I just was given a response that amazed me.

[bfdlad]

Did this place have a bar or serve food?

This owner is an idiot.

Yeah full bar and food, I know for a fact because I have seen it happen and heard about Fast Lenny or BVAL after these events get the itch to play and stay around until 2-3 am playing. Most people are there earlier than usual from a competitors room and stay after the event. I am not letting it get me down just amazed at people sometimes.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Perhaps this guy's normal clientele just aren't interested in seeing folks like Johnny and Earl. In this guy's eyes, having them there won't bring in any more business that night than he'd normally get, and to top it off, that's four tables he wouldn't be able to generate income with that night. Chances are he sees it as a loss, not a gain.

So, move on - I'm sure there are other rooms in that area who would welcome your event!

Good point about "Perhaps this guy's normal clientele just aren't interested in seeing folks like Johnny and Earl"

? Is this room in Arizona?

 

[BVal]

Good point about "Perhaps this guy's normal clientele just aren't interested in seeing folks like Johnny and Earl"

? Is this room in Arizona?

Now this is officially a thread. We have Coco's .5 cent.

BVal

 

[bfdlad]

I went to a decent place like Nine Mile Billiards in Pensacola (where Schmidt plays or used to) and hell the table time aint but $2.80 an hour per person. So unless the guy is charging 20 bucks an hour for tables (which would be a joke to begin with) there is NO WAY he would lose money.

There is no doubt in my mind he is being greedy, but I guarantee you that you could find an owner that would give up everything to get those pros there and the people in.

We have a number of rooms that are not only giving the tables but not charging us for food and drink while we are there, paying the exhibition fee and travel expenses to get them there AND they are happy to do it. These rooms who are doing this see the long term potential or the therory of giving something back to their clients. They will not make the $$ back but they want to make it happen for a wide variety of reasons. Covering table time is just too much for some people.

 

[bfdlad]

Having them to this in your pool hall would obviously cost more than table time.

What's funny is the guy stopping at table time and declining. LOL.

Ray

Exactly, there are ways for the room to cover this expense and ways we help them cover some of the expense, however getting into all that does not get the table time that is so precious. I don't think he knows that we do the school between 11am and 3pm usually the slowest time. Oh well.

 

[bfdlad]

Good point about "Perhaps this guy's normal clientele just aren't interested in seeing folks like Johnny and Earl"

? Is this room in Arizona?

No Bruce not in AZ, I am not going to say where or what room as I think it would make me less classy than I already have been by telling everyone.

 

[ScottW]

No Bruce not in AZ, I am not going to say where or what room as I think it would make me less classy than I already have been by telling everyone.

Eh, sharing your situation the way you did (i.e. not naming names, etc.) isn't "not classy". Naming names would have been, though.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

No Bruce not in AZ, I am not going to say where or what room as I think it would make me less classy than I already have been by telling everyone.

Well thanks for the reply, and if they do not want you, Earl, and Johnny. Forget them and find someone who does.

To try and figure out what people do some times will drive you crazy. You do not need to be crazy.

 

[bfdlad]

Eh, sharing your situation the way you did (i.e. not naming names, etc.) isn't "not classy". Naming names would have been, though.

Thank you,

 

[bfdlad]

Well thanks for the reply, and if they do not want you, Earl, and Johnny. Forget them and find someone who does.

To try and figure out what people do some times will drive you crazy. You do not need to be crazy.

Bruce, I try to scrape a megar living out of the pool and billiards industry, what makes you think for one second that I am not already crazy???

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I heard a story once of a guy stand in Time Square in NYC, he was handing out $1.00 Bill, and people would not take them. People do strange things.

 

[bfdlad]

I am glad and happy that I have somewhere to vent this kind of thing to people who understand and just plain get it. Thank you all.

 

[cuesblues]

This is short tterm thinking. It sounds like bfdlad was contacting all of the room owners and giving them a chance to have a nice exhibition, and this owner is focused on his Jagermeister drinking clientele, which is very profitable.

