Post by: Reality Check on July 29, 2003, 04:28:59 PM
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Reality Is.......Working out how to carry the 10, only to start leaving the 7.
Post by: Rock77 on July 30, 2003, 09:54:20 AM
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How am I supposed to knock all 10 down with one ball?!?
Post by: MichiganBowling on July 30, 2003, 10:02:23 AM
That's all!
Keep your bowlers happy, but don't give the place away.
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com
Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"
Post by: Debina on July 30, 2003, 10:22:12 AM
1. If for economic reasons the lanes are only dressed once a day, please dress them just prior to league instead of first thing in the morning. The daytime Cosmic kids don't care about the pattern, but the 6:30 p.m. league does.
2. Please check the approaches and settee areas after those daytime Cosmic bowlers. You might accept that your rental shoes are going to be sticky, but I paid a lot for my SSTs and would like to use them for at least a year.
3. Your league bowlers commit to bowling in your center every week for a given period of time. It's guaranteed income. Please consider giving them a break on lineage rather than charging them the top open-play rate. Even a quarter less per game would be appreciated.
Yep, those would be my three. Of course, equipment maintenance isn't an issue yet, since the center where I bowl is only 18 months old. Down the road, I may have to add a fourth to my list.
Deb
Post by: Magic Carpet on July 30, 2003, 11:35:47 AM
Are you telling me there are centers that charge their league bowlers full price for open bowling? I honestly did not know that any did that.
Ron Clifton
Post by: brimar on July 30, 2003, 11:42:17 AM
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Thank you for reading my post.
Brian
Post by: Ishmael on July 30, 2003, 11:56:53 AM
quote:
Are you telling me there are centers that charge their league bowlers full price for open bowling? I honestly did not know that any did that.
There sure are. Mine is one. They are much more interested in birthday parties and cosmic bowling than taking care of the league bowlers.
Here are few ideas:
1. Keep the place clean, especially the approaches and settee area.
2. Condition the lanes on a regular schedule.
3. Do the routine maintenance on the ball returns, pin setters, lanes, and oil
machine. Do not put it off.
Sounds simple, but none of this gets done at my local house like it should.
Post by: Debina on July 30, 2003, 12:14:24 PM
Yep, our center charges the max open play rate for evening leagues. For a daytime league, they charge the max daytime open play rate. Our lineage went from $8.25 to $9.00 between the winter and summer leagues this year. Why? Because max open play rate went to $3.00 a game. While granted, it's still quite a deal for cheap entertainment, that extra $0.75 caused a couple of teams to rethink joining a league at the shiny new house. Over the course of a season, it does add up, and yes, we had to increase our weekly league fees or accept a prize fund that was going to be next to nothing.
Deb
Post by: mumzie on July 30, 2003, 01:01:33 PM
Have some food available that isn't just "snack bar".
When I was a kid, some of the centers had EXTREMELY good restaurants. My family would head there for a meal even if no one was bowling!
Now, the best I can get are deep fried cheese sticks and hot dogs.
I spend a lot of time in centers - and would like to eat reasonably healthy.
Also -spend some time on the restrooms. Make sure they're clean, well stocked, and that there is some place for bowlers to dry their hands without having to walk in water to do so.
Keep the approaches and settee areas clean. this also means free from powder and other stuff that open play bowlers put on the floor.
Clean the underground - even if the lanes are spanking clean, my equipment ends up filthy if those underground ball returns aren't cleaned.
Replace the pins more often than once every two years. Yes - I know it's expensive.
Train the desk personnel to be courteous. Manners are free. BAD manners are very expensive.
Make sure that the pro shop is accessible during league hours, and that accessories are available any time.
If it's open play, and you have music playing, make sure that
a) it's not totally obnoxious stuff - make it elevator type stuff, and
2) TURN IT DOWN! Bowling centers are loud enough as it is.
When open play bowlers are on the lanes, please reign them in.
For birthday parties - tell them the rules IN ADVANCE regarding flash photography. I understand the need for picture taking during birthday parties - but if the person with the camera can point it AWAY from the scratch league, it would be greatly appreciated.
Put water coolers behind every 3-4 pairs - ala the National Bowling Stadium. Although I know a lot of people don't drink water while bowling, a lot do. Having it convenient would be helpful.
That's all I have now - but I'm sure I'll add to it as time goes on. :-)
Just thought of one more - should have been obvious - NO SMOKING. Designate a smoking area or something - BUT NO SMOKING IN THE BOWLING AREA. PERIOD.
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Bowling? Of course it's a sport.
Edited on 7/30/2003 1:11 PM
Post by: 9andaWiggle on July 30, 2003, 01:18:52 PM
1) keep the place clean
2) personally I do not care how old the equipment is as long as it's well maintained and does not damage my equipment. Computer scoring is not necessary for me.
3) open a grill! I love greasy cheeseburgers and fries while bowling! However, DO NOT sell that crap in a bag that you microwave - that is NOT a cheeseburger!
4) I know people will smoke in a bowling alley. Put in a top quality ventilation/air purification system for the comfort of ALL of your bowlers.
5) while a pro shop is not necessary in all centers, at least keep a good selection of tape, ball cleaner, resin bags and other misc. accessories in case I run out or lose something.
Those are the main points for me.
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9-
Why, WHY won't the last one just fall?? It's WIGGLING for cryin' out loud!!
