People spend money... but not on pool.

bigshooter

bigshooter

<--vs Chuck Norris on TAR
Silver Member
Just a few observations I've made in the last few months.

1. There is a gaming & comics store in our town right down the street from the pool hall, on Friday nights they play Magic the Gathering which is like a role playing fantasy game sort of like Dungeons & Dragons but with cards and lately they have been getting 12 to 18 players, the tournament costs $5.00 meanwhile the pool hall has a $5.00 tournament and can't draw enough players to even have the tournament much of the time.

2. I stopped in a cyber gaming cafe awhile back and they had gaming stations which consisted of XBOX 360's and flat screen TV's and gaming chairs, it costs $6.00 an hour per person and there were 15 players on the machines and the bar was busy.

I see people spending money on recreational gaming but not on pool.

What is the answer?
 
Pool rooms have to change their image and the image most people have of them. When first timers walk into a pool room and feel comfortable (both male and female) a lot more money will be spent in poolrooms. Getting the schools to have pool is also a key. Most who grew up in the video game generation don't play pool. It's way to hard and time consuming to learn for them. Johnnyt
 
I dont know so much that its the image, but I whole hartedly agree that the difficulty to learn to play the game is one of the keys.

One major problem I see, and have discussed with some people in the poolroom lately, is the players that pick off the young ducks as they are trying to learn to play the game.

I dont know the answers, but affordable lessons and free pointers would be an area to look at. But the players have to WANT this help.

Cards are easy, once someone knows the rules they can set down and play. Sure advanced players have an advantage, but its not as in your face you dont get to the table very often as pool is.

In golf, no matter how bad they play, they get to hit their ball as often as needed to finish a hole, and will occasionally hit a shot that brings them joy.

When playing pool, if they get stuck playing better players they will either not get to shoot very often, or feel totally inferior when they finally get to the table.

IMO it takes the regulars of a poolroom to be involved if they want to see enough business in that room to keep the doors open. They have to make new players feel welcome, make them feel like one of the gang. And respect them enough to not try and hustle a measly twenty bucks out of their pocket and possibly turn them off of the game.

Lets face it, if a town had a poolroom that started out with 10 people like Mark Wilson, in a very short time it would become one of the most popular places to hang out. I only mention Mark because he is so well known for what he has done for the game, I think each room has their Mark Wilson, they just go by a different name :)

Woody
 
I have never run a pool room, so this is probably mostly wrong.

What keeps a lot of people out of pool rooms? The sleazy image. You have got to get rid of the sleazy image. There is a room near my house I like a lot, but the guys there swear like sailors. Doesn't bother me, but with F-bombs flying, I know my wife won't join me there, and forget about kids! Laugh if you want, but that's lost revenue.

Offer Family league nights. Sponsor free lessons for beginners. Get the wives and kids involved: let them meet the spouses of other players and become players themselves. Wifey will have no resentment about being home alone and can play in her own league. Kids are cultivated as upcoming players at an early age.

Family-league nights should be free of smoking, hard liquor, foul language and gambling. Turn the lights up and the heavy metal down. Sell nachos and hot dogs instead of booze. Think "Fox and Hound" and "Dave and Busters" instead of Biker bar.

Also, market the room to people who have disposable income and free time: retirees. Many communities have courses for the elderly that range from basket weaving to Mah-jongh. Offer pool. Don't stop, create a golden league. But if they don't feel welcomed and safe, they won't come and spend money.

Pool has so many things in its favor: the equipment does not have to be expensive, it is easy to learn but hard to master, it appeals to both sexes, it is physically easier than bowling.
 
Rant

It's the kids these days. They like computers and cell phones as it enables them to sit on their fat lazy asses to do something they like. It is pathetic.
I was going to help coach the local high school wrestling team this past season and when I saw how few kids were interested in the sport it made me so sick that I gave up on the idea of it. I know I am getting older and that is part of "my" problem but I tell you these kids now-a-days are so lazy that they can't even walk around the pool table to play the game. It is a crying shame for sure.

Kevin
 
Shaft said:
I have never run a pool room, so this is probably mostly wrong.

What keeps a lot of people out of pool rooms? The sleazy image. You have got to get rid of the sleazy image. There is a room near my house I like a lot, but the guys there swear like sailors. Doesn't bother me, but with F-bombs flying, I know my wife won't join me there, and forget about kids! Laugh if you want, but that's lost revenue.

Offer Family league nights. Sponsor free lessons for beginners. Get the wives and kids involved: let them meet the spouses of other players and become players themselves. Wifey will have no resentment about being home alone and can play in her own league. Kids are cultivated as upcoming players at an early age.

Family-league nights should be free of smoking, hard liquor, foul language and gambling. Turn the lights up and the heavy metal down. Sell nachos and hot dogs instead of booze. Think "Fox and Hound" and "Dave and Busters" instead of Biker bar.

Also, market the room to people who have disposable income and free time: retirees. Many communities have courses for the elderly that range from basket weaving to Mah-jongh. Offer pool. Don't stop, create a golden league. But if they don't feel welcomed and safe, they won't come and spend money.

