Kids

N

NEcue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a poolroom in PA. When I originally bought the place my main customers where under 18 years old. We were filled up pretty much daily and everyone shot pool.
I didn't mind them that much when I was making 4-500 a night in table time.

Sometime last year most of the regulars left for school and other things, which happens every year and the new crowd that comes in never shoots pool. I've tried all kinds of specials to get them to play.

Finally, I've had enough, I started charging a cover charge for people to come in. the money goes towards table time, but most of them just leave.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'm sure someone has had a similair problem. My brain is racked.

thanks in advance
 
I wouldn't be able to help....we don't allow under 18 in because of smoking. In my area, if anyone under 18 is allowed in, the place has to become NO SMOKING...and with my pool crowd, that would never fly....we do allow them in early in the day...but by 8pm they have to be gone.
 
Interesting timing

Interesting you had this post today. Tonight I had problems with kids all nite long. Loitering and playing pool and running out on bills. It just takes a couple kids doing this to drive me nuts. We currently dont take IDs for a deposit but I am about ready to start. Or charge a cover for them to loiter. Just afraid that if you charge them just to come in..then the rest of them that are spending money might leave with them. Hard to figure the best formula. Dont have an answer for you..just venting after a bad night to let you know you are not alone dealing with this on a nightly basis. If you think of a good solution let us all know. Cant get over the timing of this...lol. Its still illegal to strangle the occasional teenager isnt it??? j/k.
 
NEcue said:
I have a poolroom in PA. When I originally bought the place my main customers where under 18 years old. We were filled up pretty much daily and everyone shot pool.
I didn't mind them that much when I was making 4-500 a night in table time.

Sometime last year most of the regulars left for school and other things, which happens every year and the new crowd that comes in never shoots pool. I've tried all kinds of specials to get them to play.

Finally, I've had enough, I started charging a cover charge for people to come in. the money goes towards table time, but most of them just leave.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'm sure someone has had a similair problem. My brain is racked.

thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I think most all rooms have this problem, I know I do in eastern pa.

I have a no loitering policy, when someone or a couple are just watching a friend or two play, they must buy a soda or something, if not they must go, hanging out sure don`t pay the rent.

99% of them have no problem with my policy, and if they dont, see ya when ya have money to spend.

highrun55
mickey
 
I originally started this thread a week or 2 ago and I thought I'd write to let people know how I've faired so far.

My first attempt to fix the problem is a cover charge to come in the door. I decided to go with $3.00 a person. I give each person a ticket when they come in and the ticket is worth$3.00 off their table time.

So far my numbers haven't worse which was good to see. The key benifit I've noticed is most of pool playing kids still come. It may only be because we are the least expensive place around, and they get their money back when they play anyway.

I don't charge the regulars, but having the sign up gives me the flexibilty to charge the kids who come in daily and don't spend $1. Most of them leave automatically. I've noticed when they leave they go to other local poolhalls and try doing the same thing there which in turn drives the more serious players back to me.

So basically I make the same ammount of money if not more. I still have loads of parking and a peacful pool room AT LAST. with the possibility of getting extremly busy with active players.
 
Good luck with the cover charge deal, the place I used to play at used to have a waiting list every weekend till they started that now they are lucky to have 2-3 tables outa 10 taken. Like you the first few weeks or months rather the cover charge didn't really kill business much, but slowly everyone started going other places and haven't come back.

Not to say that will happen to your place, and I truly hope it doesn't, but I just wanted to say it might not be the best idea in the long run.
 
Another suggestions

Possibly put in a ping pong table or air hockey table to see if the kids play that. They may not be playing pool but you might get some more to spend money. Although I feel your pain with having kids that dont spend money. I hate to admit that loitering is a necessary evil in this business. If you have a group of 8 and only 4 have money...you might lose that entire group to a place that will allow loitering. Business in ALL St Louis pool rooms is suffering right now and we have relaxed some of our rules to try and attract more customers. Hopefully we can keep a tight reign on them. Or maybe have a "Student Night" with no cover so they still feel welcome. Show a student ID and get in free. Just one night a week. This is a business that you will constantly have to adjust your rules and thinking to survive. Keep us informed how things are going. Other room owners like to hear good or bad things that are working/not working elsewhere. Thanks.

