Agreed. We now have at least two generations of the best players in the world preserved forever on video for posterity.
The best thing ever to happen to pool is the leather tip.
The Best Thing to EVER happen to Pool!
- Thread starter Bigtruck
- Start date
Agreed. We now have at least two generations of the best players in the world preserved forever on video for posterity.
The best thing ever to happen to pool is the leather tip.
I was about 15 when I found out there was a bigger table then a bar box. I had been playing the game since I was 4 years old and I had no idea about the nine foot. Later I found out that it to is the little table. The original pocket billiard table that champions play on was a ten foot. The smaller the table the smaller the game...This means less shots this means less game.
The reason they keep shrinking the tables is cash. They think that by putting more tables per sq ft there is more money.
It is kind of like now, most pool halls feel that if they are off because of the depression they will just raise their prices, and tax the people they still have...lol Pool will die if they keep thinking this way. This is a pure example of bad business by shortsighted fools. They should be charging less to bring in more people. lol This is how you get people to buy the other things you sell. This is how you get the cash. Not by selling them air. (pooltime) Nobody will keep buying it. Soon as they find a cheaper way to entertain themselves they are gone...
The game is entertainment to most people that play. This being said, in order to get people in your place you must compete with the other entertainment out there...
I can get into the movies and take my wife out to a fine dinning experience for what it cost me alone to play the same amount of time...No contest, bye pool hall. Or how about my gym I can go swim for less than 50 dollars a month, bye pool hall. Or how about bowling I can bowl every day for a month and it cost's the same as what it cost me for one eight hour session at the pool hall again, bye pool hall.
Last time I went to play I played one hour and ate a plate of fries had one drink (soda),I got all this for 36 dollars.No wonder his place is going to be closing. For twenty dollars I could take a bus across LA, go to the beach for eight hours, eat, and take a bus back across LA, and still have some change in my pocket. You really don't understand why people that are not in love with pool don't go play, really you can't figure it out really???
This is what is killing pool, nothing else. It's cause of all the idiots thinking that if they charge more they will make more. I will either see pool take off again, or die in my lifetime. It will be cause of the people that run the pool halls. They are the ones that have the control. Not the pros, not the retailers, or distibuters, or leagues, it's the overpriced pool halls that are in the spot to fix it. If they lower the prices down until they always have full tables, then they will in fact make more money from selling their inventory, but not only that grow/save pool at least that is the issue in the USA.
Jamison,
Good post. The same things could be said of running our country. Any pool hall that runs its debt through the roof and then tries to charge its customers more, more, more to cover it,will surely fail.
Ray
BTW - What do think about streaming? lol.
What about soaking chalk in milk and pool shoes????
LOL, Yeah we haven't done a "pool shoes" thread in a while. I really do think a good pair of shoes does make a difference. Here's MY pool shoes!
Ray
Johnston Murphy Bicycle
Attachments
I think streaming kicks all ass. Remember I did the very first live interatctive trick shot performance using streaming video. My crowd was 50 in the pool hall (Nick Varner, Cliff Joyner, Gabe Owen, Hillbilly, Mark Hadad, Parica, Shannon Daulton many other people to make me sweat) This is not an easy crowd to impress...lol
The crowd online was over one thousand interacting fans of pool. It was very fun and very inovative stuff. Spheragon and GSBT with the support of Inside Pool and the pool hall Backstreet Billiards.
We all had a great time, and I felt like I was part of making history happen.
The crowd online was over one thousand interacting fans of pool. It was very fun and very inovative stuff. Spheragon and GSBT with the support of Inside Pool and the pool hall Backstreet Billiards.
We all had a great time, and I felt like I was part of making history happen.
I agree with Tom 100%. Accu-Stats would be my first answer to the original question.
Because of Accu-Stats, I've been able to see and review over & over the world's best players at tournaments I would never have been able to attend. The commentary is so educational, it's like you're being tutored by the pro doing the commentating. Plus, it's not boring Mitch Laurence-like either...the fellas at Accu-Stats mix it up with stories, humor and good natured needling as well.
