SBE crowd noise (and pool tourney crowd noise in general)

Shermanscs

Shermanscs

Steve sherman
Silver Member
So I'm in the pro arena last night and Jayson Shaw is playing Darren Appelton in the 10 ball tournament. The match is going back and forth and the crowd starts getting into it. Darren wins and his fans start cheering, Jayson wins and his fans start cheering. Reminded me a little of the Mosconi cup. Anyway, the ref comes on the loud speaker and reminds the crowd that there are other matches going on and to please remain quiet. From that point on, it was like a church in there, and might I say, quite a bit more boring (even though I acknowledge the high skill of all the pros playing). What's wrong with a little fan noise? I think it draws people in, makes them more a part of it, and makes the event much more lively and enjoyable. Has anyone ever taken a walk by the action tables? Guys playing for thousands encircled by a cheering mob. I would think crowd noise would fuel the pros. If a pro is unable to deal with crowd noise, maybe they're not such a pro. Look at the crowd noise the top amateur players deal with when playing in the 9 ball championships at SBE. I think cheering fans should be all part of the sport. Much more exciting and engaging! Much as I love pool (and I love it more than life itself), you could fall asleep in one of these pro arenas. Come on tournament directors, time to loosen up a little bit! Let the fans get into it!

Steve
 
Outstanding observation. Cheering fans are a godsend for this game. A tournament promotor that tries to quiet them down is doing the entire game a disservice.
 
Because these guys aren't playing for funsies.. It's there job. And if your in a tight match and down on a tough shot and the whole crowd erupts in a small room it could easily cause you to miss. It's one thing being in a loud atmosphere the entire time.. Noise won't bother you it's already there. But to be in a quite setting that suddenly erupts is entirely different. I understand your point .. It's more fun to get caught up Ina match but I understand there side of it to.
 
BasementDweller said:
Outstanding observation. Cheering fans are a godsend for this game. A tournament promotor that tries to quiet them down is doing the entire game a disservice.
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I completely agree. If pool ever becomes mainstream it will be because people are allowed to be passionate about it. Once a large fan base is formed you can then ask people to be as quiet as a golf or tennis match.
 
Hi Steve;

This is a tough one.

I always thought, and still do, that if we could capture the lightning in the bottle that is The Mosconi Cup for many more events, we'd be well on our way to mainstream recognition.

But, the way SBE is formatted doesn't allow for the same whooping it up from the fans because there's multiple pro tables in use at the same time.

Referees at Mosconi would hush the crowd when players were getting ready to shoot - can't do this at SBE.

I remember when they changed pro bowling, another sport where concentration is paramount, into what reminded me of a night club atmosphere with spinning lights, loud music and the crowds were encouraged to whoop it up. I recall these guys still seemed to be able to string strikes but I believe a year or two later they dialed the crazy atmosphere back a good bit for whatever reason.

I think if I had to decide one way or the other, I would have to go with allowing enthusiastic (but respectful) crowd participation. :)

best,
brian kc
 
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From a players point of view.....you should have the iron clad concentration be able to play with the world pulling against you.....just like Danny Noonan!


if you don't know who Noonan is.....look up Caddy Shack the movie and you will get it!


have fun....

G.
 
if earl isn't playing the fans should be allowed to cheer. as long as they arent being abnoxious during a shot, I never saw the big deal. they all play in poolhalls where the music is blasting and the game next to them is usually a few friends drinking and having fun. it's an oxymoron, or sometimes a paradox, as the player is fighting for his rent. but if the fan isnt allowed to be a fan WHAT IS THE F----N POINT??? and no knock to earl, he is my favorite pool player of all time for his game and for his personality, but he is the main exemple of a paradox in pool. he wants the fan to cheer and be a fan so the game could be mainstream but if they cheer or cheer the other opponent especially he loses his sjjit. this game and its people confuse me, I never knew why I love it so much.
OH, AND THE BEST PART, THE ONLY REASON WHY ITS DISTRACTING IS BC ITS SO DAMN QUIET AND THAN THERES A LOUD CHEER, YOU GET SHOCKED AWAKE. PLAY SOME DAMN MUSIC AND GIVE A PRO ARENA SOME DAMN PERSONALITY. AND THE POINT THAT THE PLAYER IS PLAYING FOR A PAYCHECK IS UNDERSTANDABLE BUT UNIMPORTANT, AS IF YOU DON'T LET THE MATCHES BE FUN AND LET PEOPLE SHOW UP, THE MONEY WILL NEVER SHOW UP TO LET THE PLAYERS GET PAID MORE EVENLY. god, this is exhausting to argue all the time.:deadhorse::banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
I've watched a lot of old accustats matches from the U.S. open of 15-20 years ago. They have 8 or so matches going on at the same time and the crowd is cheering at good shots while some other player is down on a shot.

I err on the side of letting the crowd cheer. Encouraging it actually.
 
I think a problem for the USA in the Mosconi Cup is when it's in England it's late in the day and everyone is drinking and loud. When in Las Vegas it's earlier in the day and everyone is sober and quiet.
 