Pool has so many things in its favor: the equipment does not have to be expensive, it is easy to learn but hard to master, it appeals to both sexes, it is physically easier than bowling.
Click to expand...

Good ideas, especially concerning families and the older folks,
there is a local mobile home park that caters to RV travelers as well and the little community center has one pool table in it and I'd say it averages more than 20 players every day in the morning and early afternoon and most are retirees, if someone would tap into that market they could fill their room with paying customers at a normally off time.
 
Two words : Disposable Income.

Who has it?

If you know the answer, cater to those people. Pretty simple.
 
As a self-professed computer nerd, alpha-consumer in my mid-twenties, I'll tell you a little bit about my demographic (who has lived and played pool in five different states now):

1. Pool is no where near marketed to my age group to begin with.

2. Pool requires a physical prowess that my "type" does not possess, if at all, initially.

3. Pool is a long-term investment for unknown results for improvement.

4. Pool is 10x harder than video games, animated card games, dice roll board games...et cetera. Worse yet, it is near impossible to find anyone with the patience and respect to teach anyone under my speed (or myself, for that matter) that doesn't cost $50 an hour, or isn't out to rob you blind by giving you a game on the wire!

5. If it were not my disgusting love and obsession for this game, combined with a sheer lack of a life, you wouldn't find me in a public forum arguing about the application of swerve aimed backhand english because of a high-deflecting uncapped ivory ferrule. To all of my friends, this is just stupid banter.

----

Give my people a reason to like this damned sport, make it accessible, and maybe we'll take the time and invest the monies. I know I have, but the reason still alludes me...I just don't question it too much.

For the cost of a top of the line game system, you could get an entry level sneaky.
For the cost of a top of the line pool cue, you could buy a 50" LCD tv.

Post script: BTW, the few discussions I've had with my nerds about playing pool, they were instantly drawn to Poison cues and Lucasi Hybrid cues. Apparently they like tech materials and rubber...sad, but true.
 
Impact Blue said:
As a self-professed computer nerd, alpha-consumer in my mid-twenties, I'll tell you a little bit about my demographic (who has lived and played pool in five different states now):

1. Pool is no where near marketed to my age group to begin with.
Hear hear!
2. Pool requires a physical prowess that my "type" does not possess, if at all, initially.
That depends. Spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination along with good muscle control can be gained from playing all sorts of sports.
3. Pool is a long-term investment for unknown results for improvement.
Right-O
4. Pool is 10x harder than video games, animated card games, dice roll board games...et cetera. Worse yet, it is near impossible to find anyone with the patience and respect to teach anyone under my speed (or myself, for that matter) that doesn't cost $50 an hour, or isn't out to rob you blind by giving you a game on the wire!
Steep learning curve, difficult to learn by self.
5. If it were not my disgusting love and obsession for this game, combined with a sheer lack of a life, you wouldn't find me in a public forum arguing about the application of swerve aimed backhand english because of a high-deflecting uncapped ivory ferrule. To all of my friends, this is just stupid banter.

----

Give my people a reason to like this damned sport, make it accessible, and maybe we'll take the time and invest the monies. I know I have, but the reason still alludes me...I just don't question it too much.

For the cost of a top of the line game system, you could get an entry level sneaky.
For 400-500 dollars you can get a VERY nice sneaky, like a Scruggs
For the cost of a top of the line pool cue, you could buy a 50" LCD tv.
Or a Gaming PC with 2 physical 3GHz+ Quad Core CPUs(Like, Q9000+ Penryns), 2GB DDR3 Nvidia, 8 GB DDR3 Dedicated RAM, 1 TB HD, Liquid Cooling, A bad-ass MOBO like the Nvidia XFX, and a big-ass LCD Monitor, all with a 5.1 Surround Sound System. With what's left over, you could probably pay for T1.
Post script: BTW, the few discussions I've had with my nerds about playing pool, they were instantly drawn to Poison cues and Lucasi Hybrid cues. Apparently they like tech materials and rubber...sad, but true.
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That's right!
 
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And we're lightyears away from leaving the selfish, thieving, seedy drug and booze thrived gambling subculture that farms the masses of this sport.

That's a tough one, though, as it is a part of the glamour.

(I'd be tempted to do a bump or two if it guaranteed me the skill of a early-80's McCready. ;-)
 
Impact Blue said:
And we're lightyears away from leaving the selfish, thieving, seedy drug and booze thrived gambling subculture that farms the masses of this sport.

That's a tough one, though, as it is a part of the glamour.

(I'd be tempted to do a bump or two if it guaranteed me the skill of a early-80's McCready. ;-)
Click to expand...

From the looks of him now he should have passed on a few bumps.
 
Can I just say, how many times have you seen some kid walk in with a cue you can tell he just bought or got for his birthday (or whatever), and have not seen dollar signs? Really.

I know, "a fool and his money are soon parted," but gunning for that sort of action? please.

LOL, I've definately invested here and there before I knew anything. And I'd like to think it coulda been a better experience, but f-it...the game is what keeps me here. Right now, actually, I'm pretty sick of the people in my area, so I just keep my mouth shut.