Personally speaking, I've become a much better player because of having watched these tapes and DVDs. If not for Accu-Stats, I would not have seen hundreds of thousands of great shots, kicks and safties. Remember..."These guys are GOOD!" :smile:
In some ways the social chat is what makes it better....Watching pool by yourself is boring, but being able to talk to others (about the match or whatever) makes it more interesting to watch....Kind of like Interactive TV.
I see a future stream where "what is the score" will not need to be asked.....and even more so (and in line with "accustats" origonal intent) will have real time box stats available showing shotmaking%s, brknrun's, kicks, safes, luck in's, etc.....
I don't think it would take too much programming to come up with a box score entry table that a scorer could use to post real time stats during a stream that would be readily viewable during the stream....
I think it would promote better discussion about the match during the match........and add more than just "social chatter"
I doubt it would cut down on the "Put the chick on the TV table next" comments though...
Charlie,
Go buy a Playstation3. I watch almost all streaming on my 50" now! Listen on the surround sound and chat with my laptop. LOL
Ray
(don't feel bad, my kids taught me)
Actually it was Accu-Stats and Billiard Club Network that pioneered professional class live-streaming of pool. And they did it at the US Open and DCC more than five years ago.
I don't think that live streaming is the best thing to happen to pool.
The 5 "best" things that happened to pool that have kept pool alive are The Hustler, The Fats/Mosconi matchups on ABC's Wide World Of Sports in the 80's, Steve Mizerak's Miller Lite commercial, The Color of Money, and finally pool leagues.
Live streaming of pool caters to a very small and highly knowledgeable audience. It's flat out boring for the rest of the world.
Next time you think otherwise then go to UStream when anyone is doing a livestream of pool and find a puppy cam or a kitty cam to compare it to. A lot of UStream viewers click on the button that shows them what shows are being broadcast at that moment - the numbers don't lie as to what people choose to watch.
And the numbers get much much much worse when people are asked to PAY for the stream as TAR has found out. In this case it's build it and they will come for free and leave when asked to pay. The highest I have seen in chat for free was around 1000 and the highest in chat I have seen on the PPV is around 200 - I think. I am sure that TAR can weigh in with very accurate numbers if they choose to.
Races to 100 are great for the players. There is no doubt whatsoever who the better player is after a race to 100. You get to see it all, skill, stamina, heart, woofing, it's all there. For the fan though it's brutally long and completely out of the realm of possibillity for the vast majority of fans to be able to watch all the way through.
Think of how much crap we get for wanting to spend four hours watching a football game. 8 hours a day watching pool? For three days? Sorry but the demographics on that is that a tiny tiny minority of even hard core pool fans can swing that. If I had the DVD of just one match it would take me six months to find the time to watch it all.
So maybe it's time to rethink the strategy? Maybe shorter sets for less cash but more of them? I don't know what the answer is.
Maybe promotion on YouTube and other video sites? Like make some commercials that "air" on YouTube? How about showing a video of a particularly tough out that a pro made in a clutch situation and inviting YouTubers to try it for a prize. Have it be a contest where you give away something just for trying - so everyone who uploads a video of themselves trying the out can have a shot at winning something - and then have a nicer prize for those who upload videos of themselves completing the runout.
I mean there are TONS of ways to get visibility using guerilla marketing tactics. But as long as it's just a case of people like us who know about it - and not even all of us know when a stream happens, then it will remain something that has little to no impact on pool's overall popularity among the general public.
I don't think that live streaming is the best thing to happen to pool.
The 5 "best" things that happened to pool that have kept pool alive are The Hustler, The Fats/Mosconi matchups on ABC's Wide World Of Sports in the 80's, Steve Mizerak's Miller Lite commercial, The Color of Money, and finally pool leagues.
