WHEW!!!
Since this was our 4th consecutive Kentucky in December, it seems a tradition has been born:) and now that we've had time to catch our breath, it's time to digest what just happened. For one thing, the back-to-back tournaments (formerly known as the Winter Southern Closed + New Year's Classic) will forevermore be referred to as
THE KENTUCKY MARATHON!!!
We celebrated a quiet Christmas (the very best kind) and left early the next morning for our 26th TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR...coincidentally the longest trip on our schedule - 7+ hours to Louisville - and we arrived just in time to set up and greet excited players as they checked in. SO FAR, SO GOOD - lots of "Happy Holidays!" - "Was Santa good to you?" - and like that.
The Christmas spirit in full force...You knew that wouldn't last.
The Christmas spirit in full force...You knew that wouldn't last.
And it certainly didn't. The tournament director got an earful DURING CHECK-IN from an angry mother who was very upset about scheduling issues that she felt gave her daughter's opponent an unfair advantage..mind you, she was referring to a potential match-up that MIGHT have occurred three days later (and of course it didn't even happen). What the...oh geeez! Then the tournament kicked off and things went downhill pretty fast...An all-time low was when a furious father yelled at Danny for a full HOUR!!! He was angry because his son was not playing well and he insisted that he needed to protect his privacy rights...blah blah blah. He argued with the tournament director, threatened to call the USTA (go ahead), and told Danny he appreciated our video service (really? this from a former customer, believe it or not) but he insisted we needed permission from BOTH parents before we recorded any match. Since he clearly had no intention of purchasing the video (and he already knew his son's opponent was not going to buy it - he'd approached them too, unbelievably), he DEMANDED that the camera come down...and he finally got his way. We have certainly researched this topic many, many times and we are NOT doing anything wrong...but just try convincing ballistic parents of that.
I was in tears - Danny wasn't crying of course but you better believe he was very upset. It was about much more than the $55...The man was essentially questioning our integrity and implying we were doing something illegal or immoral. WOULD YOU BE SERIOUS, MAN - nothing could be further from the truth!!! I can't tell you how hurtful and disheartening it was to be repeatedly insulted in that way. Of course this man wasn't the first and unfortunately he won't be the last.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS?!
YOU TELL ME!
Next, a father approached us to ask if we'd object to him recording his son's match (what were we supposed to say?!? Can you bring your own steak to Ruth Chris steakhouse and sit in their booths and use their silverware while you eat?!?) and we watched as a parade of parents strolled by with video cameras (to hang their cameras beside ours, though they were not permitted to do so) - one father even went so far as to angrily shove me out of his way as he went to hang his camera (which he was not permitted to do)...
I understand it's a free country (hey, I'm all for freedom) but....well, when you factor in 7 straight 16+ hour days for 2 people covering 4 separate sites and recording 250 matches (while selling 50% of them), well, it's easy to see why we're reconsidering what the @#@#% we're doing and why.
So as we begin our SEVENTH YEAR of this crazy business, we're asking for YOUR help.
Just pretend you could tell us what to do.
You can't, of course:) but if you could, what would YOU do???
You would think that we wouldn't have to deal with this CRAP anymore---but you'd be wrong.
Just pretend you could tell us what to do.
You can't, of course:) but if you could, what would YOU do???
You would think that we wouldn't have to deal with this CRAP anymore---but you'd be wrong.
:(
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Please keep in mind that we get virtually NO support from the coaches, NO support from the tennis association, NO support from academies, NO support from anyone.
I can't imagine giving up (and I'd hate it if the 99% who love what we do lose out to the 1% who make our lives miserable) but in spite of our best efforts, there may just be a reason nobody else is doing this...and unfortunately, TENNIS may just be the only sport on earth that isn't ready for technology.
Oh, yes, of course the best players with the best bank accounts are ready and they're already doing this and more...but the average tennis player?
YOU TELL ME!
3 comments:
There is no such thing as privacy on a tennis court - the whole point of tennis is that it's a social game. If you want to play in secret then put up a court in your own backyard.
The USTA must get behind the public access to tournament play - it has so many advantages that to allow a few spoil sports to ruin it is just plain idiocy.
Beyond the obvious benefits to strategic review, video of tournament match play can be the only effective limiting factor to bad court behavior and outright cheating which is rampant in junior tennis.
The current system of having to call for a court official is not at all optimal or really very effective at all.
I say go ahead an have a website where the general tennis public can view obvious bad behavior - for all to see. The video technology is simply a tool - use it for its best purpose and have safeguards to its possible misuse.
what about offering a 3-,6-, and 12-month package to families - for a flat fee, they get x number of match dvds from HTT of anyone in their family playing in an event where HTT is offering service? that might make it more cost-effective for those of us in the "average tennis" family to take advantage of your great services AND it might make it more cost-effective for HTT because you'll know ahead of time that you have at least some pre-paid matches to record. just a thought from a loyal supporter! :)
Thanks for the feedback. Lisa, the problem doesn't seem to be convincing customers to buy the videos...Our numbers are through the roof and there's no end in sight - why? Because VIDEO WORKS. The problem is the FEW INSANE parents who go ballistic and ruin the environment for all. We just can't come up with a good response that'll make them go far, far away. And as far as cost, the upcoming H-TT club will be perfect for that because we're planning discounted videos, but keep in mind that a video will be one of the least expensive but arguably most effective tools for any player who is serious about improving their skills.
Karl, your comments are SPOT ON!!! But trying to convince an over the top parent that we have no right to privacy when we come out into the world is almost as impossible as getting the USTA to back us up on ANYTHING. Not only that, but the implication is that we're doing something illegal or immoral and I resent that more than I can say!!! We've worked hard over past 6 years to make a change but I don't see anything getting better---in fact, i think it's getting worse---and that is the only reason I'm considering other sports. It should not be this hard and we should not have our integrity questioned every time we step out to provide a very valuable, very OPTIONAL service.
It's quite disheartening...and I'm wondering if it's time to read the writing on the wall? Thanks so much for your support and if you've got other thoughts, I'd love to hear from you. :)
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