worst money making ideas in a pool room

Alf Taylor

Alf Taylor

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Every hustler has had some goofy idea at some time. It was the seventies and my brother, Jack, and I were hustling around Nashville. We were practicing together late in an old pool room, that had only the house man there. Two large guys came in who smelled of alcohol and trouble. One of them picked a cue from the holder and said "This cue is crooked" and smashed it over the table next to us. He picked another and said and did the same thing. This went on for a few more cues, the house man was frozen with fear and we certainly weren't there to protect his room. Jack whispered to me: "We're going to make some money" as he picked a piece of a cue from the floor. "The next time he breaks one, I'm going to shove this stick in your ear and we'll sue the place." I told him I liked the idea but why couldn't he use his own ear. In his usual aplomb, he said "Well, you know. You work. You're more of a citizen. We can get more money for you."
BTW, if you want to tell me something, speak into my left ear.
Keep it nice. Alfie

PS... For you late tuner iners, you can register for my book givaway if you look three or four pages back. I love this AZB hobby.
 
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I don't think anyone is gonna top that, Sir. That is a real crappy idea. Doubt it would result in a dime!

At least, I hope not!
 
Ha! Say's you

Black-Balled said:
I don't think anyone is gonna top that, Sir. That is a real crappy idea. Doubt it would result in a dime!

At least, I hope not!
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It took a little negotiating but we settled for our table time and a few paper towels for my ear.
 
Kind of like "Let's go skydiving but I'll rip my own parachute, then we'll sue the instructor and get his plane and all his money!!!!"
 
# 1 worst making money idea in a pool room: Open a pool room.

:thumbup:
 
Fat Randy's "stake horse seminars"

Dick Lane told me that he was in Tulsa at a tournament many years ago, at the original Billiard Palace, back when he and Randy both played extremely well. During a waiting time for both, Randy said to Dick that he was thinking of holding "stake horse seminars". Charge people to learn how to be stake horses. If you were ever around Randy you would know how funny that is.

Don
 
I've thought of hiring a dyslexic doorman when business is slow.
...maybe he'll throw people IN....:rolleyes:
 
Don Owen said:
Dick Lane told me that he was in Tulsa at a tournament many years ago, at the original Billiard Palace, back when he and Randy both played extremely well. During a waiting time for both, Randy said to Dick that he was thinking of holding "stake horse seminars". Charge people to learn how to be stake horses. If you were ever around Randy you would know how funny that is.

Don
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I am still interviewing backers.
 
One of my local rooms sells chocolate cake at the snack counter. Really.

I would have chalked it up as a loss, but the last time I was in I had to wait for a rack of balls while the counter man carved out a slice for guy. Someone must be eating it!
 
Worst money making idea in a poolroom? Allow hot, sexy waitstaff to rip off the customers and keep their jobs. Serve rotten food. Keep rotten equipment. Have rotten attitudes. Why do people keep going there??
 
Selling chalk

rayjay said:
Worst money making idea in a poolroom? Allow hot, sexy waitstaff to rip off the customers and keep their jobs. Serve rotten food. Keep rotten equipment. Have rotten attitudes. Why do people keep going there??
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About eight years ago, I saw an owner tell the help to stop furnishing chalk for players, as he set up a vending machine selling Master chalk for 25 cents a pop.

How about putting extremely bright Xmas-type lights on the ceiling. When told that it created a lot of glare on the rails for players and that not using the lights would save on electricity (for the lights and the air conditioning), he said, "I want those lights on all the time, so it catches the eye of people walking by and it looks like a party atmosphere."

Or getting the "discount job" when tables are re-covered (never replacing bad rails, etc.).

How about a guy that not only charges for tap water, but sneaks around the parking lot trying to catch people who "cheat" and go out to the car for a drink of water....and when he catches them, banning them for life. Hard to believe? Completely true!
 
Donny Lutz said:
About eight years ago, I saw an owner tell the help to stop furnishing chalk for players, as he set up a vending machine selling Master chalk for 25 cents a pop.

How about putting extremely bright Xmas-type lights on the ceiling. When told that it created a lot of glare on the rails for players and that not using the lights would save on electricity (for the lights and the air conditioning), he said, "I want those lights on all the time, so it catches the eye of people walking by and it looks like a party atmosphere."

Or getting the "discount job" when tables are re-covered (never replacing bad rails, etc.).

How about a guy that not only charges for tap water, but sneaks around the parking lot trying to catch people who "cheat" and go out to the car for a drink of water....and when he catches them, banning them for life. Hard to believe? Completely true!
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Just think, some of these people succeed due to luck, and end up operating large companies, even countries!
 
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