Live streaming of pool caters to a very small and highly knowledgeable audience. It's flat out boring for the rest of the world.
Next time you think otherwise then go to UStream when anyone is doing a livestream of pool and find a puppy cam or a kitty cam to compare it to. A lot of UStream viewers click on the button that shows them what shows are being broadcast at that moment - the numbers don't lie as to what people choose to watch.
And the numbers get much much much worse when people are asked to PAY for the stream as TAR has found out. In this case it's build it and they will come for free and leave when asked to pay. The highest I have seen in chat for free was around 1000 and the highest in chat I have seen on the PPV is around 200 - I think. I am sure that TAR can weigh in with very accurate numbers if they choose to.
Races to 100 are great for the players. There is no doubt whatsoever who the better player is after a race to 100. You get to see it all, skill, stamina, heart, woofing, it's all there. For the fan though it's brutally long and completely out of the realm of possibillity for the vast majority of fans to be able to watch all the way through.
Think of how much crap we get for wanting to spend four hours watching a football game. 8 hours a day watching pool? For three days? Sorry but the demographics on that is that a tiny tiny minority of even hard core pool fans can swing that. If I had the DVD of just one match it would take me six months to find the time to watch it all.
So maybe it's time to rethink the strategy? Maybe shorter sets for less cash but more of them? I don't know what the answer is.
Maybe promotion on YouTube and other video sites? Like make some commercials that "air" on YouTube? How about showing a video of a particularly tough out that a pro made in a clutch situation and inviting YouTubers to try it for a prize. Have it be a contest where you give away something just for trying - so everyone who uploads a video of themselves trying the out can have a shot at winning something - and then have a nicer prize for those who upload videos of themselves completing the runout.
I mean there are TONS of ways to get visibility using guerilla marketing tactics. But as long as it's just a case of people like us who know about it - and not even all of us know when a stream happens, then it will remain something that has little to no impact on pool's overall popularity among the general public.
Thr Best thing for Pool
The 5 "best" things that happened to pool that have kept pool alive are The Hustler, The Fats/Mosconi matchups on ABC's Wide World Of Sports in the 80's, Steve Mizerak's Miller Lite commercial, The Color of Money, and finally pool leagues." JB CASES
I totally agree with you about the 5 best things that has happened to pool/ Live streaming is minor for all the reasons that you state.
The only thing that can make pool great is to be accepted into the Olympics. This will make our Sport great in the eyes of the World. It does not matter what you might name a pool tournament (the Mosconi Cup.... etc.) Until this Sport gets accepted into the Olympics it will always be a under dog.
The 5 "best" things that happened to pool that have kept pool alive are The Hustler, The Fats/Mosconi matchups on ABC's Wide World Of Sports in the 80's, Steve Mizerak's Miller Lite commercial, The Color of Money, and finally pool leagues." JB CASES
I totally agree with you about the 5 best things that has happened to pool/ Live streaming is minor for all the reasons that you state.
The only thing that can make pool great is to be accepted into the Olympics. This will make our Sport great in the eyes of the World. It does not matter what you might name a pool tournament (the Mosconi Cup.... etc.) Until this Sport gets accepted into the Olympics it will always be a under dog.
Last edited:
Accepted;
recognized, recognised
acknowledged - recognized or made known or admitted; "the acknowledged leader of the community"; "a woman of acknowledged accomplishments"; "his acknowledged error
Don't mean to be picky but excepted is not the correct word
You meant to say 'accepted'. Olympic acceptance/recognitiion would be the nuts.
I can't argue with JB's list of top 5. I think TAR is a great idea and I hope the boys continue to operate with highly ethical ideas behind the work. Maybe they can brainstorm and find new ways to involve more of the pool playing public and entice others to want to learn the game.
I also think that azbilliards.com has been a great addition to the pool world and to the game in general. Az, along with the CCB, have made very real contributions to aspiring players by providing a venue to learn and share ideas, make friends, and make known the pool news wherever it happens.
