WPT: You hit it BIG, friends ask for money?

[crazypianist]

Hypothetical situation:

You make the final table in a WPT main event. Need a cheering section right? So you fly your friends and family over. You're guaranteed six figures at least and seven figures if you get first.

How likely do you think it will be that friends/family will ask for some money, a new car, etc? Obviously the higher you cash, the more likely. How do you approach this situation? Obviously, you want to show your gratitute for them showing up and supporting you. But do they really deserve cold hard cash for flying over on your dime and sitting back and watching you play?

[gobboboy]

Of course not. That's ridiculous. It's your money that you earned, and if you're a professional, it's your job. Do it if you want to, but if they expect something then they aren't very good friends.

[crazypianist]

So do you just straight out say NO. Would a little cash for them to enjoy themselves at the casino be appropriate?

[pig4bill]

Maybe as part of a celebration after-party. But then I would not have flown them in in the first place, because I'd want to concentrate on the game rather than running around arranging flights, rooms, etc.

[thebeebster]

what? no. i'd pay for their trips, of course. but beyond that, you don't have to do anything else.

[danxxx1]

when i made the final table of the WSOP main event. I offered to pay my friends and family back for their flights and hotel rooms and not 1 person accepted my money. Thats what real friends do, there not out there in hopes of getting a free trip out of it. If anyone told me they would come watch the final table only if i gave them something for it that would be really freakin lame

[Mondogarage]

[ QUOTE ]
Of course not. That's ridiculous. It's your money that you earned, and if you're a professional, it's your job. Do it if you want to, but if they expect something then they aren't very good friends.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT

Besides, if someone asks, that's just cheeseball, and worthy of a verbal b1tchslap. But, even though you flew them all out, it's entirely reasonable for you to think about folks who may have had to drop a lot of plans, or reschedule other stuff, or otherwise rearrange their lives for a day or two, just to watch your donkey self rock the final table.

I don't see anything wrong with you just taking it upon yourself to toss a couple Gs their way, for that. Of course, if your friends are all bums who would have been on the sofa watching Oprah reruns all day, then please disregard. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[xxx]

Why do you need a cheering section?

[TStoneMBD]

after my tournament cash, there were some people that started asking me if i would stake them for games and such. it just comes with the territory. it stopped happening though shortly after as i never lent out money or staked anyone. i imagine that if i started handing out money that the requests would have multiplied.

[daryn]

if you wanna be nice just go to a nice celebration dinner and pick up the tab.