Why many players fail at attempting full time play.

[Freightman]

Poor form and you know it.

3’s got a point. Kj forged his death a. It extreme. He had his reasons. If he had stayed dead, and resurrected under a different handle, the ends may well have been different.

[BoSox]

Damn it Three, everything is done in extremes with you. On one hand you are willing to take on a biker gang in a parking lot, on the other hand you slam someone who cannot respond back. On a side note you can delete all the damn post that you want, as long as you remember that the damage has already been done. If you want to slam someone he post at BJ info.

[mcallister3200]

Let’s try to avoid continuing the derail? Not let it get locked, is a very good thread. My bad for escalating my part escalating it.

[Three]

Damn it Three, everything is done in extremes with you. On one hand you are willing to take on a biker gang in a parking lot, on the other hand you slam someone who cannot respond back. On a side note you can delete all the damn post that you want, as long as you remember that the damage has already been done. If you want to slam someone he post at BJ info.

I deleted the post mentioning KJ. Actions have consequences. Some former poster did some shit and then spread endless lies that we all know are not true. If he still has credibility with anyone they are foolish.

[BoSox]

You get people that care about you mourning your death unnecessarily and they don't forget it.

I am sure you got all choked up about it and did not sleep for a week. More likely having sweet dreams, dreaming now I can easily claim the Top Gun spot, where no one else even thought about something like that.

[Three]

I am sure you got all choked up about it and did not sleep for a week.

I was actually pretty upset about it. I couldn't sleep for a while. Stop projecting your feelings on others. I guess those that could care less about his death didn't care that it was a self made hoax. Those that did feel the loss heavily are not so quick to forget.

[LVBear584]

Thanks. Likewise. I agree with your points.

I keep my RoR below 1%. Around .2 or .3% as of late. Sometimes closer to 0%, depending on quality of game. As far as tokes go, I’ve been tipping almost nothing lately. Last two years I tipped around $725-$750 each year. This year I’ve toked a total of $10.

Congratulations on breaking the tipping habit!

[Bushie]

I always suggest reading biographies/memoirs of professional APs. There's not one that I know of who didn't have a primary income alongside their supplementary BJ income when starting out.

ALL of them always state the effect of luck and how fortunate they have been in their endeavours. Because that can be the only thing that separates the losers from the winners with equally capable and bankrolled APs at the end of the day. They never understate this fact.

That and insane hours put it when they did decide to go full-time. Like 12-14 hours a day in conditions of yesteryear that were generally far more favourable. Personally, I dont think that is viable in today's climate.

And you have to consider quality of life too, which many have ruminated on (and a subject I discussed recently here). Spending dozens of hours a week in rather unpleasant casino conditions, with the constant anxiety of heat considerations and self-assessment of your own game, can break you mentally. Sometimes a steady 9-5 job just seems more enticing.

Just food for thought. I just dont think many pro APs of yesteryear and of today would recommend it wholeheartedly. Theres a reason many have shifted to poker.

[ZeeBabar]

"Theres a reason many have shifted to poker."

I thought they shifted to poker as a "No Mas", that its easier to beat poker players than a major corporation. Kind of like going from hunting lions to smashing mosquitoes. I think that there is a time limit to being a full time pro, that if they dont quit and do something else (be in managing a forum or writing books or other careers,) they become a#%&es.

[Ryemo]

Congratulations on breaking the tipping habit!

Thanks, Bear. I knew you of all people could appreciate that.

[RCJH]

[QUOTE=Ryemo;243793]I think in order to play full time successfully you need a few things[\QUOTE]

Excellent post.

May I add some practical considerations?

You need the ability to travel, unless you live in an area with many, many casinos.

You have to have the comportment to not get "sucked in" to the casino environment. Those freebies and buffets aren't for you, and the "nice" dealers aren't your besties.

You kind of have to be a loner, or at least have the ability to work independently. You have to be able to walk away from a bad game, and you have to be able to think on your feet.

You have to be able to keep good records, including miles, food, wins and losses. You still have to file taxes.

I'm sure there are more qualities, but those come to mind for me.

........

I am the cheapest AP on the planet, and I'm proud of it. I do toke, but I have narrow parameters. My cheapest move is to get a hotel room with a free breakfast buffet. I bring sandwich bags with me, and make pbjs or sausage sandwiches off the buffet. Add some fruit and a muffin, and you have lunch. Instant oatmeal can be combined with hot water from the casino for a snack later. I stole this idea from an old Asian woman...haha. If I have to get a hotel, I try not to buy ANY food.

[Jabberwocky]

When I first started out, my living expenses were covered but even it then the decade and a half was full of financial turbulence and put me feet to the fire.

[mcallister3200]

One thing to consider is that many full time AP’s have to work backwards at retirement and the career choice may leave you funding accounts a decade later than you may in a regular career due to the need to build capital first. A regular career someone can make 20k over what they need for living expenses and save for retirement. 20k over your living/business expenses all in as an AP and you’re probably going bust, and feeding it back into BR rather than retirement.

idk that it’s really a career choice, or something those who do would recommend, it’s something that really chooses you. Driven by an intense need (not desire I think) for freedom that’s just not really available in most traditional career paths.