Music in the poolroom

Fleece3

Fleece3

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
If a poolroom is playing really bad music loudly, does it affect your game? The other night I was trying to practice and the room was blasting some of the worse music in the world. I mean this was the kind of stuff that you would listen to while held up in a dark cheap motel with a bottle of Jack in one hand and a .38 in the other, cursing life for not giving you a fair shake. And it got worse song after song. Finally, when a song came on about a teenage walking into his parents room and announcing "Mom, Dad I'm here to kill you" I just picked up the balls, broke down my cue and left. My concentration level was NOTHING at that point. Has anything similar happened to anyone else?
 
Fleece3 said:
If a poolroom is playing really bad music loudly, does it affect your game? The other night I was trying to practice and the room was blasting some of the worse music in the world. I mean this was the kind of stuff that you would listen to while held up in a dark cheap motel with a bottle of Jack in one hand and a .38 in the other, cursing life for not giving you a fair shake. And it got worse song after song. Finally, when a song came on about a teenage walking into his parents room and announcing "Mom, Dad I'm here to kill you" I just picked up the balls, broke down my cue and left. My concentration level was NOTHING at that point. Has anything similar happened to anyone else?
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When you can concentrate and play without even knowing the music is playing, you'll have a chance to be a good player.

Heard a story one time about Nick Varner playing pool somewhere and a murder was committed with a gun and he didn't even know it happened. Just kept playing.

Learn to control yourself and you'll never be sharked.
 
Personally, music doesn't bother me. Just part of the atmosphere. If it was completely quiet that would probably bother me more.
 
Yes ....

Loud rap or metal music grates on me big time. I hate
it when a bartender turns up the jukebox to a disturbing
volume by the request of 1 person in the pool room who
is not even playing pool, without regard to the many people
that are playing pool. I have yelled more than once for them
to turn it down because you could not concentrate on playing
pool, especially when you are in a tournament.

I would rather to just hear 'Rackem up' played over and over.l

On another note, when I was in the Navy many many years ago
during the Nam era, I was at Balboa Hospital having surgery on
my ankle, and was playing pool in the rec hall with another guy.
Well, earthquake tremors started happening, and everyone ran
outside. Hell, I though someone was underneath the table
causing it to vibrate. I did not go outside, I stayed there
to make sure noone came back and moved the balls on the
table ... lol
 
Music...

I miss the days when all you heard in a Pool Room was the click. clack, splunk of balls and the woofing of players at the Table and the commentary of the Railbirds...that said, I have adjusted to music being played, really doesn't bother me unless insanely LOUD! One thing I do dislike is Kareoke or Trivia...I find if someone plays a set with tunes I like it gets me in Zone...but my favorite practice time is Sunday during the day, I get to my Room around 11:30, me and the barmaid are the only ones there, peace at the Table is a good thing!
 
I play in a room, not a bar, but at times the music does get very loud. To be honest, loud music really does not bother me. If I am truly focused on the game, I hardly notice it.
What drives me insane is when people come in and sit right by my table and start talking loud, really loud. Sometimes they start talking to me, or the person I am playing, which irritates me even more. It is hard to stay focused when someone is trying to carry on a conversation with you, or the person you are playing with (he will take for ever to shoot because he is carrying on a conversation instead of focussing on the game). I usually, in a somewhat polite manner remind them that we are trying to play a game here, and if they would like to talk, please do so after we are finished. This usually takes care of the loud mouths.
 
I actually prefer playing with some rock playing in the background. What throws me off are the dance critics :( .
I had an experience very similar to the origional posters. It was the late 70's or early 80's, I'm grooving to Molly Hatchet,Aerosmith or Rush,my song ends and "YMCA" comes on next.....couldn't shoot worth a shit after that.

Terry
 
I'd have to go with "volume" on this one. Granted, there are some horrible songs that would throw me, but as long as the general music isnt deafening, then its coo.
 
re: "insanley LOUD"

Jersey said:
I miss the days when all you heard in a Pool Room was the click. clack, splunk of balls and the woofing of players at the Table and the commentary of the Railbirds...that said, I have adjusted to music being played, really doesn't bother me unless insanely LOUD! One thing I do dislike is Kareoke or Trivia...I find if someone plays a set with tunes I like it gets me in Zone...but my favorite practice time is Sunday during the day, I get to my Room around 11:30, me and the barmaid are the only ones there, peace at the Table is a good thing!
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Hey Jersey,
Would you happen to be refering to a pool room located on Canton Hwy & Chastain in Marietta, & the team you play with moved & and is now playing out of Sharky's.
If so, I agree with you, the juke box is played to LOUD,
when Kareoke starts, I leave the room.
As for the Trivia, It's Gone.
"Have a Nice Day"
Lamar
 
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Fleece3 said:
If a poolroom is playing really bad music loudly, does it affect your game? The other night I was trying to practice and the room was blasting some of the worse music in the world. I mean this was the kind of stuff that you would listen to while held up in a dark cheap motel with a bottle of Jack in one hand and a .38 in the other, cursing life for not giving you a fair shake. And it got worse song after song. Finally, when a song came on about a teenage walking into his parents room and announcing "Mom, Dad I'm here to kill you" I just picked up the balls, broke down my cue and left. My concentration level was NOTHING at that point. Has anything similar happened to anyone else?
Click to expand...

