Looking for a good custom cuemaker?????

H

Heckler

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello,

I am in the process of setting up a top billiard supplies business...

This will be part of a large network/umbrella of billiards businesses all aimed at pushing the sports forward.

I am looking for a good quality custom cue maker to work with us.....

Any suggestions or offers???
 
suggestions,,,yes, a custom cuemaker is no longer a custom cuemaker when he makes large quantities of the same product,,,

learn Mandarin Chinese, go to China, purchase the best, spend the time and money to pick a good name for your cues,,,a new place opened up a while back; has 'Hampton' on the butt of their cues,,,name does nothing for me & probably nobody else,,,

realize that your new venture will have to spend big $ to make a dent in the already saturated billiards market,,,talk with the sanctioning parties of pool tourneys,,,most male pro's names will do nothing for you; get a female pro for a spokesperson,,,

quality custom cuemakers are in abundance (I'm not one of them),,,some have already sold their products exclusively to an overseas buyer,,,maybe you can find one willing to sell their exclusive rights to you,,,,

I'm a retired school teacher,,,taught marketing at H. S. and University levels,,,there are no easy answers out there,,,,study your would-be competitors and exploit the niche markets before they can find them, too ! ,,,,,,,,,,JMHO
 
Jack Flanagan said:
suggestions,,,yes, a custom cuemaker is no longer a custom cuemaker when he makes large quantities of the same product,,,

learn Mandarin Chinese, go to China, purchase the best, spend the time and money to pick a good name for your cues,,,a new place opened up a while back; has 'Hampton' on the butt of their cues,,,name does nothing for me & probably nobody else,,,

realize that your new venture will have to spend big $ to make a dent in the already saturated billiards market,,,talk with the sanctioning parties of pool tourneys,,,most male pro's names will do nothing for you; get a female pro for a spokesperson,,,

quality custom cuemakers are in abundance (I'm not one of them),,,some have already sold their products exclusively to an overseas buyer,,,maybe you can find one willing to sell their exclusive rights to you,,,,

I'm a retired school teacher,,,taught marketing at H. S. and University levels,,,there are no easy answers out there,,,,study your would-be competitors and exploit the niche markets before they can find them, too ! ,,,,,,,,,,JMHO
Click to expand...


The question now is...will the Heckler accept the message in your post or feel that he was heckled? My guess is the niche market ain't in pool either. (ooops, don't tell my English teacher)
 
drivermaker said:
The question now is...will the Heckler accept the message in your post or feel that he was heckled? My guess is the niche market ain't in pool either. (ooops, don't tell my English teacher)
Click to expand...

'heck'(pun intended), drivermaker, don't know how most folks take my posts unless they cuss me out; then I know where I stand,,,,LOL
 
lol

Mr Flanagan.....

Thanks for ur reply......

All interesting thoughts you have if abit synical/negitive.....the cuesports market is there....in that sense the market is there for whoever is willing to take it and put the effort in...................

Yes it will take effort but believe me the market is there for the taking....

As someone who has taught marketing let me ask you a question...do you think that pool/cuesports has been marketed properly???

Let me know what you think.....

The heckler is here........................
 
I quit being a Mister when I quit teaching,,, :D

no, pool has not been marketed even close to its potential,,, the WPBA is close to taking a giant leap forward,,,new faces, new winners,,,

pool in general has a lot of negative baggage,,,alcohol, cigarettes, unsavory establishments on the local level,,,somebody needs to turn the spotlight on and bring in younger kids (lots of them),,,but all I see is kids wanting to do the trick shots seen on ESPN,,,had a Saturday morning pool school, but the kids only wanted to learn how to jump, masse, and draw the ball,,,,forget the fundamentals and actually making a ball ,,,LOL

where are APA/BCA nationals held: casinos,,,not exactly a family environment,,,the local ones in Mississippi are usually in beer joints, bars and the ever popular 'honky tonk",,,not where most folks want their kids hanging out,,,legally in Mississippi, no one under 21 can be in a business where alcohol is consumed without a parent,,,in the city my place is in, ordinance reads "no establishment with one or more pool tables can sell alcoholic beverages",,,so I get the younger crowd that does the most damage to the equipment,,,places just outside the city limits gets the older ones who want a beer,,,that's life (or so I'm told)

I love the game, have never played for $ and would like it to flourish here,,,never smoked, so that's no problem, can't drink,,,I'm a diabetic...pool for now is my entertainment,,,,

could ramble for days and never come to a conclusion,,,there is some element missing to get pool off life support at the local level, where people will lose their negative stereotypical view of pool,,,,,,,,,,,,YOUR TURN
 
