How should I play this????

The Piper

The Piper

Get Ugly...
Silver Member
:confused:

So My company tonight is having a little shindig at Jillians. A lot of my colleagues know I play pool, and have heard about me winning some leagues, and some very local small tournaments. Somehow the big cheeses know I play pool tonight, and they all want to play me tonight. I am the lowest man on the totem pole, and the last time i experienced this, I beat the pants off my old manager, and i guess he had too many and I could easily tell that he was ticked. So tonight, do I just downplay my game? and take all the snide remarks? Or should I just do my thing? What would you do?
 
The Piper said:
:confused:

So My company tonight is having a little shindig at Jillians. A lot of my colleagues know I play pool, and have heard about me winning some leagues, and some very local small tournaments. Somehow the big cheeses know I play pool tonight, and they all want to play me tonight. I am the lowest man on the totem pole, and the last time i experienced this, I beat the pants off my old manager, and i guess he had too many and I could easily tell that he was ticked. So tonight, do I just downplay my game? and take all the snide remarks? Or should I just do my thing? What would you do?
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Play partners, that way you can let someone else do the sluffing off.
 
You play "social pool". Wait until everyone has had a few drinks. Run out but throw in some banks, shoot behind your back, that sort of thing. People just want to have fun at parties.

Show your executive management you have charisma, charm, class, and above all else - intelligence and responsibility. They could care less how good your pool game is.


Chris
 
Great response Chris!

As a professional entertainer/instructor/trick shot artist, I run into this scenario all the time. Most pro players (insert expert players) let their egos get in the way, in social situations (exhibitions, parties, etc.), and won't let anyone win a game. I always try to teach my opponents how to win, and frequently will give them several chances and directions on how to beat me.
This has resulted in my getting rebooked for exhibitions of all kinds, over and over again...in some places for 10+ years in a row! Follow Chris' advice, and you cannot go wrong!:D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Lose like a dog. Never run over 2 balls in a row. Use a fist bridge and no stroke. If you boss askes, I thought you were a good pool player. You tell him no, too busy working to play. Besides you don't like hanging out in pool halls and bars. Lie like a dog.

Fone man
 
TATE said:
You play "social pool". Wait until everyone has had a few drinks. Run out but throw in some banks, shoot behind your back, that sort of thing. People just want to have fun at parties.

Show your executive management you have charisma, charm, class, and above all else - intelligence and responsibility. They could care less how good your pool game is.


Chris
Click to expand...

I think this is the best strategy... show off like hell, beat them real bad, but at all costs don't take the game seriously. Socialize the whole time. Have their jaws dropping but have them laughing at the same time. Honestly, as long as you seem like a classy guy while you shoot (you don't want them making any assumptions about you being involved in any kind of "seedy pool sub-culture"), I think the more impressed the big-wigs are with your abilities, the more they'll think of you as a guy who has what it takes to get things done. The specific abilities in question aren't necessarily relevant, I think when we have important tasks, we want to entrust them to people who are good at things. Show them you're good at things.

But make sure they're not going to be drunk and bitter that you're beating them. And for god's sake don't play for money.

-Andrew
 
Do Your Thing

I've been in similar situations. I'd play my game and destroy a few people but after a few games I'd say you guys can have the table and then go mingle (drink). Let the less skilled players beat each other and have some fun. Maybe play a few more a little later. This way you don't have to make yourself look like you suck but you don't hog the table and make everyone else look stupid either.
 
Scott Lee said:
As a professional entertainer/instructor/trick shot artist, I run into this scenario all the time. Most pro players (insert expert players) let their egos get in the way, in social situations (exhibitions, parties, etc.), and won't let anyone win a game. I always try to teach my opponents how to win, and frequently will give them several chances and directions on how to beat me.
This has resulted in my getting rebooked for exhibitions of all kinds, over and over again...in some places for 10+ years in a row! Follow Chris' advice, and you cannot go wrong!:D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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Excellent point, Scott, and something I forgot to put in my post. Non-pool players love it when you tell them exactly where and how to hit the ball, they do it, and a shot they didn't know they could make drops straight in the hole. If you're on the 8 abll, you may want to dog it, and leave them in position for a stop-shot run-out. Tell them the easy way to get out, and they'll be twice as impressed with you if your advice leads to them beating you.

-Andrew
 
thanks everyone, 3.5 more hours from this message post and i think i am going to mix and match and see what is happening. please don't stop the responses. the company i work for does these types of outings all the time so interested in seeing other peoples take on the situation
 
I totally agree with everyone so far -- keep it light, have fun and show off a lot. The other night I played 8-ball at a pool hall with some co-workers, and was baking half my shots and always banked the 8. They didn't mind losing, as long as they were having fun. I don't think they'd had so much fun never winning a single game.

I'd even say go for the super-ridiculous aggressive shots (2, 3-rail banks, 90-degree cuts) just because of they go in you'll look like God. And in the meantime you'll be having fun and letting them at the table once in a while. And just when they think they might win, RUN OUT!
 
The Piper said:
thanks everyone, 3.5 more hours from this message post and i think i am going to mix and match and see what is happening. please don't stop the responses. the company i work for does these types of outings all the time so interested in seeing other peoples take on the situation
Click to expand...


Piper...Just so you know, these guys who are posting for you to beat the pants off of everybody, are ALL wrong! Take the advice of us here who have 'been there, done that', and you can't go wrong. If you know any, you might set up a few easy trick shots...a VERY easy way to impress any audience. I usually have some of the 'non-players' in my audiences shoot some of the set-ups just to show how easy they are. There are some easy shots that you can learn quickly available on my site.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
I say make all the hard shots to impress everyone and miss all the easy ones. This way you can impress everyone with your pool prowess and when you mis the easy ones, just claim they were too easy and you want to shoot a tougher shot.
 
Play the BEST game of your life.They know you play well even if they didn't be honest and do the Best you can. Honesty goes a long way life.
 
Another side ....

I have been in this position, and there are other sides to this issue:

1) Bosses will casually watch, some might even play pretty good. If they have heard you are pretty good, and just see you acting so casually and just cutting up, trick shots, behind the back, missing easy shots, they could get the impression that you are a goof off, that you can not back up what has been said about you, that you are not as smart as they thought you were.

2) Don't play all night. Play for 1/2 hour and give it a rest. When you get beat, just smile, say nice game, and shake their hand, then go dance, or get some refreshments. Bosses, especially, like to see if you are a well rounded person (especially if you are being considered for a promotion), but they expect you to be GOOD at what you do.

3) Most of the challenges to the table will be by people that just play ocassionally, and not that hard to beat. Banking is a good way to help even up the odds a little, but don't go missing on purpose.

Been there - done that, and I got more respect after they saw me shoot Pool than I did before, especially from Bosses. In fact, I ended up on my bosses team playing league, was the anchor man and highest average on the team, and we won 1st in the league several times.

And, remember, when you show good logic skills on the table, a boss or two may be relating that to a project or two he is considering you for.
 
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Scott...Just for the record, I never said anything about "cutting up, missing on purpose, shooting behind the back" or any other crap like that. I said to play well, but teach the others how to win. Show them what a stroke and preshot routine is. Trick shots are an excellent way to demonstrate physics and geometry principles. Teaching others is an excellent way to demonstrate leadership ability and team building spirit...things that most employers are looking for. I agree with banking balls, to even it up a little, and I agree with not hogging the table all night. You may have 'been there, done that', but I do it for a living, on a daily basis.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Most of all have fun. Try shooting your balls in rotation playing 8 Ball, not only will it give them a chance it will give you some practice.
 
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