Lexington, KY pool scene just got stiffed

jalapus logan

jalapus logan

be all. and supports it to
Silver Member
Well guys, I tried to hook something up for our pool starved area, but to no availl. I had contacted bfdlad here on AZB and told him that it would be great if Lexington could be on his radar for one of his events. Mark responded and we tried to get something going with Buddy Hall and Nick Varner. That would have been real cool, as both are legendary players it would have been something of a homecoming.

Anyway, it was not to be. None of our local pool rooms were willing to step up and invest the minimal amount of money required to get this great event going. Too bad, really, because I think that it would have raised the profile of their establishment and created buzz for both their business and for pool in general. These pool room owners are very short sighted to reject such great exposure. Oh well. I guess I just got a first hand experience about why pool is in such sorry shape. Too bad, because it's a really great game at the heart of it all.

Additionally, it makes me wonder what our area (and pool generally, for that matter) has to look forward to in the future. Not too much it would seem. We do have the Derby in January, true. But what happens when Greg Sullivan decides that he is too tired to continue that fabulous tradition? Who will step up and run with the baton? If my experience is any indication, there are not too many candidates here in the Bluegrass.

Oh well. Thanks to all pool fans for reading this lament. And thanks to Mark (bfdlad) for giving it a go.

Cheers and happy playing to all...
 
jalapus logan said:
Well guys, I tried to hook something up for our pool starved area, but to no availl. I had contacted bfdlad here on AZB and told him that it would be great if Lexington could be on his radar for one of his events. Mark responded and we tried to get something going with Buddy Hall and Nick Varner. That would have been real cool, as both are legendary players it would have been something of a homecoming.

Anyway, it was not to be. None of our local pool rooms were willing to step up and invest the minimal amount of money required to get this great event going. Too bad, really, because I think that it would have raised the profile of their establishment and created buzz for both their business and for pool in general. These pool room owners are very short sighted to reject such great exposure. Oh well. I guess I just got a first hand experience about why pool is in such sorry shape. Too bad, because it's a really great game at the heart of it all.

Additionally, it makes me wonder what our area (and pool generally, for that matter) has to look forward to in the future. Not too much it would seem. We do have the Derby in January, true. But what happens when Greg Sullivan decides that he is too tired to continue that fabulous tradition? Who will step up and run with the baton? If my experience is any indication, there are not too many candidates here in the Bluegrass.

Oh well. Thanks to all pool fans for reading this lament. And thanks to Mark (bfdlad) for giving it a go.

Cheers and happy playing to all...
Click to expand...

That is regrettable! I'm originally from Henderson and lived and attended grad school in Louisville. Hope something else happens for you there.
 
The single best business strategy you can employ in tough economic times is to pull all funding of outside advertisement & promotion. Keep those dollars in your pocket where they belong! Follow this guidance & you'll be very successful.













^^^Now reread that in the sarcastic tone I intended.^^^
 
jalapus logan said:
Well guys, I tried to hook something up for our pool starved area, but to no availl. I had contacted bfdlad here on AZB and told him that it would be great if Lexington could be on his radar for one of his events. Mark responded and we tried to get something going with Buddy Hall and Nick Varner. That would have been real cool, as both are legendary players it would have been something of a homecoming.

Anyway, it was not to be. None of our local pool rooms were willing to step up and invest the minimal amount of money required to get this great event going. Too bad, really, because I think that it would have raised the profile of their establishment and created buzz for both their business and for pool in general. These pool room owners are very short sighted to reject such great exposure. Oh well. I guess I just got a first hand experience about why pool is in such sorry shape. Too bad, because it's a really great game at the heart of it all.

Additionally, it makes me wonder what our area (and pool generally, for that matter) has to look forward to in the future. Not too much it would seem. We do have the Derby in January, true. But what happens when Greg Sullivan decides that he is too tired to continue that fabulous tradition? Who will step up and run with the baton? If my experience is any indication, there are not too many candidates here in the Bluegrass.

Oh well. Thanks to all pool fans for reading this lament. And thanks to Mark (bfdlad) for giving it a go.

Cheers and happy playing to all...
Click to expand...

