Internet connection in Billiard rooms

[Snapshot9]

Billiard rooms can survive today without an email address
or internet connection, but really it is much easier if
they have a connection because of the pluses they
gain in communicating with tours, other billiard rooms,
sponsors, private business communication, suppliers, etc.

Do you think that Billiard rooms should provide an accessible
station within their place (can be used by them or their employees)
for customers too. One would suffice, but to make it available
to any players visiting to play in 2 or more day events. Pro players
or amateurs would then have access to the internet for email or
for other billiard related information which could be beneficial to
the room as well.

 

[WingsFan]

Yeah, sure I don't see why not. Of course, I'm a techno-geek anyway so I think virtually everywhere should provide wireless access. If they've already got a broadband connection, it takes all of about $60 today to set up a wireless network. I guess that wouldn't be quite the same as a dedicated terminal, but it's cheap and would let us geeks with a laptop browse while we're waiting.

 

[OldHasBeen]

I agree, AND I'M NO GEEK...

I think every poolroom should (and soon will) have internet. It is just a matter of time. There are so many positives (and no negitives) that can be gained. I could list page after page but don't have the time.

TY & GL

 

[chefjeff]

I think every poolroom should (and soon will) have internet. It is just a matter of time. There are so many positives (and no negitives) that can be gained. I could list page after page but don't have the time.

TY & GL

Don't they (who is "they," anyway?) don't they have internet vending machines at airports and hotels? This could be another revenue source for pool halls.

I can see it now...a road player comes in and by the time he's outta the bathroom, his picture and profile are posted on the wall.

Jeff Livingston

 

[Timberly]

I can see it now...a road player comes in and by the time he's outta the bathroom, his picture and profile are posted on the wall.

Jeff Livingston

That's funny!

 

[chefjeff]

That's funny!

Or worse yet, one of us online bullshitters is just done posting at the pool hall and some real player taps him on the shoulder and says, "Let's bet!"

Jeff Livingston, posting at home.

 

[stevelomako]

Or worse yet, one of us online bullshitters is just done posting at the pool hall and some real player taps him on the shoulder and says, "Let's bet!"

Jeff Livingston, posting at home.

I have wireless internet available at my room. Have a couple of guys that bring their lap-tops and play poker till they get a pool game.

I'd rather have them here. First part of business is getting/having the bodies in the place.

 

[DaveK]

Don't they (who is "they," anyway?) don't they have internet vending machines at airports and hotels? This could be another revenue source for pool halls.

Airports, major hotels, and pool halls have different demographics. George put one in at Pacific Ave Billiards ... 6 months later he blew the dust off of it and had it removed. I never saw one person use it. Any pool player into the Internet likely has access elsewhere, and does not go to the pool hall to get online. The many pool players who are not into the Internet don't use it either (duh!). The various online billiards forum members traveling to another location are a small group to target, unless you want to loose a little more money on your operation.

As far as the downside, there is the cost to aquire/lease the equipment, installation, access charges, and service charges (unless you are that rare breed of pool-hall-owner/network-tech).

I do agree that the office in a pool hall could benefit from access, but I can't see much if any profit coming from an Internet kiosk in a pool hall. JMO

Dave

 

[billfishhead]

they have a compoter run time system where I play. And another computer for employees. Its dial up because cable costs like 300 bucks because its a business.

Sounds like time for me to get a wireless laptop

 

[OldHasBeen]

If The Break (my reg poolroom) had Internet access..........

I have wireless internet available at my room. Have a couple of guys that bring their lap-tops and play poker till they get a pool game.

I'd rather have them here. First part of business is getting/having the bodies in the place.

