Sounds good.....just did, ttys
How do we all help improve the image of pocket billiards?
- Thread starter CJ Wiley
- Start date
Sounds good.....just did, ttys
A new pool Movie would be Awesome!!!
Funny you mention this, my friend Robin just posted a thread about a movie opportunity. I LOVE the idea and would be willing to help anyone that had an opportunity to make anther Hollywood Movie About Pool.....this would be very helpful in creating new, revitalized interest in pocket billiards.....don't you think?
I have started a book about my Road Days at THIS LINK - Tell me what you think
Funny you mention this, my friend Robin just posted a thread about a movie opportunity. I LOVE the idea and would be willing to help anyone that had an opportunity to make anther Hollywood Movie About Pool.....this would be very helpful in creating new, revitalized interest in pocket billiards.....don't you think?
I have started a book about my Road Days at THIS LINK - Tell me what you think
I think the Robin Dodson story as a movie would be great for the game. It would emulate the ups & downs of the game itself & end on a positive note & probably bring more of a hugh demographic to the game...females. Which would most certainly bring more males to follow them.
Rick
PS A hall in New Orleans that my dad took me to when I was young had a room of, I believe, 6 tables for couples only. Just a thought for my past.
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A simple dress code is a good place to start. I am going to keep saying it over and over because it is important:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=214081&highlight=schofield
I sent a letter to the editor on this subject to the Billiards Digest. The letter was published in the August issue 2011. For those who are interested, read on...
To the Editor of Billiards Digest,
In the closing paragraphs of the June Chronicles, “Crime in the Halls,” Mike Shamos made several suggestions for how poolrooms can improve their image and at the same time, the image of the game. I have owned a room for 33 years and I can tell everyone that the most reliable method for operating a respectable room and garnering community acceptance is to institute and maintain a dress code. Not only do words and manners have meaning, attire also conveys a message. Forbidding offensive, disrespectful, and inappropriate clothing goes a long way toward changing the image of the game and setting standards for a poolroom. People tend to act in accordance with the way they are dressed. A simple dress code can actually clean up questionable customers and make them desirable customers. It can also be used as a filter at the front door to deny entry to trouble that a poolroom would never want.
The room itself must play its part and set a tone of consideration and dignity with a neat, clean, and attractive atmosphere without offensive music and vulgar language. Instituting a dress code requires more than just posting a sign of proscribed attire. Developing policy, educating staff, and administering regulations are also necessary.
Image has always been our Achilles heel. Here is a simple, straight-forward, and doable practice that has served my business well for more than three decades.
Sincerely,
Paul Schofield
Gold Crown Billiards
Erie, PA
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=214081&highlight=schofield
I sent a letter to the editor on this subject to the Billiards Digest. The letter was published in the August issue 2011. For those who are interested, read on...
To the Editor of Billiards Digest,
In the closing paragraphs of the June Chronicles, “Crime in the Halls,” Mike Shamos made several suggestions for how poolrooms can improve their image and at the same time, the image of the game. I have owned a room for 33 years and I can tell everyone that the most reliable method for operating a respectable room and garnering community acceptance is to institute and maintain a dress code. Not only do words and manners have meaning, attire also conveys a message. Forbidding offensive, disrespectful, and inappropriate clothing goes a long way toward changing the image of the game and setting standards for a poolroom. People tend to act in accordance with the way they are dressed. A simple dress code can actually clean up questionable customers and make them desirable customers. It can also be used as a filter at the front door to deny entry to trouble that a poolroom would never want.
The room itself must play its part and set a tone of consideration and dignity with a neat, clean, and attractive atmosphere without offensive music and vulgar language. Instituting a dress code requires more than just posting a sign of proscribed attire. Developing policy, educating staff, and administering regulations are also necessary.
Image has always been our Achilles heel. Here is a simple, straight-forward, and doable practice that has served my business well for more than three decades.
