Vol.5, No.4 — April 10, 2008

 ::  HAVE YOU HEARD? …  There’s serious NEW business in Charlotte at the 2008 International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo, June 12-14, 2008.

The bang for your buck at the 2008 BCA Expo is amazing. We know it's a tough market out there, so not only did we cut our registration fees in half this year, but your Expo badge is a $300 value! Here's how it adds up:
 

$50 Keynote seminar with Kyle Petty
$125 Five seminars @ $25 each
$75 Three breakfasts @ $25 each
$50 An evening with Jake Johannsen, LIVE
Priceless A few days to share ideas with the entire industry
$300 TOTAL VALUE

 

 

 

 


Not to mention 20 hours of exhibit hall time with the absolute latest in new products from the industry's leading manufacturers and distributors.

Here's the word! The BCA has the best hotel rates in town for you. Compare the host hotels (shaded in blue below) with several others and you'll agree. We've negotiated some terrific rates for all of our 2008 BCA Expo participants. Download a housing form or book online with the links below.

Search done on 4/7/08, for four nights (6/11-15/08)

BCA Expo

Expedia

Kayak.com

Orbitz

Hotels.com
Omni Charlotte   $194 $194 $239 $194
Charlotte Marriott City Center $146 $219 $219 $219 n/a
Courtyard Charlotte City Center   $199 $199 $199 $199
Holiday Inn Charlotte Center   n/a n/a $171 n/a
Hilton Charlotte Center City SOLD OUT $219 $219 n/a $219
Westin Charlotte $166 $194 $194 $194 $194
Crowne Plaza Charlotte   n/a n/a $189 n/a

Fun for sure! The BCA is excited to announce an exclusive offer for 2008 BCA Expo participants — a private, ULTIMATE Racing Experience at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the world-famous Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Spots are limited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Saturday night, June 14 (after the 2008 BCA Expo closes). Bring your employees, your customers or just yourself. We'll even offer transportation to and from the race track! Learn more about the ULTIMATE Racing Experience.

Make your plans now to join us in Charlotte, June 12-14, 2008. Additional details can be found on the 2008 BCA Expo Web site. Register today!

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 :: 2008 BCA RULE BOOK FEATURES UPDATED WORLD-STANDARDIZED RULES

The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) announces ... the availability of the Billiards: Official Rules & Records Book – BCA 60th Anniversary Edition. The must-have resource for the billiard industry, the 2008 BCA Official Rules & Records Book contains the newly updated World-Standardized Rules for 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 14.1, One Pocket and many other popular games, including the introduction of a new game, 10-Ball.

In addition, the book includes: fully illustrated schematics, diagrams and sketches; a brief history of the game; BCA Hall of Fame biographies; tournament results and records; and instructional tips.

Each year, the record book section of the publication grows to include the champions named from a wide range of major events and you'll enjoy catching up on the most recent wins.

Copies of the rule book can be purchased online via the BCA Store at bcastore.com. Or, orders can be placed by contacting the BCA at 866.852.0999. Volume discounts are available for BCA members. 

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 :: DON'T MISS THE ACTION: GENERATIONPOOL.COM 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Tickets for the GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Championships ... June 8-12, 2008, at the Charlotte Convention Center, Grand Ballroom, are now on sale. Ticket prices are $100 per night for VIP tickets and $20 per night for general admission tickets. Seating is limited, so call 615.859.9725 to reserve your tickets today!

2008 GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Championships Schedule:

Day Time Event Price
Sunday, June 8, 2008 5:00 p.m. Women’s Early Rounds Free Admission
Monday, June 9, 2008 10:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Early
and Elimination Rounds 		Free Admission
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 10:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Elimination Rounds Free Admission
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Quarter Finals
(Taped for ESPN) 		Free Admission
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Semi Finals
(Taped for ESPN)		 $100 VIP*; $20 General Admission
Thursday, June 12, 2008 7:00 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Finals and BCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Taped for ESPN) $100 VIP*; $20 General Admission

*Includes VIP seating in upscale leather chairs and all inclusive food and beverage service. Suggested dress attire is business.

Design the 2008 trophy! GenerationPool.com is on the lookout for designers that want to help design the new 2008 GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Championships trophy. The winning trophy will be featured on ESPN and awarded to both the men's and women's winner of the 2008 GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Championships. This contest is free to enter and winners will be awarded a new pool cue, online recognition and the tournament trophy may even be published in the top pool and billiard publications.

