Pool/Billiards: how do we keep average people awake!!

Bigb'scues

Bigb'scues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello everyone,

I was looking through some billiard related ephemera and came across
an interesting piece. It's a tobacco card from 1928. It shows a comical rendition of "The Spectators". I found it interesting to see they portrayed them as being fast asleep.

This card was made during one of the high points of Billiards in America. I think it also makes a strong statement as to why pool/Billiards is in the state it's in today. At the professional level, the game looks amazingly easy to the "average spectator" and this becomes very boring. When this card was made (1928), there was not much else to do but listen to the radio, so watching Billiards at your local room was something many people did. It was obviously very boring then as well.

Today there are thousands of outlets of entertainment at our fingertips and constant exciting sporting events on TV at any given point in the day.

The real question is how do we draw in spectators? And when we do;
how do we keep them awake?
 

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its not that hard...,

Look at ESPN, WTF??? They have 18 channels in my area Fox Sports has 12 and they show fishing, cross bow hunting, monster truck racing, darts, they show all these reruns of games that were played in the 70's that no one in their current fan base cares about,

But they wont show Pool, not even at 3AM or 11PM or Sunday at 9AM???

No TV, NO Fan Base
 
No fan base

Pool is enjoyed by a very small percentage of the worlds population. If you are not a current or former pool player with a real interest and respect for the time it takes to be really good then I am sure it is as fun to watch as, bowling or golf is for me, as I have no interest it those 2 sports or fast cars going in circles. I find it boring as I have never tried those sports. If half the world played pool or pool was in it's heyday like many years ago then the net works would have viewers and advertisers.to make them want to put pool on the air and make money. Pool players go to the table and shoot and miss and the other guy does the same and there normally is not much emotion or visual stuff to watch other then balls rolling around.
If all the players looked like the "Black Widow" and acted like "Earl the Pearl" on a bad day more non players would watch as it would be a real visual treat!
 
Maybe just maybe our glorious sport/game that we love so much, wasn't meant to be the NFL or even fishing for that matter. It may just be what it is, a past time that no one really cares about or cares to watch on TV.

Snooker has figured it out, not sure if pool ever will. At least the Snooker events are GRAND looking on TV, big tables and player profiles etc.... Pool in the States is getting smaller, bar-box tourneys, no TV, very few events etc...

It is sad as hell........................but not sure we can change it. the next smart phone is coming out soon, MMA has an event on tonight, extreme sporting has a special on, and oh yeah.................there is a fishing tournament on too!!

I have a vision in my head of an apocalyptic scene of devastation and half standing building with a beat up pool table and one person playing by their selves.............................just wondering which one of us will be the last man standing ..........................with our cue!!!

Mike
 
Forming a pro league (that would take it to Snooker level, it's up to the companies involved, needs hard work and a vision) and promoting the game in Schools are essential, in a local level good amauter events, singles and team ones.
 
Personally I think accessibility is the key. I've always compared pool with bowling and I do both ( I'm a better bowler than a pool player but my knees can't hang anymore ). If you are just starting you use a house ball or a bar cue. If you want to get into it you can get your own ball or pool cue for around 40 dollars. A game of bowling is roughly 4 dollars a game in my area an hour of table time is around 5 dollars an hour. I know a lot of you in bigger cities have decent pool halls that might let kids/teens in but in my area ( Sioux Falls, SD ) there are few places to play pool and those places don't have great equipment. If you are under 21 you are stuck playing in a bowling center or a local skating rink. You can go to some bar and grills before 8-10pm but even that is getting rare now. We do have a junior league in the area now but they don't advertise well. Bowling is a club sport in the high schools and each bowling center here has a high school team that bowls out of that center. They close down alcohol sales during practice and matches, they have scholarship tournaments, and they go in to the schools to talk about it. Basically if you aren't from a family of pool players the first you may hear of pool actually being a competitive sport is in college.

Basically if we don't start introducing more kids to pool and making it accessible to them eventually our lovely sport will die off. It's a long ways away but every year it seems we see less tournaments, less league players because of people retiring and no new blood being brought in and poorly run programs.


