Sharing a Room (and other expenses) with a Professional Player

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
This is for the purpose of discussing the feasibility of helping the professionals with the costs of attending a tournament.

Several questions loom largely and I will list some of them along with a few statements.

I encourage the "think tank" of AZ Billiards to participate in the discussion even if you think it is a bad idea.

1. Is the idea of helping professional players reduce their expenses going to tournaments a waste of time and effort?

2. Would any of you share your hotel room with a professional player?

3. Would you share one of your rooms in your home with a professional player?

4. Would you consider doing this FREE of CHARGE? I'm not talking necessarily about money either. Professional players, at least some of them can bring other assets to the table.

5. What would it take for you to allow a professional player to stay in your home or hotel room? How could you determine the qualifications?

A few things about my own personal perspective:
My wife allows NO POOL PLAYERS or POOL SPECTATORS in our home. It's a personal thing and something that I grant her without hesitation. She has put up with my idiosyncrasies for a lot of years and it is the least I can do for her.

Some of you may have similar "special" problems that wouldn't allow you to accomodate players at your home but some wouldn't hesitate.

I'm just wondering if there are a few people in each city where tournaments are held that would be willing to invite a pool player into their home or hotel room to help them save on expenses.

If I were staying at a hotel and did not have a roomate to share a room with (to reduce my expenses) at the very least, I would consider sharing my room with a professional player who I knew well or whom someone could vouch for.

Maybe a confidential list could be maintained about players who have unanimous approval ratings from all members of the "Good Guy Network".

Should the Good Guy Network be something formal or simply a list of people who would like to help?

Should their be guidelines that professional players should have to abide by? If so what kind of guidelines. I have a few things in mind and number one on the list, would be no illegal drugs of any kind. Someone would have to vouch for them that I knew. That is numero uno. Another thing I guess is I would want to know if I would have to expect them to attempt to put a bite on me while they are there if they run out of money. I would want someone to vouch for that as well.

Another thing, if I am working doing commentary I really need my rest so it is difficult for me to justify sharing my room with another player not only because I need quality rest but because under some special circumstances I might have to share a room with another fellow worker.

The professional players often do not like to use their credit cards to reserve rooms or perhaps they may not have a credit card (plenty people don't own credit cards and that is perfectly understandable). This puts them at a disadvantage because they are reluctant to even go to a tournament if they aren't assured of having a room when they get there.

I have talked with some professional players and they would be happy to share in the expenses 50/50 or so I am told.

If you did not share the expenses for the hotel room 50/50, would you expect some type of compensation? (POOL LESSONS, HANG OUT WITH THEM, EAT WITH THEM, PRACTICE WITH THEM, BE A GROUPIE, EXPECT THEM TO BE YOUR FRIEND etc).

If a Good Guy Network was started, how would you qualify a good guy?

Also, how would you qualify a professional player to be able to participate in the Good Guy Network?

Do you have ideas for organizing such an entity?

I would be interested to hearing the pros and cons of this from people who are for or against this idea.

Thanks for your input regardless of whether you would participate in such a thing.

Thanks,

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
This is for the purpose of discussing the feasibility of helping the professionals with the costs of attending a tournament.

Several questions loom largely and I will list some of them along with a few statements.

I encourage the "think tank" of AZ Billiards to participate in the discussion even if you think it is a bad idea.

1. Is the idea of helping professional players reduce their expenses going to tournaments a waste of time and effort?

2. Would any of you share your hotel room with a professional player?

3. Would you share one of your rooms in your home with a professional player?

4. Would you consider doing this FREE of CHARGE? I'm not talking necessarily about money either. Professional players, at least some of them can bring other assets to the table.

5. What would it take for you to allow a professional player to stay in your home or hotel room? How could you determine the qualifications?

A few things about my own personal perspective:
My wife allows NO POOL PLAYERS or POOL SPECTATORS in our home. It's a personal thing and something that I grant her without hesitation. She has put up with my idiosyncrasies for a lot of years and it is the least I can do for her.

Some of you may have similar "special" problems that wouldn't allow you to accomodate players at your home but some wouldn't hesitate.

I'm just wondering if there are a few people in each city where tournaments are held that would be willing to invite a pool player into their home or hotel room to help them save on expenses.

If I were staying at a hotel and did not have a roomate to share a room with (to reduce my expenses) at the very least, I would consider sharing my room with a professional player who I knew well or whom someone could vouch for.

Maybe a confidential list could be maintained about players who have unanimous approval ratings from all members of the "Good Guy Network".

Should the Good Guy Network be something formal or simply a list of people who would like to help?

