maybe.........................

[bdorman]

taxes are what makes the world go 'round, ...


... when something fails over and over, but it has a large enough following, it can be made to work, if people are willing to contribute.

RE: job in government

More specifically, you're perfect for the Senate Finance Committee or the House Ways and Means Committee. They've never met a failing program they didn't want to expand (i.e. give more money).

Seriously, look at all the other pool organizations that we love to deride: BCA, WPA, etal. Are they staffed by bad people or idiots? No; they're just doing what they can in an industry that has no money.

If you start taxing room owners, you'll just force more of them into closing up shop. It's a pipe dream anyway because no room owner or bar owner is going to give hard cash to an organization that has no local, immediate impact on their business.

Question: Let's say you have a $2 million budget. What are you going to do to increase the table rental hours in my pool room?

 

[Rain-Man]

RE: job in government

More specifically, you're perfect for the Senate Finance Committee or the House Ways and Means Committee. They've never met a failing program they didn't want to expand (i.e. give more money).

Seriously, look at all the other pool organizations that we love to deride: BCA, WPA, etal. Are they staffed by bad people or idiots? No; they're just doing what they can in an industry that has no money.

If you start taxing room owners, you'll just force more of them into closing up shop. It's a pipe dream anyway because no room owner or bar owner is going to give hard cash to an organization that has no local, immediate impact on their business.

Question: Let's say you have a $2 million budget. What are you going to do to increase the table rental hours in my pool room?

Your post is really spot on. Perfectly said....

I had given up on this thread a few days ago, because there is just no changing some peoples opinions (on both sides of the coin).. I am the intended "customer"/"investor" (target) here. This doesnt work for me, and im an owner who still loves the game (which cannot be said for all room/hall owners, believe me...).

Remember, the more you TAX something, the LESS you get of it...

 

[Rain-Man]

the end effect would be the room owner will be the one to benefit the most. another post said the room owners are the biggest power collectively.

Said by someone who obviously doesnt own a room/hall....

 

[Rain-Man]

right, but when your fat ass gets sick because you eat too many cheeseburgers and it costs 80 grand, than its ok to spend others people taxes - NO! It absolutely isnt! Liberals think its ok to spend OPM, I DONT, which is the POINT :banghead:. !

, or when you get into an accident and it costs more thousands, its ok to spend money, - Its what you've personally paid insurance premiums for all these years..

or when a war goes on for no reason and it cost 340 million a day - Not even close to being applicable..No one wants a war, but they happen, whether or not each one of us agrees with it (terrible comparison...:scratchhead ,

its ok, bc ur american and america is great - Yes. Do you not agree?,

or a stupid ****ing parade or a clock in the plaza or any other thing - I know of no specific group or business that is being singled out to pay for said stuff, like you suggested doing to room owners

, but when it comes to something you love and join a forum to discuss its daily happenings, than its a stupid idea and you roll your eyes. - Just trying to be realistic. I live and play in the real world, where actions have reactions..Sorry.

I don't understand people sometimes. being cynical and being indifferent are two different things. by the way, taxes are what makes the world go 'round, who pays the cops, fireman, emt, garbage man, etc.... they are indispensable - Taxes work for NECESSITIES. Pool is NOT a necessity, and especially for the overwhelming VAST MAJORITY of people. Its a small, fringe niche (that I admittedly love :smile..

and im not trying to compare the two, but when something fails over and over, but it has a large enough following, it can be made to work, if people are willing to contribute. - Therein lies the problem. Pool DOESN'T have a LARGE enough following. If it did, you wouldnt be suggesting a fix to a problem that wouldnt exist (get it ).

By the way, where is the money your suggesting asking for supposed to come from? Thin air? Money tree? Just where...?

 

[Rain-Man]

I just picked this up this afternoon. If it really does work, then im in for the pool table tax.. :thumbup:

 

[Banks]

By the way, where is the money your suggesting asking for supposed to come from? Thin air? Money tree? Just where...?

People keep looking at this from the wrong angle. Either they want more for less or they want to charge more for the same. There's a reason why the APA works as a business and not many people are understanding that. Oh well, such is life. If you want something bad enough, sometimes you just gotta do it yourself! :thumbup: (I'm slowly trying to do something myself!)

PS - I was agreeing with you!

 

[Rain-Man]

People keep looking at this from the wrong angle. Either they want more for less or they want to charge more for the same. There's a reason why the APA works as a business and not many people are understanding that. Oh well, such is life. If you want something bad enough, sometimes you just gotta do it yourself! :thumbup: (I'm slowly trying to do something myself!)

PS - I was agreeing with you!

Thanks! :thumbup:

I think I remember reading awhile ago that you were trying to get the place you play to put in better equipment (I could be wrong, not sure...?) If so, this is, IMO, the way to go. Almost like the "build it, they will come" thing :smile:
Its what I did, and it works. It does cost money to do, but its an investment that I control, and am able to see the results of said investment in a realistic time frame. If you want pool players, give em a great pool atmosphere. Give em a REASON to come to your place, as opposed to going somewhere else.