Jukebox music never really seems to bother me. But once I was at my local room when they had a live band start playing. I mean this band was bad. It was some of the worst, and loudest, heavy metal music I have ever heard (and I am a big fan of heavy metal music). If I had been in the back of the room, it might not have bothered me so much. But I was on the first table, right by the stage. I finally told my opponent that I couldn't think with that racket going on and left (and I was playing for free that night!). As I said, I am a fan of heavy metal, and loud music usually doesn't bother my play, but I would like to be able to have a conversation with someone while I am playing without having to shout in their ear.

Another time, I walked into a pool hall about two blocks from my house and a girl stopped me at the door and wanted to charge me a $3 cover charge. I asked what for and she said they were going to have live music. I told her, no thanks, I just came to play pool not to listen to music and I wasn't going to pay a cover charge for the privelege of drinking at the bar and paying $9/hour for a pool table.
 
If you're listening to the lyrics, you can't be paying much attention to what's going on at the table. :p Though once I remember being amused hearing a definitely depressing (for chicks at least) tune that I'd never imagined could be on a PH jukebox ... Liz Phair's "Phuck and Run."

But the only thing worse than ear-splitting rap or metal has got to be, as somebody else said, TOTAL SILENCE. It gets hard to stay focused if you can hear the stick rubbing against your fingers, at least for me. I never heard that sound till I played in my own under-construction room and the Albert Collins CD ran out.
 
Same at my local room I just came home from at night he has Sat radio and its booming since at night lots of the Fun Players with their GF's come out it so he Turns it up for them. And after sitting there clocking these people in and out for the last 3 or 4 hours and watching them miss so many shots im out of stroke myself now Hahahahaha. But during the day at Shooters is great easy rock in the background not to many people its almost perfect.
But ohwell i get free pool so every now and then i can take the music cranked up.
 
lamar25 said:
Hey Jersey,
Would you happen to be refering to a pool room located on Canton Hwy & Chastain in Marietta, & the team you play with moved & and is now playing out of Shark's.
If so, I agree with you, the juke box is played to LOUD,
when Kareoke starts, I leave the room.
As for the Trivia, It's Gone.
"Have a Nice Day"
Lamar
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Hey Lamar,

So much for 'Anonymity'... :cool:

You found me out! See Ya Monday Night!
 
Jersey said:
I miss the days when all you heard in a Pool Room was the click. clack, splunk of balls and the woofing of players at the Table and the commentary of the Railbirds...that said, I have adjusted to music being played, really doesn't bother me unless insanely LOUD! One thing I do dislike is Kareoke or Trivia...I find if someone plays a set with tunes I like it gets me in Zone...but my favorite practice time is Sunday during the day, I get to my Room around 11:30, me and the barmaid are the only ones there, peace at the Table is a good thing!
Click to expand...


Hey Jersey how are ya? I agree the old days were the best but "sigh" the old days are gone and music is now in most venues as long as it isn't loud rap or some other grating type music and played at sub night club levels I can play through it! :D
 
MrLucky said:
Hey Jersey how are ya? I agree the old days were the best but "sigh" the old days are gone and music is now in most venues as long as it isn't loud rap or some other grating type music and played at sub night club levels I can play through it! :D
Click to expand...

Hey MrLucky,

Hanging in...going to try to catch some of The US Amateur Finals at Cues tomorrow...playing the APA Captain's Tourny on the 20th @ Cues...haven't seen ya posting much lately...maybe I'll catch you on the Tables sometimes...
 
Fleece3 said:
If a poolroom is playing really bad music loudly, does it affect your game?
Click to expand...
Consider yourself lucky.

I play in a cheap 9-ball tournament in one place on Tuesday night and an 8-ball league, in another place, on Wednesday night.

Both places are Sports Bar/pool rooms, but both places have Karaoke on the nights I am there.
Have you ever tried to play good pool, while some no-talent amateur is screeming into a microphone?
Can someone please tell these people that singing louder does not make them sing better?

Although I don't mind music in pool rooms, considering what I have been dealing with, I long for the days when music and pool rooms were exclusive of each other.
 
Distracted

I'm conflicted about he music issue. I'm old school in one way 'cause I grew up shooting in poolhalls that didn't have any music to speak of. I'm a musician so I'm more aware of music than many others - especially what I think is bad music. On one level I know that if I can play well in the midst of aggravating loud and obnoxious music, I can play well anywhere. On the other hand some of the repetitive electronic junk that's played ad nauseum today just uncontrollably p***es me off at a visceral level.
 
I used to be a casino dealer; blackjack, roulette, poker. This was back when the slot machines still spit out money with every win and not credits. Between the bells and whistles and all that coinage falling into metal trays...well, you learn to 'tune it out'.

Now, I generally just don't hear what is playing on the jukebox...especially if it's something I don't care for. When it's a league night, we all chip in and just load up the jukebox with stuff we want to hear....like blues or classic rock.

Lisa
 
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