I just was given a response that amazed me.

[rayjay]

Yeah, the guy's an idiot. No big deal, Mark, the world's full of them. See you in Abq!

 

[lodini]

What if, having Tiger and Phil to his course for a day, meant that he had to shut down his course to paying customers for that day? And what if, after they were gone, his business did not improve? He's out a day's income with nothing to show for it other than warm fuzzies from some of his regular customers.

And what if a business owner never does anything aside from the norm... and never does any promotion or special events... or any marketing or advertising... or anything that brings attention and good public relations...

You have to spend money to make money.

 

[klockdoc]

Something missing here

It is a known study that most pool rooms average only about 20% revenue in pool and accessories. The other is divided with about 30% in food and 50% in alcohol/drinks (those that serve alcohol). With the higher revenue in the two products that do not interfere with table time, it seems funny that the owner would not want to entertain this idea.

Maybe a trip there to talk to these owners personally to explain the situation would benefit the project. Also, what are you going to do in the way of advertising to promote this idea?

If he is going to give up something, (table time, his business, etc.), you are going to have to sell him on it. Make him feel like he needs you, not you him. JMO

 

[bfdlad]

It is a known study that most pool rooms average only about 20% revenue in pool and accessories. The other is divided with about 30% in food and 50% in alcohol/drinks (those that serve alcohol). With the higher revenue in the two products that do not interfere with table time, it seems funny that the owner would not want to entertain this idea.

Maybe a trip there to talk to these owners personally to explain the situation would benefit the project. Also, what are you going to do in the way of advertising to promote this idea?

If he is going to give up something, (table time, his business, etc.), you are going to have to sell him on it. Make him feel like he needs you, not you him. JMO

The thing is I don't need him. As someone else has said I am making contact with a few rooms in each area that we plan to visit and explaining the deal then sending them a outline of what we expect from them and what they can expect from us so that they are clear. As far as advertising goes, we have some things out there right now but not much. Once I have all the venues and dats fixed then we will be doing a big push. The rooms will also be doing their own marketing toi the local area. I have found that even with very little advertising we have brough 150 to 200 people into pool rooms, thats not to say we won't be trying but I also know that we get a good response anyway. As far as going to see the rooms and explaining it to them, that is just not an option we are working on a tight budget so we can make it less expensive for anyone who wants to be involved.

 

[Neil]

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

 

[bfdlad]

Yeah, the guy's an idiot. No big deal, Mark, the world's full of them. See you in Abq!

Is this Ray D? Set for the 31st right? just a couple of days now, I leave tomorrow and I although I am not looking forward to the drive I am looking forward to what we have going on there.

 

[lodini]

Some of you don't seem to realize that you have to give up a LOT more than just a few hours table time. You also are paying their exhibition fee, (which can easily be several thousand dollars), and their travel expenses, and providing free food.

Very few rooms are going to make their money back. You need rooms that are doing very well and willing to donate. Not rooms trying to make a living and barely cutting it as it is.

I'm confused... I must have missed the part where the room owner has to pay the exhibition fee and travel expenses for Johnny and Earl?? I thought that was the promoter...

 

[bfdlad]

Some of you don't seem to realize that you have to give up a LOT more than just a few hours table time. You also are paying their exhibition fee, (which can easily be several thousand dollars), and their travel expenses, and providing free food.

Very few rooms are going to make their money back. You need rooms that are doing very well and willing to donate. Not rooms trying to make a living and barely cutting it as it is.

Yep, unfortunatley we have to try am make some $$ while we are on the road. The room may make some $$ on the deal, if they can talk to some of ther clients who own businesses and ask for sponsorship support and talk to their vendors that they do business with, the event can be covered very easily, then they have a room full of people buys their food, drinks and lets not forget the cover charge. The room CAN make $$ if the ydo it right. Worst case is they break even and as Neil said if the room is doing well it is a good way to show customer appreciation.

 

[vagabond]

I was not allowed to give rep and the computer said that I need to spread ... blah,blah.
your response is the best response so far.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Maybe the owner has done this before and NETTED ZERO. I remember several years ago Nick Varner came to Main Street Billiards in Mesa AZ for a Demo. About 20 people showed up, a few drinks were sold, the room came to a grinding halt. Wonder what the NET Profit to the room Owner was? Now the Verner event was just before Christmas, but I am sure for Main Street Mesa the night was a “RED NIGHT”.

I still see the owner point, as he want to be COMPENSATED for the Use of HIS FAcilities, as there are NO GUARANTEES any thing will come of have the event to make his business boom.

Also if he is a small from with 8 or 10 tables this event will pretty much shut him down. but his FIXED OPERATING EXPENSES will continue during the time of the event.

I wonder how man of those who seen to know how good this will be for the business have ever experience to Pride of SMALL Business Ownership, and all the Grief it brings?

 

[bfdlad]

Maybe the owner has done this before and NETTED ZERO. I remember several years ago Nick Varner came to Main Street Billiards in Mesa AZ for a Demo. About 20 people showed up, a few drinks were sold, the room came to a grinding halt. Wonder what the NET Profit to the room Owner was? Now the Verner event was just before Christmas, but I am sure for Main Street Mesa the night was a “RED NIGHT”.