If The Break (my reg poolroom) had Internet access, I would be able to be there from noon till 10 pm. From 6 am till noon I am usually doing graphics and dealing with vendors, but after that (noon) I only run credit cards and email reps & customers. I also keep an open $50 Gin table open and when someone comes to it - I play. I also enjoy these pool related sites.
Now, if they had wi-fi, I could call-forward my (800) line to my cell phone & I would be there eating, drinking, practicing & or playing if possible.
Another advantage to the room owner is the popularity of Internet poker. Many customers would/could rent Internet access to play at their favorite site instead of going home to play.
As for as the Knocking aspect-
Now I can't speak for other poolrooms but at The break, there is no real hustling going on from road players. They get plenty of action (by just declaring themselves) but aren't allowed to sneak up on reg customers and hustle for cheap. Everyone knows that if a new guy comes and is looking for a game, he is a player. At The Break, from Efren on down gets action anyway.

TY & GL

 

[stevelomako]

If The Break (my reg poolroom) had Internet access, I would be able to be there from noon till 10 pm. From 6 am till noon I am usually doing graphics and dealing with vendors, but after that (noon) I only run credit cards and email reps & customers. I also keep an open $50 Gin table open and when someone comes to it - I play. I also enjoy these pool related sites.
Now, if they had wi-fi, I could call-forward my (800) line to my cell phone & I would be there eating, drinking, practicing & or playing if possible.
Another advantage to the room owner is the popularity of Internet poker. Many customers would/could rent Internet access to play at their favorite site instead of going home to play.
As for as the Knocking aspect-
Now I can't speak for other poolrooms but at The break, there is no real hustling going on from road players. They get plenty of action (by just declaring themselves) but aren't allowed to sneak up on reg customers and hustle for cheap. Everyone knows that if a new guy comes and is looking for a game, he is a player. At The Break, from Efren on down gets action anyway.

TY & GL

That's exactly why I added it, people like yourself, I have a few guys that own businesses and it helps them to be in here more. I don't think I'll have a kiosk for it because too many people have laptops anyway.

The way I look at it, I have cable anyway so we just added high speed w/ a static IP so I can put a camera in and be able to keep an eye on things ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. The cost is the same if not cheaper as an alarm company and works way way better. The camera is always on, doesn't call in sick, see's and records all if there's any movement when we're closed.

So what if I don't charge for wireless somehow....a person inside the place for any reason, MIGHT spend more than someone thats not here.

Show Terry this post and have try to find fault with what I said, he might go ahead and do it.

Steve

 

[OldHasBeen]

My selling points to Terry & John are..........

That's exactly why I added it, people like yourself, I have a few guys that own businesses and it helps them to be in here more. I don't think I'll have a kiosk for it because too many people have laptops anyway.

The way I look at it, I have cable anyway so we just added high speed w/ a static IP so I can put a camera in and be able to keep an eye on things ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. The cost is the same if not cheaper as an alarm company and works way way better. The camera is always on, doesn't call in sick, see's and records all if there's any movement when we're closed.

So what if I don't charge for wireless somehow....a person inside the place for any reason, MIGHT spend more than someone thats not here.

Show Terry this post and have try to find fault with what I said, he might go ahead and do it.

Steve

Steve - My selling points to Terry & John are the business benefits. They can't understand or grasp what else it can do - so I am trying to get them to get it for bookkeeping & promotional purposes.
I like your idea of security & will use that also.

TY & GL

 

[Jack Flanagan]

had internet at my place (dsl),,,all anybody wanted to do was to download music,,,
can't afford the $fines$ when the music police make it down to the 'little guy',,,JMHO

 

[nfty9er]

There is a solution

had internet at my place (dsl),,,all anybody wanted to do was to download music,,,
can't afford the $fines$ when the music police make it down to the 'little guy',,,JMHO

Jack just get an interent jukebox then they can pay to download all the music they want. Then you can also connect the jukebox dsl to your computer for nothing assuming you have one, which you should as they are invaluable to this business. Years ago I hesitated to add one but once I did it was a great decision.

 

[WingsFan]

had internet at my place (dsl),,,all anybody wanted to do was to download music,,,
can't afford the $fines$ when the music police make it down to the 'little guy',,,JMHO

Good point. Didn't think about the music download implications. You can block incoming ports to stop such chicanery, but I can certainly understand most people not knowing how to do it.

