How exactly does the Billiard Congress Of America support the professional player?

[336Robin]

Contracting Services

I agree about the creation of new players. It's very important, not to the average joe, but to the industry as a whole. Sometimes its shocking how little the big (industry) players do to promote the future of their own interests. Being a scrooge is no way to build a following.

Admittedly the BCA has, as of late, become obsessed with 'all things expo', but thats not to say that they havent, or dont, at least try to concern themselves with promoting the game and creating new players. They have, in the fairly recent past, helped the BEF considerably and they did create 'Generation Pool' with the future in mind.

Is it enough? No. Is it better than nil? Yes, by far.

Do you know how much money it takes to make a million dollars?
3 million.

As for the 'subcontracting' issue, its a mixed blessing.
It can, in some cases, be somewhat harmful but not always.

Sometimes it is more effective and efficient to hire outside experts that are already equipped and trained to do a specific task than to spend the time and money to train and equip the people in your own company to do the same tasks. It just has to be done very carefully to prevent a brand disconnect or lack of continuity in services. But whether it has helped the BCA overall or not, IMO, is yet to be seen.

I certainly hope there is a method to the madness but I like many fear that there is not.

Mr. Bond,

I think in this case people are complaining because they want the support of the old days but its just not the old days any more and money has dried up.

I don't think really that its so tragic that they sold the pool leagues or farmed out the instructor program if they were liabilities as you suggest. I do the same thing in my business from time to time as long as I view the transaction safe for me.

I think its becoming apparent that people want more involvement from the governing body of pool on a grassroots level but.....they are a trade organization.

My own personal opinion is that yeah I can buy the whole trade organization thing as long as there is a trade but I think just as times have changed, they have changed yet again.

Were I on the BCA board I would look at the broader picture and I would make a decision now....about the level of involvement that they were willing to take should an opportunity arise that would help the industry.

The BCA charges fees and Industry Giants become members. I think its clear that people care about the future of pool and that doesn't necessarily mean, "Added Money". It may very well be that the Future of Pool is going to require helping the grassroots end of things.

If that is in the line of Instruction, Marketing, putting together a program that would increase the exposure of the sport in key demographic areas where more eyeballs would come in contact with it.....just whatever.

I think people are looking for leadership even if its wrong. Its natural to look to the Governing Body of Pool for it.

You mentioned it takes 3 million to make 1 million...well that's 33&1/3 percent profit. So if you have 10 million in the bank and daily operations cost 2 million a year, if you have no plausible income now.....then that makes the 3 million a prudent investment. Of course that depends on how long you want to be in business. Just my opinion. Of course..... I was thinking it was a million a year from now on....so if that's not the case.....I see your point and its sad.

 

[Casual Observer]

For those who think the trade organization should be doing more to “help” pro players instead of manufacturers, you likely won’t have to worry about the latter much longer.
The BCA shares something in common with the industry in whole: it grows weaker by the day.
The trade show, now called Summit, gets smaller every year with fewer and fewer attendees and exhibitors. This year, Brunswick didn’t even show (they did their own thing).
The show has seemingly abandoned Vegas due to convention hall costs (the past 2 shows were in Schaumberg, IL and next year it’s in Louisville). The Summit is the main source of revenue for the organization’s operating expenses.
Part of this is simply a reflection of the economy and the inability of vendors to afford booth space. Part of it is systemic in that trade shows are gradually becoming dinosaurs with the advent of internet marketing.
But, if you think the industry is in trouble now, just wait to see what it looks like if the BCA ceases to exist. There’ll be nothing to keep it cobbled together.
Over the years, there have been numerous folks who’ve developed biz plans to create a professional tour and/or organization. Ultimately, the plans meet the same fate for the same reason: players refuse to think beyond the next day’s action.
I chuckle when folks say, “We need to get pool on TV”. Why do you think it isn’t? ESPN isn’t a not-for-profit. If there was an audience, therefore ratings- they’d create a tour themselves if one didn’t already exist.
If someone comes up with a plan to effectively “herd cats”, maybe an association for pro players will be possible. A tour would then be a natural byproduct. But TV will never be an operative function of it unless someone also comes up with a way to make pool more viewer friendly to an audience that isn’t already fans of the sport.
It’s perfectly understandable for people who love pool to lament the absence of a PGA-like organization to create and manage a professional tour. But, understanding the real reason why one doesn’t exist now is important. The (current) problem with professional pool is, sadly, the players themselves.

 

[336Robin]

Well...

For those who think the trade organization should be doing more to “help” pro players instead of manufacturers, you likely won’t have to worry about the latter much longer.
The BCA shares something in common with the industry in whole: it grows weaker by the day.
The trade show, now called Summit, gets smaller every year with fewer and fewer attendees and exhibitors. This year, Brunswick didn’t even show (they did their own thing).
The show has seemingly abandoned Vegas due to convention hall costs (the past 2 shows were in Schaumberg, IL and next year it’s in Louisville). The Summit is the main source of revenue for the organization’s operating expenses.
Part of this is simply a reflection of the economy and the inability of vendors to afford booth space. Part of it is systemic in that trade shows are gradually becoming dinosaurs with the advent of internet marketing.
But, if you think the industry is in trouble now, just wait to see what it looks like if the BCA ceases to exist. There’ll be nothing to keep it cobbled together.
Over the years, there have been numerous folks who’ve developed biz plans to create a professional tour and/or organization. Ultimately, the plans meet the same fate for the same reason: players refuse to think beyond the next day’s action.
I chuckle when folks say, “We need to get pool on TV”. Why do you think it isn’t? ESPN isn’t a not-for-profit. If there was an audience, therefore ratings- they’d create a tour themselves if one didn’t already exist.
If someone comes up with a plan to effectively “herd cats”, maybe an association for pro players will be possible. A tour would then be a natural byproduct. But TV will never be an operative function of it unless someone also comes up with a way to make pool more viewer friendly to an audience that isn’t already fans of the sport.
It’s perfectly understandable for people who love pool to lament the absence of a PGA-like organization to create and manage a professional tour. But, understanding the real reason why one doesn’t exist now is important. The (current) problem with professional pool is, sadly, the players themselves.