I still see the owner point, as he want to be COMPENSATED for the Use of HIS FAcilities, as there are NO GUARANTEES any thing will come of have the event to make his business boom.

Also if he is a small from with 8 or 10 tables this event will pretty much shut him down. but his FIXED OPERATING EXPENSES will continue during the time of the event.

I wonder how man of those who seen to know how good this will be for the business have ever experience to Pride of SMALL Business Ownership, and all the Grief it brings?

At the end of the day each room owner has to make the decision that is best for them. I have no problem with that and I have no problem with anyone who does not want to host one of these events. These events are for a certain type of room and a certain type of room owner. From the responses I have had at this point it seems that the majority of rooms want to see this happen at their room even if it costs them $$ right now. It's all in each persons opinion, I mean I would not pay $2.00 to watch Tony Hawks on a skateboard but I know that he is a legend in his sport and that there are probably 100's of people who would pay hundreds to see him. Then again I would pay hundreds to see Steve Davis play in Sheffield. Anyway I understand if a room can't afford to give up table time, times are hard right now. I still can't see the logic.

 

[Craig Fales]

Some people can't see the forest for the trees.

Keep going and don't let these "soon to be closed" rooms bother you!

Ray

Exactly what I was thinking...let the putz sink...

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.

If he didn't have his head up his arse he would see that he could have a load of people buying drinks instead of the usual...ah well.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

At the end of the day each room owner has to make the decision that is best for them. I have no problem with that and I have no problem with anyone who does not want to host one of these events. These events are for a certain type of room and a certain type of room owner. From the responses I have had at this point it seems that the majority of rooms want to see this happen at their room even if it costs them $$ right now. It's all in each persons opinion, I mean I would not pay $2.00 to watch Tony Hawks on a skateboard but I know that he is a legend in his sport and that there are probably 100's of people who would pay hundreds to see him. Then again I would pay hundreds to see Steve Davis play in Sheffield. Anyway I understand if a room can't afford to give up table time, times are hard right now. I still can't see the logic.

I would not pay $8.00 for a Cup of Beer at Chase Field, University of Phoenix Statium, or Jobbing Dot Com Arena, but many do.

 

[bfdlad]

If I had to sit and watch the Diamond Backs I would need to get as much beer down my throat as possible even at $50.00 a beer.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

What are the Cities you are planing on visiting Mark.

 

[Roger Long]

Mark,

I like what you're doing. I think it's a great thing for intermediate to advanced players. But you have to admit that it can be a hard sell, too. Most room owners are not in a position these days to speculate on the future. Your program asks them to invest in something that could possibly be beneficial to their business if they were to work it right. Now put yourself in a room owner's shoes and see how promising that looks. Not very, huh? In other words, it's a gamble and not a guarantee, and gambling is something that most business owners do not have the luxury of these days.

Don't give up, though. Dealing with rejection is part of being a good salesman. There are still plenty of room owners out there who love pool and love to promote higher standards of play. All you have to do is find them.

Roger

 

[Rick S.]

Maybe the owner has done this before and NETTED ZERO. I remember several years ago Nick Varner came to Main Street Billiards in Mesa AZ for a Demo. About 20 people showed up, a few drinks were sold, the room came to a grinding halt. Wonder what the NET Profit to the room Owner was? Now the Verner event was just before Christmas, but I am sure for Main Street Mesa the night was a “RED NIGHT”.

What you failed to mention was the Pool Clinic earlier in the day that Nick conducted. It was a rousing sucess, with quite a few participants. Which got a good part of the $$$ back.

Bob, and John (Main St owners) aren't worried about making money on every event. They try to please the customers by doing this sort of thing.

Earl did an exhibiton at Main St. last month while he was here. Main St. charged absolutely nothing. Main St. paid the full expense out of pocket.

Not everyone is cheap...


Rick S.

 

[Fred]

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'm not a room owner, but if I was, my thoughts would be, free table time for a Johnny and Earl exhibition, no problem. would love to have em.

But the pool school would bother me.

Why not charge your customers enough that you can afford to pay the table time?

Justin Nuder

 

[bfdlad]

I'm not a room owner, but if I was, my thoughts would be, free table time for a Johnny and Earl exhibition, no problem. would love to have em.

But the pool school would bother me.

Why not charge your customers enough that you can afford to pay the table time?

Justin Nuder

Fred, there is alot more to the deal than just free table time. If the room owner already has a problem with giving free tabletime for the pool school then anything esle would give him a heart attack. The free table time is actually all I could get out before he shut me down.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Mark,

I like what you're doing. I think it's a great thing for intermediate to advanced players. But you have to admit that it can be a hard sell, too. Most room owners are not in a position these days to speculate on the future. Your program asks them to invest in something that could possibly be beneficial to their business if they were to work it right. Now put yourself in a room owner's shoes and see how promising that looks. Not very, huh? In other words, it's a gamble and not a guarantee, and gambling is something that most business owners do not have the luxury of these days.

Don't give up, though. Dealing with rejection is part of being a good salesman. There are still plenty of room owners out there who love pool and love to promote higher standards of play. All you have to do is find them.

Roger

Roger.