I will say though, getting robbed, watching the hustle and moves on others, the dumps on a stakehorse, chopping up a man in a three-handed game, selling out to your partner in golf...LOL, wow, pool has certainly taught me a lot about life and the people who you choose to fill it with over ANY video game I have played.

And you wanna wonder why nerds are putting their money elsewhere, and NOT in a pool hall...?

Tell you what, I'd trust there's only a handful of our members here that could last 20 secs with me in any 2D or 3D fighter game. Put a dime on that sh-t, and we'll see if you match up. -insert epic lulz-
 
4. Pool is 10x harder than video games, animated card games, dice roll board games...et cetera. Worse yet, it is near impossible to find anyone with the patience and respect to teach anyone under my speed (or myself, for that matter) that doesn't cost $50 an hour, or isn't out to rob you blind by giving you a game on the wire!
Click to expand...
I think this is certainly one of the reasons that it is hard to attract a younger crowd for billiards and pool. I see a lot of students ditching hobbies that take time to learn and get good at and turn to something with more "immediate satisfaction". But that is part of the nature of young people, they like to succeed at something and the faster they are good at something, the more they wil flock to it. Pool takes time and effort to learn and doesnt offer instant gratification.

Now that being said I still blame the Pinnochio scenes of donkey boys playing pool for it! j/k ;)
 
Johnnyt said:
Getting the schools to have pool is also a key. Most who grew up in the video game generation don't play pool.
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This is huge.

The closer pool can get to soccer practices and band camp, the better.

The Taiwanese have definately got that one figured out!
 
Kevin Lindstrom said:
It's the kids these days. They like computers and cell phones as it enables them to sit on their fat lazy asses to do something they like. It is pathetic.
I was going to help coach the local high school wrestling team this past season and when I saw how few kids were interested in the sport it made me so sick that I gave up on the idea of it. I know I am getting older and that is part of "my" problem but I tell you these kids now-a-days are so lazy that they can't even walk around the pool table to play the game. It is a crying shame for sure.

Kevin
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Someone either has lazy children, or a lack of knowledge.

I am 23 years old. I have been playing this game only 4 years and I already have knocked a lot of the big whigs off of their pedestal. I have put a lot of time into playing this game...because it's challenging and it's fun. There is a lot of gratification involved with this sport. I love teaching newbies basic stuff. Sometimes they listen sometimes they don't.

I play the shit out of video games...They are fun as hell. But I love walking into my pool room and shooting anyone more than any video game. I think it was very bigot and discriminatory, for you to say 'kids-these-days'. You sound like that old fart that is depicted on T.V., shaking his fist at those 'kids'.

I agree fully with Impact Blue on this.

This sport isn't catered to my generation. It was fun watching it at first. Then I was kind of embarassed to play, because I didn't think I would be any good. But now...I can't imagine my life without pool. That may sound silly, but I get more satisfaction beating a 'seasoned' player, that thinks he is better because of experience, than any other thing in this world...Ok, maybe not sex....but damn close. I am not saying I am a phenomenal pool player in any respect, just a personal opinion about myself.

If there wasn't so much emphasis on 'doing good' in this sport. More people would be apt to play. I try to invite as many people as possible with me to the pool room. This game isn't for everyone. But if I can hook 1 in 50 people, I feel I have done them and this industry, a major solid. *no pun intended*

I don't think this game will teach you about life...maybe the hustle, in which this game seems to cater to, but not the game in itself. If anything, it will teach you to be a controlling passive-aggressive, quiet in nature. This is a calming sport and you can't play it while you are riled up. It's good to clear your head, with a couple of balls to concentrate on.
 
Johnnyt said:
Pool rooms have to change their image and the image most people have of them. When first timers walk into a pool room and feel comfortable (both male and female) a lot more money will be spent in poolrooms. Getting the schools to have pool is also a key. Most who grew up in the video game generation don't play pool. It's way to hard and time consuming to learn for them. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

The schools don't offer video games but kids play them. I don't think a school needs to offer pool. Kids will play video games but get bored so they will buy another and another and so on. Pool is too hard and monotonous for them. After trying to pocket a few balls they realize that a lot of skill is needed and it can't be immediately mastered because there are no cheats to help them beat the game.

Let us face the facts. Pool is not high priority in life. It is considered a recreational game. People will make a game room in their house and add a pool table. 99% of the time it ends up as a table to store things on or a table for folding clothes. The majority of the other 1% uses it for counting out the money.
 
LPHooper03 said:
That may sound silly, but I get more satisfaction beating a 'seasoned' player, that thinks he is better because of experience, than any other thing in this world...Ok, maybe not sex....but damn close. I am not saying I am a phenomenal pool player in any respect, just a personal opinion about myself.

QUOTE]

The best feeling in the world is when you are driving and you hear a siren and see those flashing overheads in the mirror. You heart skips a few, your blood pressure raises, you almost crap and piss your pants, and as you pullover the car passes you by.
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That is a very close third....Especially since I drive fast cars...I usually have a hard time keeping it off of the pedal. Good 'ol Valentine 1 radar is my best friend, haha.

I don't know about crapping and pissing my pants though....Maybe we should bring some depends?
 
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