pool in summer???

[stick8]

O.K. newton has the how does you room do----- now as a room owner any thoughts on how to help play in summer??? open for suggestions!!! I even went to if you come in on say tuesday evening and pay 10.00 bucks you could shoot all nite say 7=8 hr and i have 12 tables??? very little response. HELP STICK

 

[pocketspeed]

plenty of rooms around here already have a deal like that. $5-10/person gets you pool all night long and thats every night. still the rooms are empty

brian

 

[pooltchr]

Only the hard core players are interested in playing for 7 or 8 hours. There has to be something else. Do you have food? Why not offer a buffet dinner. Promote your leagues and tournaments. I don't know about where you are, but here, the summer heat can be a motivater to get people inside. You have to determine who makes up your largest target demographic, and plan to meet their needs. Is it the serious players, young couples or groups, etc?

Steve

 

[Gmanpoke]

O.K. newton has the how does you room do----- now as a room owner any thoughts on how to help play in summer??? open for suggestions!!! I even went to if you come in on say tuesday evening and pay 10.00 bucks you could shoot all nite say 7=8 hr and i have 12 tables??? very little response. HELP STICK

I'm probably one of the least qualified people to give any advice or suggestions to room owner, but it seems to me the the thing that gets pool players wanting to play is action. Maybe you could sponsor some action (prime the pump).

Every time there is action in Chesters, its standing room only and every table is full with a waiting list. People are buying beer and food.

Steven

 

[dr9ball]

O.K. newton has the how does you room do----- now as a room owner any thoughts on how to help play in summer??? open for suggestions!!! I even went to if you come in on say tuesday evening and pay 10.00 bucks you could shoot all nite say 7=8 hr and i have 12 tables??? very little response. HELP STICK

Run a happy hour special all the pool you can play and all the draft beer you can drink from 4pm-8pm. Some people will stay afterwards and pay. You can charge between $10 - $15 per person. Many of them will eat food also.

You can only offer 1 or two kinds of draft beer per day. Helps you move the slow moving beer.

Has proven effective with the college crowd if you have one to market to.

A lot of rooms don't market to the masses with flyers, radio, cable tv etc. So people don't hear about their specials.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

Sponsor a couple of tournaments and waive the green fees. Just make sure one of them is One Pocket.

 

[CreeDo]

I've seen pool halls struggle this way and even stuff like "Free pool before 4" doesn't seem to bring 'em in. Weather is just too nice. The idea of sponsoring action is nice if you have some pros nearby (one comes to mind, but I dunno that he'll play for less than 5 figures).

Couple of free hot dogs when you rent a table for an hour? ...Can you put credits in the jukebox, like free jukebox before 7:00? Free lessons 4-6 PM? Just thinking out loud.

 

[Gmanpoke]

I've seen pool halls struggle this way and even stuff like "Free pool before 4" doesn't seem to bring 'em in. Weather is just too nice. The idea of sponsoring action is nice if you have some pros nearby (one comes to mind, but I dunno that he'll play for less than 5 figures).

Couple of free hot dogs when you rent a table for an hour? ...Can you put credits in the jukebox, like free jukebox before 7:00? Free lessons 4-6 PM? Just thinking out loud.

I'm sure CreeDo knows a lot more about this stuff than I do, but I was not really thinking a pro. Maybe a local shortstop. I know when Gary Lutman came to OKC to play Joey Gray and Chip Compton, Chesters was full.

Another thing to consider is a house pro that can stimulate some activity. I bet it doesn't hurt Kolby's that the Freezer is around or Matlock at shooters. I know Breakers in Pittsburg, KS has an old road warrior that comes in every day. Seems there are people who come around from time to time just to play him. And, it seems like there is a waiting list just to play James Walden cheap 9 ball sets or one pocket here at chesters.

Maybe you start sponsoring some of the A players in your area at the regional tourny's with the understanding they promote your pool hall. Who knows maybe some A players or shortstops from other areas will show up looking for action. You could promote the action and stimulate some activity.

I've been in a lot of pool rooms across the country (I have to travel a lot with my job) but the busiest room I've every seen was the billiard palace in Tulsa.