Terry Stonier at Jointed Cue Billiards, every year, would do a 4-6 week monday night pool lesson/ lecture. The bandstands would be full and people would be standing on the sidelines. Just one hour- the first lesson: stance, aim, center cue ball; all the way up to throw, squirt, aiming for spots outside of the pool table. Sometimes there would be a guest speaker (first time I ever saw Grady). So the free lecture would last an hour, and it would get all of the B, C, D players totally amped to run and get a table to practice what they'd just learnt.
Hard Times in Sac has Monday night Ladies night, where btwn such and such hours, unaccompanied ladies play free. Gets the guys in there just to watch, gets the girls dressing up to be seen on a Monday night. And it gets the girls who care about pool some free practice time.
Club 8 in Amsterdam has a table reserved for action. No table time charged at all- but you have to be gambling. Sounds like a waste of money, but it gets everyone playing each other- minimum 2 euros per game, but short matches for larger sums are accepted. That sort of forced exposure to other players makes them really rent the other tables for practice to hit up the challenge table again.
I have used the above and coupons, monthly memberships, and stamped cards for free hours earned. All are very much appreciated. I think the one I miss most is the Stonier one. Can't explain how hyped and excited you felt after a lecture- that feeling lasted all week until the next one.