Please submit your 2008 GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Championships trophy design by Wednesday, April 30, 2008, to: Billiard Congress of America, Attn: Trophy Design, 12303 Airport Way, Suite 290, Broomfield, CO 80021.

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 :: BCA annual report available for download

While the print editions won’t make their debut until June (at the annual General Membership Meeting held in conjunction with the 2008 BCA Expo) … interested members can preview the 2006-07 BCA Annual Report online on the BCA Web site.

Although the 2006-07 BCA Annual Report is a comprehensive review of the preceding fiscal period, the BCA is well on its way toward the goal of reinventing itself in 2008. From new research, available exclusively to BCA members on industry trends and consumer attitudes, to an improved bca-pool.com Web site, new seminars and services available during the BCA Expo, to additional affinity program opportunities and a commitment to launching a consumer marketing initiative, the BCA has been hard at work.

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 :: BILLIARDS IN THE NEWS

Deluxeware has released ... an update to its popular Pool Deluxe billiards game for Palm
OS devices. Pool Deluxe features excellent 3D graphics, realistic physics, intuitive controls and smooth gameplay. Pool Deluxe v1.45 for Palm OS is available now for $24.95, but is currently
on sale for $17.95 through the end of the month. 
[ more ]
  • IN OTHER NEWS ... Dragon Promotions has allotted 12 spots for billiard players from America’s Southern continent this year for the upcoming Predator International 10-Ball Championship in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel & Casino during the BCA Pool League National 8-Ball Championships, May 12-17, 2008. This is the largest Latin American contingent ever to participate in the 10-Ball championship event.
  • One of the most recognized names in women’s golf will test her cue-wielding skills against one of the world’s top-ranked female billiards players during the upcoming Ginn OPEN. Annika Sorenstam, No. 2 on the Rolex World Rankings and one of the top players at this year’s Ginn OPEN, will play a friendly game of pool against No. 7-ranked billiards pro Sarah Ellerby. The champion athletes will face off at Ginn Reunion Resort from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 18.
  • CueTable.com recently announced the launch of its new Web site and free billiards layout software. The new CueTable site has an improved design, featuring the Pool Shot Browser, bringing layouts from all over the Web right to the users fingertips. In addition to the CueTable layout diagramming software, the site also features an Aiming Calculator.
  • The 2nd Annual APA National Artistic Pool Championship will be held August 15-21, 2008, in conjunction with the APA National Team Championships. Preliminary rounds for the event are scheduled for August 15-20, with finals concluding August 21. This event is open to all APA members attending the National Team Championships.
  • World Champion Efren Reyes, International Champion Francisco Bustamante and Champion Rubilen Amit have been cast to star in the movie “9-Ball,” directed by Anthony Palma of Main Street Productions. The film is about a young, up-and-coming pool player who breaks away from hustling pool in the back rooms of bars to follow her dream of becoming the 9 Ball World Champion. Jennifer Barretta is cast in the lead role.
MEMBER MARKETING 101 ... From "52 Ways to Make Pool Everybody's Game"


TIP № 02

Create and maintain a good mailing list to target your best customers and people like them.

STRATEGY:

Mailing lists give you a snapshot of your customer base. They help you identify who your customers are — and who they aren’t. With a well-maintained mailing list, you can not only analyze your business, but create powerful direct mail campaigns to drive more traffic into your business.

EXECUTION:

  • Generate and maintain a mailing list by asking customers for their addresses.

  • Hold a drawing for free merchandise and collect customer information to build a mailing list.

  • Contact local pool-related clubs, magazines or newsletters to see if you can use their mailing list.

  • Exchange mailing lists with golf retailers, bowling alleys and other appropriate businesses.

  • Contact mailing list suppliers to purchase mailing lists for zip codes in your area, and ask for specific demographics, such as home ownership and household income.

  • Maintain your mailing lists using Excel or another spreadsheet program with standardized fields (street address, last name, etc.).

  • Keep lists updated to ensure that no postage is wasted.

GenerationPool.com:
Not Your Daddy’s Web Site

Have you checked out GenerationPool.com yet?  Jump online now and experience how
the BCA’s new consumer Web site
can help you promote your
business and services!
 

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 :: BCA NOTES & NEWS BRIEFS
COMING UP ...

