How to make money in the pool industry

How to make money in the pool industry by Heather Bryant

So you want to make money in the pool world? I have come to realize that the first thing “pro players” think of is, “I am going to get sponsors to pay my way while I keep all my winnings!” This does not work. In the long run, even if you split with another player, expenses always outweigh winnings. Sponsors from outside the industry invest very little, if any, into pool players because in the grand scheme of sports, billiards is an extremely small target audience. The companies inside the industry are competing for business within the same small market, making their profit margin minimal to say the least. This makes it nearly impossible for them to afford to sponsor traveling competitors.

When those players realize it just doesn’t work, their minds instantly go to, “I am good enough. I will just make the industry pay me to participate?” In just the last 20 years, I witnessed several players have the nerve to try and pry money from the hands of those who are doing everything in their power to make a buck. As a business owner and wife of a professional pool player, this infuriates me. How dare you assume that you are so valuable that we should all just pay you to be in our sport? Directors, promoters, streamers and venue owners kill themselves to organize events for you to participate in. Show a little respect and stop trying to take what little money they make.

When an ego check has been issued, their next idea is to market themselves as a group (essentially borrowing their fellow player’s fame) and to go after the league players.

“Let’s just add a few extra dollars a week to their league dues and put on some pro tournaments.” Are you kidding me?! Let me explain something to you. There are two main types of league players. The first is the fun time player that goes to league as an escape from the monotony of everyday life. League night is drinks and pool with their friends. The second is that person who loves the game and uses league to work on their skills, becoming a better competitor. No matter what group they fall into, the majority couldn’t care less about the goings on of the pro pool players and will laugh in your face if you ask them for their money. Of all the people that I have heard throw this idea around, only one or two volunteered ideas as to what the pros can do in return for the league players investing in them. As novel as those ideas were, you then run into the fact that less than one quarter of the professional players will adjust their schedules to spend time with league players without trying to charge them, yet again, for tickets to exhibitions and seminars. It reminds me of the school yard bully that just keeps stealing your lunch money and all you get in return is a swift kick in the ass. League players are not stupid… abandon this asinine notion.

The final stage is the ‘woe is me’ plea on social media. Holy crap, shoot me now! Figure out how to earn your living because we are not going to do it for you. Maybe you should get off your high horse and stop considering pool your job. Make pool your passion and then make everything you do to pay for pool your job.

With that in mind, here are a few ideas to earn a living in the pool industry. This is the only hand out that the pool community is going to give you. Remember… this is YOUR dream. Don’t make it everyone else’s nightmare.

Money making SUGGESTIONS for pool players:

