promote pool as an inexpensive family game, please show me anyplace else you can entertain a family of 4 for under $10 an hour. Give you a hint you can't with bowling or golf, even supporting a kid in scocer is more expensive. How many rooms are running so kind of junior program?? Get the kids involved now and you have another level of customer in the future. I give FREE lessons to those under the age of 12, plus our new room is in the process of beginning a Saturday afternoon junior program.

Other things I have found that also help. Room owners learn to control the sharks, I have seen many a room where either the owner or employee starts making game for the local sharks that usually heavily favor the local. It takes money to generate that customer and in one or two sets you just blew him out of the building. Make time to get to know all your customers, get out and play some with them, just for fun or show them something to work on. You folks with a pro shop, if you see a mushroomed tip quick shape it up.

Once the room begin to fill again there will come a call for competition and they player base to fill such. Look back in the early mid 80's when I played the road, your still playing for the same or less prize money as we were then.

It all starts at home in the rooms grooming new business and showing them they can have fun. This is long enough now but I think you get my jist.