Casual,
Exactly on what might happen if the BCA were to cease.. I don't think that the answer is found in TV myself. As far as Herding Cats that one had me laughing but its no laughing matter. I think that people are going through what it takes to make final realizations that players and amateurs are on their own pretty much through blame shifting we bark at the BCA because we want a fix for it. I'm reminded of a local firm here who went to hiring all Contractors to become an Administrator of a Service only to implode and was sold like 4 times. Bottom line was it was never the same as when it was in the business. Likely if the BCA had kept the teams and the Instructor Program none of that might have mattered unless they were willing to put a lot of effort into both.
I think its a great time to find us a Cat Herder.....lol...that has really made my day. I get all kinds of visualizations of that one. Yes the immediate need of the players is getting in the way of being able to fix things to suit them. I am starting to see that we are going through a great paring back. I just hope when things do emerge in no telling how many years we haven't forgotten this time and this time I hope we have some legs to stand on. I think the point here is that we need to start creating some Pool Infrastructure.

 

[CallShotCowboy]

Casual,
Likely if the BCA had kept the teams and the Instructor Program none of that might have mattered unless they were willing to put a lot of effort into both.

Just wanted to jump in and make the clarification that the BCA did not farm out the Instructor program and it is still being managed by the BCA and the BCA staff. Although they (the BCA) did change the name of the program from the BCA Instructor Program to the Professional Billiard Instructors Association (PBIA) it was only for marketing potential to grow the program.

This link will explains a little too.

http://playbetterbilliards.com/about-us/

or even the press release from the BCA

http://home.bca-pool.com/associations/7744/files/PBIA announcement-final.pdf

 

[ENGLISH!]

Just wanted to jump in and make the clarification that the BCA did not farm out the Instructor program and it is still being managed by the BCA and the BCA staff. Although they (the BCA) did change the name of the program from the BCA Instructor Program to the Professional Billiard Instructors Association (PBIA) it was only for marketing potential to grow the program.

This link will explains a little too.

http://playbetterbilliards.com/about-us/

or even the press release from the BCA

http://home.bca-pool.com/associations/7744/files/PBIA announcement-final.pdf

I would say that you're kidding right, but I know that you are not.

It is clear that a separate entity was formed even though it is referred to as an asset of the BCA.

Do you own stock in another company? If so, it is an asset. Is that company that you own stock in...you? No...it is a separate entity that files a separate tax return, etc.

Exactly how much of the PBIA is owned by the BCA? We do not know that. Is it 100%? Is it 50%? Is it one(1)%. Is it considered an assest only in the form of a goodwill benefit or simply as a another entity that may have a similar interest, so it is an asset, but not in the actual ownership meaning of the world 'asset'.

How much say does the BCA have in the operation of the PBIA & the setting of fees, etc.?

The PBIA is an association. Usually associations are 'owned' by it's members.

What is the relationship, money wise, between Simonis, Aramith, & Predator & the PBIA & the BCA.

Who is paying who what, & how much & for what purpose. 'Marketing' is at times deceptive, even when legal.

(I have seen much deception & distortion in the posts of quite a few AZB members as a tactic for 'winning' a 'discussion'.)

A trade organization is formed for the benefit of the businesses & not for the benefit of the consumers.

To position oneself as both a trade organization & a governing body of the game to which the the business industry is dependent certainly seems to be a conflict of interest IMO.

I hope you can see my points.

Why did a number of BCA instructors not join the PBIA & why did some that did drop out?

There are very many questions regarding the PBIA that the answers have not been made readily available to the playing public.

Again I hope you can see my points & questions.

Best Wishes,
Rick

PS Ask a PBIA member some of those question & I would think that quite a few if not most would have no real answer other than there own speculations.

 

[336Robin]

Just wanted to jump in and make the clarification that the BCA did not farm out the Instructor program and it is still being managed by the BCA and the BCA staff. Although they (the BCA) did change the name of the program from the BCA Instructor Program to the Professional Billiard Instructors Association (PBIA) it was only for marketing potential to grow the program.

This link will explains a little too.

http://playbetterbilliards.com/about-us/

or even the press release from the BCA

http://home.bca-pool.com/associations/7744/files/PBIA announcement-final.pdf

CallShotCowboy,
Thanks for the links. I read them. Ive made comments concerning this Instructor Program before. Im sure that this program is a top of the line program and I hope they get a lot of people running through it. I just found it very pricey at any level of it and there are 4 levels and if memory serves me its around or close to a grand for each level not to mention the hours you have to clock before you can get to the next level.

I just found this a little much for my blood. I was looking into an Instructor Program once and started looking at this and I just decided to let it go, too much money. There aren't any new players coming into the game up here where I am so kind of hard to make it back.

Im not going to get into a big fray about it but to me the cost is fairly close to almost a complete deterrent...was for me. I am sort of on the side of not deterring the formulation of new players but they seem to have their idea of how to do that.

I hope they train a lot of people who in turn train a lot of new players. Too rich for my blood.