For the past few years everyone has been witness to the closing of several poolrooms nationwide, along with many smaller tournaments dying slow but certain deaths.
I do not know all the reasons why weekly tournaments die off, but the biggest factor IMO is the fact that people simply stop showing up.
I know there are many reasons why people get sour on tournaments. They either:
...and on and on. My reason for this post is to suggest that if you want to keep your local rooms in business, especially the ones that do not serve alcohol or have poker machines, then show up for the smaller tournaments, or encourage the rooms to have them!
Too many times I have heard players complain that they stopped going to a tournament because no one shows up!
Well, it is hard to have a tournament if no one is there...but the catch-22 is that if everyone thinks no one else will show, then, well...you guessed it!
I think some of us should try a little harder to provide patronage to our local rooms. Even if you show up three weeks in a row and there aren't enough people keep trying or tell your buddies and get the word out.
I hear people say all the time, "Well, I don't go there because the place is always dead." Well gee, if everyone felt that way of course the place will be dead!
Everyone wants tournaments these days, but people won't show up because there aren't enough people and the prize money isn't enough. Well, I'm sorry, but if you're playing in a weeky tournament because of the money then perhaps you should re-evaluate your financial position...
And please stop complaining about there not being added money, or enough added money in a tournament. Everyone is struggling, including room owners!
The US Open 9-ball championship, arguably the most difficult tournament in the world, only has a 1st. place of $40,000, and I don't ever remember hearing of a pro stating they refuse to play because Barry Behrman is not paying out enough!
So bottom line, you want to play in a tournament, then show up for it. If 16 people showed up every week, then guess what, you've got a regular weekly tourney on your hands.
I think the saying goes: The world is run by those who show up.
So let's apply that to our local rooms and start being present.
Thanks for reading.
Shoot straight and play hard (unless you have to massé and need a kill-shot!)
I do not know all the reasons why weekly tournaments die off, but the biggest factor IMO is the fact that people simply stop showing up.
I know there are many reasons why people get sour on tournaments. They either:
- never win
- can't afford to play every week
- don't like the owner
- don't like the room / equipment
- the location has gotten worse (more dangerous)
- the commute has become a hassle
- don't like the payouts
- don't like the handicapped system, if one exists
- personal reasons (family, health, etc.)
...and on and on. My reason for this post is to suggest that if you want to keep your local rooms in business, especially the ones that do not serve alcohol or have poker machines, then show up for the smaller tournaments, or encourage the rooms to have them!
Too many times I have heard players complain that they stopped going to a tournament because no one shows up!
Well, it is hard to have a tournament if no one is there...but the catch-22 is that if everyone thinks no one else will show, then, well...you guessed it!
I think some of us should try a little harder to provide patronage to our local rooms. Even if you show up three weeks in a row and there aren't enough people keep trying or tell your buddies and get the word out.
I hear people say all the time, "Well, I don't go there because the place is always dead." Well gee, if everyone felt that way of course the place will be dead!
Everyone wants tournaments these days, but people won't show up because there aren't enough people and the prize money isn't enough. Well, I'm sorry, but if you're playing in a weeky tournament because of the money then perhaps you should re-evaluate your financial position...
And please stop complaining about there not being added money, or enough added money in a tournament. Everyone is struggling, including room owners!
The US Open 9-ball championship, arguably the most difficult tournament in the world, only has a 1st. place of $40,000, and I don't ever remember hearing of a pro stating they refuse to play because Barry Behrman is not paying out enough!
So bottom line, you want to play in a tournament, then show up for it. If 16 people showed up every week, then guess what, you've got a regular weekly tourney on your hands.
I think the saying goes: The world is run by those who show up.
So let's apply that to our local rooms and start being present.
Thanks for reading.
Shoot straight and play hard (unless you have to massé and need a kill-shot!)
