Pool News, Updates, Results, Instruction, and Smut

Which option has the greatest impact and keeps you informed?

  • Word of mouth

    Votes: 4 7.1%

  • Pool magazines, newsletters, and newspapers

    Votes: 1 1.8%

  • Flyers and posters displayed in local pool room

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Direct Mail

    Votes: 2 3.6%

  • Pool-related discussion forums and/or Internet websites

    Votes: 49 87.5%
  • Total voters
    56
  • Poll closed .
JAM

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
I don't think there is a pool person on the face of the earth who isn't aware that the U.S. Open is just about ready to begin. :p

Just curious as to what you think is the BEST medium for dissemination of pool news around the world, updates and results of competitive events, tournament announcements, action smut, and instructional material for active players of all levels.

If you could only pick ONE, which would rate the highest in your opinion.

JAM
 
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I prefer AZBilliards. Anyone heard of it?

Seriously I think this site is great for a wide audience. I prefer our local area magazine www.insideenglish.net for local news/tourneys/results/etc.
 
If it's not posted here on AZB, I'm out of luck! I bailed on the usenet group as it got way ugly and stayed that way. I also greatly enjoy onepocket.org. One of these days I might expand my horizons to include another board.

Martin


JAM said:
I don't think there is a pool person on the face of the earth who isn't aware that the U.S. Open is just about ready to begin. :p

Just curious as to what you think is the BEST medium for disseminiation of pool news around the world, updates and results of competitive events, tournament announcements, action smut, and instructional material for active players of all levels.

If you could only pick ONE, which would rate the highest in your opinion.

JAM
Click to expand...
 
I've checked out other sites and messageboards, and am even a member of Southern Billiards' forum, but I use AZ. It's the site and articles are thorough and impartial... and sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your naaaame. :cool:
 
I am sometimes amazed at the amount of pool folk I meet who are not familiar with the computer enough to take advantage of the Internet, but there are MANY out there who just don't possess computer skills. I think these pool folk are kept abreast of the pool scene from those of us who do READ the Internet; thus, word of mouth.

Occasionally, I miss out on an event because one of the above-referenced options wasn't utilized. Word of mouth alone isn't enough to get the message out there.

There are MANY who benefit from pool media in the form of monthly magazines or newspapers.

In some pool rooms, there is a bulletin board that keeps the regulars abreast of what's happening around the world. Regional tours will mail schedules in the form of a flyer which hangs in full view for all to read.

Sadly, but a glaring reality, I don't get any pool info from the radio, TV, or local newspapers.

JAM
 
Personally ...

It seems like the normal media outlets, like TV,
radio, newspapers go out of their way not to
publish anything about Pool.

and it pisses me off...... bad ...

I have tried and tried to get the sports editor
here in town to publish tournament results, or
do an article (good tournaments not little ones),
and they do not do it. We had one article 1 time,
and it was mostly about Gabe playing in a big
tournament here. Other than that..... zilch ...
 
Sweet Marissa said:
I've checked out other sites and messageboards, and am even a member of Southern Billiards' forum, but I use AZ. It's the site and articles are thorough and impartial... and sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your naaaame. :cool:
Click to expand...



Hey girl, we know your name at Southern Billiards too, LOL.
 
JAM said:
I am sometimes amazed at the amount of pool folk I meet who are not familiar with the computer enough to take advantage of the Internet, but there are MANY out there who just don't possess computer skills. I think these pool folk are kept abreast of the pool scene from those of us who do READ the Internet; thus, word of mouth.JAM
Click to expand...

I agree wholeheartedly, to the extent that I will print some articles for the hall to post on their bulletin board. Just the other day I learned of the Stan James tour and will be taking this press release downtown to put on the board. Of course the time that I printed the article about Fabian Lewison beating Earl in the first round in Calgary a few years back really didn't need to be posted, someone was already telling the story all over town :D

Dave, who will have to watch out for the big fella now
 
Well, I printed out the list of players for this year's US Open and posted all venue and tournament info in the tournament room.

Wouldn't you know it. Right there in front the these players, posted for them to read and get all the info for themselves.... they wanted me to tell them who was playing, when it started, where and all the $$$ details.

Pool players.... you buy them books... and all they want is the video....


I give up....

I'll just get packed and get ready to go to the 30th US Open and visit all my pool playing buddies from all over the world, internet and East and Gulf coast.