Post by: Magic Carpet on July 30, 2003, 03:40:55 PM
I understand now that you were talking about league lineage. I thought you were talking about charging a league bowler the full open play price when they come in to practice.
Just so you will know when centers go up on lineage it's because they have to in order to stay in business. Bowling centers always labor over having to raise lineage because they know they could loose a few bowlers. You would not belive how much things like property tax and insurance has gone up in the past 3 years in some places. Insurance companies are trying to DOUBLE their rates and blaming it on Sept. 11th.
I personally would be willing to sign a waver reducing the insurance company's liability in the event that terrorist flew an airplane into my center.
Bowl great!!!
Ron Clifton
Post by: The Ratpack on July 30, 2003, 04:15:47 PM
On the plus side the centre gives all league bowlers dicount on both league nights and on private practice sessions.
I also think chewing gum should be banned from centres cleaning it up is gross!!!
Post by: CB on July 31, 2003, 03:36:30 AM
The lane man does like to play with the shot, but then that is a plus if you are interested in becoming a better bowler. My only complaint is the A/C is not always functioning properly. Though I will say it has been working well this year, so far.
One thing that has really boosted bowling in my center is QuarterMania. There is no 9PM league on either Sunday or Monday, so they started QuarterMania. A $6.00 fee is charged, then shoe rental is $0.50, sodas are $0.50, and each game bowled is $0.50. They have a waiting list and people call in around 5PM to reserve a lane or more for 9PM. Many of our new league bowlers came from QuarterMania regulars.
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I have no life, therefore I bowl
or I bowl, therefore I have no life? Okay here is the truth I bowl, therefore there is life
Post by: Debina on July 31, 2003, 11:12:46 AM
I understand the need to raise prices to stay profitable, and I certainly want our center to stay in business. My point was just that since leagues do commit to anywhere from 28 to 36 weeks of bowling, perhaps a break on the lineage could be offered.
As for league bowlers and open play, in our center, it rather depends on "who you know" at the front desk. My husband and I practice anywhere from three to five times a week in addition to bowling leagues. The majority of the front desk personnel will give us a break on open play rates. One guy ... we think of him as the "wanna-be manager" ... charges us full open play price every time even though he sees us there on an almost daily basis. Then, one of his buddies will walk in (a buddy who doesn't even bowl league in our center), and the buddy will be bowling his practice session for FREE. Sometimes it makes us wonder exactly how valued our patronage is.
I suppose, in a perfect world, a center would offer some sort of league card that could be shown by the player when they come in to practice, and that would give them a set discount.
Deb
Post by: JOE FALCO on July 31, 2003, 11:38:54 AM
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Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O
Post by: TwoFourEightNineNine on July 31, 2003, 12:28:56 PM
- Make sure the machines in the back are clean, so i can wear a light colored shirt to your center.
- Keep the area where the pinsetters are clean, too. It prevents confusion among employees who are needed to get a ball return or a 180/sweep in the back (I was trained to do this kind of stuff, yet I worked the desk with a parter at one time).
- No matter how new or old your center is, make sure it is super shiny and clean... especially the masking units. Don't let dust get on them. I have been to centers who have 30 year old masking units and other stuff, yet it still looks great.
- Make the center rules really big (no food in the bowlers' area, do not step over the line, etc.). Not the little 3x5 metal card that's glued to the doors to the bathroom and scoring machine.
- If you hand out what I call a "lane distribution sheet", make sure the directions on how to operate the lane machine is on it, too. People actually read those things.
Ok, i think i have enough.
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-Jeremy Vitug
BallReviews.com Burning Sensations Bowling Team
Post by: 9andaWiggle on July 31, 2003, 02:11:39 PM
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9-
Why, WHY won't the last one just fall?? It's WIGGLING for cryin' out loud!!
Post by: mumzie on July 31, 2003, 02:45:27 PM
This one cost me a valued teammate this coming season.
Centers - either provide day care (at a cost), or at least a playroom where little ones can go to be entertained by a parent or caregiver.
My doubles partner and longtime teammate has little ones. Due to his wife going to school evenings, he's had to drop league because of the center discontinuing daycare. Several others I know have moved to another center - I believe there's only a couple left in this entire Metro area offering a nursery.
I understand that it costs the center $10,000/year for liability insurance on the day care. I'm wondering if the overall cost is going to be greater without.
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Bowling? Of course it's a sport.
Post by: DON DRAPER on July 31, 2003, 10:39:36 PM
2. keep the place( the whole place ) clean
3. avoid putting in synthetic approaches
4. replace cracked pins asap
Post by: Doggie the Dog on July 31, 2003, 11:59:14 PM
- Take care of the league bowlers you already have, and identify regular open play and cosmic bowlers- they're possible future league bowlers.
- Upgrade the place whenever possible and when it is cost-effective, and regularly maintain your equipment- there's over $1 million plus alone in lane equipment(machines, ball returns, scoring, etc).Do touch-up work (cosmetic painting and repair)when needed-a little TLC works wonders.
- Have the employees take time to get to know the customers. It's all about public relations.
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BELIEVE IT--- it's LIMA TIME!!!
Lima-nade, Lima-nade, Lima-NADE!!!!
WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Edited on 8/1/2003 0:11 AM
Edited on 8/1/2003 0:13 AM