Would you have paid for a live stream for the Straight Pool World Championships?

[Fast Lenny]

I understand the popularity of 14.1 in recent times, and I think it is great. Anything that promotes pool is a good thing.

I am just reminded of all the dissenters who still to this day will not purchase anything related to the IPT and/or Kevin Trudeau. There may be some folks who harbor these type of feelings towards Dragon Promotion and/or Charlie Williams, even though, as we all know, this recent tournament is very well received and enjoyed by many.

I do wonder if the LIVE broadband streaming, or whatever they call it, would be as popular if it came without LIVE CHAT. Is it cheaper without LIVE CHAT? Does LIVE CHAT complement the LIVE broadband streaming?

As the technology advances, so too will this broadband streaming. In my own work, I encounter problems with digital recordings from time to time. It is amazing to me how some recordings can be EXCELLENT audio quality, and others sound like they're on the Space Shuttle in outer space.

The long-distance telephone monopoly came to an end when AT&T split up. BTW, I had stock with the old AT&T and made a bundle!

Soon the technology for broadband live streaming will become better quality and more available. Then too, just like AT&T, the cost will come down. Until then, people like TAR at the pioneers of pool broadcasting, and I kind of have a feeling they will be on the front lines for a long time to come. People like TAR do it from the heart, though they have to make a living too.

Dragon Promotions? I'm not so sure they're doing it from the heart, but I don't wish them any ill will if they're doing something good for pool in general. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

The chat is 1/2 the fun I think,its really a good time hanging and BSing kind of like being on AZ but its more interactive.

 

[JAM]

The chat is 1/2 the fun I think,its really a good time hanging and BSing kind of like being on AZ but its more interactive.

Is it cheaper without the LIVE CHAT as far as cost? Or is LIVE CHAT just a free perk associated with the payment of the LIVE broadband streaming?

JAM

 

[JCIN]

What kind of sponsorship money are we talking about? Is there a ball park figure?

This is what I would like to try:

A challenge match streamed free for 3 days on weekend in the winter. A kick ass challenge match, something big that we would promote for a few months, magazine ads the whole nine.

For something like that we would probably need $3-5K depending on what part of the country we do it and even then we are not really going to make much after expenses but I want to see the reaction we would get.

I have reached the point where I figure no one else is going to do it so we will just have to do it ourselves. We might as well put our money where our mouth is and sponsor ourselves basically by selling our products during the stream. One day we will do it. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I think once some people who have never seen our challenge matches get into it they would love it.

Like the man said. "Build it and they will come......as long as its free"

 

[Fast Lenny]

Is it cheaper without the LIVE CHAT as far as cost? Or is LIVE CHAT just a free perk associated with the payment of the LIVE broadband streaming?

JAM

Its free to stream from Ustream but I do believe there are service providers who provide something better for a price,the chat has nothing to do with cost also as you can get embeddable ones all over the net for free.

 

[Fast Lenny]

This is what I would like to try:

A challenge match streamed free for 3 days on weekend in the winter. A kick ass challenge match, something big that we would promote for a few months, magazine ads the whole nine.

For something like that we would probably need $3-5K depending on what part of the country we do it and even then we are not really going to make much after expenses but I want to see the reaction we would get.

I have reached the point where I figure no one else is going to do it so we will just have to do it ourselves. We might as well put our money where our mouth is and sponsor ourselves basically by selling our products during the stream. One day we will do it. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I think once some people who have never seen our challenge matches get into it they would love it.

Like the man said. "Build it and they will come......as long as its free"

I think its a good idea to get a page ad in one of the big billiard magazines,perhaps work it out so they are a sponsor so you get the page of advertising at no cost and then you get tons of people tuning in because regardless of ESPN its not raw and live. :thumbup:

 

[JCIN]

I think its a good idea to get a page ad in one of the big billiard magazines,perhaps work it out so they are a sponsor so you get the page of advertising at no cost and then you get tons of people tuning in because regardless of ESPN its not raw and live. :thumbup:

Good idea. The problem with an event specific ad is having enough lead time to actually get the ad in the mag before the event goes off. The pool world is not real good at future planning.....at least not on my block of it.

One more thing on the list.

 

[JAM]

Many moons ago, people got their news from the newspapers. Today, newspapers around the world are losing money and going under. Why? Because of the Internet. Most young technology-literate people enjoy getting their news from the Internet more so than a newspaper.

I predict that someday pool will gain in popularity via the Internet. That said, it still has no popularity on TV. Those of us on this forum make up a miniscule amount of folks when it comes to the world population. Pool enthusiasts make up maybe less than 1 percent of the world, IMHO.

However, once the technology is in place for live broadband streaming to become more cost efficient, as well as good quality, pool may FINALLY get the shot in the arm that it so badly needs.

I don't think I'll be around to see it happen, but I still predict it's a possibility. So maybe there's something to look forward to up ahead. I hope those in the industry giving it their all will be paid back 100-fold for their investment during this era of technology nightmares and high costs.

JAM

 

[JAM]

I think its a good idea to get a page ad in one of the big billiard magazines,perhaps work it out so they are a sponsor so you get the page of advertising at no cost and then you get tons of people tuning in because regardless of ESPN its not raw and live. :thumbup:

I know with one billiard mag I used to work with, you had to have the ads and articles in there 2 to 3 months in advance before the mag hit the streets.