Jack Flanagan said:
I quit being a Mister when I quit teaching,,, :D

no, pool has not been marketed even close to its potential,,, the WPBA is close to taking a giant leap forward,,,new faces, new winners,,,

pool in general has a lot of negative baggage,,,alcohol, cigarettes, unsavory establishments on the local level,,,somebody needs to turn the spotlight on and bring in younger kids (lots of them),,,but all I see is kids wanting to do the trick shots seen on ESPN,,,had a Saturday morning pool school, but the kids only wanted to learn how to jump, masse, and draw the ball,,,,forget the fundamentals and actually making a ball ,,,LOL

where are APA/BCA nationals held: casinos,,,not exactly a family environment,,,the local ones in Mississippi are usually in beer joints, bars and the ever popular 'honky tonk",,,not where most folks want their kids hanging out,,,legally in Mississippi, no one under 21 can be in a business where alcohol is consumed without a parent,,,in the city my place is in, ordinance reads "no establishment with one or more pool tables can sell alcoholic beverages",,,so I get the younger crowd that does the most damage to the equipment,,,places just outside the city limits gets the older ones who want a beer,,,that's life (or so I'm told)

I love the game, have never played for $ and would like it to flourish here,,,never smoked, so that's no problem, can't drink,,,I'm a diabetic...pool for now is my entertainment,,,,

could ramble for days and never come to a conclusion,,,there is some element missing to get pool off life support at the local level, where people will lose their negative stereotypical view of pool,,,,,,,,,,,,YOUR TURN
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oh yeah poker doesnt have any of that.
 
merylane said:
oh yeah poker doesnt have any of that.
Click to expand...

Pool has no where near the fan base as poker. Why is that merylane? I don't gamble either. I am sucking on a COMMIT lozenge as I type. I do have to have a brewski now and then.
Purdman :cool:
Only when the still ain't working. :p
 
merylane said:
oh yeah poker doesnt have any of that.
Click to expand...

poker seems to be marketed well, doesn't take up as much room at home as a pool table,,,,,you can hide the cards when sister "Bertha-Better-Than-You" or the preacher pays you a call (unless they are closet gamblers, too)

texas hold 'em is the rage now until something equally entertaining comes along,,,,takes no brains/skill to play,,,most everyone can hold a card, but few can hold a cue right the first time,,,

comparing apples to oranges, again,,,,,,,,LOL :rolleyes:
 
Jack Flanagan said:
poker seems to be marketed well, doesn't take up as much room at home as a pool table,,,,,you can hide the cards when sister "Bertha-Better-Than-You" or the preacher pays you a call (unless they are closet gamblers, too)

texas hold 'em is the rage now until something equally entertaining comes along,,,,takes no brains/skill to play,,,most everyone can hold a card, but few can hold a cue right the first time,,,

comparing apples to oranges, again,,,,,,,,LOL :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
How in the ^&!! can you expain golf's popularity? It has just as much gambling, drinking, smoking and cursing, if not more, than pool. I have never figured that one out.

Tracy
 
RSB-Refugee said:
How in the ^&!! can you expain golf's popularity? It has just as much gambling, drinking, smoking and cursing, if not more, than pool. I have never figured that one out.
Tracy
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because for the last century maybe longer they have always acted as if it
was a game of honor and to be played with respect and bla bla bla

in marketing its not what you/they know or can prove ' its what they believe that will be your bigest obsticale
 
RSB-Refugee said:
How in the ^&!! can you expain golf's popularity? It has just as much gambling, drinking, smoking and cursing, if not more, than pool. I have never figured that one out.

Tracy
Click to expand...

Look at the recent roots. Prior to all the public golf development it was a game of the privileged members of private clubs. Pool has been a haven for ruffians (hey, I resemble that remark !) since the depression. I think OHB said it best when he compared golf hustlers to pool hustlers when he said (I paraphrase, but it's in the archives if anyone wants his exact posting) "Lee and Chi Chi hustled executives, doctors and lawyers, while I (OHB) hustled pimps, thieves and drug dealers". One game came down from upper society, the other is trying to get up out of the gutter. There is more wealth at Augusta National on a tuesday afternoon than there is in all of the pool halls in the USA ! This, imo, is one reason why one is big time and the other struggling.

I don't know any cue makers, sorry.

Dave
 
Golf is thriving b/c golf tournaments are played in golf clubs.
Pool pro tournaments are played in casinos, hotels and conventional halls not pool halls.
Poker tournaments are played in casinos, pro-bowling tourneys are played in bowling alleys and NASCAR is held in race tracks.
Somehow pro-pool tournaments are played anywhere but pool rooms. lol
 
DaveK said:
Look at the recent roots. Prior to all the public golf development it was a game of the privileged members of private clubs. Pool has been a haven for ruffians (hey, I resemble that remark !) since the depression. I think OHB said it best when he compared golf hustlers to pool hustlers when he said (I paraphrase, but it's in the archives if anyone wants his exact posting) "Lee and Chi Chi hustled executives, doctors and lawyers, while I (OHB) hustled pimps, thieves and drug dealers". One game came down from upper society, the other is trying to get up out of the gutter.
Click to expand...
Pool was a respected game at one time if what I've read is correct. If that is right, can anyone point to exactly when and why pool slipped into the gutter? I think someone very powerful and influential must have been taken to the cleaners, and afterwards started a massive smear campaign against the game. If we could pinpoint pool's demise, then we could learn from the past, if not we are forever doomed to relive it. :eek:

