Parris Film - Please Please Read

[BITTER]

Maybe it willl help reduce the cost of our TV Licence.

I am sure the Steve Davis conection is why they pick Parris cue's.

Anyway you have to admire the fact that he has made such a brand image, with Parris cues now selling from £250 upwards and known all over the world with many pro's using them

From a simple cue maker in the 80's to a worldwide company, now employing others to make his cues, a great sucess story to be fair.

[paulbur]

oh ok thats fair enough but i doubt that any other cue maker would say no to a free plug on the bbc

[jb134]

your missing the point - you are not allowed adverts on the bbc. yes its still a hand spliced cue.

I understand what you are saying but it's only really and advert if you want to see it that way. Any featured craftsman in any BBc article or documentary is effectively getting a free advert.

Fred Dibnah probably got more work as a steeplejack, any expert from the antiques roadshow would have seen their stock rise etc etc. My point is the BBC want to show an article on cuemaking for the interest of the entire viewing public, there is only one man a non snooker person is likely to have heard of so that is who they chose.

I can understand why a competitor would be miffed but if you were in his shoes would you refuse?

ps. Thanks for the answer.

[LWB]

oh ok thats fair enough but i doubt that any other cue maker would say no to a free plug on the bbc

I doubt they would either and maybe they could tell us?

It's always JP though, it's an amazing boost for him.

Still watching it, watching others making these cues. If I have the name John Parris on my cue then I'd think that he'd made the cue.

It seems that if you have John Parris on your cue your buying a branded cue, whereas if you have Trevor White on your cue, you know exactly who made it.

[BITTER]

Fred Dibnah was great RIP.

[ADR147]

oh ok thats fair enough but i doubt that any other cue maker would say no to a free plug on the bbc

actually i think you would find that most would refuse.

[BITTER]

I think the 80's Parris cues were made by him.

One man can only make a small number of cues on his own, so I guess as with all small companies that grow you have to deligate the dirty jobs.

[paulbur]

actually i think you would find that most would refuse.

i cant see why they would but if they have maybe thats the reason it always john parris on the bbc lol

[jb134]

actually i think you would find that most would refuse.

That would explain why JP is the most successful cue maker in the world (in terms of high price sales) then, he understands marketing better than anyone who would refuse.

[jack_dougles]

Fred Dibnah was great RIP.

never got to try one of his cues

[platt]

After 3 pages of debate JP is sitting at home and people like us are talking about him, His ears must be on fire, The man is good at putting his name about.

[trevs1]

To reply to Jb134's original question, yes, cues are still considered hand made cues, even when the butt of the cue is totally separate to the shaft.

"Hand splicing" is arguably a little misleading in todays cue making industry.
A hand spliced cue refers to the method of connecting the butt material to the shaft, and does not really mean the "splicing" has been done "by hand". Many of todays cue makers will sell hand spliced cues, but, these cues will have had the butt splicing done by spindle moulders, table saws or whatever to actually cut the shafts to accept the splices. I would say those who actually "hand splice" their cues, with "hand planes", are in the minority.

As to the issues regarding John Parris, well, it seems there are many views on him.

For me personally, John Parris was the maker who set the benchmark of quality, the standard which had to be reached in order to be recognised as a maker of high quality cues. Back in the late 80's, he was perhaps the standout maker of such quality, whereas nowadays, there are several who do it every bit as well, without question. The reputation he has 'earned' over many years is one to be admired, and, is arguably a reputation many would like to emulate.

Regarding the TV coverage, I do think it offers an enormous advert for him, which in some ways, goes against what the BBC is about, but that's how it is and it's not exactly limited to cue makers alone either.

I personally do not have any issue with him being allowed this feature on the BBC, as I think it's entertaining and interesting viewing for the masses who watch snooker on TV. The fact that it's John Parris doing it makes some sense to me, as he not only has a respectable reputation in the field, but, will no doubt have some links to certain people who have influence in the decision making process on these matters.

Having said that, I know of other cue makers who do not share my view on it.

I say these things not as a John Parris fan, as I don't even know him, he has no relevance to me whatsoever. All I am saying is that perhaps too much of an issue is taken with it being him, when if it were someone else, it might not have caused so much of a stir. For me personally, I would not want it, but then, I don't go looking for work either, it finds me.

All in all it's good viewing for those who watch, so I say live and let live, good luck to him.

[paulbur]

very well said trvevs1 you summed it up perfectly

[Wity]

"I don't look for work, it finds me."

That sums up a real craftsman.

Unfortunately it also sums up a bloke like me living alone, anyone wanna do my ironing?

[RonnieJunior]

.. I would say those who actually "hand splice" their cues, with "hand planes", are in the minority.

Apart from yourself and Mike then Trevor, which other cuemakers make their handspliced cues with handplanes...?

I'd be pretty interested to know this.