The role of a sports agent in the world of pro pool....

[fathomblue]

Do any of the professional pool players have a legitimate sports agent? If so, who?

How would the role of an agent even work in the pool world, such as in comparison to say.....baseball? Would they work behind the scenes to secure sponsors, book their tournaments dates, clinics, exhibitions and travel logistics, etc.?

Do agents in other sports make money off of anything beside a player's initial contract? Obviously, without a current "true" tour, players are running around the country trying to get in the money, with no guaranteed income.

So, perhaps, if an agent secured a sponsor for a pool player, and made arrangements for their appearances (again, it could be a tourney, clinic, exhibition, private/group lessons, etc.) airfare, rental cars, hotels, tourney fees, etc., then that agent would get a % of the sponsor money and perhaps even tournament winnings?

Basically, a pro would just have to keep their nose clean, show up to their scheduled event and play pool......with no real concerns as to the daily/weekly duties mentioned above.

If the agent doesn't secure sponsors, they don't get paid. If the role of a pool sports agent became the norm, then perhaps the bigger tournaments would deposit the winnings into the player's "professional" bank account, of which the agent would then take their %. Or whatever.

Obviously, if a player is successful and doesn't mind doing all of this scheduling and securing of sponsors, then they just don't get an agent. But, I would think that for some of them, it would allow them to focus solely on playing the game with less distractions.

Again, I realize pool players are a different breed of athlete, but this is something that I discussed at length with a friend recently, so I thought I'd bounce it off the board, so it could be summarily torn to shreds.

On a "crazy scale" of 1-10, with 1 being "the most sound idea I've ever heard".....to 10 being "there's a legitimate concern that you need to be committed and we'd like to size you for your straitjacket NOW".........where would an idea like this fall for say.......the top 20 players in the U.S.?

 

[NYC cue dude]

Jeannette

Do any of the professional pool players have a legitimate sports agent? If so, who?

How would the role of an agent even work in the pool world, such as in comparison to say.....baseball? Would they work behind the scenes to secure sponsors, book their tournaments dates, clinics, exhibitions and travel logistics, etc.?

Do agents in other sports make money off of anything beside a player's initial contract? Obviously, without a current "true" tour, players are running around the country trying to get in the money, with no guaranteed income.

So, perhaps, if an agent secured a sponsor for a pool player, and made arrangements for their appearances (again, it could be a tourney, clinic, exhibition, private/group lessons, etc.) airfare, rental cars, hotels, tourney fees, etc., then that agent would get a % of the sponsor money and perhaps even tournament winnings?

Basically, a pro would just have to keep their nose clean, show up to their scheduled event and play pool......with no real concerns as to the daily/weekly duties mentioned above.

If the agent doesn't secure sponsors, they don't get paid. If the role of a pool sports agent became the norm, then perhaps the bigger tournaments would deposit the winnings into the player's "professional" bank account, of which the agent would then take their %. Or whatever.

Obviously, if a player is successful and doesn't mind doing all of this scheduling and securing of sponsors, then they just don't get an agent. But, I would think that for some of them, it would allow them to focus solely on playing the game with less distractions.

Again, I realize pool players are a different breed of athlete, but this is something that I discussed at length with a friend recently, so I thought I'd bounce it off the board, so it could be summarily torn to shreds.

On a "crazy scale" of 1-10, with 1 being "the most sound idea I've ever heard".....to 10 being "there's a legitimate concern that you need to be committed and we'd like to size you for your straitjacket NOW".........where would an idea like this fall for say.......the top 20 players in the U.S.?

Is the only player to have been represented by a real agency (octagon). She has been the only real player ubiquitous enough to have crossed over into the mainstream (barely)

 

[fathomblue]

It's interesting that Jeanette is probably the single most well-known pool player in the last 15 years.

 

[bfdlad]

It's interesting that Jeanette is probably the single most well-known pool player in the last 15 years.

