What is more likely to make you attend a tournament?

[JoeyA]

What he said- location (though I would say locationlocationlocation).

Location is and will always be the number one reason for going to a pool tournament and that is why I purposefully left that one off.
JoeyA

 

[Nine Ball]

Low expenses..

The cost of traveling to an event is so costly if you don't win the event you do not make anything..

Why? The tournaments do not pay out enough money.. No money in pool..


So we have.. Stay in your town, Play poker, Win $200 to $500 per game..

or travel to a tournament..

3 day stay in a hotel: $200

Gas: $50 to $70 or more depends

Entry Fee: xxx amount

Food/Drinks: $100?

Am I leaving out any expenses?

So it's like $500 to go to a tournament.. Unless it's within 50 miles of you. Most of the tournaments pay out $1200 to $2000 for 1st..

3rd will get you about even..

It just doesn't work unless you gamble.. and gambling for a living is real tough.. That's why pool players need backers.. Cause your not always going to win..

How many real good players do you see going around that always seem to be short or busted? I can name a few.. and then you have the ones with a drug problem. We know how that one goes. I'm not judging by no means. To each their own..

Poker is sooo much easier and soo much more money involved in it..

My opinions of course from a pool player/poker player/cue salesman.. The work for a living group and do it for fun or something on the side may see it differently. I'm sure some will disagree..

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Please expand on that, Jude. Besides, the convenience of the tournament being in close proximity to your home, what other convenience are you talking about?
Thanks,

JoeyA

Well, most people in NYC (like myself) don't own cars so a tournament outside the city would require hitching a ride with someone, renting a car for the day or public transportation. I hate the first two options since one means you're dependent on someone else and the other can be very expensive. If it's outside the city, I want to know I can get home relatively easily.

 

[Southpaw]

I voted for to compete against other amateurs and big money calcuttas.

Southpaw

 

[Roy Steffensen]

I like to play better players and challenge myself.

I also chose added money and pay deeper, but to pay deeper I think you need more added money. Can't pay deeper with the money in pool today.

At last I also picked big tables, but I regret that. I have never played a tournament on small tables, and it would be interesting to see how I do on those tables. After I started to play pool seriously I haven't played on anything smaller than a 9ft, and I hear that everyone says it's so easy on the barbox compared to the big table... Perhaps I am able to run a rack on the barbox

 

[roosterman]

Jimmy, I understand what you are saying and I've heard it many times from players of your caliber and better.

The problem is that the majority of the players in a tournament are much further down the food chain from you and it is those players who are just dying to say, "I came in the money" and the ones in the next group below them just want to be able to say "I made it to one match out of the money" and there are a whole lot more of those guys than you and the other better players. If you don't cater to those at the middle level, you eventually lose all except the seasoned gluttons for punishment, like me.

JoeyA

I disagree you can't cater to the middle or bottom class of player,because most of them are locals,and will play in it anyway.If it was up to them everybody would get money back.You need to cater to the people traveling,and pay 10% of the field,that way if you do get the money you can pay for your trip.

 

[JoeyA]

I disagree you can't cater to the middle or bottom class of player,because most of them are locals,and will play in it anyway.If it was up to them everybody would get money back.You need to cater to the people traveling,and pay 10% of the field,that way if you do get the money you can pay for your trip.

The theory is that if you have more people in the middle or bottom group playing and getting a little taste of what only the top players get, you will have larger participation which means more money in the tournament which means more to pay out to better players.

Besides, if you don't pay deep the smaller tournaments go by the wayside because the local players get tired of donating to a few of the top players every month. The best players have a tendency to whine and cry about how much small the payouts are and that they don't want to play in handicapped tournaments because it makes it too difficult to win.

The regional tournaments don't pay enough to cover the expenses except for maybe the top 4 players. Making a profit is limited to the top 2 or 3 places at the most.

Then you have the national tournaments which seem to offer a little bit to everyone. They can get a little expensive if they are stretched out over a long period of time but many of us consider it a vacation, if we have the time to dedicate to it.