>> APRIL 2008 ... Billiard Industry Trends Report kickoff, early April
 ... 2008 BCAPL Midwest Championships, Canterbury Park, April 10-13, 2008, Shakopee, Minnesota

>> MAY 2008 … APA National Singles Championships, May 1-3, 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada
… 2008 BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships, May 9-17, 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada
… 20th Annual VNEA Int’l Championships, May 22-31, 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada

>> JUNE 2008 … GenerationPool.com 9-Ball Championships, June 11-12, 2008, Charlotte, North Carolina
… 2008 International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo, June 12-14, 2008, Charlotte, North Carolina
… BCA Hall of Fame Ceremony, June 12, 2008, Charlotte, North Carolina

>> JULY 2008 … BEF Junior Nationals, July 8-13, 2008, University of Arizona Student Union, Tucson, Arizona
BCA MEMBER NEWS:
BLATT BILLIARDS CELEBRATES 85 YEARS


Rob Johnson, BCA CEO,
Fran Crimi, BCA Instructor Program administrator, and Ivan Lee, BCA Board president, visit
the exhibition.
In celebration of its 85th anniversary year in New York City ... BCA member Blatt Billiards Corporation recently held a first-of-its-kind antique pool table, cue art and billiard memorabilia exhibition at The National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, March 19-30, 2008. Curated by Victor Stein, author of the Billiard Encyclopedia, the exhibit featured professionally restored billiard tables from the last turn of century. On display in the main gallery, there were over 100 of the most high-end custom cues from private collectors around the world. In addition, there were expert billiard historians providing interesting inside stories of many billiard memorabilia and collectables on site.
ARE YOU A GENERATIONPOOL.COM INSIDER?
Here is your chance ... to speak your mind and show the world your pool skills! Become a GenerationPool.com Insider today and you can post your pool tips, add to the pool etiquette section of GenerationPool.com, post any pool and billiards tournaments or events, sell your used pool equipment and join the social network to meet other pool fans across the nation.

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 :: NEW BILLIARDSDIGEST.COM FEATURES MORE POOL TIPS, VIDEOS AND NEWS

Celebrating its 30th anniversary ... Billiards Digest has launched an entirely redesigned, revamped and enhanced Web site with the features readers demanded the most. Upgrades to the site include:

  • A new section devoted to tips and instruction, featuring Tony Robles’ “BD House Pro” column and major coaching features on topics like breaking and staying in stroke.

  • A new section devoted to the magazine’s video features — “PoolDawg Stroke of Genius” and “30 Over 30,” presented by Predator Cues — presenting great shots and matches from the video archives of Accu-Stats Video Productions, ESPN, WPBA, Matchroom Sport and Billiards International.

  • “Web Gems,” a rotating collection of the best billiard videos found on the Internet.

  • New entries and full archives from Jeanette Lee’s “Dear Jeanette” advice column, plus monthly columns by esteemed “Tips & Shafts” writer George Fels and Billiards Digest Publisher Mike Panozzo.

  • An article archive on pool history, equipment care and more.

  • Daily news reports in the “Headstring News” column.

Visit the new and improved site today at billiardsdigest.com.

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 :: KIDS THE WINNERS AT BILLIARD EDUCATION FUNDRAISER

Combining opportunities to challenge top pros with a pool raffle ... put $2,300 in the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) coffers at the recent Hopkins Super Billiards Expo. The money raised will support the BEF scholarship and junior programs. The fundraiser was made possible by the generous donation by Brunswick Billiards for the pool table raffle, a booth courtesy of Expo producers Dawn and Allen Hopkins, and pro players who provided exciting challenge matches for the amateur players and other Expo attendees to watch.

Professional billiard players donating their time to assist in the charity challenge were: Artistic Pool Masters Championship participants Andy Segal, Bruce Barthelette and Tim Chin; WPBA Pro Players Ga Young Kim and Allison Fisher; and UPA Pro Players Mika Immonen, Mike Jackson, Raj Hundal and Tim Hill.

The Brunswick pool table was won by Pam Burns of Conowingo, Maryland. Burns is ecstatic about the opportunity to play pool at home with her 15-year-old son, Dustin Majerowicz. Majerowicz will be practicing and intends to qualify for the 2008 BEF Junior National 9- Ball Championships, which will be held at the University of Arizona, Tucson, this summer.

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... 2008 BCA Rule Book ... THE source for newly updated world-standardized rules ... Visit the BCA Store and order your copies today!
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An exclusive service to Billiard Congress of America Business Members, the BCA Member Update is distributed via e-mail twice monthly and archived online. Please forward, print and circulate this newsletter widely and feel free to submit your comments or contributions to Robin Dahlen, associate managing director.
Copyright © Billiard Congress of America

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