This is a very interesting topic looking at one part of the finances of streaming a tournament.
On a broader scale, say the finances of running a tournament, or even a tour itself, what are all the sources of revenue?
Obviously there are the sponsors, both large and small, the players entry fees and contributions from the room owners or an event host. What other sources of income do the tour owners have to supplement their revenue? And how much does it cost to sponsor a tour?
I ask this out of curiosity after hearing Oscar Dominguez say last year on the stream of his Mezz West State Tour that he barely makes minimum wage running and owning the tour.
Hearing that was troubling considering all the work he and Desiree put in to run that tour, including streaming the events themselves due to the costs of outsourcing that aspect of the business.
Doing something for the love of the sport can only last so long...there needs to be a pot of money somewhere down the road.
Any insights would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
I handle streaming and don't do all the work that Desiree and Oscar do with running events but I can tell you for the hours put in they don't make a fortune and it probably equates to minimum wage. I do know behind the scenes stuff and you have lots of things happening before, during and after an event with countless people involved.
A promoter has to work the deal with host rooms/casino to get some added money, then work deals with sponsors and then satisfy the sponsor with value to keep them. You have to promote on social media and get the word out which is hours of time before the event. You have to setup and are the first one there and last one out the door. You have to deal with complaints from players and you will get cry babies in every tournament.
You have to deal with your travel cost and players looking for perks to come play the event whether its free rooms, entries, food/drink and so on. Depending on the scale like say CSI and Derby you are talking all the vendors you have to deal with, room kickback percentages, tournament director, referees, a crew like BadBoys to set up and tear down who do a great job. You have your media such as photographers and live streaming.
You have lots of money going out and risk so you should have some reward. If I have $20,000 in cost upfront monies and I make a few thousand I deserve it for the risk I took just like the players who risk there money to travel and play. The players don't always win the money and take a loss and sometimes promoters do too.
I know I am leaving much out which others can add to who have done stuff so maybe Mark Griffin, Ozzy, Greg Sullivan, Oscar and Desiree or Jay Helfert can chime in but trust me the good promoters out there and people who run tours earn the little money they might make in proportion to the scale of the work in an event for pros.
The amateur side of it all is what truly makes money and if the pros all stopped playing the recreational guys out there playing leagues and in the poolrooms would just continue on. I would like to see the pros make big dollars but the money just isn't there and with pool it might never be.
My suggestion to some players is to clean up their act and get together so they can put on their own events, control the video content. Random drug testing for stuff other then marijuana and don't dress like slobs. I think if you are a professional then dress the part, it doesn't have to be a suit but a nice collared shirts and pants (not jeans) with shoes would be nice or maybe go the golf look which is a mix of sport and dress.
Well enough rambling out of me for now. Time to get out and play some pool.