Last edited:
I love streaming and think that its great. Basically gives pool fans another outlet to see pool and I like watching. The ability to chat while watching is the best part about it to me. I have tried watching without Chat and it was simply to boring.
Also the interaction with the commentators is something that I have rarely seen in any sport. Actually only once before and it was a small college football broadcast. They gave out an email addy and asked people to send them questions and comments during the game. It was extremely different IMO and pretty cool.
However Streaming still is only putting out a product that doesn't appeal to many (including many that play regularly). Solve that issue and the best method of broadcasting would solve itself.
Also the interaction with the commentators is something that I have rarely seen in any sport. Actually only once before and it was a small college football broadcast. They gave out an email addy and asked people to send them questions and comments during the game. It was extremely different IMO and pretty cool.
However Streaming still is only putting out a product that doesn't appeal to many (including many that play regularly). Solve that issue and the best method of broadcasting would solve itself.
I also would like to say that AZ has done alot for the pool community. I am one of the old RSB/ASP regulars and while it was great AzB took it to a different level.
John,
I agree that the promoting of live streaming is virtually non existent at this time. People that are doing the streams won't even put the date, location or what it is they are streaming in their ads! LOL.
The numbers you are seeing on a TAR or Ustream chat are not even close to accurate though. That is only the number that is on at THAT time. I had hit 57 viewers on my stream of a "B" player 9 ball tournament, but I had over 4,000 unique viewers. I did see a stream of Tila Tequila that had a sustained 1200-1300 viewers!! She probably had over 100,000 unique viewers! All she was doing is hanging out in front of the camera! What??? She is gorgeous and had very little on, but come on!!!????
Promoting the event is truly the key. I have been an Accu-stat customer since the 80's. I love what Jim and Pat are doing. They will continue to make streaming more exciting, and I will be joining in for sure.
Ray
I think you make a very valid point her, but, as always there aretwo perspectves on this subject.
There are serious players and those who are stuents of the game and really very intrested in getting better. They by and large see the bar table game as someting which blongs in a romper room. Nothing but a toy and I understand that attitude. There are people playing leagues and running out who can't play even a little bit, but, the bar box makes it appear that they can.
On the other hand, you have room owners and tavern owners who exloit leagues to get people to the tables and cheeks at the bar seats. They could gie ashit less about the game and seldom see more that 6 feet beyond the bar. Thus, it gets to be a weekly ritual and somewhat a following and to these players, it is a night out and a chance to get slobbered and beat up on a peice of equipment that is hard to damage. What are they going to do make them roll off. Level bar box is an oxy moron anyway.
The BCA pushes them simply because they make millions off them each year. Other than that, they could care less as they don't see 6 feet past the coin machine.
It is too bad the IPT had to come from KT as I really believe Mike was onto somthing here by maing it an 8 ball tour. It offered something to those on both sides of the fence. Sure 8 ball is a mickey mouse game, but, it is the game most started with and the general public has some understanding of it. Hence, the game finally had a chance at the only thing which will save the game,,,,,an audience. Until that happens,,, it will continue to be a hard, very hard struggle.
I will take your word for it. I can only go by the numbers that the chat room shows when I am watching the events. Of course there normally should be far more watching who aren't participating in or logged into chat and I would expect that.
The thing is that what you expect streaming pool to do for pool is what all other streamers of other content expect streaming to do for them - i.e. get an audience. And typically those who can spend all day in front of a computer watching streaming video aren't likely to be the those who will get off the chair and spend some money actually playing pool and buying pool equipment.
I honestly don't know what, short of another Color of Money, will inspire people to play more pool.
I still think and believe that a consistent pro tour that is on TV and the players are made known to the audience and the hustling gritty side is exposed will do it. Add to that TAR-style heads up battles that are shown on real PPV and maybe that will do it. Imagine Archer and Alex barking at each other during a match at the US Open and on tv live they each say "TAR - to 100 bet $50,000!". Sounds like fun.