Need players' opinion on rates

Flint Pool Room

dirtydog48 said:
We are opening a new room in Flint, Mich.

Looking for creative or positive suggestions.
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I lived in Hartland for 18 years and worked in Flint. I loved playing pool in Flint and if I were still living nearby, I would happily pay the membership fee.

As for suggestions, I would hang a big gigantic picture of the late great "Nine Ball Harry / Poochy Sexton" somewhere in the pool room as a remembrance of the greatest player ever from Flint. The Flint Journal did a write up on Harry back in the mid 1980's. It was a great article on Harry's life as a pool hustler and respected player. It too should hang somewhere in your pool room.

Best Regards and Good Luck with your room.

Cross Side Larry

"Learn from the best, and beat the rest"
 
I live in the Detroit area. Come check out their rates. One place with no food or drinks charges $5 for the day from 11 am to 5 pm. Another gives free table time with a 2 drink purchase. Snookers has free time with a $7 min food/ drink. Walk in and the places are empty. It is a tough business.

Good luck

PS I was thinking about opening a PH years ago. A buddy that used to hustle asked what I was intending to do; run card games in the back room, hustle women (pimping), or push drugs? He said that is the only way to stay afloat.
 
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dirtydog48 said:
We are opening a new room in Flint, Mich. People ask if we are having liquor, no it is a pool room. They ask if we will have food, no, it is a pool room and there is great deli/pizzeria next door. The tone is going to be like the scene in the Hustler when the house man says, "This is Ames, mister. We play pool."
We will have 8 or 9 tables (a 6 by 12, 5 4 1/2 by 9 and 3 bar boxes), some video games, juke box, and a piano (some local players can play some pretty good jazz).
The overhead is very low and I am thinking of charging $3/hr or 5 consecutive hours anytime for $10. I am thinking of charging a nominal membership fee ($50-$75/year) to get these rates. The reason is that the occasional players should (???) pay more in the busy times. The local rates have been $7 for one player, $10 for 2 and $12 for 3 players.
The question is, when you were playing casually or learning to play, would the higher rates discourage you from coming back? Would you buy a membership for wife or significant other?
Looking for creative or positive suggestions.
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i'll give you a suggestion and you can take it or leave it. there are many "small overhead" pool rooms around chicago and what they have learned is they are still in business to make money. ya know table time will only take you so far. i see allot of halls buying a small commercial oven, almost looks like a horizontal toaster, to cook frozen goods like small pizzas, hot dogs, hamburgers ect that you can get from a distributor....( players do get hungry even champion ones), the cleanup is negligible and believe it or not it attracts the ladys. this does great business and is worth a very long look.
 
"No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys, just pool... nothing else. This is Ames, mister. " :cool:
 
Gary

Sorry for the late response, been busy! Tile goes in Monday, set fixtures and hang lights Tue and Wed. Setting tables through the week-end and hoping for final inspection next week and open. Been going on since June and I am ready. Been a lot of buzz and a lot of people seem excited. Did decide to put in a tight pocket action table for one pckt and challenge matches. Re-finished castings and feet on the GC IIIs and the last table is a tight GCII. What a difference between the II and the III. The II is considerably heavier and better built (heavier castings etc.) and will be the tight action table. See you then!!
E.
 
Glad to hear it's coming good Earl.

I've been so busy I haven;t had a second to stop by and see it.

I'll be by to see you soon!!

Congrats!

-Gary
 
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