Nottingham Gala- Lack of Vision

[Malc-M]

Its a good club and I play there a lot but it could be so much better.

I am increasingly frustrated by the managements lack of vision.
For instance

1--Have they shown any interest in the Nottingham Team beating Blackpool Heads Up?
No- And they have been reluctant to put up a photo of the winning team that I supplied.

2---Have they made any progress in recruiting more dealers-
None I have seen

3---Is the organisation any better- ie start times, registration.?
Yes a little-- but only because some of the personal efforts of some of the card room staff..

4---Did they embrace the opportunity to have 425 cover the 250 next week?.
No


I know several of the management team read posts here on blonde and I hope they take heed and shape up before we all start giving them a miss and head for Walsall or even Leicester.

Maybe some of the managers would prefer we did leave then they could install even more of those high tech slots which are perhaps less hassle and more profitable than catering for the poker players.

Malc-M

[Karabiner]

Its a good club and I play there a lot but it could be so much better.

I am  increasingly frustrated by the managements lack of vision.
For instance

1--Have they shown any interest  in the Nottingham Team beating Blackpool Heads Up?
No- And they have been reluctant  to put up a photo of the winning team that I supplied.

2---Have they made any progress in recruiting more dealers-
None I have seen

3---Is the organisation any better- ie start times, registration.?
Yes a little-- but only because some of the personal efforts of some of the card room staff..

4---Did they embrace the opportunity to have 425 cover the 250 next week?.
No


I know several of the management team read posts here on blonde and I hope they take heed and shape up before we all start giving them a miss and head for Walsall or even Leicester.

Chris Maskell (casino GM) would defiinitely prefer the cardroom to be full of slots

Thus the different approach to poker compared to other Gala casinos.

[Karabiner]

Sorry I can't work the quote thingy, but you are right.

P.S. Don't expect anyone else to respond to anything even minutely controversial.

[Ironside]

Sorry I can't work the quote thingy, but you are right.

P.S. Don't expect anyone else to respond to anything even minutely controversial.

you think i would duck an issue?

all i can say is that casinos would prefer to have all the poker players playing different games where they can make money
so in their ideal world we would all turn up for the weekly games but instead of playing poker play the slots or the roulette

basically they dont care about poker or poker players poker is just a way to get people thru the door

[Karabiner]

Was not referring to you Ironside, I know that you are not afraid to speak your mind.

But apart from you most of the regular posters on here are reluctant to comment on controversial issues.

[ifm]

Nothing too controversial really, we all know that casinos see poker as a way to draw in punters and too be fair to them it really is a good way of doing that.
The problem is that once they draw a decent crowd they don't seem to be too interested in keeping them happy on the poker side of things.
Proactive is not really a word they recognise, attendances increase weekly because of the growing attraction to the game not because of their efforts but they seem to think that they are doing it.
Take a cardroom out of somewhere like walsall and it would be empty simple as that.
The newer cardrooms are making an effort now and drawing the punters away, but is will it last?
No, as soon as they pick up a decent crowd they'll sit back and watch and not continue to improve things.
The only way to go IMHO is to do the dedicated cardroom like the gutshot, you know the business your in and you HAVE to keep them happy.
If anyone wants to start up a consortium for a business venture this way count me in.
Ian

[snoopy1239]

The Gala doesn't really care about any the aforementioned points as long as they get people in the casino. And from what i hear, they seem to be filling the cardroom pretty frequently.

As far as heading off to Walsall or Luton, you'll probably head back to Notts. Gala has the best atmosphere around.

[Yogi-Bear]

It is unfortunate that the poker playing people. IE: You lot.

Continue to put up with the absolute farcical conditions that some casinos give you.

Lack of dealers. An absolute disgrace, wether you pay fees or not.

You are right they just want people through the door. Stanley's are re-opening several card rooms, but want you out of there by 1.30 to play the house games, so they increase antes steeply at the business end of the competition. Salford Grosvenor don't staff their card room, and still get full houses every Sunday night. Why don't you all as players refuse to play where conditions are so pitiful. There are plenty of opportunities to play every night of the week online and offline. I hear of people saying let's boycott certain casinos, but they continually go to them week after week. You have made a rod for your own backs, by your continual support of card rooms that don't make an effort. That refuse to listen to your ideas, advice etc.