Tracy
 
JoeyInCali said:
Golf is thriving b/c golf tournaments are played in golf clubs.
Pool pro tournaments are played in casinos, hotels and conventional halls not pool halls.
Poker tournaments are played in casinos, pro-bowling tourneys are played in bowling alleys and NASCAR is held in race tracks.
Somehow pro-pool tournaments are played anywhere but pool rooms. lol
Click to expand...
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Kind of the same thing as pool league/tournament players eating at xxxx restaurant on their way to league/tournament at a pool room that serves good food. By doing that they are taking away from their pool room and slowly shutting the rooms doors and eventually wont have a place to play pool, but can still go thru the drive-thru at the local xxxx restaurant. It's been said on this forum before, "We've made our bed, now we have to lay in it". I encourage someone/business to challenge the billiard industry (both business and players) to make changes to better our sport of the cueing arts!

Zim
 
Pool is part of a big world and with an estimated 22,000,000 pool players in north america alone it should be possible to bring this game up a level.

Take snooker in the UK (My homeland) it is still regarded as a gentlemans sport, sportsmanship is the highest priority.

Yet where do most youngsters or players play??? At there local snooker club which to be honest is no different to the local pool hall and all the top snooker tournaments are held in venues other than the clubs...however it is the image that game gives out from top...that is where the change must start if it is to have a truely global effect....

I dont think we need to change where we play pool too much after all everyone likes a friendly game with a few beers and a bit of banter....however we do need to provide the correct professionalism on several levels...

1 - Youngsters are so important to the development of the game....we need to provide a clean, professional, fun enviroment for them to be encouraged, coached etc etc

2 - Many other sports (golf was mentioned) have access to numerous professional benefits. The players for example have support from major companies whom realise that by looking after the players they will get something back.....marketing potential from professionals in a professional sport!!!!

3 - The top players need looking after and shown how present themselves in a more professional light. After all there skill is in playing pool not in media relations.....yet snooker players recieve coaching and instruction in this area

3 - Companies within the sport need to operate on a more professional basis and I think this is slowly starting to happen..

there are many aspects that need to change and we could all add a huge list of different things....

however rather than just listing things I am trying to do my bit....

I currently am in negiotations with one of the top insurance companies in the world to underwrite a specialist policy for cue sport players and I already have a known brand within the sport willing to help market and promote this.

Once we have brought companies like the top insurers into the sport then we will be able to get them to provide support/financial backing and help us all push the sport in the direction we all want.

However it takes time and it means doing things properly that is why I am looking for a custom cuemaker to come on board and work with me. He will be able to provide a skill and a service that I can't(although I'd love learn if only I had the time..lol) but he needs to be professional and have a good reputation....

Hopefully my business when it takes off will do a small part in helping move the game forward as well as have some fun and maybe make abit of money along the way
 
RSB-Refugee said:
Pool was a respected game at one time if what I've read is correct. If that is right, can anyone point to exactly when and why pool slipped into the gutter? I think someone very powerful and influential must have been taken to the cleaners, and afterwards started a massive smear campaign against the game. If we could pinpoint pool's demise, then we could learn from the past, if not we are forever doomed to relive it. :eek:

Tracy
Click to expand...

I believe that the depression caused a lot of 'idle hands' which ended up in pool halls. My guess is that this influx of broke, transient men created a less than hospitable environment for the game of pool. I do not believe there was any conspiracy to smear the game. Just my impressions and opinions ...

Dave
 
DaveK said:
I believe that the depression caused a lot of 'idle hands' which ended up in pool halls. My guess is that this influx of broke, transient men created a less than hospitable environment for the game of pool. I do not believe there was any conspiracy to smear the game. Just my impressions and opinions ...

Dave
Click to expand...

I think a lot of things have had an adverse impact on pocket billiards.

No Smoking Laws
Dirty Pool rooms and Restrooms
TV
Home Movies
Computer Games Etc.
High Cost of Table Time (Caused by High Rent Etc)
Unfriendly Pool Room Management
More Comfortable Homes (Lots With Pool Tables)
Pretty But Poorly Made Pool Cues
Local Laws Make It Difficult or Impossible To Operate
Women In The Pool Room - JUST KIDDING - They have helped bunches.

And there is not much we can do to change some things.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Golf is thriving b/c golf tournaments are played in golf clubs.
Pool pro tournaments are played in casinos, hotels and conventional halls not pool halls.
Poker tournaments are played in casinos, pro-bowling tourneys are played in bowling alleys and NASCAR is held in race tracks.
Somehow pro-pool tournaments are played anywhere but pool rooms. lol
Click to expand...


I disagree, most pool tournaments are held elsewhere because pool rooms aren't set up for good viewing. You can't hold a golf tournament anywhere else; I'd love to see a NASCAR event held in a casino LOL. From what I've seen in the Phillopeans they draw thousands to watch pool tourney's in a mall. Also around here we don't draw any crowds to our pool tournaments held in the pool rooms. I don't have all the answers, but I know it's not about the venues.

Jim
 
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