Sincerely,
Paul Schofield
Gold Crown Billiards
Erie, PA
you have to have a strict dress/music/behavior code
I agree with this 100% and with 9 years not only running CJ's Billiard Palace, but a major nighclub as well I've had to deal with the dress code issue thousands of times. In the nighclub especially, you have to have a strict dress/music/behavior code or you won't draw your target clientele (for long anyway) ... These three factors established what we always refered to as a "People Code" and establishing a pleasant, clean atmosphere is the key to any billiard related business, just like Paul Schofield suggests. Gambling has never been the root cause of pool's usavery image, it's always been about behavior. There's nothing better in my opinion that a "High Dollar Match" in a classy, professional atmosphere where you don't have to worry about any of the "negative factors". imho
I agree with this 100% and with 9 years not only running CJ's Billiard Palace, but a major nighclub as well I've had to deal with the dress code issue thousands of times. In the nighclub especially, you have to have a strict dress/music/behavior code or you won't draw your target clientele (for long anyway) ... These three factors established what we always refered to as a "People Code" and establishing a pleasant, clean atmosphere is the key to any billiard related business, just like Paul Schofield suggests. Gambling has never been the root cause of pool's usavery image, it's always been about behavior. There's nothing better in my opinion that a "High Dollar Match" in a classy, professional atmosphere where you don't have to worry about any of the "negative factors". imho
CJ I did not get your PM. Here is my email. emunson@betterplaybilliards.org
the thing about gambling is you have to be dedicated to it or leave it alone
Yes, the thing about gambling is you have to be dedicated to it or leave it alone. I have very little interest in making money doing it so that incentive is gone, and the issue has become how to train for tournaments without playing under pressure. I don't know if that's going to be an easy one to figure out, I think I'll just have to buy another pool room and just play people that come in everyday. I really don't have to gamble, but it is important to play somebody, rather than practicing alone.
Yes, the thing about gambling is you have to be dedicated to it or leave it alone. I have very little interest in making money doing it so that incentive is gone, and the issue has become how to train for tournaments without playing under pressure. I don't know if that's going to be an easy one to figure out, I think I'll just have to buy another pool room and just play people that come in everyday. I really don't have to gamble, but it is important to play somebody, rather than practicing alone.
National Association of Cuesports to be over all cuesports in the USA
A "National Association of CueSports"....I like that idea....I had the Professional CueSports Association back in 96.
A "National Association of CueSports"....I like that idea....I had the Professional CueSports Association back in 96.
Never dump would be the least a player could do for the image of pool! Would also create more action.
The 2012 Olympics badminton "dump" is a good example of how easy it is to tarnish a sport. It takes a lot of work to build a reputation; and very little to destroy it.
Now with,the "hustling" image brought up again, I think it is both good and bad.
I am not at all sanctioning "hustling", but it has, from my experience, brought many people interested in billiards.
Some of the people I met really like the "cool" image of pocket billiards. I will admit, I do not mind it. Many may argue it makes billiards in general look unprofessional, cheap, and not classy. However, that is the image that some people really like. I met a young casual player who told me he wanted to hustle for a living. Many of the young pocket billiard players at my local parlor like how cool it looks. I'm not sure how to describe it. I don't mind the, um, 'gangsters'... at all. If anything I encourage all support for billiards and the parlor. Yes, it takes lots of practice, patience, and dedication to become a good player. But if it looked too 'fancy' and stuff it would discourage many other players. It goes the same way around, I guess, if people are discouraged by the "gambling" image... so I think it is both good and bad.
I am not at all sanctioning "hustling", but it has, from my experience, brought many people interested in billiards.
Some of the people I met really like the "cool" image of pocket billiards. I will admit, I do not mind it. Many may argue it makes billiards in general look unprofessional, cheap, and not classy. However, that is the image that some people really like. I met a young casual player who told me he wanted to hustle for a living. Many of the young pocket billiard players at my local parlor like how cool it looks. I'm not sure how to describe it. I don't mind the, um, 'gangsters'... at all. If anything I encourage all support for billiards and the parlor. Yes, it takes lots of practice, patience, and dedication to become a good player. But if it looked too 'fancy' and stuff it would discourage many other players. It goes the same way around, I guess, if people are discouraged by the "gambling" image... so I think it is both good and bad.
"losing on purpose" is a bad thing to do no matter what the sport/game
Yes, let's face it "losing on purpose" is a bad thing to do no matter what the sport/game. It's been done big time in boxing, baseball and many other sports. I think that's a separate category from gambling....it's more of just a con job and it will always be a dark part of this world. Even on Wall Street.
