JThomas7
High Hand
I really agree with this line of thinking. We need to make poker fun again.
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Well I did it. New Panhandle Texas poker club opening in September (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JThomas7
- Start date
Anthony Martino
Royal Flush
Yeah, it's something I've tried to argue here in Austin to Doug Polk and the leadership over at TCH Austin. They both market too heavily outside of Austin to the traveling grinders, which brings in tougher players who usually have a shitty vibe they bring with them.
Meanwhile we've got 2+ million people in the Greater Austin Metro, we've had poker over a decade and most people here when you mention poker respond with one of three things:
1. There's poker in Austin??????
2. Isn't it illegal?
3. I'd love to play, but I've never played before and I'd be intimidated, I don't want to get yelled at for making a mistake.
We definitely need to cultivate more marketing to the fun recs, and ensure the vibe of our poker rooms have that laid back vibe. Joe Q Public works his 9-5 all week. He wants to come in, play 4-6 hours, drink some beers, watch the game on tv and SOCIALIZE, not get destroyed by soulless misregs.
A rooms marketing and promo dollars should be spent in attracting and retaining the fun, recreational players. Too many grinders not only push for cash and tournament structures in a way that gives them additional edges, but they also push for promo dollars to go to them too (such as "play 60 hours this month and get $500)
They think because they spend the most time in the rooms and pay the most fees, they deserve the promo dollars. They don't understand that promo dollars should be structured to go to the fun recs, as it keeps them in action, it keeps them coming back, etc.
The only thing you need to give your grinders is a fair game and a replenishing supply of fish to feed on, that's ALL they need. If you do that, and the games and action are good, they're going to come anyway.
JThomas7
High Hand
JThomas7
High Hand
Man it's hot in my shop..... Hard to get anything done but we're trying. Headed back to Pampa this weekend to do lots of things. Magnetic fob locks on the doors, Camera system and internet going in, cashier cage being built, ATM's installed, TV's going up, and moving our first load of goodies over from Oklahoma. I have a semi truck at the casino salvage yard in Las Vegas tomorrow picking up all of our player and dealer chairs.
JThomas7
High Hand
I've got a couple of creases in the speed cloth as they were shipped folded up. Do you think it's safe to iron speed cloth? I can't stand looking at it lol.
Pampa is getting a poker room? Surprised. And intrigued! Good luck, I’m following along. Will try to make it up there at some point
DeeVee8
Flush
Pinball AND Poker? Da fuq you say! I'm in. There goes my bankroll. I'd like a pinball comp when I lose.
JThomas7
High Hand
Strangely enough we originally tried your location, but we got the cold shoulder from the city.
JThomas7
High Hand
ekricket
Royal Flush
Wow!!!!! From scratch to this, you are determined!!! Excellent work, I hope it all pays off good!!
Dcarl
Two Pair
Looking really nice so far.
JThomas7
High Hand
productive weekend
I need some ideas to fill those shelves. Some poker related shelf sitters. I'm thinking old poker books etc. I told my buddy darrick if we didn't suck we could fill it with poker trophies lol.
4 weeks ago we didn't even have a location. A person would be amazed with what Chat gpt has helped me accomplish along the way to getting here.
I need some ideas to fill those shelves. Some poker related shelf sitters. I'm thinking old poker books etc. I told my buddy darrick if we didn't suck we could fill it with poker trophies lol.
ekricket
Royal Flush
If I sent you some chips could you advertise them for sale in the shelves? Open a consignment store
Start collecting poker chips
JThomas7
High Hand
JThomas7
High Hand
To be fully transparent the other side of the room isn't looking near as good lol.
JThomas7
High Hand
Well tomorrows the day.
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dremonk
High Hand
Looking really cool, good luck!
DrStrange
4 of a Kind
Are you using Props to get the action going?
JThomas7
High Hand
We have 46 members currently signed up. Just going to see what happens
JThomas7
High Hand
Well we've opened 3 nights now. Nothing crazy with just 1 game a night and a list. We've been close to 2 games a couple of times but a few would always leave or bust out. We had 2 tournament tables the first night. Everyones saying our Sunday Freezeout is going to sell out so we will see what happens. I heard a guy say tonight that what's going to happen is all the small self dealt games around the area are going to break up once they find out about our place. It wasn't an overnight hit but wasn't a failure ether. We only need to do 1 game a night to make it, 2 games a night and we're doing well.
DrStrange
4 of a Kind
I write this not to rain on your parade, but to suggest the critical importance for finding a way to get the people waiting off of a list and into a game. The notion the local self-dealt games are going to fold into your game is pretty optimistic if you can't offer almost instant seating. Maybe something like a lower cost must move table?