Just my .02
 
It's creating interest in the players. Creating fan favorites.

Look at Nascar.... boring as ****.... You've got 20 or 30 identical cars aside from color and slight shape riding in a f'ing circle, yet it's a billion dollar industry.

It's marketing and CREATING interest. Nascar got big just like any other successful sport, WITHOUT TV...

It did it by getting butts in seats.

They pass out brochures with pictures of the drivers and backgrounds.

Even something as simple as being sponsored by a certain company that people can associate with is enough to generate interest, home depot, pepsi, etc...

The thing is you have to create interest in the athletes.

How can you do that if the only exposure you have for them is them doing something that's boring to watch. No talking, no nothing, but hitting balls on a table.

Well you create something that people can associate with.

People in the NFL or major league baseball are from specific cities, cities that people are from or like and can get behind.

They went to and played for specific colleges, colleges that people are alumni of and can get behind...

What do we know about pool players??? What does the general public know about pool players???

Do they play for a specific city? who the **** knows? Did they go to and or play for a specific college? Hell no, they're lucky if they graduated from high shcool...

Bonus Ball was on the right track even if their execution of it was horrendous.

What's the most popular billiard activity???

Answer: Mosconi cup...

Question: Why????

Because it's Europe versus the US. People from the US can get behind the US, people from Europe can get behind Europe.

People who hate the US can root against the US and for Europe, People against Europe can root for the US.

It's that simple. People LOVE to watch what they can associate with, whether it's boring or not.

There are several sports that are HUGELY successful that are boring as shit.

It's all about the marketing and the viewers being able to associate and get behind the individuals or the teams.

That is the MAIN thing that most billiards events lack. The idea that we need to be on TV to GET successful is preposterous...It's the opposite, you have to get successful with butts in seats to get on TV...just like every other sport that is successful on tv...

Jaden
 
I don't think staying awake or keeping interest is the issue. Getting punters through the doors is a task for all sports, even the mainstream ones - as they are basically competing for the same numbers.

Grass roots promotion is what's needed.
If anyone promoter / TD does not know how to do this and wants to know how to go about this, then feel free to PM me. :thumb up:
 
As a beginner...

10 months ago I hadn't played pool at all. Ever! So I can tell you from first hand experience what the hurdles are like for a new player.

To compare I will use two different sports I took up later in life, running and golf.

When I wanted to get into running I went down to my local fleet feet. They were very welcoming to a beginner, fitted me for shoes, showed me books and magazines that catered to beginners, suggested I sign up for a training program, meet the local running club that was always welcoming, etc. As a result I spent a ridiculous amount of time and money on that activity. (and still do)

When I wanted to get into golf I went down to my local driving range. They were very welcoming to a beginner. They got me some practice clubs, explained why I wanted a glove, maybe later some cleats, etc., got me some range balls balls and a setup a free intro lesson with the club pro. After that I found a wealth of resources for beginners including lessons. As a result I spent a ridiculous amount of time and money on that activity. (and still do)

In contrast, when you want to learn to play pool it's a different story. You end up in a dark pool hall with a bartender who can barely be bothered to explain how "table time" works, you go grab a house cue but all anyone will do is laugh at you for not knowing how to make a decent bridge hand. If anyone does want to play against you, they will either make you feel stupid or try to get you to gamble. Lovely experience.

The biggest difference between pool and other activities is that pool ignores the beginners. In fact, other sports like golf and running have created an entire culture around the idea that the more new people they get the better. Sure, golf is on TV but distance running rarely makes it to ESPN and yet the running shoe business is a $20+ billion dollar industry. They give the shoes away to the pros and even successful amateurs so who is buying them? Beginners. Even bowling does a better job of appealing to beginners than pool.

In my case, I was introduced to pool by a very good pool instructor who made a lot of the early concepts and environment easier for me and yet it was still intimidating. And finding a good instructor or billiard academy in many cities can be a real challenge. If you try to learn on your own, there are some good videos but the articles on the sites and in magazines cater to very experienced players more often than not. The other players in leagues and in tournaments are in it for themselves and not the community. I got lucky that I found a team willing to take a "C" player but some beginners have trouble finding a team. New blood is the way to make this sport bigger and with it will come new money and an increased interest all around.

