Exactly right! One of the things I continually fail to understand is why pro pool players would expect even a cent from the world of amateur pool. The pros is America do very little for the American amateur players, and as we just saw, represented our country poorly in the Mosconi Cup. The Mosconi Cup, we need to understand, is the only time that the elite American players not named Shane, are visible to most of the international pool community, and that's why the image of American pro pool has taken a big hit overseas.
Giving money to pro pool is something one should consider if they are so inclined, but it needs to be understood as charity, and unlike most charities you can give to, it's not tax deductible. I contribute about $5,000 a year to pro tournaments on the American pool calendar, and I'm happy to do so, but I really don't think anybody should feel obligated to contribute anything.
As your post correctly notes, we'd be far better off focusing on the next generation of players than this one. The growth and success of things like a) Mark Wilson's Billiard Scholarship program at Lindenwood University in Missouri and b) the just announced Black Widow Junior Camp look to be very important to the health of the game in America.
The youth and amateur scenes in pool matter far more than the pro scene right now, and that's pretty hard to fathom.
If I had those numbers as quoted in another post above I think it was 2982 and lets just say that those people wanted to do something to help pool. I think this use is the best thing they can do.
2982 x $10=29,820 dollars and that's not a paltry sum
How much does the cheapest bar box cost?
Brand New Im guessing 3k at most and I would be that you can get a used Bar Box for pretty cheap.
My idea is this: You go around with a truck full of Bar Boxes and you use this money to subsidize the cost for the places you are going to install them.
So if a Bar Box cost you $1200 you knock off 700 and when you put it into a local store you tell the guy this:
This Bar Box will create people standing around wanting to play. The money you will make off of it will be small, kind of like darts. So use it to get the kids in here and keep some adults entertained. They will buy sodas, drinks, cakes, snacks and pick up things they normally wouldn't because they are busy on the table. Don't charge over a quarter for the table and let the table work its magic for you will make enough to get it covered and then some but the activity will make your place the place a lot of people come to gather. Leave it at a quarter and people will come and play.
This way the table does all of the work for you. It says Pool to the masses. It is cheap to play and people need entertainment and they will. Especially the kids. When people tried to make a living off of Pool alone it started its down hill track. Paired with a business it created an atmosphere of togetherness that created a social situation where it was possible to make money at.....The Place.
That's they way I see Pool working out, you get Tables out in the Community, one table or two here and there where kids can find them. You get the Grass Roots efforts we all harp about. You spend some money but you can afford what you spend. When people see and hear that their money is doing some good then it wont be hard to get people to ante up some more.
A $10 donation isn't going to hurt anyone, especially if they are prone to enter pool tournaments for much more. If you have 2982 people who put in 50 or even more in a years time you can have very positive results for the game.
2982 x 50=$ 149,100 dollars / 700 of subsidize money= 213 Bar Boxes Subsidized
If you put 213 bar boxes out in 1 State that's a lot of Bar Boxes and it wouldn't take long for people to start thinking about Pool because when they go to the store they would see it. They would see people having fun, playing pool.
That's all of the message that you need to send.
Pool is fun and kids love to play. Then someone buys a home table, some cues, some supplies and Pool gets the facelift it needs with the General Public.