I guess my 1st pick to win won't attend... Marlon Manalo...

so I'll have to go with a darkhorse... Larry Nevel or maybe Shawn Putnam.. no... this is the year of the Earthquake.... or will Alex make it?

when was the last time someone won two major tournaments in a row? oh yeah.. that was a couple of years ago when Ralph Souquet won his first US Open title.
 
JAM, while I find the internet to be the best immediate source for News, Gossip, Results and pool related discussions I find that it lacks a punch when trying to promote events.

To get the word out to players/spectators about an upcoming event the Internet, magazines or word of mouth simply doesn't do it. Snail Mail / Direct Mail to players and pool rooms is the best response I get.

I have found that less than 5% of the players that participate in my events learn about the event directly from the internet. Because of this dilema (not enough players online) one of the major costs associated with operating the V-Tour is our direct mail. We mail out over 100,000 postcards/flyes each tour season. I really wish more players were online.


Mj
 
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MikeJanis said:
I really wish more players were online.


Mj
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I'm actually surprised at the # of players that are online to be honest. A lot of the guys didn't even finish school... they hit the road when they were teenagers and never looked back. There's a large # that are my age or older... when they were in school the only computers they knew about were from sci fi movies. :rolleyes: Some of the younger players are a little more in tune because computers were the norm by the time they quit school. The majority of us have grown with the technology as it's become available. The pool room I used to play in looks the same today as it did 15 yrs ago... It's easy for me to see why the players are so far behind the "norm" on this one. They're coming along though....slowly. ;)
 
Timberly said:
I'm actually surprised at the # of players that are online to be honest. A lot of the guys didn't even finish school... they hit the road when they were teenagers and never looked back. There's a large # that are my age or older... when they were in school the only computers they knew about were from sci fi movies. :rolleyes: Some of the younger players are a little more in tune because computers were the norm by the time they quit school. The majority of us have grown with the technology as it's become available. The pool room I used to play in looks the same today as it did 15 yrs ago... It's easy for me to see why the players are so far behind the "norm" on this one. They're coming along though....slowly. ;)
Click to expand...


"Coming along .....slowly" stinks ! If I could only use the internet to promote events instead of USPS the V-Tour could add $20K-$25K more per year to tournaments instead of spending it with the Gov for stamps. We could also use the $ to give additional discounts to room owners to encourage them to do more events. Everytime I see the USPS raising the price of stamps I get a sick feeling in my stomach. When I was younger I never knew how much a penney or two could make a difference.

Do'ya have any ideas on how we could speed the learning curve up a bit?

Note: I truly appreciate everyone that asks me for flyers to be emailed to them so they can pass them out locally. THANK YOU Guys & Gals for your help.

Mj
 
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MikeJanis said:
"Coming along .....slowly" stinks ! If I could only use the internet to promote events instead of USPS the V-Tour could add $20K-$25K more per year to tournaments instead of spending it with the Gov for stamps. We could also use the $ to give additional discounts to room owners to encourage them to do more events. Everytime I see the USPS raising the price of stamps I get a sick feeling in my stomach. When I was younger I never knew how much a penney or two could make a difference.

Do'ya have any ideas on how we could speed the learning curve up a bit?

Note: I truly appreciate everyone that asks me for flyers to be emailed to them so they can pass them out locally. THANK YOU Guys & Gals for your help.

Mj
Click to expand...



Sure. Just about everyone knows someone who is online. There isn't onle player around who hasn't at least heard about what is being discussed on the internet. So what you need to do is have a database that includes "connections". That would be people you can reach through the internet who can be depended on to disseminate the information to those who aren't on the net.

Give up some rewards. If your "connected" player cashes then the Viking tour sends a money order for 5% of the prize money. If a player has many connections then each of them gets a percentage of the reward. This gives you a lot of chances at getting that player to enter your events.

Is is possible to enter a Viking Tour event online? If not then it should be. This would make it easier for players to enter no matter where they happen to find themselves before the event. Is there a discount for entering multiple events?

I occassionally get Viking mail when I should just be getting email. Having a clean mailing list will save you a lot of money.

John
 
MikeJanis said:
" Everytime I see the USPS raising the price of stamps I get a sick feeling in my stomach. When I was younger I never knew how much a penney or two could make a difference.

Mj
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You know why they're raising the price of stamps? So they can buy more signs that say, "Sorry, this window closed." ----Johnny Carson

Jeff Livingston
 
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