Is Gene OK? This doesn't add up. He cares.
The document of our pool related road trip across the U.S. updated daily
- Thread starter Rhea
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I'm real sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to seeing you in Richmond , Va next weekend. Do you know if Gene is still going ?
+1 something's amiss
Rhea,do yourself a favor and get a steady job where you can build a future.Gene allowed you to live your dream for a few months and now back to reality.You should know by now you can't make 100 dollars a day playing pool at your speed.Road expenses will leave you broke in less than 2 weeks.Options are few and ugly for broke and stranded pool players.Pool is a great hobby,but very few can live off it.Good luck,and thanks for being a friend to Gene when he needed it.
I have to agree with this assessment. If it weren't for Gene's job teaching Perfect Aim lessons, you two would be living in Gene's van. The real income from this whole enterprise comes from Gene's teaching lessons not from gambling.
One possible compromise for you might be to find a job in a bigger city. This way you have the security of a daytime job and at night you can play pool, gamble and continue to improve.
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Good advice... If you aren't cashing in B player tourneys, time to reconsider making a living on the road
Rhea, I think you've lost touch with reality and also need to learn some patience. It's possible you may reach the skill level you're seeking, however you don't go from apa 5 to A or above in 6 months. Going out on the road, on your own at this point, seems like an all or nothing approach that is more likely to yield nothing. Then where would you be?
You could possibly find a job that would allow you the flexibility time wise to get plenty of table time. Perhaps an independent sales rep for example or working in a pool hall. Try getting a job in a city where there's lots of pool action, plenty of high level competition and some quality instructors who can help your game. Put together a plan with a reasonable time table and goals.
If you're truly committed to becoming a pro, get a job and get a place where you could install your own table. You could work 8 hours per day and practice 8 hours per day. Go out and play on the weekend. That doesn't sound like as much fun as traveling the road and playing tournaments every weekend but IMHO has a much higher chance for success. You seem to want it all right now and that isn't likely to happen. Regardless, good luck.
You could possibly find a job that would allow you the flexibility time wise to get plenty of table time. Perhaps an independent sales rep for example or working in a pool hall. Try getting a job in a city where there's lots of pool action, plenty of high level competition and some quality instructors who can help your game. Put together a plan with a reasonable time table and goals.
If you're truly committed to becoming a pro, get a job and get a place where you could install your own table. You could work 8 hours per day and practice 8 hours per day. Go out and play on the weekend. That doesn't sound like as much fun as traveling the road and playing tournaments every weekend but IMHO has a much higher chance for success. You seem to want it all right now and that isn't likely to happen. Regardless, good luck.
Reality is the Teacher.
Why are you all worried about it? Let Rhea do her thing and do the road her way. If she ends up flat broke with no pool options then she can make other choices then.
I mean it is cool to have a brain trust in AZB and those of you urging her to get a job are probably right but on the other hand you only live once.
Sometimes you just have to go for your dream and play it out.
Why are you all worried about it? Let Rhea do her thing and do the road her way. If she ends up flat broke with no pool options then she can make other choices then.
I mean it is cool to have a brain trust in AZB and those of you urging her to get a job are probably right but on the other hand you only live once.
Sometimes you just have to go for your dream and play it out.
Rhea, do as you please, follow your bliss.....but honestly assess your odds at success, understand the price of failure, and plan an escape from the worse....before you proceed.
Good luck.
J
I thought Internet forums were primarily about opinions? Obviously, you've offered your own here thousands of times. I can assure you, I am not the least bit worried about what a Rhea does with her life. Just making an observation and offering some friendly advice.
Of course. Nothing I said should be construed otherwise. I just happen to be of the opinion that 99% of the world hunkers down with a soul-sucking 9-5 job while dreaming of doing something else with their life.