The survey gives a pretty good idea about what people want in a tournament and it is not shallower payouts, at least for the majority of people who play in tournaments.

I think the Seminole Men's Tour is one of the best tours going on right now and only wish I lived closer to donate a few bucks.


JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

Big money Calcuttas

Boy oh boy, I didn't expect such a small response for Big Money Calcuttas. I expected a small number of people selecting Big Money Calcuttas but not this small. I guess people who like to go to pool tournaments think that there are far more important things than a Big Calcutta. hmmmmmmmm.

Maybe the tournament promoters who are in favor of big money calcuttas shoule think again about what makes the majority of people go to pool tournaments.

JoeyA (agrees with the majority of poll responders)

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

What makes me want to get on my pony, and drive to play in a tournament at a Bar or Room

Friendly Staff

Clean Rest Rooms with TP, and PT’s

Clean Cloth on the Tables

Clean Balls on the Tables

Reasonable Entry Fees

Reasonable Green Fee

Would be nice if the Open the Quarter sucking Bar Boxes, and Charge a Green Fee in lu of Quarter, and more Quarters.

Good selection of Drink for sale both Alcoholic, and Non Alcoholic.

A TD that keeps things going, not dragging out in to the WEE Hours of the AM for no reason.

Am I dreaming, maybe but you ask the question.

 

[Zims Rack]

Great thread! I agree with many of the posts, especially Cowboys above mine!

Zim's Rack APT charges a $20/yr membership, $40 entry fee (includes all fees for the day), no QTRS needed, double elimination 8-ball, race to HCP's (2-5 games), A level and below players (BCA Masters and up are excluded), Amateur ONLY, played on bar boxes!

All of our rooms have a full bar and grill, very reasonable prices and the nice thing is they are all in a 45 minute radius! We are getting around 35 players and pay the top 25%. The bottom in the money normally gets $20, next level gets $40 and it goes up from there. Calcutta pays top 4! We have a lot of average players and feel that if they get into the money they should get something, if they get 1/2 or break even, they are happy. We try to maintain a very level playing field, this keeps the regular players coming back!

Zim

 

[Dawgie]

I have only been playing pool for about 2 years now. I would like to see more player rated tournaments. There are 1000's of APA & BCA players and holding a rated tournament(s) I think would be a big draw.

Holding open tournaments is good but it keeps the lessor players from entering b/c there is no chance they could hope to win.

 

[JoeyA]

These are some interesting statistics. I would have thought more people would have voted for BIG CALCUTTAS. Guess that isn't that big of a deal to some people. I like 'em.

 

[JoeyA]

I disagree you can't cater to the middle or bottom class of player,because most of them are locals,and will play in it anyway.If it was up to them everybody would get money back.You need to cater to the people traveling,and pay 10% of the field,that way if you do get the money you can pay for your trip.

I see how it is easy to side with catering to the people who travel. Especially concerning the most popular reason for attending pool tournaments.

 

[jalapus logan]

I don't play in many tourney's, never have, always keep telling myself that I will play them more often. I guess the biggest thing that prevents me from coming back is because I just go and mostly sit around waiting to play. That, and most local tourney's I've seen are just poorly run. They don't start on time, can't get their sh$t together, and what not. Admitedly, I'm a person with little patience and a short attention span. I need to be in constant action, not watching other people play pool.

I'm not sure what the answer is to my problem, probably, it's just my personality. I'd just rather get in a ring game and slug it out for 12 hours non-stop. But I can say that I'll still play tourney's from time to time. Oh yeah, in my area, there are absolutely NO 9' tourneys, only bar box ones. Don't like them, never have. We do have one bar box tourney that is starting to get some "name" players and that is going to be a draw for me every now and again to compete in them just not enough of a draw to compete regularly.

 

[JoeyA]

I don't play in many tourney's, never have, always keep telling myself that I will play them more often. I guess the biggest thing that prevents me from coming back is because I just go and mostly sit around waiting to play. That, and most local tourney's I've seen are just poorly run. They don't start on time, can't get their sh$t together, and what not. Admitedly, I'm a person with little patience and a short attention span. I need to be in constant action, not watching other people play pool.

