Open Letter to Justin from TAR

[JMuck]

I kind of like 15 ball rotation.From what I have watched it has a little of everything, tight patterns to movement from end to end thru traffic.Kicking goes from hitting the ob consistently to consistently hitting on the good side with the right pace.

All the Filipinos know the game and there is one American player who would play,if anything to raise his game a little.

I buy a number of streams but 14.1 doesn't inspire me to curl up on the couch and settle in for the evening,but 15-ball rotation might because of it's similarities to the current more prominent games.

 

[Cashman]

I still say 14.1 is enjoyed by the older and more well off crowd which just might make it work.

Perhaps, but would an older crowd be as tech savvy and willing to watch streams on their computer? I know my father, who is as smart as they come, is still unwilling to make purchases online.

It does raise the question though, what are the demographics of pool streams? Impossible to answer probaly but would be pretty interesting to find out.

 

[JAM]

I still say 14.1 is enjoyed by the older and more well off crowd which just might make it work.

Straight pool has a strong following in the Northeast region of the United States. I'm not sure why that is, but it is what it is.

The only way I can see to make 14.1 popular with mainstream pool fans is to allow wagers. Everybody likes to sweat a game they have a bet on.

With no bet, watching straight pool for me -- and I'm just one pool fan -- would be like watching a game of croquet. It's an old game that used to be popular, but it's kind of passé now.

Young folks, in particular, today want immediate gratification. Heck, e-mail and even the telephone is too slow for them. Texting is the norm. Rotation games like 7-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball move fast and furious, much more so than straight pool. People like to hear the crack of the rack and watch the balls blossom, to be followed by a run-out.

In sum, 14.1 is too slow-going. There are for sure some diehard fans today, but I don't think it's enough to exhume straight pool from its proverbial grave.

 

[Nick B]

I still say 14.1 is enjoyed by the older and more well off crowd which just might make it work.

You might be right but unlike a Coach purse the price point is the same and thus TAR still needs butts in seats to pay for the event. They probably would have to charge 2 or 3X to make it work and I'm almost sure this would further neuter his audience. I'm the wrong guy to ask. I would pay and watch. My buying habits are simple.
1. Can I make time to watch some/most of event - Check
2. Is it on a adult size table - Check
4. 1 and 2 = PayPal payment.

Nick

 

[Poolhalljunkie]

14.1

Why does every think that 14.1 is dead? Oh yeah because we don't play it regularly in America. I can tell you this 14.1 is alive and well. If one of the European stars wants step up, than I as a promoter would get as much advertising out to that market as possible. With this Efren SVB match how much effort is being put into advertising to the Philipine market?

Pool may be on life support in the States, but a few other places in the world it is alive and well.

 

[Ghosst]

I'm not saying a straight pool PPV only..I'm saying if the matchup had 2 guys that were top 14.1 players then put it in as 1 of the 3 disciplines and remove 8 ball.

There are more 8-Ball players than 9-Ball, 10-Ball, One-Pocket, and 14.1 combined.

Dropping the most popular and recognizable variant doesn't make sense.

.

 

[dmgwalsh]

I would love to see more 14.1, but if Justin can't make any money on it, who can blame him for not getting behind it. He has already brought us two great matches between Schmidt and Harriman. I wonder if he lost money on the videos of the 14.1, too. I remember I kept bothering him to get it done.

Pat Fleming put together something a few years back with 6 top players playing 14.1 and live streamed it and sold videos. http://www.1vshop.com/Accu-Stats/store.cgi?CMD=009&DEPT=000004&CAT=1226619963&BACK=A0007A1B0000004B1

The players were already in the area, having just finished up at the World's the week before. Again, I wonder if he was able to turn a profit on it.

I think the game is slowly becoming a bit more popular with more leagues popping up and more players wanting to join our leagues. Whether the popularity will ever translate into being able to support TAR type events remains to be seen.

 

[SJDinPHX]

The TAR model is to attract viewers and make money. More people (myself included) would rather watch 9ball/10ball, even 8ball therefore TAR will need to cater to them.

Seriously, I would be shocked if they had 100 viewers for a straight pool PPV.

Totally agree Sin !..If it were not for Schmidt and Harriman's feud, I doubt if TAR could generate even 50 viewer's...Justin knows that...Give it up pal.. New York may be the only place in the world, that 14.1 still exists..And then only 150 points, for a sawbuck !

 

[SJDinPHX]

I don't ever recall watching pros play 8 ball on a 9 footer, but don't most consider it the easiest game? Watching pros play on bar boxes certainly humbled my opinion of my own game, very few safes and tons of run outs. I'd like to see the run continue. If people have the patience and interest for one pocket, i don't know why it wouldn't be there for 14.1.