So if you have the opportunity to actually do something else with your life without harming anyone but yourself then go for it. I have two kids now and a wife and a shop full of people to care for so I can't just pick up and go on the road or spend five months base jumping in New Zealand or any one of a thousand things I might like to do more than spend time creating catalog pages and posting about why you you should buy our case and not my competitor's case.
Rhea can do her thing and keep blogging about it and we can either see a player steadily improve and enjoy the journey or see a player find the level she is capable of achieving given her circumstances and mindset. So my opinion is let her do her thing and we can all enjoy the ride from the safety of our cubicles.
John, i dont believe most of the opinions were for Rhea to give up her dream. Rather, i think people were recommending a different path to achieving it. OTOH, its not like she is walking away from a husband and children or a six figure per year job.
Its often been said it takes 10,000 hours of table time to achieve pro level skill. You cant get that done when youre broke. It desnt sound like her dream is to travel, it is to become pro level and gamble. Takes dollars to do either. Dreams are a great thing until reality smacks you in the face.
Its often been said it takes 10,000 hours of table time to achieve pro level skill. You cant get that done when youre broke. It desnt sound like her dream is to travel, it is to become pro level and gamble. Takes dollars to do either. Dreams are a great thing until reality smacks you in the face.
Rhea, it will be a hassle to find computer access in every city. You should be able to find a cheap Internet computer at Best Buy.
As for traveling alone in an old car without a phone for an emergency. Not cool.
I don't know if your parting ways is personal or you just think that you are ready for the big time. Myself, I would stay with Gene until you know 100% you are ready to be on your own.
Honestly, from what you have posted so far re your tourney winnings you aren't even making enuff for gas and food money, even if you sleep in your car and wash your face at a truck stop.
You'll be down and out in Bugtussle Tennessee with no one to turn to.
As for traveling alone in an old car without a phone for an emergency. Not cool.
I don't know if your parting ways is personal or you just think that you are ready for the big time. Myself, I would stay with Gene until you know 100% you are ready to be on your own.
Honestly, from what you have posted so far re your tourney winnings you aren't even making enuff for gas and food money, even if you sleep in your car and wash your face at a truck stop.
You'll be down and out in Bugtussle Tennessee with no one to turn to.
Obviously Bugtussle has come a long way since you were there last.... Bugtussle is a strangers best friend.....
Exactly. Plus, announcing your schedule and where you'll be is another nail in the coffin. They're expecting you and have already figured out how to get your money... That may work being with Gene due to lessons but is bad business otherwise.
I know a couple of folks in the Chicago area, who work by day, and play pool by night (very good players) ....they play in cash leagues, they play in most any money tourney in the tri-state area, all the while working, saving money for retirement, and eating good food, and owning a home.
They really can't hustle, everyone knows them. They will still get occasional games cause folks still wanna test them out.... but they have a self supporting hobby, without worrying about being broke in 20 years...... that is the ticket for the serious pool player like Rhea... get to a big town, get to work, and then go whole hog on pool.
They really can't hustle, everyone knows them. They will still get occasional games cause folks still wanna test them out.... but they have a self supporting hobby, without worrying about being broke in 20 years...... that is the ticket for the serious pool player like Rhea... get to a big town, get to work, and then go whole hog on pool.
Good point Saw, because you never know who is reading the Forums.
If you have one, two, or three guys conspiring to get your roll, you will beat the first guy for cheap sets. You'll go back and forth a bit more on the second guy. You'll end up thinking that these guys are fairly easy marks. Your game seems to be great now, you're playing your best, or at least you will think so.
Maybe start off small and get higher on the second guy.
Now, when you think that you have the best of the deal, ( remember, you hammered the first guy, really started to get into dead Stroke with the second), number three is going to mess with your head and chances are, he is going to end up raising you and take it one fell swoop in the end.
The guys will, split what was once yours, and split. And you won't be able afford a banana split and be regretting that you split from Gene.
Should think about it Rhea. When I cut boards, I always measure twice, and cut once.
