Meet Shanelle Loraine & Poison Cues: Visit Them in Valley Forge at SBE

[JoeyA]

Poison cues and Shanaynay. A match made in Wal-Mart.

It seems that we are all filled with our own expectations and sometimes they don't match that of the rest of the world.

How many of us have actually seen Shanelle hit a ball?

How many of us have actually seen a Poison cue?

Does Shanelle deserve to have such a great sponsorship?

I know a few guys who are women magnets but are terrible human beings and have often wondered about the fairness of it all. Decent guys get passed up for POS all of the time.

I know a few people who are quite wealthy but flaunt their wealth under the nose of the less fortunate.

And here we have Shanelle, born with looks that melt a man's heart. Is it fair that she was gifted with attraction that eclipses most other women?

Life isn't fair. It's just life.

Shanelle might be one of the most deserving women in the world for this sponsorship and it is possible that she has more to offer than a beautiful body and a golden smile? I would like to give her a chance to excel and to be a good steward of our sport.

I think those players who don't get sponsorships so easily should work on their marketing skills, their communication skills, their personalities and their acessibility skills. It sure wouldn't hurt to invest some time, money and effort into looking your very best.

Also, being at the right place at the right time is more than luck. Having a hypnotic smile, a beautiful body, an engaging personality and style is not always a genetic gift. It takes effort, time and money to improve on what you were born with. Some don't attempt to capitalize on their genetic gifts.

In the pool industry, if you want to be sponsored by a company, you had better start improving your communication skills, your personality, your accessibility and of course, your appearance. It doesn't hurt to play a decent game of pool but the other assets will always outweigh the pool skills, at least for sponsors, as it should.

How many pool players are concerned with what they do in public or private, how they look, what they say and how they say it?


JoeyA

 

[easy-e]

I know a few guys who are women magnets but are terrible human beings and have often wondered about the fairness of it all. JoeyA

It hurts when you call me terrible Joey, I thought we were friends.

 

[UrackmIcrackm]

By the way, I think it's important here to distinguish the difference between endorsement and sponsorship. They are not the same.

I agree. The question comes down to is she being "sponsored" or is she "endorsing"?

Shanelle Loraine to Represent Poison Cues

She's not nearly well known enough to be considered an "endorser" is she? She's also not nearly established enough to warrant having a sponsorship. The fact that the post went on & on about her "pool career" leads me to believe this is a sponsorship.

They should've hired her to hock the cues like most companies do with the females they use to do their cue raffles. Have her show up & sell cues. In my opinion they would've been better off doing that instead of making some big announcement. Just put her in the booth... the masses will come.

I happen to know of two men on the professional tour (top ranked, well known) that are "under Charlie's thumb" (they're represented by Dragon Promotions) and have been for years. He's yet to do even a quarter for them, what he's done for Shanelle.

 

[M HOUSE]

Shanelle

Shanelle is a regular at a weekly tournament that I run in Orlando. While her skill level can't yet be compared to that of most of the touring pros, she does have some talent for the game and is dedicated to improving. She has a full time job yet makes time to come to the room several days a week to practice hours at a time.

As you can see from her pictures she can give most women the 7 out in the looks department, but what you may not know, she can give most of the people on the planet the 6 out in the personiality department. Combine these two factors and you have someone who is certainly going to draw attention to your product. If your product is a line of cues targeted for the entry level players, would it really matter if your rep was a world champ? Many in that target group likely wouldn't know the current world champs if they held up their cues and said " Can you guess what I do for a living".

 

[pwd72s]

Kudos to Joey. Great post. As far as those posting righteously here are concerned? To each his or her opinion. But money does talk.

I won't be going to Valley Forge, but I'd bet that the poison cues booth will be very popular when this young lady is present.

 

[JoeyA]

It hurts when you call me terrible Joey, I thought we were friends.

You are SOoooooo lucky to have a friend like me!
JoeyA

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I think those players who don't get sponsorships so easily should work on their marketing skills, their communication skills, their personalities and their acessibility skills.

And their rack skills.

pj
chgo

 

[JCIN]

A sponsorship is not a reward for playing well. You are not supposed to get them because you can play great. A sponsorship is a business deal in which the player must generate more revenue for the company than they cost. Let's face it, most pro's either do not understand this or do not have the skills or personality to maximize the opportunity's they do get. In most cases it is no ones fault in particular it is just a skill set that most people do not have unless they dedicate themselves to learning it. Look at Jeanette, she has worked very hard to become a great represenative for any company she does business with. If more players studied how and what she does to get and maintain sponsorships and outside engagements I think they would be well served.

A sponsorship is nothing more than a sales position. It is a job, not free money for playing great. The players who get this: Jeanette Lee, Shawn Putnam, Allison Fisher, Gabe Owen to name a few understand what it takes to get and keep sponsors happy. An example: Shawn Putnam is very good about mentioning his sponsors everytime he is in front of a mic or when he is around a group of people. This is what companys look for.

I met Shannelle last year at the World 10 Ball and was very impressed by her outgoing personality and how friendly and genuinely enthusiastic she is about the game. The fact that she is not a top level player has no bearing on her ability to represent a company. I think she will do very well and is a good fit for the product she is endorsing/sponsored by. It is not meant for the guy with a case full of South West's and Searing's it is an entry level cue for players who are not into high end cues.

If an instructor doesn't have to be a pro to teach the game why does someone have to be a pro to sell cues? Lot of sour grapes here.