JAM

 

[NYC cue dude]

.....You are not implying that DP got more sponsorship money that never got near the purse? That would be too much.

Absolutely NOT! Charlie is fastidious about keepin the finances above board. How he pursues growth is what needs an overhaul, IMO.

Rg

 

[Fast Lenny]

Good idea. The problem with an event specific ad is having enough lead time to actually get the ad in the mag before the event goes off. The pool world is not real good at future planning.....at least not on my block of it.

One more thing on the list.

Well you guys have had matches setup a month in advance I believe a few times,I think 2 months of advertising with the players knowing how much it is being promoted should make it go smoothly.The only thing that the mags might not go for is the gambling side of it which is unfortunate but could be an issue with them.

 

[JCIN]

Well you guys have had matches setup a month in advance I believe a few times,I think 2 months of advertising with the players knowing how much it is being promoted should make it go smoothly.The only thing that the mags might not go for is the gambling side of it which is unfortunate but could be an issue with them.

Not gambling. Two Man Tournament.

I have talked to JR and Mason and they both are very supportive and willing to work with us. The thing is a month or two lead is not enough. We do have some palns for working with the mags more though. I think they have a big influence in the game.

 

[Fast Lenny]

Not gambling. Two Man Tournament.

I have talked to JR and Mason and they both are very supportive and willing to work with us. The thing is a month or two lead is not enough. We do have some palns for working with the mags more though. I think they have a big influence in the game.

Yes for the main stream pool scene and league players who read them,I do like Billiards Digest and Inside Pool and think that would be the best bet,because once this hits the masses.........BOOOOOOOMMM!!!!!!! :thumbup:

 

[beav99_4life]

Not gambling. Two Man Tournament.

I have talked to JR and Mason and they both are very supportive and willing to work with us. The thing is a month or two lead is not enough. We do have some palns for working with the mags more though. I think they have a big influence in the game.

I have never found this statement to be true. I've worked and been in pool halls since I was 17, and I can honestly say that I've never seen the billiards magazines sell well. I dont know why, but i've found a majority of pool players only look at them when they're laying there and they dont really read the magazine, they just seem to skim through it. Justin, have you thought of talking to Mark Griffin and asking him if you can put some kind of TAR advertisement in league packets?

 

[Fast Lenny]

I have never found this statement to be true. I've worked and been in pool halls since I was 17, and I can honestly say that I've never seen the billiards magazines sell well. I dont know why, but i've found a majority of pool players only look at them when they're laying there and they dont really read the magazine, they just seem to skim through it. Justin, have you thought of talking to Mark Griffin and asking him if you can put some kind of TAR advertisement in league packets?

I do believe that us diehards do overlook the magazines myself included but there are alot of people out there that do read them and that is why they are still in business.I think alot of the people who buy them are league players,the guys we need to get our hooks in and when they are hooked they will love it. :smile:

 

[Cornerman]

I would have ordered it in less time than it took to make this post.

Fred

 

[highrun55]

I have never found this statement to be true. I've worked and been in pool halls since I was 17, and I can honestly say that I've never seen the billiards magazines sell well. I dont know why, but i've found a majority of pool players only look at them when they're laying there and they dont really read the magazine, they just seem to skim through it. Justin, have you thought of talking to Mark Griffin and asking him if you can put some kind of TAR advertisement in league packets?

I sold them for a little while , sold two out of 12 monthly and it was, "let me see that magazine" NO I DONT WANT TO BUY ONE was the response.

That was the end of that. For free its for me, amazing

highrun55

 

[Goldcues]

Another 'Yes' here.

 

[JCIN]

I have never found this statement to be true. I've worked and been in pool halls since I was 17, and I can honestly say that I've never seen the billiards magazines sell well. I dont know why, but i've found a majority of pool players only look at them when they're laying there and they dont really read the magazine, they just seem to skim through it. Justin, have you thought of talking to Mark Griffin and asking him if you can put some kind of TAR advertisement in league packets?

We have had one dvd talked about in Billiards Digest. It has outsold all of our others combined. There is something there.

 

[Eric.]

Absolutely NOT! Charlie is fastidious about keepin the finances above board. How he pursues growth is what needs an overhaul, IMO.

Rg

Randy,

Haven't talked to you in a while, are you at the 14.1 event?


Eric

 

[NYC cue dude]

hi Eric,

Hope your doing well. I've always thought you were a good guy, in fact one of the very few.

I've been in Minnesota the last few weeks on a fishing trip. I'll be back mid september. Hard to be two places at once, LOL.

I'm out of pool completely. I have logged on this site just a few times in the last year and have posted very few times in that time span. I lost my taste for supporting the game after the shots I took last year about this event from some "fans". No skin off my back, but pool lost a benefactor in myself. For the 30 grand or so it cost me to help put on the event last year, I could of bought my wife a handbag instead.

This sport will never amount to anything with the type of fans it attracts. I even read somewhere here that a fan thought it was ok to fire an airbarrel, and unless you've been around this game a long time , and on it's inner circle, you wouldn't know that it's ok. This is the kind of "fan" that has destroyed the game of pool.

To condone thievery, lying and deception on any level is morally bankrupt and at it's worst can lead to stabbings or shots fired.

Have at it folks. Glad I'm out.

Randy