Other than Jeanette's people I believe that myself an Charlie Williams are the closest to a Sports Agent there is out there. Just my opinion,

The job has its ups an downs, sometimes the money is good and sometimes not so good but always make money. A lot of risk and planning but aside from the $$ there is a great reward to bring people happiness and being able to bring their pool heros to their hometown and be able to meet them and interact.

 

[cajunfats]

Agent for Pool Players

Do any of the professional pool players have a legitimate sports agent? If so, who?

How would the role of an agent even work in the pool world, such as in comparison to say.....baseball? Would they work behind the scenes to secure sponsors, book their tournaments dates, clinics, exhibitions and travel logistics, etc.?

Do agents in other sports make money off of anything beside a player's initial contract? Obviously, without a current "true" tour, players are running around the country trying to get in the money, with no guaranteed income.

So, perhaps, if an agent secured a sponsor for a pool player, and made arrangements for their appearances (again, it could be a tourney, clinic, exhibition, private/group lessons, etc.) airfare, rental cars, hotels, tourney fees, etc., then that agent would get a % of the sponsor money and perhaps even tournament winnings?

Basically, a pro would just have to keep their nose clean, show up to their scheduled event and play pool......with no real concerns as to the daily/weekly duties mentioned above.

If the agent doesn't secure sponsors, they don't get paid. If the role of a pool sports agent became the norm, then perhaps the bigger tournaments would deposit the winnings into the player's "professional" bank account, of which the agent would then take their %. Or whatever.

Obviously, if a player is successful and doesn't mind doing all of this scheduling and securing of sponsors, then they just don't get an agent. But, I would think that for some of them, it would allow them to focus solely on playing the game with less distractions.

Again, I realize pool players are a different breed of athlete, but this is something that I discussed at length with a friend recently, so I thought I'd bounce it off the board, so it could be summarily torn to shreds.

On a "crazy scale" of 1-10, with 1 being "the most sound idea I've ever heard".....to 10 being "there's a legitimate concern that you need to be committed and we'd like to size you for your straitjacket NOW".........where would an idea like this fall for say.......the top 20 players in the U.S.?

No. There is no bonafide legal representative Sports Attorney for any Professional Pool Player that I am aware of. Jeanette Lee's representation is in the Celebrity/Entertainment genre and isn't really classified as a Sports Agency.

Right now, there isn't enough money nor organization in pool to warrant such representation. That is unless the attorney/agent is working pro-bono. Usually, Agents make a % of every thing a person they represent does. In some cases a graduated scale is used in order to gain better money for both parties at varying stages.

The scale of which you speak, would fall somewhere around a 3. It is a good idea that needs to have other elements in place. Pool has a long way to go in order to reach this position.

The only Sports Agent I personally know is my Sister's Husband's Nephew(lol,I disowned him) who was the Agent for New York Yankee Pitcher Ron Guidry. My Hollywood Agent doesn't count because she wasn't a Lawyer or a Pool Player,lol.

cajunfats

 

[fathomblue]

Other than Jeanette's people I believe that myself an Charlie Williams are the closest to a Sports Agent there is out there. Just my opinion,

The job has its ups an downs, sometimes the money is good and sometimes not so good but always make money. A lot of risk and planning but aside from the $$ there is a great reward to bring people happiness and being able to bring their pool heros to their hometown and be able to meet them and interact.

My apologies for "misremembering" what you do for the sport, Mark. Yes, basically like what you've done with a host of players on an interim basis, although, I wonder how this would work as a full-time gig "managing" a handful of players and not actually being on the road with them.

But, the way you do it, really does have some merit. You'd be with the player virtually all the time, doing what needed to be done, on the side.......while they're doing their job at the table. And with some players, they might really need to have someone managing their daily schedule and finances all the time......till they're responsible enough to do that little bit on their own. After that, a smartphone and laptop would be all a player would need to keep up with the itinerary set before them.

I know this almost sounds like the role of a backer, but NOT like that at all. I mean doing this in a professional way, with the main goal of seeking sponsorship.....inside AND outside the realm of pool (ex. Pepsi, Coke, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) and managing the player's schedule. Now obviously, a player will have certain events they absolutely want to compete in, and the player IS the boss at the end of the day, so it would be that agent's job to schedule those "musts" in there.......not to mention other events/clinics/exhibitions along the way.