It needs to be welcoming to a wider range of people. People who will hopefully learn to love it and talk their friends into playing. People who will want to buy cues and tables and watch pro players on ESPN. People who will bring new money and new life to this game. Tournaments with $5k, etc. added are great but let's be honest, most of us will never see any of that money. How about more charity and fundraising pool tournaments? How about more events that cater to people who can't necessarily break and run?

I agree with the other post that kids are a great way to energize pool. Additionally so are families, social clubs, women's groups, soccer moms, etc. People will spend $150 a month on a crossfit gym so just imagine what they would spend on an activity that was competitive and fun like pool.

It's a great game with massive potential but for whatever reason pool seems determined to leave a lot of money on the table.
 
Floppage said:
... In contrast, when you want to learn to play pool it's a different story. You end up in a dark pool hall with a bartender who can barely be bothered to explain how "table time" works, you go grab a house cue but all anyone will do is laugh at you for not knowing how to make a decent bridge hand. If anyone does want to play against you, they will either make you feel stupid or try to get you to gamble. Lovely experience.

The biggest difference between pool and other activities is that pool ignores the beginners. In fact, other sports like golf and running have created an entire culture around the idea that the more new people they get the better. Sure, golf is on TV but distance running rarely makes it to ESPN and yet the running shoe business is a $20+ billion dollar industry. They give the shoes away to the pros and even successful amateurs so who is buying them? Beginners. Even bowling does a better job of appealing to beginners than pool.

In my case, I was introduced to pool by a very good pool instructor who made a lot of the early concepts and environment easier for me and yet it was still intimidating. And finding a good instructor or billiard academy in many cities can be a real challenge. If you try to learn on your own, there are some good videos but the articles on the sites and in magazines cater to very experienced players more often than not. The other players in leagues and in tournaments are in it for themselves and not the community. I got lucky that I found a team willing to take a "C" player but some beginners have trouble finding a team. New blood is the way to make this sport bigger and with it will come new money and an increased interest all around.

It needs to be welcoming to a wider range of people. People who will hopefully learn to love it and talk their friends into playing. People who will want to buy cues and tables and watch pro players on ESPN. People who will bring new money and new life to this game. Tournaments with $5k, etc. added are great but let's be honest, most of us will never see any of that money. How about more charity and fundraising pool tournaments? How about more events that cater to people who can't necessarily break and run?

I agree with the other post that kids are a great way to energize pool. Additionally so are families, social clubs, women's groups, soccer moms, etc. People will spend $150 a month on a crossfit gym so just imagine what they would spend on an activity that was competitive and fun like pool.

It's a great game with massive potential but for whatever reason pool seems determined to leave a lot of money on the table.
Click to expand...

Welcome to pool life.

I started in kind of a similar way, with seeing first-hand how the "good" players look down upon leagues and the bar/fun players. Seeing a new player's happiness from learning a small piece of the pool puzzle is awesome. Usually, I'll teach somebody a few fancy-ish bank shots, something that they can later show their friends and make them go "oooooh". One problem seems to be that the entire pool business is geared towards short-term goals. That goes for the players and the pool halls.

People need to feel welcomed and encouraged to have a great time! I'm wanting things to go in the direction of people crowding around tables, cheering and yelling. Even if somebody isn't playing, they should want to watch and even beyond that, there should also be enough noise that others say to themselves, "Hey, what's going on over there?" When people walk by the bar, I want them to open the door and see what all the excitement is about. I want them to think that is where they want to be. That's where the fun is.

If I wanted quiet and still, I'd stay home or go to a library. :p
 
Banks said:
Welcome to pool life.

I started in kind of a similar way, with seeing first-hand how the "good" players look down upon leagues and the bar/fun players. Seeing a new player's happiness from learning a small piece of the pool puzzle is awesome. Usually, I'll teach somebody a few fancy-ish bank shots, something that they can later show their friends and make them go "oooooh". One problem seems to be that the entire pool business is geared towards short-term goals. That goes for the players and the pool halls.

