State of the Billiards Industry - A Discussion

"Johnson said restructuring with Meeting Expectations will allow the BCA to become more responsive to the membership’s desire for marketing-enhanced services such as information on consumer attitudes and opinions relative to the billiard industry, trends within the industry, business improvement tips and seminars, and consumer marketing programs."

Translation: We don't know what the hell our membership wants, let's throw some money at these guys and maybe they will tell us.

This is what you can start with Mike. Tell the BCA to start asking their members what they really want. We don't need more studies telling us that 36.38467 million people play pool. First fix the trade show so that it SERVES the majority of the membership. The refocus on building particiption and growing more pool players.
 
My thoughts....

MikeJanis said:
Njhustler1, I appreciate your response but I am trying to focus on and stay on one topic at the moment.

Without doing away with the current BCA, which is something that most likely wont happen in the near future. The question is: What could they, the BCA do to make the exhisting trade show and members benefits better or add it, to to want someone in your capacity to regulary attend the trade shows and be a member ?

Simply put, What do you need from them to make it attractive to you and your bottom line to want to be an active BCA member ?
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Mike,
Since I am not a business owner in the billiards industry, but an avid player(which holds both management and marketing degrees) I will still add my thoughts.

To start off from a small pool room owner or billiard store you must have flow of business. Where do you get flow of business? You get it from interest of said sport. i.e. (players) How do you get people interested in playing pool. Well there are various ways to get people into playing pool. Television advertising, billiard programing on TV, sponsorship of tournaments, league activities, billiard schools, ect. Now once people start becoming interested in billiards then they become curious for ways of improving there game i.e.(gadgets, gizmos, equiptment, ect.). This where the smaller businesses become interested in purchasing said products at a trade show.

Now the bigger manufacturers of product will never see business gains without the same influxes to the sport that the smaller businesses need to survive. Basically in the billiard industry it is the players feeding the small pool rooms and vendors which than turn around and feed the manufacturers.

Well how do you get all this. Create mass interest.

The BCA trade show relies on old money. I believe they think that they(the BCA organization) are the only game in town. Sadly they are not. There are many ways to get product for any form of billiards with or without the BCA endorsements. If the BCA wants to have a profiting organization or trade show they must work for it.

Now I will ask you this. What has the BCA done to drive interest of the game of billiards? What major tours are they promoting by adding monetary prizes? What billiard TV programming are they supporting?

Now just because the BCA is a recognized name does not mean that their billiard support is by applying their brand name to it.


Do some research into the PGA Mike. There business model is one that should be copied when it comes to sports businesses on a mass scale. Not only does the PGA support there game, but they support their players, the venues, the vendors, the products, and the viewers. They advertise, promote and help get televised coverage of the events. BASICALLY IN A NUTSHELL THEY HAVE CREATED A MASS INTEREST IN THE GAME AND EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE GAME. This is why the PGA will continue to thrive for many years to come.
 
JAM said:
Well, the BCA mission is this: Enhance the success of our members and promote the game of billiards.

Here is the BCA's vision: Achieve a united, growing, prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry through BCA leadership.

http://www.bca-pool.com/aboutus/

If there is dissention among the troops, who's gonna step up to the plate and take their place?

JAM
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Jam Said:
The BCA mission is this: Enhance the success of our members and promote the game of billiards.
Here is the BCA's vision: Achieve a united, growing, prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry through BCA leadership

Hello Jam, I suspect that the BCA needs to change its mission statement. I think that the BCA's mission statement should say(To promote the success of themselves as the Governing body of pool and billiards with little if any true support that will enhance the promotion of pool and billiards to the next generation of pool / billiards players)

I think there vision statement should say(To enhance the success of it's leadership through promotion of interests designed to line their pockets, through kick backs from LARGE Billiard wholesalers both on and off the American Shores.)

As for who is going to step up to the plate, this is the best question yet, and I do not have an answer for that would suit everyones needs, but lets face it the BCA is a DEFUNCT organization that really only serves one purpose outside of self promotion, and that is to control admittance into the Hall of Fame. This could be changed in a very democratic way, all pool room owners would get a single vote for the nomination of people worthy, and another vote for who they would want admitted. The votes could be tallied by an organization that is dis-interested in the out come and the winner would be inducted. The current process is too political and and one sided, and really is the only thing the BCA accomplishes throughout any given year.

Have a nice night!!!
 
According to the BCA's website "We'd love to hear from you!"

