Tournament Opinions Please

[lodini]

There have been a lot of great suggestions in this thread... and I know GG11 was looking for as many as possible. I know there are a lot more tournament players lurking around in here with something to say regarding their thoughts on a great tour. Let us here it!

Because of the overwhelming amount of attention placed on boobs around here, I promise to post a half naked female pic as a reward to all who participate Please respond, we want to know what you think!

OK, so now I realize I am not as good at the hot girl thing as I thought I would be... but she is one of my personal favorites (and there is cleavage involved!) Enjoy

 

[JoeyA]

OK, so now I realize I am not as good at the hot girl thing as I thought I would be... but she is one of my personal favorites (and there is cleavage involved!) Enjoy

This is absolutely disgusting. This has nothing to do with pool.

When will you be posting additional pictures?
JoeyA

 

[lodini]

This is absolutely disgusting. This has nothing to do with pool.

When will you be posting additional pictures?
JoeyA

The more good suggestions for running a great tour, the more pics Yes, I am bribing you guys...

(Don't lie, you know you love it )

 

[JoeyA]

The more good suggestions for running a great tour, the more pics Yes, I am bribing you guys...

(Don't lie, you know you love it )

Provide more added money. All tournament players LOVE ADDED MONEY.

Those sexy pictures are disgusting. When will you be posting more?
JoeyA

 

[12squared]

Start on Time! Always. Those that are late, will get the message and show up on-time in the future.

If you make a rule, enforce it, no exceptions. If a rule is 15min late is a forfeit, it should be a forfeit no matter who is late.

Bob Jewett's suggestion for a buy back is interesting providing it's not a bar table tournament that needs to be fed quarters. This just turns into the player funding the tournament and makes it even more difficult to make money if you finish 5-8th let alone further down.

Accumulating points toward some sort of end of year reward to participate in as many tournaments as you can is a great idea. Maybe reward them by reducing the entry fee for the end of the year big tourney.

That's all for now.

 

[GG11]

Well for a 2 day tournament it is only worthwhile if you place in the top 3.
4th place got back $350 i believe for a 84 man field? Minus the $100 entry and other expenses its not really worth it. Why should a player travel to this tournament and do so good and not get anything to show for it. The money should be spread out a little better. I have place 4th in a Joss with 38 players and got back $500.

Well, note the Joss has a $100 entry fee no matter what your class. The Predator tour has a progressive entry fee (lower handicaps pays less to enter.) Half the Predator field pays $60 and lower to enter. Kinda hard to compare the two. They're totally different strategies. And on top of that the Predator tour pays out 16 places. Joss usually 8 spots.

But here's another great question that's been kicked around on this post and I think should be further discussed.

One tour pays out 16 places and thus the top half suffers and the "middle of the pack" get to enjoy in the winnings.

The other pays out 8 places and the top half is richer and happier.

Which is better for business and the players?

 

[GG11]

I agree with a lot of what you say in favor of them playing. Not 60% but about 50% agree. Johnnyt

How bout 59%??? I'll be Lodini's best friend if you agree!

 

[Mike Templeton]

Start on Time! Always. Those that are late, will get the message and show up on-time in the future.

If you make a rule, enforce it, no exceptions. If a rule is 15min late is a forfeit, it should be a forfeit no matter who is late.

Good suggestions here.

 

[JAM]

Some suggestions I would have from my experience on the tournament trail are these:

Do the player draw in full view of everyone.

Provide hotel informations WELL IN ADVANCE of the event, phone number and address, for those who may be traveling.

Also, though it may seem like a given, please do provide the pool room's COMPLETE address and phone number. This helps players with logistical arrangements for travel.

It may be helpful to let the tour members know what percentage of monies are taken out of monies to keep the tour running, to avoid unnecessary hearsay and speculation.

I like the 25-percent payout of the field. I have attended some tours that pay out 40 percent of the field, and for the player who gets a check for $25 after hanging out for two weekend days, it really doesn't mean that much. IMHO, at least for the players I know, more money at the top gives players something to shoot for.

Some pool rooms have great food, and others have what I refer to as "blood mud" food, fried cheese sticks and potato chips, as an example. I have been to some pool rooms who make a special tournament lunch for the tournament days. The players would rather eat in the room than have to go elsewhere because the food in the room sucks.

Most importantly for me is that the TD shows no favoritism. If Efren Reyes comes in 5 minutes late for his match, then he forfeits -- NO EXCEPTIONS.

Hope this helps!

JAM

 

[kryptonite9]

Well, note the Joss has a $100 entry fee no matter what your class. The Predator tour has a progressive entry fee (lower handicaps pays less to enter.) Half the Predator field pays $60 and lower to enter. Kinda hard to compare the two. They're totally different strategies. And on top of that the Predator tour pays out 16 places. Joss usually 8 spots.

But here's another great question that's been kicked around on this post and I think should be further discussed.

One tour pays out 16 places and thus the top half suffers and the "middle of the pack" get to enjoy in the winnings.

The other pays out 8 places and the top half is richer and happier.

Which is better for business and the players?

If the top players are richer and happier then soon that is all that you will have, a bunch of top players. If you want to promote the tour you need participation and that only happens if everyone has an incentive to play.

I know junior and he plays strong. I play under him and know that I most likely will never finish top 3 in a predator event. If I cannot make money to cover my expenses for my best tournament, I am only donating if I go.