People need to feel welcomed and encouraged to have a great time! I'm wanting things to go in the direction of people crowding around tables, cheering and yelling. Even if somebody isn't playing, they should want to watch and even beyond that, there should also be enough noise that others say to themselves, "Hey, what's going on over there?" When people walk by the bar, I want them to open the door and see what all the excitement is about. I want them to think that is where they want to be. That's where the fun is.

If I wanted quiet and still, I'd stay home or go to a library. :p
Click to expand...

I agree that the short-term goals are way to common. The funny part is that once you really learn about good position play and what it takes to play a crippling safe, those become far more impressive than a tough cut or bank shot.

Pool seems to intimidate a lot of people. There have been times when the challenge table at my local sports bar was empty so I'd just throw three quarters in and challenge the nearest guy at the bar. Sometimes they will play, sometimes not but it's at least worth trying.

To anyone reading this, if you're on a league team and need a player then please consider asking a new person. My team took a chance on me and I lost A LOT of games early on but worked hard to redeem myself by the end of last season. Take a chance, you might just help create a new lover of pool.
 
Floppage said:
.... The biggest difference between pool and other activities is that pool ignores the beginners. In fact, other sports like golf and running have created an entire culture around the idea that the more new people they get the better. Sure, golf is on TV but distance running rarely makes it to ESPN and yet the running shoe business is a $20+ billion dollar industry. They give the shoes away to the pros and even successful amateurs so who is buying them? Beginners. Even bowling does a better job of appealing to beginners than pool.

In my case, I was introduced to pool by a very good pool instructor who made a lot of the early concepts and environment easier for me and yet it was still intimidating. And finding a good instructor or billiard academy in many cities can be a real challenge. If you try to learn on your own, there are some good videos but the articles on the sites and in magazines cater to very experienced players more often than not. The other players in leagues and in tournaments are in it for themselves and not the community. I got lucky that I found a team willing to take a "C" player but some beginners have trouble finding a team. New blood is the way to make this sport bigger and with it will come new money and an increased interest all around.

It needs to be welcoming to a wider range of people. People who will hopefully learn to love it and talk their friends into playing. People who will want to buy cues and tables and watch pro players on ESPN. People who will bring new money and new life to this game. Tournaments with $5k, etc. added are great but let's be honest, most of us will never see any of that money. How about more charity and fundraising pool tournaments? How about more events that cater to people who can't necessarily break and run?

I agree with the other post that kids are a great way to energize pool. Additionally so are families, social clubs, women's groups, soccer moms, etc. People will spend $150 a month on a crossfit gym so just imagine what they would spend on an activity that was competitive and fun like pool.

It's a great game with massive potential but for whatever reason pool seems determined to leave a lot of money on the table.
Click to expand...

Your comments are spot on... Very well stated.

Lucky for me, I had a couple of mentors who taught me enough to make me develop an extreme desire to learn.

Byrnes Book of Billiards probably helped me more than any other one thing.
 
First off...love the photo/card, saved it to my computer.

All I can relate is how I came to pool...and I'm not sure if I can do that well.

For some reason it fascinated me from my youth. Dad bought a cheap table off my Aunt Mary for...who knows what amount but I can recall Aunt Mary saying to Dad "it cost a pretty penny."

Well it had clay balls and the "striped" balls didn't have any...stripes that is. So my big brother painted them on. Needless to say, we always had paint chips on the table.

I stunk but for some reason I still enjoyed playing.

Joined the USN @ 17 (turned 18 in boot camp) and loved watching guys play, tried it myself at times but still stunk so mostly watched. Had a friend in boot camp and A school who was a fantastic player. Saw him make $60.00 while we waited for a friend to take a shower before we all went out for the night...He didn't have a cue and literally used a cut-off broom handle. Of course his opponents used a broom handle too...but I was impressed ! This was 1973...$60 to a boot sailor was a large chunk of cash !