I know how the card room staff feel at Gala. You want the best for the club you are working in, but most casino managers still live in the dark ages. They want a figure for how much a poker player brings in. THey want to justify staffing the areas.

Card room staff have to please 2 sets of people. Their players, and their managers. It's a very fine line to walk.

Anyway enough of my ranting.

Wish you all the best in Notts, hope it all turns out ok for you all.

Blackpool boys were gonna come, but I think they all lost their way.

Yogi

[Karabiner]

Yogi, you are the voice of reason.

I could not agree with you more, which is why I have only played in Nottingham Gala twice in 6 months.

I prefer to play online than in a cardroom that does not provide dealers for your protection.

My own feeling is that most of the players who fill the cardroom at Notts. are in denial, thinking that it's all fine.

I'm all for the boycott !

[snoopy1239]

There's no substitute for the Gala bantar though.

[bookiebasher]

Good post malcom, agree with everything you said.

Rob is doing a good job, has got respect and some authority, which is what you need in the card room.
Think his hands are tied in as far as moving Gala into the real poker world, management probably still see it as a necessary evil.
If the notts lads voted for a group of 4 or 5 people to represent players views and ideas, which can be put to management in a more formal way.
Collectively we can change it at notts, but as individuals we have no powers of persuasion.
Ideas to ponder:
Change prize structure. As Tony has already said, its our money, we should decide how its paid out. To many tournies ending in deals because of the top heavy format.
A festival...notts ideally placed for a week long festival, either management cannot be arsed to sort it or very short sighted in the opportunities it creates for the casino, in both publicity and revenue.
Starting times. Sunday especially would benefit from a 7 or 8pm start. Understand staff issues but the problem has to be addressed.
Gala should consider sponsering the notts. heads up team...they do a good job representing notts and everyone knows their unbeatable 
For the higher echilons of management at notts all I can do is repeat Delia's word's of encouragement... " WHERE ARE YOU !!!!! "

[stewart]

salford grov dont get a full house every sunday anymore still gets a hefty number but i think 1 sellout in 5 months or simlar

and monday comps only get 50 runners
wendesdays which used to sell out every week now only get 50-60 runners

i have spoke to the manager there alot of times about dealers but as he says we are lucky to still have the card room local he mentioned he might try to do a festivle god help him in that !,

soon pepole will stop going as there is a new club in town with dealers and a buffey, they know how to treat the players the way to go they only been going 3 months and sell out every comp with exellent value from what i have heard

even though of all the card rooms i have been in pairis/amsterdam/gutshot/vic/walsall/salford/blackpool/newcastle


blackpool out ranks the lot by a long way mainly threw organization and waiters and a manager who really know what he is doing and cares about what he is doing

[snoopy1239]

Good post malcom, agree with everything you said.

Rob is doing a good job, has got respect and some authority, which is what you need in the card room.
Think his hands are tied in as far as moving Gala into the real poker world, management probably still see it as a necessary evil.
If the notts lads voted for a group of 4 or 5 people to represent players views and ideas, which can be put to management in a more formal way.
Collectively we can change it at notts, but as individuals we have no powers of persuasion.
Ideas to ponder:
Change prize structure. As Tony has already said, its our money, we should decide how its paid out. To many tournies ending in deals because of the top heavy format.
A festival...notts ideally placed for a week long festival, either management cannot be arsed to sort it or very short sighted in the opportunities it creates for the casino, in both publicity and revenue.
Starting times. Sunday especially would benefit from a 7 or 8pm start. Understand staff issues but the problem has to be addressed.
Gala should consider sponsering the notts. heads up team...they do a good job representing notts and everyone knows their unbeatable 
For the higher echilons of management at notts all I can do is repeat Delia's word's of encouragement... " WHERE ARE YOU !!!!! "

I don't go regularly, but I'd like to see the Gala do well. Would a survey/questionnaire on prize structure, starting times, etc, be a good starting point Jim? If only to see what people's views are.

[Malc-M]

I think the lack of a questionaire/survey being initiated by the Gala Manangement speaks volumes.
 As I said at the begining of this thread I know some of them read this and hopefully take on board the points made.
Malc-M

[Ironside]

i am all for a boycott of notts gala untill they get a questionaire out

infact i promise i wont be there untill they sort out a festival