Having owned a couple of pool rooms, a pool bar and having tried some of these kind of things I have to say that while you see it as a great way to gain exposure and think the

pool room owners are shortsighted I think you just don't understand what it's like trying to run a pool room these days. If you went into one of these pool rooms this summer

you'd probably be nearly alone. The business drops off so much in the summer that you lose money for at least 5 months in the warm months then play "catch up" when the

whether cools off and you start showing a little profit. And that "minimal amount" you mentioned probably makes the difference in paying the rent or having such luxuries as

electricity, much less air conditioning! Everyone has ideas on how pool rooms can offer things for the public, their customers, but they never consider how someone is going to

pay for it! I hate to douse your hopes and ideas but someone has to tell the facts of the matter. Pool rooms are lucky if they can keep their doors open these days and most of

the customers are just looking for what they can get for free, or at a ridiculously low price. They sit around the pool rooms and do their best not to spend a dime! They complain

about the cost of table time, drinks and anything else they can think of to complain about. The pool room owner is always a moron who hasn't a clue how to run a business, in

their eyes. But none of them has the wherewithal or the ability to open a pool room themselves. I'm sorry, I don't mean to rant, but this is a subject near and dear to me. I've

been there and done that! You better appreciate your pool room owner! They are an endangered species!
 
mosconiac said:
The single best business strategy you can employ in tough economic times is to pull all funding of outside advertisement & promotion. Keep those dollars in your pocket where they belong! Follow this guidance & you'll be very successful.



Well, having obtained a business degree myself, I can tell you that your advise was not widely preached at the university I attended. Basically, they said that you can absolutely NOT AFFORD TO NOT ADVERTISE! Slash ad budget, revenue falls, dollars available to cover other expenses falls, death spiral ensues. But, to each their own...
Click to expand...
 
I will only offer this: It has been my personal experience that there are three kinds of people in the business world. 1. Those who make things happen. 2. Those who watch things happen. And 3. Those who wonder what happened. But that's just my opinion.
 
cuesmith said:
Having owned a couple of pool rooms, a pool bar and having tried some of these kind of things I have to say that while you see it as a great way to gain exposure and think the

pool room owners are shortsighted I think you just don't understand what it's like trying to run a pool room these days. If you went into one of these pool rooms this summer

you'd probably be nearly alone. The business drops off so much in the summer that you lose money for at least 5 months in the warm months then play "catch up" when the

whether cools off and you start showing a little profit. And that "minimal amount" you mentioned probably makes the difference in paying the rent or having such luxuries as

electricity, much less air conditioning! Everyone has ideas on how pool rooms can offer things for the public, their customers, but they never consider how someone is going to

pay for it! I hate to douse your hopes and ideas but someone has to tell the facts of the matter. Pool rooms are lucky if they can keep their doors open these days and most of

the customers are just looking for what they can get for free, or at a ridiculously low price. They sit around the pool rooms and do their best not to spend a dime! They complain

about the cost of table time, drinks and anything else they can think of to complain about. The pool room owner is always a moron who hasn't a clue how to run a business, in

their eyes. But none of them has the wherewithal or the ability to open a pool room themselves. I'm sorry, I don't mean to rant, but this is a subject near and dear to me. I've

been there and done that! You better appreciate your pool room owner! They are an endangered species!
Click to expand...

I hear you, I really do. You say that running a pool room is hard. I can't argue with that. But I do question the resistance to try something new. How can increasing exposure to your pool room and the sport ever be a bad thing? As a pool room owner, how do you then expect to attract new customers?

I understand how a minimally capitalized business functions. Understanding that is part of how I make my living. If things are so bad that they can't afford to promote their biz, then they're probably on the way out anyway.

Also, I do appreciate pool room owners generically, but some have lost me as a customer. And I am exactly the kind of customer you would want. I played at the rack club in Lexington 4 days or so a week and spent money on table time, beer, food, etc. Thousands spent a year. Then they sold to a new owner that ran the place into the sh$tter and it subsequently closed. Then another unnamed pool room opened up and they did everything in their power to turn paying folks like me away. I did not return. Ended up just buying a couple of home tables and left it at that.

