Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep17 - Organizing Tournaments and How to Stay Zen with Tom Graf of Fox Cities

Tom Graf of Fox Cities Pinball joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to share what it takes to set up and run tournaments without losing your cool. From the logistics of organizing events to the art of staying calm when things get hectic, Tom breaks down his approach and why his relaxed style works so well. We also touch on his background and the Fox Cities Pinball stream, rounding out a look at how one of the community’s most chill directors keeps things fun and fair. 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:16 - Welcoming Tom Graf and his Fox Cities story 00:04:24 - Streaming local leagues and the jump to District 82 00:07:50 - Staying calm when internet crashes during tournaments 00:11:32 - The art of keeping players zen on stream 00:15:49 - Building a reputation for chill tournament directing 00:19:32 - How rules knowledge shapes smooth event management 00:23:32 - Behind the curtain when streams and rulings collide 00:26:42 - Sharing lessons learned from streaming mishaps 00:29:53 - Dealing with machines breaking mid-competition without panic 00:33:32 - Why transparency and fairness matter for all players 00:37:41 - Talking through rulings instead of escalating tension 00:41:08 - Creating a tournament culture where players feel supported 00:44:50 - Learning to balance competing roles as player and TD 00:49:05 - The unique vibe of Wisconsin’s pinball scene 00:52:12 - How streaming shaped Tom’s approach to directing tournaments 00:55:47 - The Fox Cities community and keeping events accessible 00:59:30 - What makes a truly memorable tournament experience 01:03:12 - Future goals streaming directing and personal balance 01:07:00 - Wrapping up with final thoughts and gratitude #DirtyPoolPinball #Pinball #DirtyPoolPodcast #FoxCitiesPinball #TournamentPinball #CompetitivePinball #PinballWizard #ArcadeLife #PinballCommunity #PinballTalk #PinballTournament #GamingCommunity #PinballStream #RetroGaming #ArcadeCulture #PinballMachine #ClassicGaming #PinballEnthusiast #PinballAddict #ArcadeGames