I would love to see Earl the Pearl and Johnny Archer. These exhibitions are something that most people remember for the rest of their lives, and that has to be good for any pool hall long term. Most room owners would kill to have the same chance, just for the exposure. This guy obviously doesn't want to give anything back to the game, even for a few hours. I've never liked that kind of pool room anyway.

 

[HouseMan]

I heard a story once of a guy stand in Time Square in NYC, he was handing out $1.00 Bill, and people would not take them. People do strange things.

Yeah, they don't want to get "Herpes of the Hand". I don't blame them, make that a $20 and now your talkin! lol

 

[shinyballs]

I was under the impression that Anna Kostanian's family owned the Billiard Palace, is this no longer the case?

You could try Slate Street in Rio Rancho instead, it's not officially in Abq., but you really don't leave the city, it's just on the other side. They have Gold Crowns. Another option is Doc & Eddies, but the tables are kinda loose.

 

[bfdlad]

This is short tterm thinking. It sounds like bfdlad was contacting all of the room owners and giving them a chance to have a nice exhibition, and this owner is focused on his Jagermeister drinking clientele, which is very profitable.

I would love to see Earl the Pearl and Johnny Archer. These exhibitions are something that most people remember for the rest of their lives, and that has to be good for any pool hall long term. Most room owners would kill to have the same chance, just for the exposure. This guy obviously doesn't want to give anything back to the game, even for a few hours. I've never liked that kind of pool room anyway.

Again exactly, Did you guys see the picture of Peer with Earl and Johnny at the last pool school. Another room owner that has it good right now, maybe he is the only room in town and ses no need to give back to his clients. I do an interview process before I make any offers r tell them why I am calling. Like how many tables do you have? what size? do hold leagues there? do you hold regular tounaments? would you say your clients and regualars are pool and billiards enthusiasts? If it sems like a good place that has the right people and equipment then I go on. This guy has all the clients and should do something to say thankyou even if breaks even on the deal JMHO

 

[bfdlad]

I was under the impression that Anna Kostanian's family owned the Billiard Palace, is this no longer the case?

You could try Slate Street in Rio Rancho instead, it's not officially in Abq., but you really don't leave the city, it's just on the other side. They have Gold Crowns. Another option is Doc & Eddies, but the tables are kinda loose.

WHOOOO up there, this has nothing to do with the Billiards Palace in NM. Those guys are awesome and want to do anything they can for the pool community. Please don't get this mixed up with them.

 

[Neil]

.................

 

[Southpaw]

Sounds like another classic example of a "bar owner" that has pool tables instead of a "poolroom owner" that has a bar. Its the same way in my home town. They would rather host free Texas Holdem than to have a weekly pool tourney. Its sad, but thats why they usually close. JMO.

Southpaw

 

[manwon]

I am not sure if this is just mne or if the man I just spoke to is crazy.
As most of you know I am putting together the Legends and Champions tour with Johnny Archer and Earl Strickland. I was given a pool room name and number that may be interested as they go to that room and said it was nice.
I called and got to speak to the owner and told him that we would be doing a pool school in the afternoon and an exhibition in the evening. He asked "whats in it for me?" then "what do you want from me?" I began to explain, "we will need the use of 4 of your tables at no charge" that is as far as I got, he said "no way, I will lose $$$ in table time if I let Johnny and Earl take then over for a few hours" I asked, "Do you know who they are??" he said yes but he wasn't going to lose that table time.
I mean lets just say that you are a pool room owner and all I am asking is free table time for Johnny and Earl to do a pool school and Exhibition in your room would you think that was a losing deal?? I just don't get it, maybe it's just me.

I own a room, and I think the guy is a freaking idiot!!!!! I would pay some money, plus give free table time if I were in his place. In 2007 I gladly paid Grady to come all the way to Washington State to put on his History of Pool and to put on an Exhibition. In addition I paid Grady and his wifes hotel bill for a couple of nights, without being asked.

I had a hugh turn out, and I charged a $25 door fee for the day. With the door fee, repairs and the sale of food, beer, and soft drinks I more than broke even, which was much more than I expected. I mainly did it for my customers, and they are still talking about it to this day, oh and asking when I will do it again.

Like I said, the dude is an idiot, and a terrible businessman!!!!!!!!