 

[Masayoshi]

The Filipino players have Puyat and several other agencies which do pretty much what you are talking about. It seems to work out pretty well for them considering the Filipinos seem to play everywhere there is a big tournament.

 

[bfdlad]

My apologies for "misremembering" what you do for the sport, Mark. Yes, basically like what you've done with a host of players on an interim basis, although, I wonder how this would work as a full-time gig "managing" a handful of players and not actually being on the road with them.

But, the way you do it, really does have some merit. You'd be with the player virtually all the time, doing what needed to be done, on the side.......while they're doing their job at the table. And with some players, they might really need to have someone managing their daily schedule and finances all the time......till they're responsible enough to do that little bit on their own. After that, a smartphone and laptop would be all a player would need to keep up with the itinerary set before them.

I know this almost sounds like the role of a backer, but NOT like that at all. I mean doing this in a professional way, with the main goal of seeking sponsorship.....inside AND outside the realm of pool (ex. Pepsi, Coke, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) and managing the player's schedule. Now obviously, a player will have certain events they absolutely want to compete in, and the player IS the boss at the end of the day, so it would be that agent's job to schedule those "musts" in there.......not to mention other events/clinics/exhibitions along the way.

Even my little role takes a lot of time. Like at least a couple of months setting thing up before I even go on the road. To do things with lawyers and all the other stuff with BIG time sponsors takes much longer and at the end of the day the money isn't there to do all of the thing that a standard Agent would do for their client. I actually know what is needed but I would end up working for free and may actually owe money if I did it the way maybe a Jerry McGuire would. There are no multi million Dollar contracts out there waiting unfortunately

 

[fathomblue]

Even my little role takes a lot of time. Like at least a couple of months setting thing up before I even go on the road. To do things with lawyers and all the other stuff with BIG time sponsors takes much longer and at the end of the day the money isn't there to do all of the thing that a standard Agent would do for their client. I actually know what is needed but I would end up working for free and may actually owe money if I did it the way maybe a Jerry McGuire would. There are no multi million Dollar contracts out there waiting unfortunately

Is there anything I can do to help you on one of your tours? Pro bono, of course. Phone calls, faxes, letters, emails, etc. etc.

 

[fathomblue]

The Filipino players have Puyat and several other agencies which do pretty much what you are talking about. It seems to work out pretty well for them considering the Filipinos seem to play everywhere there is a big tournament.

If that's what Puyat does.......then yes, it looks to be working pretty well. The Pinoys seem to be everywhere and generally look stress-free doing it. Perhaps, not so coincidentally, they seem to be always in the tournament money.

 

[Scott Lee]

NYC cue dude...I don't know how you can say 'barely' crossed over into the mainstream, since her primary sponsors is Bass Pro, which is in no way connected to pool. It's true that the company owner loves pool, and loves Jeanette, but imo you can't get much more mainstream than Bass Pro...and good for her, btw.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Is the only player to have been represented by a real agency (octagon). She has been the only real player ubiquitous enough to have crossed over into the mainstream (barely)

 

[NYC cue dude]

I wasn't aware that she

NYC cue dude...I don't know how you can say 'barely' crossed over into the mainstream, since her primary sponsors is Bass Pro, which is in no way connected to pool. It's true that the company owner loves pool, and loves Jeanette, but imo you can't get much more mainstream than Bass Pro...and good for her, btw.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Was working with Bass Pro shops. Good for her. I know Jeanette fairly well and we've discussed her arrangement with octagon (although I haven't seen her or George in quite some time, so,things may have changed). Because pool is stagnant and women's pool isn't on ESPN any longer, most of those opportunities have disappeared. The only other pool player that I can remember crossing over to the mainstream was Mizerak, a long time ago. And even though those beer commercials played constantly, I still consider him barely crossing over because it was only 1 sponsor.

 

[fathomblue]

I had no idea Jeanette Lee was sponsored by Bass Pro, to be honest. That had to be a pretty huge boost for her career/finances.