Selling an hours long wait to maybe join a game requires the host to offer something extraordinary when there is a no-fee home game with a seat open as an alternative. Not sure what that attraction is - the biggest selling point is a professional dealer and a steady flow of players keeping the game fresh whenever I want to play. If that isn't part of the offering, it seems like a serious problem.
That waiting list is a mixed blessing. It does promise some degree of extra interest and a cushion to keep the table from breaking too early. A waiting list that is hours long is sure to run off customers sooner than later. After all, BillyBob's game might be self-dealt and isn't quite as spiffy as the professional card room, but I can get a seat every time.
Good luck! It will be interesting to hear how this turns out -=- DrStrange
Selling an hours long wait to maybe join a game requires the host to offer something extraordinary when there is a no-fee home game with a seat open as an alternative. Not sure what that attraction is - the biggest selling point is a professional dealer and a steady flow of players keeping the game fresh whenever I want to play. If that isn't part of the offering, it seems like a serious problem.
That waiting list is a mixed blessing. It does promise some degree of extra interest and a cushion to keep the table from breaking too early. A waiting list that is hours long is sure to run off customers sooner than later. After all, BillyBob's game might be self-dealt and isn't quite as spiffy as the professional card room, but I can get a seat every time.
Good luck! It will be interesting to hear how this turns out -=- DrStrange
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JThomas7
High Hand
JThomas7
High Hand
I guess I hit enter on accident before I was done so I'll have to start over lol. Sundays our "early day" we've got a a 2pm freeze out tournament. I've got 3 guys here waiting on a ROE game to start.
I've read the post and I guess everything is just a double edged sword. I would argue the list is just as important as getting the game started. But I also understand your argument. Back home there's a casino with 1 table. I won't go because I know I'm going to sit on the list all night if I don't show up at 2pm. Stack that on top of their incompetent dealers and it's just off the list completely for me.
As far as what's the draw? I think it goes both ways. Most of the people I know from the last 20 years of being in casino's / poker rooms can't sit through a home game. It goes both ways though. The guys that really like the home game settings won't really like not being able to bet out of turn, make their own change out of the pot, being told not to string bet etc. I'm not even sure I necessarily agree with the talk I heard of "This is going to break up all these small local games", the night before the same guy was telling us this game would never work because only 4 of the people in the room were from this actual town. It's all a feeling out process at this point. The room will survive on a game of night, it will thrive with 2.
I've read the post and I guess everything is just a double edged sword. I would argue the list is just as important as getting the game started. But I also understand your argument. Back home there's a casino with 1 table. I won't go because I know I'm going to sit on the list all night if I don't show up at 2pm. Stack that on top of their incompetent dealers and it's just off the list completely for me.
As far as what's the draw? I think it goes both ways. Most of the people I know from the last 20 years of being in casino's / poker rooms can't sit through a home game. It goes both ways though. The guys that really like the home game settings won't really like not being able to bet out of turn, make their own change out of the pot, being told not to string bet etc. I'm not even sure I necessarily agree with the talk I heard of "This is going to break up all these small local games", the night before the same guy was telling us this game would never work because only 4 of the people in the room were from this actual town. It's all a feeling out process at this point. The room will survive on a game of night, it will thrive with 2.
Anthony Martino
Royal Flush
So what I'll say is the way I view opening a new poker room is this:
Goal #1 HAS to be obtaining critical mass. You need butts in seats and games running. It not only keeps players showing up, but it ensures your staff are making a living and keep showing up to work, reducing your turnover.
In that vein, if I was opening a poker room, I'd be going for a 4-month tiered rollout.
A yearly membership to the club would be somewhere between $1-25. My goal is to make that barrier to entry a non-issue for players. On top of that, the membership would include "x" number of cash game hours. Make it impossible for them to say no. Once they've signed up, now you have their address and email address, you can market to them and keep them engaged with what's happening at the club.
Consider even starting a Discord channel for your members to discuss the club, provide feedback and coordinate to setup specific games on different nights. Put your customers to work helping you grow the club and games.
Then I'd be looking at something like this (and be sure it's clear to the members from the jump so nothing is seen as a suprise)
MONTH #1 - I wouldn't charge any hourly seat rental fees. I'd say "hey, we're brand new and we'd love for you to give us a shot. Please come and try us out, we're not charging anything for the first month except your club membership fee. All we ask is that you take care of our staff" You make it impossible for people not to show up. Charge no additional fees in tournaments you run, all the money goes into the prize pool.
The more games you get, the more games you will get. Now you're also getting your members used to making your club part of their daily or weekly routine, building familiarity, and helping you work out the kinks that come with operation.