I guess, all in all, I'd say the owner should go ahead and set it up if he/she can set up and maintain it themself, but it's probably not worth it to actually pay some tech support guy to do it.

 

[Masayoshi]

its fairly easy setting up a wireless network now a days, and cheap too. if you cant do it yourself you could probably just pay a college student $50 to set it up for you or buy a wireless networking for dummies book. if your place has a broadband internet connection for employees already, there is no reason not to make it available to customers (unless they hog all the bandwidth). the only problem would be leechers and people downloading illegal stuff, which both can be solved with the proper security measures. i cant say it would bring in a lot of extra customers, but it probably will help keep people from leaving, especially if they are very business or school oriented.

plus if you can get something like "efren is at XX pool hall right now" on a message board immediately it might bring in customers.

another thing i think every pool hall should have is a decent, regularly updated website. they are almost free, and it makes it a lot easier for players from out of town to find out what your place is all about, plus tournament updates, prices, etc. a message board wouldnt be so bad either.

 

[Snapshot9]

Something ...

that hasn't been mentioned. But, a lot of dedicated pool
players out there work in the computer industry, so finding
someone to set up a wireless network may not be that hard,
and most Pool Players would probably do it for a Pool room
at a discounted rate. I, myself, am a Sr. Systems Analyst
with over 25 years experience. Pool rooms, to conduct business
right nowdays almost have to have onsite computer(s) to
handle business functions needed, both Pool oriented and
accounting oriented, inventory, point of sale, etc..

All I am saying is make 1 computer available for your customers
too. Someone in your room may want to email someone, family
or friend, or to look up other tournament information, watch a
Pool match on the net, communicate with another Pool room,
or various things.

Personally, I think tournaments today should be run from a Pc
hooked to a big screen TV for showing brackets to players, and
to the net. Programs, like The Tournament Manager, make it
fairly easy to do. (Even though it only handles 32 player tournaments,
a friend on mine runs larger tournaments with it, just has to
combine 2 together, but it works on a laptop).

 

[chefjeff]

Steve - My selling points to Terry & John are the business benefits. They can't understand or grasp what else it can do - so I am trying to get them to get it for bookkeeping & promotional purposes.
I like your idea of security & will use that also.

TY & GL

If leagues are played there, one of these days the stats will be kept in real-time on a web site and maybe even the fees will be paid via Paypal or some such method. This could be another reason for getting setup now.

Jeff Livingston

 

[DaveK]

that hasn't been mentioned. But, a lot of dedicated pool
players out there work in the computer industry, so finding
someone to set up a wireless network may not be that hard,
and most Pool Players would probably do it for a Pool room
at a discounted rate. I, myself, am a Sr. Systems Analyst
with over 25 years experience.

I too have 25 years experience, but as a Network Engineer (BSc EE), not a Systems Analyst (Programmer). These days I work with things that run IOS. You are right, any given pool hall could likely find a patron with some know-how, very often self-taught on the networking side. I'd be willing to help, for $50/hr plus expenses. If I have to work on someone elses mess (ie, fix an install that someones friend did previously), the rate goes up.

Dave

 

[DaveK]

If leagues are played there, one of these days the stats will be kept in real-time on a web site and maybe even the fees will be paid via Paypal or some such method. This could be another reason for getting setup now.

Jeff Livingston

I think most pool franchises would prefer cash, preferably in small bills

Check out the site

http://www.smlentertainment.com/Poolleague/poolleague.htm

This is Southern Music's site. They operate the VNEA leagues around here, and have a pretty good site for their Calgary leagues and a few others iirc. It is pretty Calgary-centric though, which partially explains why Calgary (SMLs head office location btw) has outstanding participation and apparently very good management, while the SML-VNEA league in Saskatoon is virtually non-existant.

Dave