From the BCA's Web Site http://www.bca-pool.com/aboutus/

How can we help your play, your business and your enjoyment of the great game of billiards? Here's your direct line to CEO Rob Johnson rob@bca-pool.com, our board of directors and our staff. We'd love to hear from you! Just click on "Staff & Board" on the left side of the screen or call 719.264.8300 today!
 
If you get some free time, I suggest that everyone that has an interest in helping to make the BCA better for our community send a message to rob@bca-pool.com.

Please do this so we can show the powers in place how effective a grass roots campaign can be if effectively mobilized.

Below is the one I sent


Subject: RE: State of the Billiards Industry - A Discussion

To: rob@bca-pool.com

Mr. Johnson, please consider taking a few moments of your time to read over several posts that have been made on the AZBilliards discussion forum regarding the BCA.

This is a link to where the discussion starts. http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=55322 I hope you can take some time to offer any input in the forum that you can.

Thank you for your time.
 
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the BCA should promote its members to the public

I don't think that the BCA should allow people of the street to pay an addmission fee and comw into the trade show. How can I as a billiards retailer sell my wares to the general public at a reasonable profit if they can attend the trade show and purchase these products at or near the cost that I pay for them.

I have no problem competeing against other billiard retailers, be they poolhalls, instructors, tours or brick and morter table and cue dealers, but allowing the general public private purchase information will be devistating for the industry.

Secondly the BCA could promote billiards education by running comercials for instruction from BCA instructors/schools, attracting new players and showing their governorship over the sport at a grass roots level. I also do not believe that they should be running pool leagues, halls, or tours of their own but should promote members who's businesses are to run such things, with appropriate advertising.

Another major issue that the BCA needs to address is the fact that they have certified instructors and referee's but nothing is done for billiards mechanics without whom none of the others would have a field on which to apply their trades(pun intended). Auto mechanics have certifications they have to pass inorder to be nationally recognized, yes you can take you car to a shadetree mechanic but buyer beware. Proper setup and maintenance of pool tables is of vital importance to the industry as everyone esle in the industry is reliant upon this.

Mike I think you would agree that it would be quite difficult to run your tournaments on improperly setup or poorly maintained equipment, yet this has been overlooked for years by the BCA.

I think the idea of a commercial during the super bowl or say march madness, from the BCA showing tables, cues, table repairs, refereeing and instructors teaching along with people playing and enjoying the game in leagues and tournaments and ending with a website (for instance BCA.COM) would go a great distance to attracting people into the sport and industry. After attracting people to the website it could be broken down like an umbrella, for example clicking on the icon for cues would take you to a list of all BCA cuemakers with a brief description of each company and a further choice from their would allow you to find the closest retailer for the cue of choice.

In doing this the BCA would be better serving their membership by promoting them to the general public and allowing the members to gather at the tradeshow to purchase products from each other to sell to the public!

Bern
 
MikeJanis said:
If you get some free time, I suggest that everyone that has an interest in helping to make the BCA better for our community send a message to rob@bca-pool.com.

Please do this so we can show the powers in place how effective a grass roots campaign can be if effectively mobilized.

Below is the one I sent


Subject: RE: State of the Billiards Industry - A Discussion

To: rob@bca-pool.com

Mr. Johnson, please consider taking a few moments of your time to read over several posts that have been made on the AZBilliards discussion forum regarding the BCA.

This is a link to where the discussion starts. http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=55322 I hope you can take some time to offer any input in the forum that you can.

Thank you for your time.
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LMAO! I like your style, Mike!

Here's mine:
Dear Rob,
I don't know how long you've been around but your organization sucks. Y'all don't know crap about pool. I went to a trade show once and Nick Varner was in the entry way trying to get in and the girl at the counter didn't know who the hell he was. I'm still waiting on my trip to World Championships when it seemed you couldn't reach me or leave a message on my phone. I think we should boycott the BCA and start a new organization that will support pro pool. Either that or hire Don Mackey and Kevin Trudeau to run it into the ground. I'm still waiting on that PBTA money too. Ya'll've been mighty helpfull to all of us. Good riddance.

unknownpro (thanks to your support)
 
unknownpro said:
LMAO! I like your style, Mike!