Anyway kept watching and playing occasionally. Got back to civilian life and hung out with my high school buddies in bars way too much. Well there was almost always a table in the bars and I played. I was so bad that my best friend would play against me one handed...and he still usually won. He is the one that told me "I think you are aiming right but aren't taking the curve of the ball into account."

Believe it or not, I got better from that point on...not much but some. Got my own table in the early 80's Was still living with my parents at the time and when I moved out the table stayed.

Got the table to my own house just this year (I am 59 Y.O.) I practice most nights and am getting better. I no longer say "I stink" I just say, "I'm not very good". But I still love it and would love to watch it on TV.

I remember in the late 70's early 80's I guess, watching the old timers (Mosconi, Fats, Rags Woods, Crane...) playing on Sunday afternoons...Dad and I loved it. Later we watched Strickland, Varner, Siegel, Lorie John Jones....and other play on TV too. Loved that too.

OK, so all that history to say...Well, not sure but innate interest is something you really can't foster. But, you can foster new interest if people are exposed. The "industry" would need to spend some big time cash and get face time on prime time shows and sporting events.

I think one of the big draw backs is space and cash. It takes a good bit of cash and a large space in ones home to have your own table. The way our "cell phone society" is today, they don't want to go to a pool hall to play the game, they want to do it at home. Space and cash are a hindrance to many in that respect.

Real answers, I have none. But, an influx of cash from those making money on the game would lead to national recognition and interest...IMO.

I hope it gets more popular but I don't really care. I'll enjoy it as long as I can still play...even if I lose more than I win !
 
Old-Duckman said:
First off...love the photo/card, saved it to my computer.

All I can relate is how I came to pool...and I'm not sure if I can do that well.

For some reason it fascinated me from my youth. Dad bought a cheap table off my Aunt Mary for...who knows what amount but I can recall Aunt Mary saying to Dad "it cost a pretty penny."

Well it had clay balls and the "striped" balls didn't have any...stripes that is. So my big brother painted them on. Needless to say, we always had paint chips on the table.

I stunk but for some reason I still enjoyed playing.

Joined the USN @ 17 (turned 18 in boot camp) and loved watching guys play, tried it myself at times but still stunk so mostly watched. Had a friend in boot camp and A school who was a fantastic player. Saw him make $60.00 while we waited for a friend to take a shower before we all went out for the night...He didn't have a cue and literally used a cut-off broom handle. Of course his opponents used a broom handle too...but I was impressed ! This was 1973...$60 to a boot sailor was a large chunk of cash !

Anyway kept watching and playing occasionally. Got back to civilian life and hung out with my high school buddies in bars way too much. Well there was almost always a table in the bars and I played. I was so bad that my best friend would play against me one handed...and he still usually won. He is the one that told me "I think you are aiming right but aren't taking the curve of the ball into account."

Believe it or not, I got better from that point on...not much but some. Got my own table in the early 80's Was still living with my parents at the time and when I moved out the table stayed.

Got the table to my own house just this year (I am 59 Y.O.) I practice most nights and am getting better. I no longer say "I stink" I just say, "I'm not very good". But I still love it and would love to watch it on TV.

I remember in the late 70's early 80's I guess, watching the old timers (Mosconi, Fats, Rags Woods, Crane...) playing on Sunday afternoons...Dad and I loved it. Later we watched Strickland, Varner, Siegel, Lorie John Jones....and other play on TV too. Loved that too.

OK, so all that history to say...Well, not sure but innate interest is something you really can't foster. But, you can foster new interest if people are exposed. The "industry" would need to spend some big time cash and get face time on prime time shows and sporting events.

I think one of the big draw backs is space and cash. It takes a good bit of cash and a large space in ones home to have your own table. The way our "cell phone society" is today, they don't want to go to a pool hall to play the game, they want to do it at home. Space and cash are a hindrance to many in that respect.

Real answers, I have none. But, an influx of cash from those making money on the game would lead to national recognition and interest...IMO.

I hope it gets more popular but I don't really care. I'll enjoy it as long as I can still play...even if I lose more than I win !
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great reply. I agree on many of your points.
 
I am bored when I am sleeping.
I think I am A.D.D...O.C.D.....and a few other D's
 
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