Should their be guidelines that professional players should have to abide by? If so what kind of guidelines. I have a few things in mind and number one on the list, would be no illegal drugs of any kind. Someone would have to vouch for them that I knew. That is numero uno. Another thing I guess is I would want to know if I would have to expect them to attempt to put a bite on me while they are there if they run out of money. I would want someone to vouch for that as well.

Another thing, if I am working doing commentary I really need my rest so it is difficult for me to justify sharing my room with another player not only because I need quality rest but because under some special circumstances I might have to share a room with another fellow worker.

The professional players often do not like to use their credit cards to reserve rooms or perhaps they may not have a credit card (plenty people don't own credit cards and that is perfectly understandable). This puts them at a disadvantage because they are reluctant to even go to a tournament if they aren't assured of having a room when they get there.

I have talked with some professional players and they would be happy to share in the expenses 50/50 or so I am told.

If you did not share the expenses for the hotel room 50/50, would you expect some type of compensation? (POOL LESSONS, HANG OUT WITH THEM, EAT WITH THEM, PRACTICE WITH THEM, BE A GROUPIE, EXPECT THEM TO BE YOUR FRIEND etc).

If a Good Guy Network was started, how would you qualify a good guy?

Also, how would you qualify a professional player to be able to participate in the Good Guy Network?

Do you have ideas for organizing such an entity?

I would be interested to hearing the pros and cons of this from people who are for or against this idea.

Thanks for your input regardless of whether you would participate in such a thing.

Thanks,

JoeyA
Click to expand...

Joey,

I guess I must be missing the point of your thread.

You say that YOUR home is off limits to "players or spectators"...I must assume, due to your wife's attitude toward them in general, that could be very understandable. (smart lady, how did she LEARN all THAT ?)

You also go into great detail, describing the necessary qualifications for you to even consider them sharing a room with you, at a tournament destination. The drug issue, I totally agree with. You've allready cut the field in half, or more.

To expect an action oriented player to keep "regular hours" is very unrealistic of you. You should know that by now.
Also, some may snore quite loud.

I admit, There exists a huge gap between the social graces, and the financial stabillity, of say Darren, Rolf, Thorsten, Nels, etc.... as opposed to some of the other "Pro's" who shall go un-named. (but most know who they are)

However that being said, I have, many times, opened my home, my hotel room, (and often my wallet) to these guy's on the lower end of the spectrum, and even a few of the high end guys.

Sure, I've had some dissapointments, and some aggrevation.(and, yes, even a few minor squabbles with wifey) But I have also made some life-long friends along the way, with NO life altering disasters....YET!

To expect a top notch young pool player, who may have the talent to make it to the top... to be a model of society, is, in my mind, very unrealistic. They may need (and will appreciate) some guidence. Most youngster's don't have a clue yet, nor even do a lot of the "oldster's".

I am sure your judge of character, will eliminate the "dumpers", druggies, and thieves.... out to purely take advantage of you.

Bottom line, either you hope for the best from them (which, in most cases you will get) or you simply blow them off !!!

I think your heart is in the right place in this "questionaire", but I do wonder if you've really given it enough thought before posting it the way you did ? I guess I'm saying...what is your point ???

Take them for what they are, or don't take them at all, is my mantra. (there are a-holes in all walks of life, live with it!):eek:

Dick
 
Last edited:
If jasmine ouschan ever needs a place to stay, id be more than willing to help out :thumbup:


Seriousely though, there are no big tourneys around me so the house thing wouldnt be feasible. and when i travel the wifey likes to come too, so the road thing is off too.


I think its a good idea though
 
Joey and Dick both make excellent points

I think the basic idea is a good one. I also would strongly advise anyone against putting their family at risk to help a stranger. Many of us learned that on another forum. The actions of one man closed many doors, now none of us is willing to take any chance where our families are concerned even if it is one in thousands or millions. This closed many doors to me personally and I fully understand the people's decisions.

However, that does leave when we are traveling to big events and have spare room. Here is where discretion and judgment come in. Just like I am more free to pick up someone on the side of the road that needs help when my family isn't with me, I am more free to help players when I am alone. One consideration, if players and patrons both filled out simple surveys of their experience we could rapidly build up a database to check to decide if we want to try to help certain players or not.

I have to agree that we are likely to have some inconveniences. The players have to keep the hours they need to keep, both for competition and action. The patron may not be a good match for the player either. However we could sort out who fits where fairly fast.

My two issues are drugs and theft. Any illegal drugs and I'll sling somebody out in a heartbeat. Likewise if I find my things have been rifled. After that it is little things. When a person comes in at three AM are they loud or do they ease in and make an effort not to disturb the person they are rooming with?