Here's mine:
Dear Rob,
I don't know how long you've been around but your organization sucks. Y'all don't know crap about pool. I went to a trade show once and Nick Varner was in the entry way trying to get in and the girl at the counter didn't know who the hell he was. I'm still waiting on my trip to World Championships when it seemed you couldn't reach me or leave a message on my phone. I think we should boycott the BCA and start a new organization that will support pro pool. Either that or hire Don Mackey and Kevin Trudeau to run it into the ground. I'm still waiting on that PBTA money too. Ya'll've been mighty helpfull to all of us. Good riddance.

unknownpro (thanks to your support)
Click to expand...

That's not exactly the good will gesture I was looking for but to each his own.

Hopefully, no matter what emails get sent they will stand up, pay attention and give better results so we can all benefit from what they could offer everyone.

unknownpro, instead of bashing and telling them what has been done wrong in the past you could offer some examples on how you could better be served in the future. Please tell everyone what you think an organization with the potential capabilities of the BCA should offer.

Mj
 
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MikeJanis said:
Bump...............
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Mike, I havent read the whole thread but I was considering posting something similar but more towards the pro Tour angle. I don't want to side track your thread but do you think this is also worth debating here, is it the BCAs responsibility to organize a US Pro Tour?

I was also reluctant because I didn't want to stir up trouble for Mark as I think he's a good pool guy.
 
TheOne said:
Mike, I havent read the whole thread but I was considering posting something similar but more towards the pro Tour angle. I don't want to side track your thread but do you think this is also worth debating here, is it the BCAs responsibility to organize a US Pro Tour?

I was also reluctant because I didn't want to stir up trouble for Mark as I think he's a good pool guy.
Click to expand...


If you think it's something worth discussing then by all means please post your comments.
 
Snap9 said:
Mike,




Do some research into the PGA Mike. There business model is one that should be copied when it comes to sports businesses on a mass scale. Not only does the PGA support there game, but they support their players, the venues, the vendors, the products, and the viewers. They advertise, promote and help get televised coverage of the events. BASICALLY IN A NUTSHELL THEY HAVE CREATED A MASS INTEREST IN THE GAME AND EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE GAME. This is why the PGA will continue to thrive for many years to come.
Click to expand...

Actually, I think pool could learn from some of the problems in golf, as well as some of the strengths. Right now, golf has some very big problems in the US, but is becoming more popular around the world. In that regard there may be some similarities.

First of all, the PGA Tour is not the governing body of golf. The USGA is in the US, and the R&A is in the rest of the world. These entities work together pretty well on rules and such. The USGA was started by member clubs a long time ago. The PGA is not the PGA Tour and is the trade organization for club professionals. These guys run courses and clubs and teach. It is a very good organization. The PGA Tour at one time was connected with the PGA but started to break off in the '70's or so I think. Late '70's or early '80's Deane Beman changed the structure of the enterprise, breaking off and getting some major tax advantages. (The organizations still have some agreements/cooperation, etc...I think) This put a lot of money in players' pockets. None of the majors are run by the PGA Tour. But you notice how PGA Tour players can play in the 4 majors? The organizations work together to limit petty disputes I think.

I do not think the Tour created interest in golf itself. However, having golf well covered and played at an amazing level on TV all the time helped. But the tour can and will be hurt by declining interest. And right now there is stagnant or declining interest in golf in the US. For every
plyer that starts out, golf loses a player. Interest in the Tour is declining I think. TV ratings are down, the new TV contract isn't as great IMO, and some sponsors are leaving. Recently the Tour lost a tournament scheduled for THIS year, something that I never imagined happening. I also think there are a lot of people who would disagree with whether the Tour supports its venues and such. The people in Washington and Chicago might not, given what has happened with those tournaments. And the people in San Francisco have been having some difficulties regarding Harding Park and their agreement with the Tour. That one I think worked out. IOW, things are not at all perfect right now.

I think a lot of the problems in golf stem from the failures of the USGA. The USGA as the governing body did not do some things that, IMO, needed to be done. For golf to be popular it needs to be affordable and accessible. Golf is getting less affordable in many places, and people want things to play that cost a lot. And time is money and golf just takes too long. A small part of the reason why is the steady diet of slow stroke play people see on television. In this regard the professional game has hurt the game tremendously. People think it is OK to take a lot of time agonizing over shots. So golf takes longer. Golf is meant to be played in 3 hours or less on foot. Now people go out in buggies and take forever to play. Usually 4 hours or more. And new courses are designed around the new balls that go too far for professional players, so they take forever to play.

Some of the blame is on players who want excessively manicured courses with buggies to ride around in. Just building a cart path costs a fortune and adds to green fees at a new course. Why make the game more expensive when a cart path has no place on the course to begin with?