Yes, let's face it "losing on purpose" is a bad thing to do no matter what the sport/game. It's been done big time in boxing, baseball and many other sports. I think that's a separate category from gambling....it's more of just a con job and it will always be a dark part of this world. Even on Wall Street.
The great thing about pool is that it's fun. It doesn't have to be spun or oversold or exaggerated or cleverly marketed...
It just has to be played and watched and enjoyed.
My humble suggestion to improve the game's image and raise its profile is this: Every pool player who loves the game should make a point of getting hold of two friends who have never (or very rarely) played, and taking them to a pool hall. Explain the rules. Show some good basic technique (stance, bridge, cueing, aiming, etc) and give these friends at least 45 minutes to play each other under your tutelage. If they're old enough and they enjoy the occasional drink, mix some beers into the equation.
If every pool player in the world did this at least once a year, and each person they inspired to take up the game did the same thing, then in five years the sport would enjoy a massive global boost.
Maybe I'll be shot down in flames for this, and maybe I'm over-simplifying or missing some key elements, but really I think that all pool needs is for a few people to be taken by the hand and shown how much fun it can be to play and watch. Viewing figures and pool club revenue would go through the roof if regular players got a bit more evangelical about the sport. :smile:
It just has to be played and watched and enjoyed.
My humble suggestion to improve the game's image and raise its profile is this: Every pool player who loves the game should make a point of getting hold of two friends who have never (or very rarely) played, and taking them to a pool hall. Explain the rules. Show some good basic technique (stance, bridge, cueing, aiming, etc) and give these friends at least 45 minutes to play each other under your tutelage. If they're old enough and they enjoy the occasional drink, mix some beers into the equation.
If every pool player in the world did this at least once a year, and each person they inspired to take up the game did the same thing, then in five years the sport would enjoy a massive global boost.
Maybe I'll be shot down in flames for this, and maybe I'm over-simplifying or missing some key elements, but really I think that all pool needs is for a few people to be taken by the hand and shown how much fun it can be to play and watch. Viewing figures and pool club revenue would go through the roof if regular players got a bit more evangelical about the sport. :smile:
What can any one person do to help billiards?
Every billiards player should attempt to help/teach/instruct anyone anywhere to become a better player:: for free, even when you don't feel like it.
I did this in my local bar. You might be able to do it in your cummunity hall, your local pool hall, your church basement. The thing, the only thing, which will get more pool players playing is for those of us in the game to bring the next 2 or 3 generations into the game. And you don't do this by beating the crap out of them, but by becomming a mentor, helper, guide,...
Pool wins when pool players are seen as contributors to their local societies and communities. Pool wins big when by doing the aforementioned more pool players are vying for spots in tournements.
Every billiards player should attempt to help/teach/instruct anyone anywhere to become a better player:: for free, even when you don't feel like it.
I did this in my local bar. You might be able to do it in your cummunity hall, your local pool hall, your church basement. The thing, the only thing, which will get more pool players playing is for those of us in the game to bring the next 2 or 3 generations into the game. And you don't do this by beating the crap out of them, but by becomming a mentor, helper, guide,...
Pool wins when pool players are seen as contributors to their local societies and communities. Pool wins big when by doing the aforementioned more pool players are vying for spots in tournements.
Mr. Jim,
Tap! Tap! Tap! for you! You are correct. It's all about Honor & Integrity.
Without them, what does one have? Nothing.
The individual or the game... has nothing without integrity & honor.
If you have nothing to offer then you will get nothing in return.
It's as somple as that.
Mr. Jim,
Tap! Tap! Tap! for you! You are correct. It's all about Honor & Integrity.
Without them, what does one have? Nothing.
The individual or the game... has nothing without integrity & honor.
If you have nothing to offer then you will get nothing in return.
It's as somple as that.
My Best Regards,
In Life or Pool, This is the Best Combination
In Life or Pool, This is the Best Combination. 'The Game is the Teacher'
You want to improve the image of pocket billiards you have to get children involved in it and loving the game. Make the game more kid friendly. Have tables that can be lowered or elevated to the height of the player and make more kid friendly products. You know what they say you got to win the hearts and the minds. Have more family friendly venues but not have them turn into a amusement parks.