Here is what happened as I see it with the BCA. I was a member many years. I set up at every trade show during the years 1991 through 2001. The BCA was basically a trade organization as it should be in the early days. Then they started doing things that competed in business with their own members, like starting leagues, running tournaments and such. Which alienated members. As long as Frank Zdy ran the trade show, I considered it a good show. I made $$ at the show. Then the BCA decided everyone would have to be minimum associate member to exhibit. This meant extra $500 for those with two booths or less and $1000 membership fees to those with more than two booths. This was done simply to make the trade show more profitable for the BCA. And it just penalized the small guys. The large companies could not get more than two booths without being full voting member anyway. So we had to pay $500 more for a booth. Next year they fired Zdy. Then we started getting hit with huge union fees to move a cart in and out of the trade show. Under Zdy that might be $25. Under the new guys that would be about $400. Then they came up with this lame brained idea to put their show right on top of the Super Billiards expo. I guess they thought they would force people to choose one show over the other and that they would be the majorities choice and eliminate the show competition. I am only guessing motives here.
Well half their plan worked and it made buyers choose which show the attend instead of going to both like they did when they were 4 months apart. But in choosing some chose one and others chose the other and both shows got watered down.
This year they are going back to a summer BCA show. We will see if it helps both shows or is the damage permanent. Somehwere along the line the BCA lost its vision to promote pool and be a business trade organization and self proclaimed itself the governing body of pool, and started trying to make itself profitable. I noticed most major moves in the last 10 years have been what was best for the BCA and not for the members. They made it expensive to get in the trade show which reduced buyers. Retailers complained pool room owners had access to the show and hurt their table sales. So they start labeling everyones badge with what type of business they were in. That was fine. But it seemed to me like I was dealing with a large corporation that could care a less about the smaller business members.
What can they do to improve was the question?? I have spent enough time telling what I think is wrong with the BCA. The first thing they needed to do has already been done. They moved the show back to summer. I think July would have been better than June, but it is a good start. I think they need to keep the badge indentifications of types of businesses for pricing of those who choose to wholesale differently to different types of business. But I think they need to loosen up on the rules for getting into the show and they need to lower the fees for non members to get in or lower the membership fees.
The trade show is the back bone of the BCA. It should be run in a way to create buyers instead of profit for the BCA.
Second and I think they may have improved in this area already. They need to not run any leagues or tournaments or any competing businesses. They need to focus on being the business trade organization they were designed to be. They are supposed to be the Chamber of Commerce of billiards. They need to sanction and bump up the pot on other well run tournaments instead of running their own. Maybe I am wrong on some of these items as I only know what was happening when I was a member. My data may be out dated so don't take everything I have said to the bank.
I would just say to the board of directors, look out for ALL of your members and worry less about the BCA's power and bank account.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
