What Does It Take To Get A Turnout??

[JoeyA]

I don't understand why it constanly happens, so maybe some of you can enlighten me.

A room about 50 miles from me just got done this weekend with the Kalamazoo Classic. (http://www.blackbirdbilliards.com/) The 1st weekend was banks, the 2nd weekend was one-pocket, and last weekend was 9-ball. All on 9' tables. The banks and one pocket did fill up. But the 9-ball, the one you would expect to be full, only got 27 players.

The first two tournys had players from Chicago and as far away as Kentucky. Those of us from Grand Rapids I think were the farthest away for the 9 ball. There was $800 added to this event. Real nice room. Real nice owners. Tourns. were run just fine. Had 'players meeting' if you know what I mean. The events would start on Fri. nite and conclude on Sat.

For the 9-ball, as soon as a player would lose, he would leave. I don't think there were a dozen people there for the finals. Ten minutes after the finals, you had two guys playing 3 cushion (both had been in the tourn.) Scott Lee and one person on a table, the winner, 2nd and 3rd place there, and that was it.

So, my question is- what does it take to get the fans to show up for a big local event? Why isn't anybody even trying to match up when they get knocked out, and why the lower turnout for 9 ball??? The owner, Scott, and I talked about it for a little bit, and we just don't know. What does it take to get people to show up?? There are hundreds and hundreds of league players around, but they don't even care to watch a tough tournament. Why??

What was your payout percentages and how many places did you pay? One day tournaments seem to be getting more popular. Did you advertise this information? To have a tournament that remains successful, a tournament director must appeal to the players at the 50% mark. You must provide them with a reason to play. "I came in the money". "I was one game short of coming in the money". "I placed just short of the money". These are all justifications for the players who don't make it to the top 4 or 5 spots. PAY DEEPER 25% of the field and don't listen to the naysayers who want you to pay 50% of the money to first place and 25% of the money to second place.. Those two individuals aren't going to cover your nut but they will tell you that it was a successful tournament all the while salivating over how they garnered most of the payout in the tournament. The Calutta pimps will do you the same thing and you will find yourself wondering why no body came to your tournament.

PAY DEEPER.
ADVERTISE IT.
GET THE LEAGUE PLAYERS INVOLVED.
TELL THE BETTER PLAYERS TO SHOW SOME SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO THE PLAYERS WITH LESSER ABILITY. (PRACTICE WITH THEM FOR FREE) (cHAT WITH THE LESSOR PLAYERS) (MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME)

It is easier to set aside one day to play in a tournament than it is to set aside two days. One day of the weekend is normally a Honey-Do-Day.

Cater to the people who have jobs, not the ones who are vacuuming out your working customers pockets. Don't discourage action but pose your question to the league player with a job, the up and coming player with a job, you know, the people with money and who aren't related to Silas Marner.

Good luck.
JoeyA

 

[sde]

Yes, only the Red Sox were playing baseball. Noone else showed up.
Doug
( a big stadium like that and only ONE TEAM hanging around playing after the season)


* Maybe SDE should have played them

Did they have a billiard table at that stadium?

Steve

 

[calcuttaman]

I played in the tournament.

I didn't like the format of starting Fri night, playing a round or two and then finishing on Saturday. I also didn't like it that it was supposed to start at 8PM and didn't get going till 9PM.

Hopefully next time he will start on Saturday and have longer races. The race to 7/5 was pretty short. With 10 tables you can easily have a race to 9/9 and finish in one day.

Why were there no spectators? Who knows. I don't go anywhere myself to watch pool.

 

[Neil]

...........

 

[StormHotRod300]

Neil,

I was down in Kzoo at Playtime with Jeremy, playing, and heard that you took 3rd, and I swear my head snapped to the guy who was talking about you. I kinda laughed and said no kidding Neil took 3rd?

Anyways, me personally, would have started the tourny's at something like 10 or 11am. And then have them finish if need be on sunday. And yea with 10 tables, a 9/7 race seems more appealing too. Plus when i heard about the starting at 8pm on friday, I figured people would only get 1 match in, and then its come back in the morning to finish it off. Which if you have a long drive sucks, cuz then your shelling out hotel money too.

But, it would be nice if places like Blackbird/Playtime/Anazah would hold more 9ft tournys. Cuz, I know, myself, Perk76, and my practice partner "matt" love playing on 9ft tables.

Now as for people not sticking around for some gambling, IDK people are fickle like that. I like sticking around and sweating some matches or side betting n stuff, or backin someone. I mean if myself or one of my traveling mates gets dumped early in the tourny, why not sweat the matches or side bet.

But I've noticed the same thing even in holland or GR, most of the time, once a tourny gets down to the last 5 matches people start to head for the doors. And the only ones who do want to mix it up are the true players or guys with no life lol.

 

[calcuttaman]

I guess I can see where starting on Fri. could be a problem. But there are so few events in this area, that the players could easily give up a weekend.

Many times I give up whole weekends for tournaments. But a Friday nite start to finish Saturday at 7:30 is wasting 2 days for something that should only take one day.

rope_one,and calcuttaman, why didn't you introduce yourselves?

Grin, I didn't know you were on here. I was the first one you played Friday night before the tourney started. I was on the far table and you came and asked me to share the table.