I think this could work and be a real help to the players. I also think that it would make the trip much more enjoyable for the "patrons" that help the players. By the nature of things it would start small and grow if it worked. I would enjoy having some players room with me, others I would be shy of. With a little common sense on both sides this could work I believe.

Hu
 
Last edited:
Perhaps this type of sharing like homes, food, family & friends may not be the right fit for some folks. Wouldn't contributing to a central "bank" that would disburse funds for the Pro's expenses. the bank would have a board of directors that would set the criteria as to who would be eligible for which expense.

This needs more work, of course, but I'm just setting out a different approach to solve the same problem.
 
My view of this is very simple. If the guy has a bankroll to gamble with, then he has enough money to get his own room. If not, he should stay home until he has saved enough money (even by working, GASP!) to support himself on the trip.

If he has a backer staking him, then he is the backer's dependent.

There is little reason to hand out charity to a "pro" pool player and much less reason to risk yourself by doing so. Even if he is a "good" egg, there is no guarantee his associates are. In fact, it is a pretty sure bet they are not and you will wind up regretting exposing yourself if you have more to lose than he does/they do.

TxSkin
 
Last edited:
Fatboy can stay at my house when he comes to Houston and drive my cars, if I get to stay at his house when I'm in Las Vegas and get to drive his cars.

Do we have a deal Eric? :smile:
 
The reaility of the situation is in alot of cases you might have to sleep with your bankroll in your pocket, unless your mad at your $$$$, And thats not a good spot to be in.


Let nature take its course, water finds its own level and people will find their own way in life, nuff said!!!
 
I can't say I would offer it to someone I don't know....

If I knew the person, I would invite them into my home. I offered both to you Joey and to Jamie Ferrel to come visit and stay at my house, and any of the pros that I know personally would have the same opportunity. I would split a hotel with someone as long as I personally knew someone that would completely vouch for them. Otherwise probably not.

I don't know this is a tricky situation.

Jaden...

I'll think about it some more and see what I really think...
 
Rule #1 - I am selective about who I help out.

I've helped people out and I've had no problems... I've helped people out and lived to regret it. The chit flows up and downstream if you ask me, you just have to be selective with who you help out. Also, when I help out, I just expect the favor in return, not the money. That means that if I get the room this time, you hit me back the next time, and vice versa. Not hunting them down for the money keeps the blood pressure down. If you're extremely selective in whom you help out, you're not likely to get burned.

Rule #2 - I take responsibility for my own finances.

Personally, if I cannot afford to go to any event, I stay home. I have personally slept in the back seat of my car, the back of my pick up, hotel lobbies, in a booth at Denny's, etc. That builds character and makes you appreciate where the cash goes when you finally get some in your own pocket. Some never learn that lesson, and that is why I still follow Rule #1 when Rule #2 isn't working out so well.

As far as helping people out when they come to town - sure. I have a couch they can sleep on. It ain't the Holiday Inn, but its free.
 
TxSkin said:
My view of this is very simple. If the guy has a bankroll to gamble with, then he has enough money to get his own room. If not, he should stay home until he has saved enough money (even by working, GASP!) to support himself on the trip.

If he has a backer staking him, then he is the backer's dependent.

There is little reason to hand out charity to a "pro" pool player and much less reason to risk yourself by doing so. Even if he is a "good" egg, there is no guarantee his associates are. In fact, it is a pretty sure bet they are not and you will wind up regretting exposing yourself if you have more to lose than he does/they do.

TxSkin
Click to expand...

Some very good observations Skin...where were you, when I needed you ???
 
Blackjack said:
Rule #1 - I am selective about who I help out.

I've helped people out and I've had no problems... I've helped people out and lived to regret it. The chit flows up and downstream if you ask me, you just have to be selective with who you help out. Also, when I help out, I just expect the favor in return, not the money. That means that if I get the room this time, you hit me back the next time, and vice versa. Not hunting them down for the money keeps the blood pressure down. If you're extremely selective in whom you help out, you're not likely to get burned.

Rule #2 - I take responsibility for my own finances.

Personally, if I cannot afford to go to any event, I stay home. I have personally slept in the back seat of my car, the back of my pick up, hotel lobbies, in a booth at Denny's, etc. That builds character and makes you appreciate where the cash goes when you finally get some in your own pocket. Some never learn that lesson, and that is why I still follow Rule #1 when Rule #2 isn't working out so well.

As far as helping people out when they come to town - sure. I have a couch they can sleep on. It ain't the Holiday Inn, but its free.
Click to expand...