Fortunately, we did have a great new room open up here with great equipment. Though they didn't jump at this opportunity, I can't blame them. It's their choice and I wish them all the best. It's actually a pool room worth going to and I hope they make it.

Cheers...
 
tsp&b said:
I will only offer this: It has been my personal experience that there are three kinds of people in the business world. 1. Those who make things happen. 2. Those who watch things happen. And 3. Those who wonder what happened. But that's just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Good one! I'll remember that.
 
jalapus logan said:
[
Well, having obtained a business degree myself, I can tell you that your advise was not widely preached at the university I attended. Basically, they said that you can absolutely NOT AFFORD TO NOT ADVERTISE! Slash ad budget, revenue falls, dollars available to cover other expenses falls, death spiral ensues. But, to each their own...
Click to expand...

I think you missed the bottom of that post:
^^^Now reread that in the sarcastic tone I intended.^^^
 
cuesmith said:
Having owned a couple of pool rooms, a pool bar and having tried some of these kind of things I have to say that while you see it as a great way to gain exposure and think the

pool room owners are shortsighted I think you just don't understand what it's like trying to run a pool room these days. If you went into one of these pool rooms this summer

you'd probably be nearly alone. The business drops off so much in the summer that you lose money for at least 5 months in the warm months then play "catch up" when the

whether cools off and you start showing a little profit. And that "minimal amount" you mentioned probably makes the difference in paying the rent or having such luxuries as

electricity, much less air conditioning! Everyone has ideas on how pool rooms can offer things for the public, their customers, but they never consider how someone is going to

pay for it! I hate to douse your hopes and ideas but someone has to tell the facts of the matter. Pool rooms are lucky if they can keep their doors open these days and most of

the customers are just looking for what they can get for free, or at a ridiculously low price. They sit around the pool rooms and do their best not to spend a dime! They complain

about the cost of table time, drinks and anything else they can think of to complain about. The pool room owner is always a moron who hasn't a clue how to run a business, in

their eyes. But none of them has the wherewithal or the ability to open a pool room themselves. I'm sorry, I don't mean to rant, but this is a subject near and dear to me. I've

been there and done that! You better appreciate your pool room owner! They are an endangered species!
Click to expand...

Your story could not be any truer,you sound like you are talking about my home pool room,we have (like you have mention)the ones that dont spend a penny,then some of the ones that do spend some money complain about the pool time,an our pool time is only 3dollars an hour perperson,there r 14tables in our room and there r a lot of nights they dont bring in 100dollars and that is for the whole day,with out the poker machines this room would have no chance of staying open!
 
For those of you who think room owners are short sighted in these hard times: there is an option for you. Discuss with the owner that you would like to invest in organizing, promoting, running, etc. a tournament in their room and are willing to split the profit.

Some owners are considered short sighted when cash is tight. Maybe some of the university professors would be willing to help finance this---since they know how it should be done.

From somewhere I remember the phrase " those who can't---teach".
 
Tennesseejoe said:
For those of you who think room owners are short sighted in these hard times: there is an option for you. Discuss with the owner that you would like to invest in organizing, promoting, running, etc. a tournament in their room and are willing to split the profit.

Some owners are considered short sighted when cash is tight. Maybe some of the university professors would be willing to help finance this---since they know how it should be done.

From somewhere I remember the phrase " those who can't---teach".
Click to expand...

Well, I don't teach, but I do work for a living in finance. But, what do I know? Yep, all that book learnin' just leads to bull sh$t like becoming wealthy, retiring early, etc. I ain't got no use for that sh$t...
 
jalapus logan said:
Well, I don't teach, but I do work for a living in finance. But, what do I know? Yep, all that book learnin' just leads to bull sh$t like becoming wealthy, retiring early, etc. I ain't got no use for that sh$t...
Click to expand...

LOL! Good response.

People could do worse than to pay attention to your signature line.
Bogleheads rule! ;) (edit) I retired at age 48...feel very fortunate to have participated in the greatest bull market of all time. Alas, few pool players consider the future.
 
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Tennesseejoe said:
For those of you who think room owners are short sighted in these hard times: there is an option for you. Discuss with the owner that you would like to invest in organizing, promoting, running, etc. a tournament in their room and are willing to split the profit.