I think it's way easier to get sharked in a quiet room than in a loud one. If the crowd is constantly cheering eventually it will just become white noise to the players but if the fans are as quiet as church mice then the simplest human acts will shark them -- like someone tripping while getting out of their chair or someone rustling around with their bag of chips.

Basically, I don't think it's necessary for the room to be quiet for the players to focus but it's sort of an all or nothing proposition. The fans must be consistently loud or totally quiet. The middle of the road stuff is what makes it hard for the players to focus.
 
Deal with it.

Happens in golf, tennis, etc. The crowd errupts and it's heard on the next tee/green or court. So what?

From watching the Filippino "money matches" I suspect crowd noise wouldn't phase them a bit.
 
bdorman said:
Deal with it.

Happens in golf, tennis, etc. The crowd errupts and it's heard on the next tee/green or court. So what?

From watching the Filippino "money matches" I suspect crowd noise wouldn't phase them a bit.
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Exactly, I watched jordan spieth last week at masters, getting ready to pull the trigger, crowd erupts in the back ground....simply stand back, re gather, and hit the shot.
the kid is 21.
Pool pros can do that too.
Yes, the players love crowd cheering.

extremly silly, when you have vortex air dryer blasting off every thirty seconds next to pro arena, and a food court table set-up next door with exhibitor booths on top of those.

Noise is a sign of crowds and publicity. Let's keep it in perspective.

last turning stone, the commenators were asking for more cheering and noise. Two world class players duking it out....let's go!!!!!
 
Agree

I was there last night too when this happened. I was down further watching the Shane destroy Warren (10-2) match.
When that cheering erupted we couldn't tell what happened, a great shot, a quick fight, someone hit the lotto. But man it was exciting.
I agree 100%, the crowds should be allowed to pump excitement and energy into this great but under appreciated sport of ours.
Shane was playing at unbelievable almost super human level and you barely heard a single clap out of anyone.
If those of us who understand great play when we see it, showed a little enthusiasm and excitement for it, it would probably help get the casual and even new fans caught up in it too. And that is exactly what this sport needs.
 
Goldcues said:
I was there last night too when this happened. I was down further watching the Shane destroy Warren (10-2) match.
When that cheering erupted we couldn't tell what happened, a great shot, a quick fight, someone hit the lotto. But man it was exciting.
I agree 100%, the crowds should be allowed to pump excitement and energy into this great but under appreciated sport of ours.
Shane was playing at unbelievable almost super human level and you barely heard a single clap out of anyone.
If those of us who understand great play when we see it, showed a little enthusiasm and excitement for it, it would probably help get the casual and even new fans caught up in it too. And that is exactly what this sport needs.
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I agree. Huge crowds erupt and cheer in golf while other players are playing their shots. The fans are probably more disruptive than any other sport. The golfers just deal with it. Why would pool be any different? To tell the fans not to cheer great shots is insulting to them and kills our whole sport. Maybe next year they can just not have ANY fans come... It would be plenty quiet then...lol
 
Your comparing apples to oranges. If there was only one game going on then cheer a way in between shots. No one is screaming when a guy was down on a ball at the mosconi. They wait until after the shot. At the expo you had 15 matches going on in the same room at the same time. Little different in my opinion. Same with bowling. Everyone is silent until the ball is rolling down the lane..

Just add if you make noise when people are down on a shot at the mosconi. They threaten to throw you out.

Kickin' Chicken said:
Hi Steve;

This is a tough one.

I always thought, and still do, that if we could capture the lightning in the bottle that is The Mosconi Cup for many more events, we'd be well on our way to mainstream recognition.

But, the way SBE is formatted doesn't allow for the same whooping it up from the fans because there's multiple pro tables in use at the same time.

Referees at Mosconi would hush the crowd when players were getting ready to shoot - can't do this at SBE.

I remember when they changed pro bowling, another sport where concentration is paramount, into what reminded me of a night club atmosphere with spinning lights, loud music and the crowds were encouraged to whoop it up. I recall these guys still seemed to be able to string strikes but I believe a year or two later they dialed the crazy atmosphere back a good bit for whatever reason.

I think if I had to decide one way or the other, I would have to go with allowing enthusiastic (but respectful) crowd participation. :)

best,
brian kc
Click to expand...
 
Shermanscs said:
What's wrong with a little fan noise?
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Was it "a little," a lot, or getting excessive? Of course, the line between them is subjective.

My feeling is that reasonable applause of great shots and cheering of amazing shots is fine and encouraged. I think it crosses the line when the cheering starts feeling more like a party in the audience. That's just one quiet person's opinion.
 
trob said:
Your comparing apples to oranges. If there was only one game going on then cheer a way in between shots. No one is screaming when a guy was down on a ball at the mosconi. They wait until after the shot. At the expo you had 15 matches going on in the same room at the same time. Little different in my opinion. Same with bowling. Everyone is silent until the ball is rolling down the lane..

Just add if you make noise when people are down on a shot at the mosconi. They threaten to throw you out.
Click to expand...

you must have missed where I wrote:

"But, the way SBE is formatted doesn't allow for the same whooping it up from the fans because there's multiple pro tables in use at the same time.

Referees at Mosconi would hush the crowd when players were getting ready to shoot - can't do this at SBE."

best,
brian kc
 
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