I advised against it, encouraging him to stick with our own developments but the anticipation was more than Charlie could resist. Eager to get back out there, the contracts were signed and the first event was booked. It didn’t take long for Charlie to feel out of place with his peers. Noticing a difference in goals and a lack in income, he struggled with the decision. It took a call from home informing him that the lights were about to be shut off to seal the deal. After talking with the manager Charlie decided that he had to call it quits. Counter-contracts were signed and he was released from the team. Once he got home and uttered the mandatory, “honey, you were right,” we got back to work. After a few trips, realizing that his heart was with the amateurs and in instruction, Charlie “The Hillbilly” Bryant officially retired from the Pro Tour. Shedding his professional competitor skin and adjusting to his new role as an instructor was an effortless transition. It was the gratitude from his students and their excitement at improvement that warmed Charlie’s heart. Not long after, a good friend offered him a job and the option to take time off when he had events booked. The flexibility of his instructional schedule in conjunction with the dependability of a job when he was home was just
Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - September 2014
the boost we needed to get back on our feet and give us time to organize the identity into an entity. On The Hill Enterprises, the official company that is the efforts and products offered by Charlie “The Hillbilly” Bryant was born. Using relationships with area league directors and venue owners to book clinics and developing ideas for products, the once pool player, turned instructor, had officially transformed into a business man. After receiving lesson inquiries from locations out of our reach and an inability to book multiple events at the same time, the next logical step was to take the lessons to the web. Filming lessons by skill or subject and then offering them online, as a rental service, allowed players to access the content instantly and on any type of device. Instead of waiting for delivery of a DVD and then only being able to play it on a TV at home, this method allowed students to play the video on their smart phone or tablet and take it to the table where they train. 2013 saw an increase in private lessons and clinics that keep us on the road. The “Hillbilly Smacker” Jump/Break Cue, with its Purple Heart shaft, was introduced late in the year and will go on sale to the public in February of 2014 along with an official apparel line and inspirational game room décor. Also in earlyproduction stages are a line of billiard accessories such as gloves and chalkers. The instructional book that has been 8 years in the making is being re-done as a series. All products and services will be available through the website at www. hillbillyonthehill.com. After a long road, Charlie has adopted and preached a philosophy… “The Pro Tour should be used as a vehicle to establish a reputation that sells products, not as a life time occupation.” He teaches that to truly become great at the sport, you must understand the individual skills that make it up and to be inspired in a productive manner. If you treat it like a game, it will always be a game. For it to be a passion, you have to find your inspiration and honor it with every thought and action.
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