1. Instruction: Become a house pro. Volunteer to work with that venue’s league players and customers, in exchange for sponsorship or a salary paid by the league or venue. Do not look for that same pay as a 9-5 job because this is supplemental income to help you chase your dream. If you get greedy, you will find yourself a pro with no house. You can also provide private or group lessons. No matter what your level of play or accomplishments, you can teach someone something. Just don’t go crazy with your rates. Only title holding, top professionals and those with a particularly sought after skill set can charge $100/hr. Beginning league players will pay $20/hr for fundamentals all day long. I myself am not a pro or an accomplished player and even I have done some of those. You can offer video lessons via DVD or online rental. The production these days is simple and inexpensive. Exhibitions and Seminars paired with other players work well also. Instruction is the method utilized by most professional players and provides an honest income. My personal advice on this is that you care about your students. Players talk and if you don’t take care of them, everyone will know.
2. Write a book: These days, with eBook formats, anyone can be an author. Whether it is your player memoirs, an instructional manual or a fictional novel, someone, somewhere will pay for it. If you offer an eBook online for $1 and 100,000 people purchase it, you made $100,000.00 (less taxes of course). Believe it or not, there are people outside of the sport that will read your memoirs and novels. A large portion of the human population likes to read just to experience other people’s lives. If you keep the cost cheap, you will get far more purchases than if you inflate your own worth.
3. Start an online/digital magazine: It can feature product reviews, instructional articles, event announcements/results, comics, player profiles, etc. As a professional competitor, you have access to players and products that the general public does not.
4. Start a website/blog: With so many free or low cost hosting companies out there, just about anyone can have a website. Your site can have your bio info, training rates, videos, a blog, an online store, etc. If you are not a writer but want a blog, collaborate with someone who is. If they are anything like me, it is an outlet and they will take you up on the offer. With the introduction of content managers, you no longer need to know how to write code. Website maintenance is fairly easy to learn. If you generate enough traffic (visitors to your site) you can charge for advertising. Just keep in mind that many of the vendors you will use for your online store have restrictions against “internet only” businesses. Use your status as a professional player to negotiate accounts. You can also exclusively offer only those products made by companies that sponsor you.
5. Be a salesman: If you are not a ‘techie’ and don’t want to have to maintain an online store, you can always set up booths at events. You can post pictures of products on your Facebook page for free and inform people where your next stop is if they want to swing by and pick one up. This works particularly well for custom cues and apparel. Carrying a limited supply creates a demand. Just make sure you are taking care of your inventory. Losses due to theft undermine the reason for even doing it.
6. Tournament/Tour Director: As a professional pool player, you have a unique insight into what works at tournaments and what does not. Find a pool room that wants to have events, use your connections to obtain sponsors and host tournaments. We all know that if you run it, you get paid to run it. If you don’t want to host one, find one that needs help with promotions or soliciting sponsors and offer your connections. Do this for a small percentage of the sponsorship you bring in and free entry into the event. Now, you have eliminated one expense and earned the money to help with the others.
7. Manager: If you are particularly good at managing your own career, offer to help manage some of your fellow players who are not so good at it in exchange for a small percentage of their earnings. Basic management consists of promoting them on social media, booking travel arrangements and accommodations as well as scheduling and making sure entry fees are paid on time. Booking lessons and seminars is easy but monotonous so many instructors pay others to do that for them. Offer yourself as a Manager or Promoter.
8. Commentator/Streamer: Streamers will, on occasion, pay professional players to commentate. They will be looking for knowledge, articulation and manners. It doesn’t usually pay a whole lot but it will help with the expenses to participate in that event. Don’t be shy. Let the streamer know that you are available to do a little commentating between matches if they are in need. If they cannot pay you, they may afford you the opportunity to promote your other efforts on air. Just make sure you iron out the details before getting on the mic. Who knows… maybe they will train you to be a streamer yourself.
9. Poolroom Manager: Over the years, a few investors have offered to open pool rooms and proposed to make us partners and/or have us run them. They know that while they are good at business, it takes a name and the ability to promote to pull in the business. While most players are never afforded this opportunity, some of the other skills listed above, if mastered, make you a particular interest to those who are looking.
10. Gambler/Stake Horse: Due to the risk factor, I do not recommend gambling or staking players but it has been profitable for some. Especially those with the gift to match up well and those who know when to buy/back a player and when to pass. Again, I don’t recommend it as a way of earning a living but I am including it in this list because it is an option. Just be smart and know when to stop.

There are more methods and maybe I will write a second article later but this is good for now.

Make sure you do the research or consult a professional before going into business for yourself. I am always available through the contact page of BryantBilliards.com or on Facebook (Heather Bryant) if you have questions. Start by listing your skills in resume format and then go over the list above to see what applies to you. If all else fails and you can’t find a way, go get a regular job. Many professional players successfully balance pool and a job. You will be surprised, if you are up front with them, how many employers will give you time off (within reason) for you to go compete. Offer to wear their logo at events, local and abroad.

I will leave you with one last thought…

As a professional pool player, you are an idol to an entire generation of upcoming amateurs. Why would you ever let them see you beg and create turmoil in the sport you supposedly love? Stand up, put in the time and be a true role model. You should also take the time to interact with them without your hand out. They do, after all, outnumber the pros substantially making them the bulk of this sport. Without them, you have nothing. This is how we change our sport for the better. I hope to see you in a booth next to us one day.

How to make money in the pool industry

By Heather Bryant

We will eventually add this information to a section on this site.  If you have any suggestions for ways pool players can make money, send us a message through the CONTACT section.