At this moment, you have posters in this thread telling you to get a job and just play until you get much better. You have posters telling you that if you decide on going forward, at least be careful. And, you have one telling you that you only live once, go for it.
Who is most likely correct.
Send me a Post Card from Bugtussle.
I passed thru there but didn't stop in. Nice area of Tennessee.
If you have one, two, or three guys conspiring to get your roll, you will beat the first guy for cheap sets. You'll go back and forth a bit more on the second guy. You'll end up thinking that these guys are fairly easy marks. Your game seems to be great now, you're playing your best, or at least you will think so.
Maybe start off small and get higher on the second guy.
Now, when you think that you have the best of the deal, ( remember, you hammered the first guy, really started to get into dead Stroke with the second), number three is going to mess with your head and chances are, he is going to end up raising you and take it one fell swoop in the end.
The guys will, split what was once yours, and split. And you won't be able afford a banana split and be regretting that you split from Gene.
Should think about it Rhea. When I cut boards, I always measure twice, and cut once.
At this moment, you have posters in this thread telling you to get a job and just play until you get much better. You have posters telling you that if you decide on going forward, at least be careful. And, you have one telling you that you only live once, go for it.
Who is most likely correct.
Send me a Post Card from Bugtussle.
I passed thru there but didn't stop in. Nice area of Tennessee.
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I would say to Jose, there is a basketball court and players, go for it. One thing I learned in life is that you 1000% NEVER get what you don't go for. Other then getting money once in a while that is unexpected you almost never get anything worthwhile if you don't seize opportunities that come your way.
Now, you can believe this or not, it's your choice, but back when I was 20 I was working as a host in a barbecue restaurant and playing pool whenever I could. I got into a game playing races to three for $50 and ended up winning $800. I blew off work to stay and play and made more than I made all month at that part time job. When I went back three days later the manager asked me where I was and I told him that I was gambling on pool and what I made and he didn't fire me. I worked there for two more weeks and finally just quit. For six months all I did was play pool for money starting with that $800 bank roll. When it finally bottomed out I went into the Air Force.
Now, that could be either looked on as irresponsibility or could be looked on as a person following a desire as far as he could take it. I don't regret it in the least. For six months I started each day doing exactly what I wanted to do with no one expecting anything from me.
Obviously I saw that a player of my level wasn't going to be successful trying to earn my money playing pool. I also saw champions sleeping in their cars and putting the bite on everyone often. I saw them showing up at $10 tournaments to rob it for the $65 first prize. So I was turned off to the reality of the road player pretty quickly. Especially since I could see that I was low in the pecking order. I also had a bad experience where I showed a TON of heart spotting a guy who was better than me and ended up winner and he tried to jack me at the gas station afterward for the money. This guy is still around and probably remembers it clearly because I told them to kill me if they wanted the money I earned. They backed down but afterward I was pretty shaken up that it had even happened. Until then I had been pretty naive and thought you win you get paid you lose you pay and there is no problem.
Point being that I have the experience of being careless and carefree for a while and following that dream. Reality sets in and then you have to make new choices. But do I regret that time? NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT!
So yeah I kind of take the opposite view here than most on this subject. Now, if the goal is to become a professional player then my advice would be to find a spot where there is a professional player or professional coach who is willing to take me on and train me hard. Be willing to forgo matching up for a while and work on that game with an intensity that is hard to believe.
Over here I see players training for hours and hours. Doing one shot thousands of times. Breaking for hours. Playing the ghost all day long. They have intense dedication and focus. Consequently they are freakishly good. I play a woman here who runs packages of 11 ball. When I ply her one pocket she makes EVERY straight back into 4.25" pockets like hangers, she runs all the open balls ALL the time, and she runs 8 and out more than should be allowed. She is a ball pocketing machine with a perfect stroke. So if one wants to be a pro then they need to have that sort of dedication and desire.
If one wants to go on the road and match up then fine - do that as far as you can go for as long as you can do it. Enjoy it.