 

[JoeyInCali]

And their rack skills.

pj
chgo

Not fair.
Maybe those who are jealous of Shanelle should look beyond.

 

[The Beginner]

actually many would say she was a very classy and gifted tennis player who just never played to her potential. having said that she was plagued by injuries as well.

as for shanelle well it's not her fault and you can't blame her for taking advantage of her good looks for a sponsorship. although it is a shame there are players who are miles better than her but don't have a sponsor.

having said all that, shanelle does have an amazing rack.

Is that a 8, 9 or 10 balls rack???

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Not fair.

I'm not knocking her; we're the ones who make her breasts more valuable than others' playing skills. I'm not knocking us either; we're just following our genetic blueprints.

I'm a joker, not a knocker (although I've been called a boob with some justification).

pj
chgo

(Frankly, I think she'd better capitalize on her assets while they're still marketable. Looks to me like the clock is ticking.)

 

[Sweet Marissa]

I sense jealousy here but I could be wrong.

I have to say something here. Cuechick makes an excellent point and she should not be accused of being jealous.

She happens to make a living capturing people's beauty, celebrity and everyday folks alike. She is also a very nice lady to meet. Why is it that when women express an opinion they are accused of envy?

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Why is it that when women express an opinion they are accused of envy?

I agree with the rest of your post, but why is it that when women are criticized it has to be because they're women?

pj
chgo

 

[poolsnark]

A sponsorship is not a reward for playing well.

Here, Here. Those who earn sponsorships do so by being willing to work for their sponsor. Prize money is presented to those who play well. Sponsorships are presented to those who know how to bring notoriety to a brand or product. It doesn't matter if Shanelle does this with her playing skills or her ginormous rack. What matters is that she gets people looking at and talking about the product she reps. Her looks got her in the door, but her ability and willingness to hustle for Predator will ultimately be the deciding factor in whether or not she is earning it.

 

[Sweet Marissa]

Here, Here. Those who earn sponsorships do so by being willing to work for their sponsor. Prize money is presented to those who play well. Sponsorships are presented to those who know how to bring notoriety to a brand or product. It doesn't matter if Shanelle does this with her playing skills or her ginormous rack. What matters is that she gets people looking at and talking about the product she reps. Her looks got her in the door, but her ability and willingness to hustle for Predator will ultimately be the deciding factor in whether or not she is earning it.

I think the point being made is not so much about her looks getting her these sponsorships, but that there are women who have been paying their dues for years that were looked over because Charlie Williams pushed for this young lady, an unknown who has yet to even play a qualifier.

Though looks shouldn't be a factor, it is. That's the way life is sometimes. But go to wpba.com and look at their roster. There are plenty of women on that roster who are beautiful *and* have the proven skill. Now those ladies have fans.

However, Charlie Williams is with Predator... he supports Miss Loraine (for reasons that can be left unsaid)... therefore she gets the job.

And I know from experience how manipulative, calculating, and self-serving Mr Williams can be. I hope this young lady is very careful.

 

[Scott Lee]

tap, tap, tap! Well said, Joey! Answer: very few That being said, we don't even KNOW to what level Shanelle is being sponsored. Most players who are "sponsored" by a cue company get just that...a cue, and NO more!
A select few get some additional sponsorship, in terms of some entry fees, and/or some expense money. Almost NONE (with very few exceptions) get sponsored to the level that they don't have to worry about expenses, bills at home, etc...and can just focus on playing competitively.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

How many pool players are concerned with what they do in public or private, how they look, what they say and how they say it?


JoeyA

 

[easy-e]

Though looks shouldn't be a factor, it is.

They absolutely should be a factor. That is why she is getting paid to endorse these cues. It is very clear! Why do people think this is unfair at all? Poison cues have every right to choose who ever they want to represent them. It is their money.

 

[cuechick]

This cracks me up, Talk about marketing and looks and assets.....not that I really care, but look at your avatar.

My Avatar is my own sarcastic comeback to all the cheesy pics of a women I have to look at every time I come to this forum.

 

[JCIN]

I think the point being made is not so much about her looks getting her these sponsorships, but that there are women who have been paying their dues for years that were looked over because Charlie Williams pushed for this young lady, an unknown who has yet to even play a qualifier.

Though looks shouldn't be a factor, it is. That's the way life is sometimes. But go to wpba.com and look at their roster. There are plenty of women on that roster who are beautiful *and* have the proven skill. Now those ladies have fans.

However, Charlie Williams is with Predator... he supports Miss Loraine (for reasons that can be left unsaid)... therefore she gets the job.

And I know from experience how manipulative, calculating, and self-serving Mr Williams can be. I hope this young lady is very careful.

If people are mad at Charlie because he did his job in representing his client (Shannelle) then they need to get a grip. I know Charlie has burned a few bridges in his time but he is one of the few actually promoting the game and yes.....making a buck for himself and those he represents along the way.

Lest anyone think I am just standing up for Charlie in some attempt to gain favor, Dragon Promotions recently made a move which put TAR in a bad spot, but....it was purely business and not personal. That is just the way things sometimes work, there is no need to tear people down because they happen to have postioned themselves better to make a deal or exploit business relationships they worked to develop.

The mindset that people "deserve" something is flawed IMO. You get what you work for and sometimes you can work your hardest and come up short. It is called life.

 

[Ed Simmons]

Go away

And I know from experience how manipulative, calculating, and self-serving Mr Williams can be. I hope this young lady is very careful.

I believed you when you said you were going away....who's the sucker now?