A great sensible post Dave.... Now, please share with us, your "win-loss" record. (re; helping out pool players) I promise you, I will not turn you into the IRS, for claiming too many dependants, :grin:
 
Last edited:
For the most part(IMO about 80% of the time) sharing anything of monetary value with someone who strictly plays pool for a living I.e. Professionally is a grave monetary error and overall poor investment. However I happen to be friends with a few of these guys and will stop at nothing to help a friend so therefore I usually wind up on the dumb side of this scenario. I have spent the last 15+ years around pro pool players and have learned my lesson and will not be helping any more of them without something almost gauranteed in return call it what you will but I can't help feeling that way...
 
not looking at necessarily paying out any money

JesseBfan said:
For the most part(IMO about 80% of the time) sharing anything of monetary value with someone who strictly plays pool for a living I.e. Professionally is a grave monetary error and overall poor investment. However I happen to be friends with a few of these guys and will stop at nothing to help a friend so therefore I usually wind up on the dumb side of this scenario. I have spent the last 15+ years around pro pool players and have learned my lesson and will not be helping any more of them without something almost gauranteed in return call it what you will but I can't help feeling that way...
Click to expand...


Not necessarily looking at paying out money. Just as an example, one place I stayed at charged an additional $7.50 upcharge for two people staying in my room instead of one. While a pro player can't rent a room for $7.50 a night, I have recovered all of the additional cost to me if I have the player pay that $7.50. If I have them pay $20.00 a night I am actually seeing a savings over what it would have cost me to stay there alone. If I was cutting corners myself the motel breakfast and that $12.50 would cover two meals a day and I would be paying for only one.

Somewhat like when Purdman backed Schmidt in the US Open, this type of deal could benefit both parties. I do think there are many pro players out there that would appreciate the assistance and not crap in their own nest. I'm also sure that there are a few that would so a little judgment is called for. The basic idea is for the patron to either be out of pocket a little or save a little money, their choice, while benefitting pool.

As SunnyDay said so well in another thread, after expenses there are few players making money at most events. If we can increase the field at events while helping nurture deserving players then all of pool benefits. There isn't a whole lot in it for the patrons other than probably making a few friends and enjoying the events more because they have a much stronger rooting interest but these things are pretty large in themselves.

Hu
 
1. Is the idea of helping professional players reduce their expenses going to tournaments a waste of time and effort? I don't think so. If you believe in something or someone it is never a waste of time or effort imo

2. Would any of you share your hotel room with a professional player? Yea sure why not. I'm planning on hitting the DCC this coming January and wouldn't mind sharing a room considering I'll be there to take naps and showers.

3. Would you share one of your rooms in your home with a professional player? Same answer, but there would be obvious rules to that one. A level of trust would need to be obtained before that could happen.

4. Would you consider doing this FREE of CHARGE? I'm not talking necessarily about money either. Professional players, at least some of them can bring other assets to the table. If they needed the help and I wasn't already sharing the room with someone else (if I was they would also have input) I wouldn't mind considering that it was being paid for either way.

5. What would it take for you to allow a professional player to stay in your home or hotel room? How could you determine the qualifications? For hotel room there really wouldn't be much of a qualification. For my home I would have to know them, or get to know them. Certainly no parties at the house, or drugs being brought into the house.
 
Over night stay for a traveling pool player!

Well, the way I look at it I've never met a stranger if they where fellow pool players. When I lived in Texarkana,Tx. I had at least two dozen pool players stay for the weekend over the yrs. at my place, whether looking for action or the tournament's my brother and I would be having or they may have just been traveling thru to Dallas or Memphis and needed a nights rest.

I remember one weekend we had a tournament in Texarkana, I had Scotty Townsend, Jack Hynes, Brady from Shreveport along with Jimmy Mayfield, and Chad from Monroe,La., staying at my house, we all had a very good time, talked pool for hours on end and watched many pool videos I had, ...didn't charge them a quarter, but they all did send for pizza & beer regularly.

Have had dozen of pool players crash at the house, I really enjoy them coming by and giving up all the road news..


I now live in Arkadelphia,Ar. ( 70 miles from Texarkana & 80 miles from Little Rock) just off I-30 . I built me a new house two years ago and have a spare bed room and a few couchs one or two players could crash for the night if they were goin to or from Dallas /Memphis and just didn't want to make the long drive straight thru, wouldn't be a problem at all , I'm way out in the country, so may be a good place to relax.


If and when you get a list of those willing to participate/accommodate pool players, I will gladlly let them stay free of charge to help them out for a night. I know how it is on the road or going to a tournament , gotta save every dollar this day and time.

I'm not only a good pool player , I'm a great cook, so they may get a good home cooked meal too.

Joey, just P.M me if and when you get this all set up, and I will give you my address and phone #.


David Harcrow
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top