Craig

http://www.cueandcushion.com/specials/webspec1.htm
 
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From a customer standpoint I think anything that makes someone think twice before they enter any business is potencially hazardous. Anything that makes me feel I'm a pain in the neck because I want to do business with someone makes me think about alternatives.

We can't change the fact that kids are kids and many of them don't have a lot of money. But the kids are the future of your business. What's the difference between a 14 year old sitting around watching his friends and a 64 year old sitting around watching his friends. Craig has it right, some of this is simply a part of doing business.

A cover charge will cause hesitation. Yes there's plenty of businesses that make you pay before you enter but usually the charges cover all basic services. Cover charges are not part of the tradition in the pool business.

Taking ID's is done a lot but I simply hate it. I always get the feeling I'm not trusted. How can I trust someone who doesn't trust me. It's funny most of the places that have cover charges and or take ID's have the worst equipment. Guess they're attitude is I'm just lucky they're there and should be thankful for their existance no matter what.

Here's a novel idea. Simply change your thinking when a group of kids come in. Make them feel like valuable customers no matter how much they spend. If there's an occasional Dine and Dasher well, you don't have to like it, but what did you loose, $3.00 income against 1 penney cost? Don't make it ruin your day and don't make your entire customer base and potentially your business suffer because of it.
 
I am hereing lots of complaining and no ansers...we have learned to PROMOTE to these kids...Yes we tryed the ticket thing...we tryed the no loitering thing ...The real anser is to organize them...Start a league for these kids ...they are your future pool players ...with out them your business will die...Yes there is some problams along the way BUT they are the future...Terry
 
NEcue said:
My first attempt to fix the problem is a cover charge to come in the door. I decided to go with $3.00 a person. I give each person a ticket when they come in and the ticket is worth$3.00 off their table time.
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I like your solution, and think it will work out in the long run. Any kids that refuse to pay the $3 cover never had any intention of playing pool. It's a pool hall, not a teen drop in center. Meanwhile the kids who show up looking for table time have no problem because they'll get their cover charge back. Just make sure to set a minimum or they'll all duck out after they've played $3 worth of time.

As the villain always said at the end of Scooby-Doo cartoons, "I'd be rich right now if it wasn't for you damn kids".:D
 
iapoolguy said:
I am hereing lots of complaining and no ansers...we have learned to PROMOTE to these kids...Yes we tryed the ticket thing...we tryed the no loitering thing ...The real anser is to organize them...Start a league for these kids ...they are your future pool players ...with out them your business will die...Yes there is some problams along the way BUT they are the future...Terry
Click to expand...
A league for kids would never work, a kid's fancy changes from week to week. They don't want to be tied down to a regular set schedule, they just want a way to kill some time before going to the movies or hanging out.

Of course there's always the odd kid who chains himself to a pooltable, but most are just looking to have a little fun. When they're out of highschool/University and their social group shrinks dramtically, they'll come back to pool as a way to get together in a social environment.

Charging kids a $3 cover isn't going to scare them away from playing pool, it's just teaching them that nothing in this world is free. If you want to hang out and not spend anything, the mall is your best option.
 
I hope You don't mind if Express Some issues.....

Hello,
I am Vincent, I'm 16 and I have been watching this topic for some time.
I would just like to express some thing from my point of view,
If you don't mind...
I'm a loner, I like to keep to myself and I LOVE this game!!
Because of my age I am not welcomed into many places, That also includes Billiard Rooms.
I am use to be talked-down to and I still am in certain places. The fact of the matter is because I'm a kid. I have been given the could shoulder and Talked-Down to many-a-time over.
A lot of that has made me come close to quitting altogether, But I wouldn't be here If I did.