 

[lodini]

If the top players are richer and happier then soon that is all that you will have, a bunch of top players. If you want to promote the tour you need participation and that only happens if everyone has an incentive to play.

I know junior and he plays strong. I play under him and know that I most likely will never finish top 3 in a predator event. If I cannot make money to cover my expenses for my best tournament, I am only donating if I go.

Isn't it just a given that most of the people playing in a tournament will not finish "in the money"? If everyone expected to cash out, then no one would play. Do you guys think that non-cash prizes awarded down the line are incentive to play?

(and by the way, I don't believe a player is just "donating" if they don't cash out... they are paying to play and they are receiving something back for their investment, even if it is just table time. )

 

[GG11]

Do you guys think that non-cash prizes awarded down the line are incentive to play?

I'm very interested in this answer! And even further, what kind of prizes would be incentive to reel in the lower-handicapped players.

I ask b/c I was PMed on the subject and again I was told of the importance of making sure the low-handicapped players feel successful as well. I 110% agree with this goal. So my question is, what would be some good methods of achieving this??

 

[lodini]

I'm very interested in this answer! And even further, what kind of prizes would be incentive to reel in the lower-handicapped players.

I ask b/c I was PMed on the subject and again I was told of the importance of making sure the low-handicapped players feel successful as well. I 110% agree with this goal. So my question is, what would be some good methods of achieving this??

Could you get all your sponsors together and come up with a player gift bag? Could include product samples, discount cards, special offers, etc.

 

[kryptonite9]

I am not suggesting that everyone get paid, nor am I suggesting that the tours are not money well spent for a low-handicapped player. When your are playing in regional tours most players must travel to get to the event. If you have 2 days events, that person must also incur hotel expenses. If I go to a tournament and play bad and lose that is fine. My complaint is when I play well, have to stay an extra day because I am in the cash, and get $150 for 5th. Now I have just had a great tournament and I am pretty happy with myself, until I get the hotel bill and what I won didn't even cover my room and entry. If you look at all the regional tours on AZbilliards and realize that only a few dozen players will ever finish in the top 3 places, I can't understand why anyone would play except for the experience.

Gift bags would not mean anything to me. If I play bad and go two and out, I don't want anything.

Pay 25% of the field as suggested by others, but spread out the money to the players that cash. Stop front loading the payout so that it only benefits the very best pro players who enter. If this would happen possibly more players would play and the overall prize pool would increase benefitting everyone in the field.

 

[BVal]

I'm very interested in this answer! And even further, what kind of prizes would be incentive to reel in the lower-handicapped players.

I ask b/c I was PMed on the subject and again I was told of the importance of making sure the low-handicapped players feel successful as well. I 110% agree with this goal. So my question is, what would be some good methods of achieving this??

I played in one of the all-around tourneys last year here in Arizona and there was a prize drawing for all the players that went 2 or 3 and out. Needless to say I was in every one of them . Anyways, I got some cool stuff including a book called "Play Your Best 9-Ball" which costs about $30 bucks so I ended up paying only $20 for the experience. Now not every prize was that expensive but it made it more worth it to me.

BVal

 

[Jim Kuykendall]

I think it's important for the tournament directors to determine what the goal of the tournament is. If it is to offer top heavy payouts that will benefit mostly only those who do nothing besides play pool, or to encourage larger fields with a deeper payout. I don't go to tournaments because of the money. Pool is unique in that amateurs and "professionals" will play in the same tournaments. This is a statement for the sorry state of pool when top players have to play in small tournaments to make a few bucks. Lewis and Paul are the best tournament directors around. Anyone in the area of a Fast Eddie's tournament should sign up. The tournaments are run on time and without hassles. For an entry fee of $65, they can't be beat.

 

[JoeyA]

Isn't it just a given that most of the people playing in a tournament will not finish "in the money"? If everyone expected to cash out, then no one would play. Do you guys think that non-cash prizes awarded down the line are incentive to play?

(and by the way, I don't believe a player is just "donating" if they don't cash out... they are paying to play and they are receiving something back for their investment, even if it is just table time. )

Non cash prizes would not encourage me to play, but that's just me. However, a nice non-artsy, attractive, female nude photo, autographed with personal note for me could have me digging in my pockets for a buy back.
JoeyA

 

[GG11]

but the predator tour isnt fair where a open player has no shot to win a poy for his class cause of the pro's. they should be separtate classes so the open player has some type of goal.

I thought this was an extremely valid point and so I spoke with Tony about your concern and he is going to call Predator and make sure a cue is also given to the highest finishing Open player of the season.

In the lead for the Open's is Bobby Blackmore.

Thanks for the heads up Junior!

 

[lodini]

I almost forgot to give another present to you guys! Thanks everyone for their help... and if anyone else thinks of anything, please don't hesitate to post it

 

[lodini]

I thought this was an extremely valid point and so I spoke with Tony about your concern and he is going to call Predator and make sure a cue is also given to the highest finishing Open player of the season.

In the lead for the Open's is Bobby Blackmore.

Thanks for the heads up Junior!

Wow, GG... that's really awesome. It is so refreshing that a tournament director will listen to the voice of just one person, and make a change in format! I think that's what Tony's success is going to be all about. People know they can trust him and count on him to do what is right!