Going Pro.

ObnxNole · #1 06-21-2006, 01:55 PM

Hi all... for those of you who do not know me my name is Josh. I am 23 about to graduate college from Florida State University. I have played poker for about two years...Fsuplayer and I started playing for a couple bux at a time with plastic chips in our dorm room.

Now, two years later, I play ~20,000 hands per month and have run at ~8bbX100 at the party 3/6 Nl limit games for the past 60K hands.(This is a very small sample size, however). The money is nice and it has provided me as well as Fsuplayer with a tremedous amount of financial freedom.

I am looking for some feedback from you guys on whether or not to go pro. I have been working at my dad's office for the past week or so and frankly it [censored] blows. Most kids coming straight out of college would be thrilled to be making 30-40K a year. However, since I have had months where I have made this amount putting in only a few hours a day, 40K a year is weaksauce.

I see the tremendous amount of money that players like Fsuplayer, Neon, and Gonores have been making since the end of their college careers. I have the utmost respect for them and I am quite jealous of their lifestyles' [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]. All of these guys are young, and intelligent, and very rich!

I am financial set right now...my BR is plenty big for the swings of the game. But I want to take my game to the next level. I have all the PT and Pokerace software and dual monitors as well. Right now, I am in a huge downstreak which sux but, I am approaching it with the right attitude I feel. I am taking some time to adjust a few things and I think I will be back on the right track shortly.

So...should I go pro or not? Any adice would be greatly appreciated, guys. Thanx in advance.

Sponger. · #2 06-21-2006, 01:57 PM

Yes, you should. Also I hate people like you and FSU who have kick ass poker player roomates. lucky bastards.

IRV · #3 06-21-2006, 02:00 PM

Do whatever makes you happiest. Porn n Poka!

pokerprochris · #4 06-21-2006, 02:01 PM

Hi Josh - intresting; I guess getting a degree was fundamental before thinking about going pro? I am also thinking about going pro before I go to University (I am 18) - however I think taking a degree may be the wiser option despite how sucessful I have been this year.

I would definetly recommend it - atleast try it for 6months - year and see the results?

Chris

TheArtist · #5 06-21-2006, 02:01 PM

I think the best way is to go pro but keep your option open. Like work 1 day a week or something. But u sounds like you good enough to do alright.

Richard

fslexcduck · #6 06-21-2006, 02:05 PM

posting on a message board full of poker pros might produce just a hint of bias in the responses, don't you think?

just to mix it up i will just say be really careful that's what you want. i graduated college a year ago and have been playing since then... and i'm really really bored. the money is good but i can't even force myself to play anymore if it isn't live, it just doesn't captivate me in any real way. so i have a job which starts in 2 months which pays me 1/10 of what poker does.

so anyways, nothing wrong with trying it out, especially since you already have a degree, but remember it is stressful at times and can get tedious, and to keep your options and mind open to new things.

TheWorstPlayer · #7 06-21-2006, 02:10 PM

Don't go pro and don't do some [censored] office job.

BluffTHIS! · #8 06-21-2006, 02:17 PM

Nole,

Why can't you just put 100% effort into your job as if you actually liked it, and especially because you are working in your dad's office. Build the resume for plan B. And then put in a few hours a day on your time and more on the weekend into poker as a 2nd income, especially since you are on a down streak. If you quit your job and the downswing continues, that job won't look so bad in hindsight. And anyone who doesn't stick with a decent job their dad got for them for a couple years won't look like someone who should be hired elsewhere either if you decide you must go back to work.

TheWorstPlayer · #9 06-21-2006, 02:20 PM

Personally, I have a job I love doing where I learn a lot and meet really cool, interesting people. And then I go home and play a few hours of poker each week and probably tack on another 100K or so to my salary. Not too terrible. And I'm sure Josh is better than I am at poker and can beat higher games, so his earning potential should be even greater.

maranello11 · #10 06-21-2006, 02:32 PM

Hey Josh,

Thats great your graduating college, congrats on that, it was a good run. Second you did learn a great deal about poker from FSU, but what about our headsup matches for 10 bucks with rounders playing in the background. Those were the days. In regards to going pro, I think if this is something you really want and think you will be able to produce, then go for it. You have your degree so no need to worry about that. I think you should try it for 1 year and see how you like after the 1st year. If you are doing well and love playing continue, otherwise you can go get a job. I do think that maybe moving to somewhere like LA or Vegas would be good because you would havbe the option of playing live when you want, getting out to do things and the option to live somewhere pretty cool. Im sure whatever you decide it will be the right choice, good luck.

Justin