I'm not sure what the answer is to my problem, probably, it's just my personality. I'd just rather get in a ring game and slug it out for 12 hours non-stop. But I can say that I'll still play tourney's from time to time. Oh yeah, in my area, there are absolutely NO 9' tourneys, only bar box ones. Don't like them, never have. We do have one bar box tourney that is starting to get some "name" players and that is going to be a draw for me every now and again to compete in them just not enough of a draw to compete regularly.

What is that one bar box tournament you speak of and the dates? Any other details. Apparently, playing with the big boys or seeing them at events is a major preference for most tournament goers.
thanks,

 

[ignomirello]

what I want in a pool Tournament

I want all of that & more

1 - Split format where you play somebody closer to your speed until you hit good money.

2 - Big calcutta

3 - Start early so we finish late at night instead of early the next morning.

4 - 20 second shot clock with ONE Extension & ONE 5 min timeout per match.

 

[efirkey]

I don't play in many tourney's, never have, always keep telling myself that I will play them more often. I guess the biggest thing that prevents me from coming back is because I just go and mostly sit around waiting to play. That, and most local tourney's I've seen are just poorly run. They don't start on time, can't get their sh$t together, and what not. Admitedly, I'm a person with little patience and a short attention span. I need to be in constant action, not watching other people play pool.

I'm not sure what the answer is to my problem, probably, it's just my personality. I'd just rather get in a ring game and slug it out for 12 hours non-stop. But I can say that I'll still play tourney's from time to time. Oh yeah, in my area, there are absolutely NO 9' tourneys, only bar box ones. Don't like them, never have. We do have one bar box tourney that is starting to get some "name" players and that is going to be a draw for me every now and again to compete in them just not enough of a draw to compete regularly.

I agree 100% with this. The last tournament I played in I waited 3 hours between my first round and second round matches. I don't mind watching others play, but I can't stand waiting for hours for my next match and never knowing exactly when it will start.

I would like to see more tournaments on Saturday as opposed to Sunday. I personally don't want to be at a tournament for 10+ hours and then have to get up to go to work the next morning.

For those of us with tight budgets, big calcuttas is just another expense.

I also weigh in the risk to reward ratio. If I have to pay $50 to enter and the payout is $300 for first then I would rather play in a ring game.

 

[david(tx)]

You can choose more than one but please pick the critical ones that motivate you to attend or play. It doesn't matter whether you sweat or play, the promoters want to pack the house.

JoeyA

How about double entry fee and limited field ? Instead 35 dollars how about 70 dollar entry with the field limited to 64 ? Some of the complaints were waiting long hours to play round 2 . While the extra entry may seem tough to fade you may save yourself the expense of another night in a hotel room and another day of food and drink.

Most tournaments are held in rooms with 10-12 tables , your not going to run 128 man field through there very fast and keep people occupied. They will start drinking or become bored and who would want to sit around breathing cigarette smoke for hours waiting for your next match to be called.

Problem is , is that room owners who add money aren't looking to break even , that is not why they are in business.

 

[JoeyA]

Like

How about double entry fee and limited field ? Instead 35 dollars how about 70 dollar entry with the field limited to 64 ? Some of the complaints were waiting long hours to play round 2 . While the extra entry may seem tough to fade you may save yourself the expense of another night in a hotel room and another day of food and drink.

Most tournaments are held in rooms with 10-12 tables , your not going to run 128 man field through there very fast and keep people occupied. They will start drinking or become bored and who would want to sit around breathing cigarette smoke for hours waiting for your next match to be called.

Problem is , is that room owners who add money aren't looking to break even , that is not why they are in business.

Very nice perspective David although I guess the extra 64 drinks and food that those other 64 would be buying would be missed by the room owner.

 

[david(tx)]

Very nice perspective David although I guess the extra 64 drinks and food that those other 64 would be buying would be missed by the room owner.

:grin:yes they would.