Some owners are considered short sighted when cash is tight. Maybe some of the university professors would be willing to help finance this---since they know how it should be done.

From somewhere I remember the phrase " those who can't---teach".
Click to expand...

Yeeeehaa, Daisy, git over here ya' ain't gonna believe what Boss Hogg just said! Book learnin', whos needs that there book learnin'. Dat fer dem city folk.
 
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jason said:
Yeeeehaa, Daisy, git over here ya' ain't gonna believe what Boss Hogg just said! Book learnin', whos needs that there book learnin'. Dat fer dem city folk.
Click to expand...

College doesn't necessarily make a fool of a man---but sometimes it sure helps.


LOL
 
jalapus logan said:
I hear you, I really do. You say that running a pool room is hard. I can't argue with that. But I do question the resistance to try something new. How can increasing exposure to your pool room and the sport ever be a bad thing? As a pool room owner, how do you then expect to attract new customers?

I understand how a minimally capitalized business functions. Understanding that is part of how I make my living. If things are so bad that they can't afford to promote their biz, then they're probably on the way out anyway.

Also, I do appreciate pool room owners generically, but some have lost me as a customer. And I am exactly the kind of customer you would want. I played at the rack club in Lexington 4 days or so a week and spent money on table time, beer, food, etc. Thousands spent a year. Then they sold to a new owner that ran the place into the sh$tter and it subsequently closed. Then another unnamed pool room opened up and they did everything in their power to turn paying folks like me away. I did not return. Ended up just buying a couple of home tables and left it at that.

Fortunately, we did have a great new room open up here with great equipment. Though they didn't jump at this opportunity, I can't blame them. It's their choice and I wish them all the best. It's actually a pool room worth going to and I hope they make it.

Cheers...
Click to expand...


Well first off you're assuming that this concept is new. They've been trying this for over 100 years! Brunswick had players on the payroll that traveled around the country doing exhibitions, Mosconi was just one of many. I had Varner and Grady come into my pool room for an exhibition. Grady and Allison went on tour and visited many rooms all over the country, including a good friend of mines room. They have never been profitable. They have never increased business. They cost not only the fee paid to the people doing the exhibition but usually it costs you in your net for that night in the pool room. People stop spending money when there is other entertainment there that is free. If you charge admission you end up with you and your employees watching an expensive exhibition. These aren't new innovative ideas. They have all been tried and failed in the past!

Just out of curiosity, you mentioned being in the finance business. How many pool rooms do you know of that were able to get financing? That should tell you something!
 
cuesmith said:
Well first off you're assuming that this concept is new. They've been trying this for over 100 years! Brunswick had players on the payroll that traveled around the country doing exhibitions, Mosconi was just one of many. I had Varner and Grady come into my pool room for an exhibition. Grady and Allison went on tour and visited many rooms all over the country, including a good friend of mines room. They have never been profitable. They have never increased business. They cost not only the fee paid to the people doing the exhibition but usually it costs you in your net for that night in the pool room. People stop spending money when there is other entertainment there that is free. If you charge admission you end up with you and your employees watching an expensive exhibition. These aren't new innovative ideas. They have all been tried and failed in the past!

Just out of curiosity, you mentioned being in the finance business. How many pool rooms do you know of that were able to get financing? That should tell you something!
Click to expand...

Well, I really don't want to be argumentative, so please don't take me that way. Having said that, I would suggest that while these events may not always (or as you say, ever) turn a profit, they certainly grab the attention of a potential new pool player. Let me relate to you my story.

I had never held a cue in my life or even been in a pool room before. A friend of mine invited me to a Lexington pool room to see an exhibition from someone who was touring around under the name Fast Eddie (btw, does anyone happen to know who this might have been? This was perhaps in 1993). Anyway, I marveled at the shots he executed, loved the show, and vowed to try the game myself because he made it look like fun. Guess what, it was.

Now, fast forward well over a decade and look at me, an avid fan and player. I have purchased several cues over the years, currently own two pool tables (Diamond 9' and valley bar box - life is great!), and have spend thousands in area rooms, going to tourneys, etc over those years. I am quite confident that other new players have had similar experiences. Getting new players like myself at one time has to be a success, no?

Cheers...
 
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