Doing this does more than just bring in your hardcore players. It brings in league teams, couples looking for something to do on a night out, and most importantly for the sake of this thread topic, it brings a younger generation to the game! I cant begin to tell you how many 20 somethings I have that play out of my place now! Take a young guy/girl under your wing, and ask them if they want to play on a league team. I did just that (his name is Luke), and it pay off in spades! That ONE kid, brought in about 20-25 other kids his age to the game, if not more. None of them ever played on a league before, or even had their own cue. Now their all in there playing 3-4 nights a week, and NOT just at my place. That same kid I mentioned now plays out of 3 different places, for 4 leagues! :thumbup: Hes even going to Vegas next month to play on one of the teams out of my place (every person on the team is under 30)..

Places need to upgrade their image, from the dark, dirty, dreary, hustler style image sooo many places have. Put in new, state of the art equipment, clean the place up, better lighting and make it look friendly to people. The image you present to people is EVERYTHING! Make it inviting, and not a turn off..

I have league teams ON A WAITING LIST to play out of my place (on Tuesdays and Wednesdays).. Why, because I have BY FAR the best equipment and best pool atmosphere around the area. People want to be a part of it, because it looks like I care, which I most certainly DO!

The first time I had John Schmidt come to my place for an exhibition/meet and greet, he was amazed at what he walked into. The first thing out of his mouth after I introduced myself to him was, "This place is awesome! You never know what your going to walk into when you come to do one of these things, but this place is just great.. I hope your players appreciate what you offer them here, world class equipment!".

That statement meant so much to be at the time. It told me my effort was noticed, and worth it.. :thumbup:

 

[macguy]

RE: job in government

More specifically, you're perfect for the Senate Finance Committee or the House Ways and Means Committee. They've never met a failing program they didn't want to expand (i.e. give more money).

Seriously, look at all the other pool organizations that we love to deride: BCA, WPA, etal. Are they staffed by bad people or idiots? No; they're just doing what they can in an industry that has no money.

If you start taxing room owners, you'll just force more of them into closing up shop. It's a pipe dream anyway because no room owner or bar owner is going to give hard cash to an organization that has no local, immediate impact on their business.

Question: Let's say you have a $2 million budget. What are you going to do to increase the table rental hours in my pool room?

Your post made me laugh and brought back a memory. When I was about 20 I was working part time in a small pool room.

One summer the air, that didn't work that well anyway went out completely. I could not believe anyone was coming in to play but some were. Guys were playing with no shirts and the customers were bringing big fans from home to help out. I talked to the owner about it and he said the most amazing thing I ever heard. He said and I quote:

We will have to wait a while till things pick up a little I can't really afford it right now."

PICK UP A LITTLE? With no air things were not going to pick up, the place was going to go broke. Since he was such an idiot, I took it on myself to buy two big units and several customers helped me install them.

Bingo, you could have hung meat in the place. It never had air like that since I had gone there. The customers were raving how great it was better then before the best it ever was and business "DID" pick up.

There is a poster on here who is going to recognize that story because we grew together and played at the same pool room when this took place.

The owner was a salesman and an absentee owner. He came in like once a week. The next time he came in he didn't know what to think but was really happy. It only took like a month for him to pay me back the $1200.00 I laid out.

Point is like advertising, some things you can't wait till business gets better to decide spend on. You have a cart before the horse factor. If a pool room is going to close because he has to lay out say $400.00 a year to try to improve his business then he is in such bad trouble anyway he should be the first to be willing to try anything. He is already on his way to going out of business..

 

[Rain-Man]

Your post made me laugh and brought back a memory. When I was about 20 I was working part time in a small pool room.

One summer the air, that didn't work that well anyway went out completely. I could not believe anyone was coming in to play but some were. Guys were playing with no shirts and the customers were bringing big fans from home to help out. I talked to the owner about it and he said the most amazing thing I ever heard. He said and I quote:

We will have to wait a while till things pick up a little I can't really afford it right now."

PICK UP A LITTLE? With no air things were not going to pick up, the place was going to go broke. Since he was such an idiot, I took it on myself to buy two big units and several customers helped me install them.

Bingo, you could have hung meat in the place. It never had air like that since I had gone there. The customers were raving how great it was better then before the best it ever was and business "DID" pick up.

There is a poster on here who is going to recognize that story because we grew together and played at the same pool room when this took place.

The owner was a salesman and an absentee owner. He came in like once a week. The next time he came in he didn't know what to think but was really happy. It only took like a month for him to pay me back the $1200.00 I laid out.

Point is like advertising, some things you can't wait till business gets better to decide spend on. You have a cart before the horse factor. If a pool room is going to close because he has to lay out say $400.00 a year to try to improve his business then he is in such bad trouble anyway he should be the first to be willing to try anything. He is already on his way to going out of business..

I understand your point, and completely agree with you except for one thing; I'm all for advertising MY business, MYSELF, to which I can directly control how MY money is to be spent, and then easily see if my efforts and investment is paying off. It has a DIRECT correlation, which can easily be measured..

What I'm NOT in agreement with is blindly paying to advertise for pool in general, to some arbitrary fund, or Union, or whatever you want to call it, and have absolutely no way of knowing if my money is doing ANYTHING for my business. For all I know, I could be simply throwing it down a rat hole.. I politely say, 'no thanks, I'll pass'.

I feel I do my part, and have spent roughly $60k several years back to make my place an attractive place to play (including a brand new 10 tons air unit ).