I know kids can pose/cause problems and I understand where your comming from.
Just give us a chance.
-More to come later, going to be late for my turny.
 
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Be Polite!

Hey Vince,

Just do what you can to be polite and respectful at all times to the folks working the room :eek: :rolleyes: :D it'll be all good in time ;)

If you can keep a handle on the other younger folks too!? -- that would be a bonus in your favor :cool:

Peace-Love-Out :)
 
Klopek said:
A league for kids would never work


it wont work huh!!!! ...it works for me....and yes kids do want to be told to be some were every week...thats what makes it work...it started out slow only 14-3 player team...now I have 2 divisons ..girls and guys ...


Na your right it probaly wont work.....
Click to expand...
 
iapoolguy said:
Klopek said:
A league for kids would never work
Click to expand...
it wont work huh!!!! ...it works for me....and yes kids do want to be told to be some were every week...thats what makes it work...it started out slow only 14-3 player team...now I have 2 divisons ..girls and guys ...


Na your right it probaly wont work.....
Click to expand...
Your league works because there are kids who actually want to play. OP has the opposite problem, kids that just want to hang out and only play pool to avoid getting the boot. Far different circumstances. It works for you, but with the situation OP described, a league would never work. I appreciate your sarcasm though. :rolleyes:
 
I dont know how much this would work, but!

If you have a cover charge, have it work like this.

They pay the cover charge, which is equal to 2hrs of table time, or something like 10$. And if they want a table to practice or play, you set the table on a timmer. And thats that. But you can make it so they dont have to play right away, just incase they are waiting for someone to show up.

You still have thier $ no matter what then. I would think that would weed out the people who want to play or not.

Or if someone shows up for a tournament, ask for the $ up front and then said person cant just sit around and bolt when the tourny comes around.
 
few weeks later

A few weeks have now passed since I implemented the cover charge. After about 2 weeks I phased out most of the customers who never planned on playing pool. The constante loiterers. Most of our crowd has gotten a bit older, We don't have any 14-16 year olds. The customer base now is closer to the 18 an older.
We did have some bumps and bruises with he whole transition, and were not as busy as we use to be. But now I have open parking spaces, a calm relaxed atmosphere and alot of returning regulars that faded away over the past few years.
I loved having the kids here when we started it was a good group that enjoyed playing pool.I didn't mind groups because atleast some were playing pool or games, we do have air hockey and some arcade games. The problem came when 2 kids with money brought 9 kids without money. Kids were comeing to meet to go to the movies, fairs, parties or whatever else they wanted to do, but never played or spent a dime while they were here.
eventually it got to the point where I would have 2-3 tables and a full parking lot. whichj left me with no potential to get busy being that there wasn't any room for customers to park.

All in all , I dropped the cover after about 2 or 3 weeks, the people that are frequenting our place are here to play. granted not eversecond they are here. i don't mind people sitting around and bsing it the nature of the game. After a few months a few lost costomers, a few gained customers. I haven't had to yell at anyone, get raised blood pressure since the second post on here.

we did get a few prank phone calls and egged once though. we have 10 of our 12 tables going at this point and things are looking up.

Also we have our first league geared for kids starting this thursday with 24 players.
 
Also we have our first league geared for kids starting this thursday with 24 players.


Thats great to hear...let the kids decide on what type of league they want to play(8 or 9 ball) of coarse you set the league fee's ...and table time....let them play...if ya need more help leave me a shout in my message box...Terry
 
If you want to make money off of kids the best way to do it is by quarter tables. They will plug 75 cents or $1 a game in the table all night long, but thinking about $4 an hour (or higher) just seems like too much. You could explain it to you are blue in the face that they are actually saving money by playing just X amount a games an hour but they won't buy it. Keep the big tables on time but have ample amount of bar tables for the kids with $6 in their pocket. These kids will spend their money in a coin table til they are broke every night. They will show up every night & you will make your money. I know of a pool room here in our area that has had coin operated bar tables for years & you would be sick if I told you what they did in 'coin pool time' per month.
 
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