If golf is only played at expensive clubs or expensive public courses, and rounds take over half a day to play, many people won't play. That is happening now. It needs to be fixed and probably won't be. Granted, in many areas the real estate is so expensive that prices will be high.

The problems in golf should be looked at, because they are there. However, I agree that golf is ahead of pool in terms of tis popularity and stability. Pool should learn from the good stuff in golf, like how the sport is regulated and run, but the problems in those areas are also good information.
 
It's tough to compare pool to golf, or frankly any other sport, as far as drawing spectators in - simply because, as far as live events, being a spectator right there, pool simply can't *have* as many spectators.

With golf - there can be a ton of people lining each hole, moving around from hole to hole, etc. Tennis, it's played in decently sized arenas with lots of seating. I could go on and on with sports and the venues they play in.

With pool - you have to be *so close* to the table to really see what's going on. The "nosebleed" seats at a pool tournament really aren't very far away in the grand scheme of things. You can only seat so many folks within a decent visual range.

This issue could be alleviated somewhat with a good A/V system - with huge flatscreens set up around, and a good cameraman capturing the action and having that video piped live to the screens. But that's still not the same as sitting near the table and watching *everything* going on.
 
As I previously stated, I wanted this thread to be constructive.

Below is a quick compilation of ideas and what I believe to be viable suggestions from the raw material in the previous posts on this thread that could lead to something constructive.


From post#
"quote"

MikeJanis #1
"1. Find a way to help the smaller companies grow and become more interested in supporting the BCA and the Trade Show.
* Offer the Group Health Care benefits again. This is HUGE to the small companies.
*Find a way to attract and make it cost effective to new product makers so they become BCA members and show their products at the trade show (Offer them a discount on booth space or a discounted membership fee if they show their products at the trade show).
* Get the smaller pool room and pro-shop owners there. Offer them discounts that they can only get at the trade show. Entice them by having a tournament only for them or a pro event to watch while they are there."


Njhustler1 #4
" If they wanted to promote, they would sponsor more high school and college leagues and tournaments and things of that nature"

Pete Lafond #13
""Unify" is key in making players feel part of something strong, no matter where they play"

Njhustler1 #14
"investing all those funds, brains, and efforts into something like the Billiard Education Foundation."

Blackjack #27
"They should be the body that is established to protect and legally assist the players in situations like what happened with the IPT."

rlw #37
"The image of pool needs to be changed!! The average person that is not connected to pool in any way, shape or form has a very low opinion of pool rooms and pool player's. Until the BCA can start to address that problem there's not much that they can do for the vendor's."

Mike Janis #39
"I would suggest to the BCA that they spend some of their membership dollars on television commercials that lets the public know more about the leagues, tours and business of their members"

John Barton #41
"First fix the trade show so that it SERVES the majority of the membership. Then refocus on building particiption and growing more pool players."

Big Bad Bern #46
"the BCA could promote billiards education by running comercials for instruction from BCA instructors/schools, attracting new players and showing their governorship over the sport at a grass roots level. I also do not believe that they should be running pool leagues, halls, or tours of their own but should promote members who's businesses are to run such things, with appropriate advertising."

Big Bad Bern #46
"Another major issue that the BCA needs to address is the fact that they have certified instructors and referee's but nothing is done for billiards mechanics without whom none of the others would have a field on which to apply their trades"

Big Bad Bern #46
"I think the idea of a commercial during the super bowl or say march madness, from the BCA showing tables, cues, table repairs, refereeing and instructors teaching along with people playing and enjoying the game in leagues and tournaments and ending with a website (for instance BCA.COM) would go a great distance to attracting people into the sport and industry."


ADDITIONALLY, I SUGGEST THAT ALL BILLIARD RELATED COMPANIES BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BCA
If you own a Pool Room a Pro-Shop or any billiard related company I suggest that you Support Your Sport !

Below is from the BCA's website http://www.bca-pool.com/industry/membership

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES & DESCRIPTIONS
Member Dues* Description
*Voting $1000 Open to all business categories. Voting members may cast a full vote on board of director positions and industry issues. Also entitles member to run for a position on the board of directors. Voting members may rent unlimited booth spaces at BCA Trade Shows.
*Associate $500 Open to all business categories. Entitles member to a 1/2 vote on board positions and industry issues. Associate members may rent a limited number of booth spaces at BCA Trade Shows.
*Retail $200 Open to billiard and sporting industry retailers only. Retail members vote for two board member representatives and may run as a Retail Representative in board elections.
*Room Operator $150 Open to billiard rooms, clubs & centers only. Room Operator members vote for two board member representatives and may run as a Room Operator Representative in board elections.
*Affiliate $150 Non-billiard businesses and industry publications wishing to have an affiliation with the BCA.
*Non-Profit Rec Centers $60 College, University, Municipal, Senior Citizen, Military and Youth agency centers.


