I'm going to get flamed: Day Job vs. Poker... - Page 2

MrMore · #11 08-03-2007, 05:39 AM

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no medical or dental plans and stuff is key....

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Uh, no.

Benefits are part of a pay package, nothing more. 50k cash, or 40k cash and 10k bennies value including tax consideration, what difference does it make?

I buy my family health insurance. It's just another part of the job vs. poker equation.

dlk9s · #12 08-03-2007, 08:32 AM

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Is there anyone who misses the consistency of their day job after turning pro? i don't think so..

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I highly, highly, doubt this.

muxplust · #13 08-03-2007, 09:30 AM

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i'm a 19 year old student who had previously only ever played online poker for my $$$. (played when underage).
I actually got a job this summer for the job experience more than anything (obv giant paycut from poker) and I find that I enjoy poker a ton more than I used to and as a result play better.

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i believe this is very true

NickyC · #14 08-03-2007, 09:53 AM

Not that my opinion matters, but the best advice I can give you is get a real job, advance your career, and make poker a hobby. You don't want to be that guy who drops out of school early, plays poker for 6 years, burns out, then is forced with having to find a job in the real world with zero education and -zero work experience. How do you think it looks to a potential employer when you say you've been playing cards for the past six years and not working? Hardcore degen is what they see, resume in the garbage.

You'll see the glorification of playing cards for a living way too much on this message board. Stories of an easy life, lots of cash, and tons of personal freedom. I don't gamble outside of poker, but I'd make a wager here that 99% of these stories are from busted ass teenagers still living in their parents' basement living their dream in words only.
You want to know the real story, read the thread from Dynasty in this forum about being a professional card player. You want that life?

Poker for the VAST majority of people should be nothing but a hobby, and a way to make a little extra cash here and there. I make money pretty consistently playing 10/20 limit hold em and 10/20oh8 on the weekends nowadays, but there is no way I'd give up my job in the legal profession to sit around a table with a bunch of a worthless degens who I despise as people.

Cliff notes: Get a job, play poker on the side. If you're good at your job, and good at poker, the money will start piling up pretty fast. Everyone has the bad runs in poker too, wouldn't it be nice to have a bad run but know you have a good job so money isn't a problem? I like that feeling. I *can* lose at poker, I don't care about the money. Others around me, they look nervous, they need that money. I can fire at will, that's an advantage. Just think about it, the answer is obvious.

bogey1 · #15 08-03-2007, 10:45 AM

I enjoy poker and have fantasized from time to time about playing for a living. But, it's one dream that shouldn't come true. First, I make a very good living in the tech industry (nearly 100k/year) and to make that much at poker would require a ton of hours. Plus, it'd get mind numbingly dull. Poker is fun...as a hobby. My day job is definiately more interesting overall and has a career path which means I have room to shift what I'm doing a little as I progress.

I'd play poker for a living if:
a) I could "work" about 20 hours a week.
b) Make 125-130k in that 20 hours.

Otherwise, the burnout and variance might, quite literally, kill me (ulcers, stress, etc). If I had to crank out 40+ hours a week of poker knowning my family and mortgage rested on my success, I'd turn into a basket case.

Oh, and to someone that asked, yes, I'd miss the day-to-day consistency of a normal job. Coworkers to talk to, days I can just totally slack and get paid, etc.

PLO8FaceKilla · #16 08-03-2007, 10:51 AM

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no medical or dental plans and stuff is key....

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh, no.

Benefits are part of a pay package, nothing more. 50k cash, or 40k cash and 10k bennies value including tax consideration, what difference does it make?

I buy my family health insurance. It's just another part of the job vs. poker equation.

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How much does health insurance cost?

I heard it's ridiculous if you don't have benefits and actually have to "buy" it.

Poker_is_Hard · #17 08-03-2007, 11:01 AM

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I enjoy poker and have fantasized from time to time about playing for a living. But, it's one dream that shouldn't come true. First, I make a very good living in the tech industry (nearly 100k/year) and to make that much at poker would require a ton of hours. Plus, it'd get mind numbingly dull. Poker is fun...as a hobby. My day job is definiately more interesting overall and has a career path which means I have room to shift what I'm doing a little as I progress.

I'd play poker for a living if:
a) I could "work" about 20 hours a week.
b) Make 125-130k in that 20 hours.

Otherwise, the burnout and variance might, quite literally, kill me (ulcers, stress, etc). If I had to crank out 40+ hours a week of poker knowning my family and mortgage rested on my success, I'd turn into a basket case.

Oh, and to someone that asked, yes, I'd miss the day-to-day consistency of a normal job. Coworkers to talk to, days I can just totally slack and get paid, etc.

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4 tables of 400NL for 20 hours a week = ~100K a year

Cat · #18 08-03-2007, 11:15 AM

I'm lazy, so here's a reply I wrote to a 'Should I go Pro?' post a couple months back:

- Do you make sure you leave the house every day before you play poker? Not every single day, but it's a good idea. Of course you can play in the day and go out with friends in the evening, that's the beauty of being your own boss.

- Do you make sure you have at least one day off a week? Yes, sometimes more. Otherwise you'll burn out.

- Do you treat poker like a job and set yourselves set hours to play? No. Poker isnt supposed to feel like a job! But again, try to avoid monster sessions which can lead to burn out/ tilt.

- Do you limit yourself so you only start playing after a certain hour of the day? No. Play when it suits you, or when you find the games are good. The beauty of playing online is it's flexibility.

- Do you play different types of game (cash, omaha etc...) to keep yourself more mentally stimulated? Yes, but I've been doing this for about 5 years. When I'm feeling burnt out at say, online NLHE cash, I'll switch to O8 for a few weeks or go play live. Just don't donk your bankroll off at something you're a losing player at.

- Do you make sure you go and see friends at least X number of times a week? Yup. But that's just called having a life
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Some more thoughts....

- Do you find that playing poker online (a). is stressful, b. is overwhelming c. has made you less comfortable in social settings, d. has put a strain on your social relationships It worries me that you think of poker this way to start with. Poker can be a great way to make money, travel the world and meet new people. The swings ARE stressful, so be prepared. But even being a low-limit winning poker player, IMHO, is a million times better than commuting to work and sitting in an office all day with someone telling you what to do.

- How do 2+2 and other poker friends help you to deal with your lifestyle? My first year or two as a pro I had no one to talk to at all about it, after that I met some fellow pros. Like any job, it is very nice to be able to discuss your work with 'colleagues' who understand what it's about. If you don't know any, read and post here.

- Probably a stupid question given my audience, but, is it worth it? You're just out of college so you probably don't realise just how much poker PWNS having a real job. To me, it's totally worth it, and I am not a balla, just a medium stakes grinder/ occasional tourney player who likes my freedom.

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A couple more things I think are very important: Have minimum 3 months outgoings saved. Practice good bankroll management. DO NOT TILT. Anaylse and try to improve your game as you go along. And most of all, you MUST love poker. Just my own personal take on things, others will no doubt give you different answers. Hope this helps and good luck.

davidlong14 · #19 08-03-2007, 11:23 AM

Jobs are for Suckers.

killakev · #20 08-03-2007, 12:25 PM

Thanks.. some good insight here. I really appreciate all the responses and different opinions and views. I think just like every other job it depends a lot on the person and how much they enjoy the work.

To be honest when I'm hot I love it and can't get enough, but when I'm on a downswing full of coolers I'd rather go hang out with friends than play and that's a tell.