MONTH #2 - Hourly fees in the cash games would be $5-6, and tournaments would have a 8% fee. You've got the frogs in the pan and you've just turned it on, but you're heating them up slowly so they don't jump out of the pan.
MONTH #3 - Cash games are now $8/hr and tournaments have a 10% fee
MONTH #4 - Cash games are now $10/hr and tournaments have a 12% fee
You're likely coming in well below any market competition, you've had time to build not only critical mass but loyalty. Your staff are being treated well and their happiness is going to translate into better service and care towards your members. Positive reviews are flooding in and now you just need to maintain that.
Hold those rates for awhile. The economy sucks, the cost of everything is on the rise, people do not have the disposable income for entertainment they used to. You need to factor this in and make it affordable for people to choose to spend their limited entertainment dollars with you instead of at a competitor or another activity.
These numbers are rough ideas, I don't know your expenses or the average income in your market, but this is how I would approach operating a room initially. Don't put the cart before the horse worrying about making a profit or cutting expenses. Worry about getting bodies in the door and butts in the seats.
Goal #1 HAS to be obtaining critical mass. You need butts in seats and games running. It not only keeps players showing up, but it ensures your staff are making a living and keep showing up to work, reducing your turnover.
In that vein, if I was opening a poker room, I'd be going for a 4-month tiered rollout.
A yearly membership to the club would be somewhere between $1-25. My goal is to make that barrier to entry a non-issue for players. On top of that, the membership would include "x" number of cash game hours. Make it impossible for them to say no. Once they've signed up, now you have their address and email address, you can market to them and keep them engaged with what's happening at the club.
Consider even starting a Discord channel for your members to discuss the club, provide feedback and coordinate to setup specific games on different nights. Put your customers to work helping you grow the club and games.
Then I'd be looking at something like this (and be sure it's clear to the members from the jump so nothing is seen as a suprise)
MONTH #1 - I wouldn't charge any hourly seat rental fees. I'd say "hey, we're brand new and we'd love for you to give us a shot. Please come and try us out, we're not charging anything for the first month except your club membership fee. All we ask is that you take care of our staff" You make it impossible for people not to show up. Charge no additional fees in tournaments you run, all the money goes into the prize pool.
The more games you get, the more games you will get. Now you're also getting your members used to making your club part of their daily or weekly routine, building familiarity, and helping you work out the kinks that come with operation.
MONTH #2 - Hourly fees in the cash games would be $5-6, and tournaments would have a 8% fee. You've got the frogs in the pan and you've just turned it on, but you're heating them up slowly so they don't jump out of the pan.
MONTH #3 - Cash games are now $8/hr and tournaments have a 10% fee
MONTH #4 - Cash games are now $10/hr and tournaments have a 12% fee
You're likely coming in well below any market competition, you've had time to build not only critical mass but loyalty. Your staff are being treated well and their happiness is going to translate into better service and care towards your members. Positive reviews are flooding in and now you just need to maintain that.
Hold those rates for awhile. The economy sucks, the cost of everything is on the rise, people do not have the disposable income for entertainment they used to. You need to factor this in and make it affordable for people to choose to spend their limited entertainment dollars with you instead of at a competitor or another activity.
These numbers are rough ideas, I don't know your expenses or the average income in your market, but this is how I would approach operating a room initially. Don't put the cart before the horse worrying about making a profit or cutting expenses. Worry about getting bodies in the door and butts in the seats.
Anthony Martino
Royal Flush
Another thing to consider, reach out to specific interest groups. Invite your local Reserve National Guard, VFW, Police & Fire Departments, department of public works, hospital staff, college students, etc. to come play an event just for them where you put up a small prize pool tournament. Make those local connections and they'll pay dividends.
JThomas7
High Hand
I think the most important thing we can do is this. We have to make non poker players into players. Even if it's just occasionally.
Anthony Martino
Royal Flush
Here in the Austin we have 2+ million people in the greater metro area, we've had poker over a decade. Ask the average Austinite about poker and their response will be:
1. There's poker in Austin?
2. Isn't it illegal?
3. I'd love to play, but I've never played before (or I've only played home games), I'd be intimidated, I don't want to get yelled at for making a mistake.
Even the big guys at The Lodge and TCH have failed to reach and attract a lot of the fun, local recs, they're hyper-focused on drawing in the grinders (completely backwards approach)
So just make sure in your local market people know it's available and consider having a beginner/introduction tournament each month where newcomers can learn terminology, etiquette, etc. in a safe and fun setting with you.
JThomas7
High Hand
We expected Sunday to be the slow day. We know nothing. Part of growth is admitting what you don't know.
Anthony Martino
Royal Flush
Nice, love to see it!
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