I will be sending in my application today (http://www.bca-pool.com/industry/membership/application.shtml) and I hope many others will to.
Together, we can help to make a difference in the future of our sport!

Mj
 
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Good work Mike...

Now if we can only get the "important" people to view this. :rolleyes:

My thoughts... Id like to see the BCA's Tourney or League Championships at the same Venue, different Ball Room. Up stairs, down the hall but near by. Let the Industry feel the Industry, have the last day for EVERYONE. Mom n pop's, retailers, pool players and Public. If that means the retailers and Manufacturers should put some prod. "away" sort of speak, then lets try it.

There needs to be more traffic at the show, produce it, find it, advertise and most important of all, make it a Universal date. The things that people need to understand is that the Manufacturers of the Industry need to make product and make it avail. for the busy season. The issue with the early date is, its still the busy season for a lot of people. A modern day catch 22.
 
This Only Proves BCA Wants to Be a Business Org

pooltchr said:
Mike,
Based on the press release last week, it seems the BCA is restructuring and redefining their focus. I guess we will have to see what develops.

Billiard Congress To Change Management Structure, Move Offices
Colorado Springs, Colorado: The Billiard Congress of America (BCA), the industry trade association for the billiards equipment and establishment sectors, will partner with Atlanta-based Meeting Expectations, a strategic consulting firm specializing in providing services to national trade associations. The BCA’s International Billiard & Home Recreation Trade Show (set for Las Vegas in June) highlights innovation in billiards, including pool tables and supplies for home recreation use as well as commercial billiard enterprises.

Meeting Expectations will provide membership, marketing, financial, IT and administrative services to the BCA. The contract with the firm begins in March, as the BCA reduces staff.

“Our membership has clearly stated a desire for the BCA to emphasize enhanced marketing, research, and strategic business improvement services, and we believe the best way to meet such needs is through a partnership with a seasoned organization such as Meeting Expectations,” said BCA CEO Rob Johnson.

Johnson also announced that the BCA will relocate its national office to Denver in May, citing the convenience of the Denver International Airport for regular meetings of the BCA national directors.

"Our goal is twofold; increasing efficiency and exceeding the expectations of the BCA’s members," said Brian Meyer, president of Meeting Expectations. “This partnership will enable the board to focus on providing guidance to the organization in order to ensure improved member satisfaction through marketing-oriented services. We will also assist the BCA with strategic planning by sharing the best practices we've developed through our years of experience in the association management field."

Johnson said restructuring with Meeting Expectations will allow the BCA to become more responsive to the membership’s desire for marketing-enhanced services such as information on consumer attitudes and opinions relative to the billiard industry, trends within the industry, business improvement tips and seminars, and consumer marketing programs.

By Press Release - February 16, 2007
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So I guess, pool players have to find another pool governing body.
 
crosseyedjoe said:
So I guess, pool players have to find another pool governing body.
Click to expand...


crosseyedjoe, I didn't read anything in that press release that suggests that.

IMO, just as the BCA now gives grants/funding to the BEF (Billiards Education Foundation) as mentioned in paragraph 5 in this link http://azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=4095 and possibly other organization that I am not aware of and possibly in a way that they help to promote their league member business, as seen at this link http://www.bca-pool.com/play/leagues/about.shtml. I would expect that the BCA would provide similar support for a future tour for the players just as they do at this link http://www.bca-pool.com/play/ and here http://www.bca-pool.com/industry/ click on BUSINESS LINKS to the left the click on Association Links.
 
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Mike, if you want people to support the sport they are better off taking that BCA membership money and using it to go around their local area and start some in house leagues. Get more people playing in your local area and more of those people will eventually become lifers.

Don't throw it away on the BCA.
 
But the last Billiards Expo says otherwise. I don't wanna sound rude to manufacturers who support BCA Leagues, but the real funding for bigger and better tournaments will never come them.

I will only concede when I see a Viking stop, CueTech stop, and etc leading to a final tournament because that's the only way to build a stable tour if the money will come from equipment makers who have limited funds.
 
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