Its because for the 'savvy' purist, who loves to sweat a good match, One pocket is 100 times better game than 14.1..Been that way in gambling circles, for about 50 yrs. now..(factoid)...Even lowly 8 ball is a better game to sweat ! :thumbup:

 

[Ken_4fun]

Not trying to be a jerk.

But there are some websites....that makes you have a number of paid viewers prior to private viewing...

Seriously, I would make the suggestion that maybe 2-3 potential matches be listed. Force those who want to watch them commit the viewing fees PRIOR to the match..

If 400 viewers are required for a match, then only make that match happen AFTER paid commitment.

Secondly, does anyone have those Harriman/Scmidt 14.1 DVDs?

Ken

 

[Mr. Bond]

Force those who want to watch them commit the viewing fees PRIOR to the match..

If 400 viewers are required for a match, then only make that match happen AFTER paid commitment.

I don't know if you were being serious, but you just hit the nail, right on the head.

14.1 fans can back their favorite player(s) with a "wager" - and "pool" their money to pay for the costs of hosting a match. ( ie presale) Once it's paid for, the event could be free to watch for everyone.

 

[Nostroke]

Rethinking it- Now that Tar is dong the 'Free Roll' i dont think it can work.

 

[Ken_4fun]

I don't know if you were being serious, but you just hit the nail, right on the head.

14.1 fans can back their favorite player(s) with a "wager" - and "pool" their money to pay for the costs of hosting a match. ( ie presale) Once it's paid for, the event could be free to watch for everyone.

WRONG.

The nits that want to see this for free.

If you want to watch dont be a nit, pony up the bucks.

MAYBE THIS IS WHY IT WONT WORK.

Ken

 

[Palmerfan]

Straight pool has a strong following in the Northeast region of the United States. I'm not sure why that is, but it is what it is.

The only way I can see to make 14.1 popular with mainstream pool fans is to allow wagers. Everybody likes to sweat a game they have a bet on.

With no bet, watching straight pool for me -- and I'm just one pool fan -- would be like watching a game of croquet. It's an old game that used to be popular, but it's kind of passé now.

Young folks, in particular, today want immediate gratification. Heck, e-mail and even the telephone is too slow for them. Texting is the norm. Rotation games like 7-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball move fast and furious, much more so than straight pool. People like to hear the crack of the rack and watch the balls blossom, to be followed by a run-out.

In sum, 14.1 is too slow-going. There are for sure some diehard fans today, but I don't think it's enough to exhume straight pool from its proverbial grave.

If you think 14.1 is "slow going" try enduring a 1 pocket match to 6...which can easily take over 4-5 hours..mostly defensive as well...

 

[Palmerfan]

Why does every think that 14.1 is dead? Oh yeah because we don't play it regularly in America. I can tell you this 14.1 is alive and well. If one of the European stars wants step up, than I as a promoter would get as much advertising out to that market as possible. With this Efren SVB match how much effort is being put into advertising to the Philipine market?

Pool may be on life support in the States, but a few other places in the world it is alive and well.

14.1 is more than alive and well in Europe, they play it all the time as it improves their skills for all games firstly and #2 is respected as the "purist" game with the least amount of luck involved.

 

[Palmerfan]

There are more 8-Ball players than 9-Ball, 10-Ball, One-Pocket, and 14.1 combined.

Dropping the most popular and recognizable variant doesn't make sense.

.

Most popular with the casual player who would not even know about TAR or ever be interested in (or knowing about) paying to watch a pool stream.

 

[Palmerfan]

I don't know if you were being serious, but you just hit the nail, right on the head.

14.1 fans can back their favorite player(s) with a "wager" - and "pool" their money to pay for the costs of hosting a match. ( ie presale) Once it's paid for, the event could be free to watch for everyone.

I have no problem with that at all...if thats the only way to get 14.1 back into the rotation then fine with me. I think the 14.1 fans would love to put $ on their favorite player in a good matchup.

 

[Ghosst]

Most popular with the casual player who would not even know about TAR or ever be interested in (or knowing about) paying to watch a pool stream.

I know several 14.1 players who have no idea what TAR is, or would ever pay for a beer, let alone a stream. I'm pretty sure there are also more 8-ball players interested in TAR than there are players of 14.1 alive today.

 

[JAM]

I love that way Palmer's sig line has a banner for Charlie's tournament:
"THE WORLD TOURNAMENT." :rotflmao1::rotflmao1::rotflmao1::rotflmao1:

 

[Palmerfan]

I know several 14.1 players who have no idea what TAR is, or would ever pay for a beer, let alone a stream. I'm pretty sure there are also more 8-ball players interested in TAR than there are players of 14.1 alive today.

Thats a pretty strong opinion with with no facts to back it up. I can tell you that when some guy takes his date to a pool hall and neither one of them know how to hold a cue, they are ALWAYS playing 8 ball... I dont think either one of them has any idea of TAR or know what a pool stream is