Carpe Diem
mapman72 said:
I hope I get some feedback from the pros on this one. I am at the point in my life where my pool game is very good, but I just can't get over the hump and beat the pros consistently. I play in the regional tour events, and can upset a pro every now and again, but I'm more likely to lose both matches to professional caliber players and just make it into the money rounds and break even or make a little cash. One thing I notice after I play well and lose to McCready or Davis 7-5 or 9-7 is that these guys don't work other than playing pool. Right now, I have a decent career and make pretty good money. Although I would love to try to become professional and play pool for a living, I know I would have to take my lumps for a while until I could make enough money to survive. So my question is: Do I have to totally give up my career and focus all my attention on my pool game to take a chance at turning pro and making living playing pool? or, Can I continue to work a regular job and try to increase my practice time and expect to be able to improve to the level to compete with the professionals that play pool every day of the week? I wanted the feedback from the pros because I'm sure they were all faced with this dilemna at one point or another. When do you know when it's time to drop the "traditional" lifestyle and jump into professional pool? and, can you do it halfway or you just have to take the plunge? Oh, by the way, I'm hating my job lately.
Please help
I'm sure it'd be exhilarating for a while. You really feel like you are living when you break out of your comfort zone and do something totally different. It's better to try than to always say "what if?".
However, the realistic side is you gotta have enough savings to do it for at least a year. If you have a good paying job then maybe that is possible. But I would not recommend playing just to get food on the table. Then after a year, the worst that can happen is that you'll be a truly awesome amateur player
My brother is in the same position as you, but not for pool. He dreams of becoming a professional magician. He has all the skills, but he has a wife and family to support. The difference is that there is money to be made. Once he gets himself well known enough, he will earn more money even though he's on a decent $70k salary now. Like you , he hates his job and sees this as a way out, but to him, it will be fulfulling a dream.
I'm sure many people like myself took time off to do the travelling thing. I saved up $20k then arranged with my job to take four months off unpaid. Then I got on a plane and went around the world on my own. Sure, I was scared when I left my cosy job and was at the airport on my own with just a suitcase, and not knowing anyone where I was going. But it was a good scared, an exhilarating scared. I came back with experiences to last a lifetime: Climbing Ayers Rock, an African Safari, a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, and made friends I'll never forget. I'm now living and working abroad too, and I just can't imagine having not made that trip.
You make a good point about playing for fun or for money. For me, it's fun. I don't enter Tri-State events in New York for the money, but because I enjoy it. I'd enter a tournament with just prestige and no prize money (like the US Amateur). Of course, that's not to say getting $1000 for winning a tournament isn't great, but for me, it's the trophy that sits on my mantlepiece and the accomplishment that I'll remember.
Whatever you decide, best of luck.
