2 Weeks Notice

NaClBandit

NaClBandit

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So most if not all of us have a similar interest/hobby/obsession - pool.

Everyday when I leave work I find myself whistling a make-believe song and walking with a hop in my step. Why? Because I'm leaving work!

All I want to do is play pool all day. When I'm at work, I use any free time to post on this forum or research pro events/players or surf pool sites. Personally I'm torn between maintaining my standard of living and doing what I really want to do.

Is anyone else in the same boat? Maybe we can all form a commune and live off of eachother and the land. You know, like that one group in Waco...the Branch something-or-others (jk).

I wish I could just pack up and follow around the pro tour. JAM, I'm jealous of your travels and experiences. Maybe I should ask out Sarah Rousey. But for now I'm banished to the toils of a day job, only to live out my dual life in the night hours (Anyone read The Green Felt Jungle?). Hopefully the IPT will fluorish so that once I'm ready I can pay da bills as a pro.

Hopefully some of you feel the same way. I just felt the need to vent some of my workerbee angst.

Sincerely,
Brother Bandit
 
I'm right there with you.

Last night I got off work at 6pm. I had to meet a friend at a bar at 9pm. What do I do to pass the time inbetween work and bar? I go down to House of Billiards and play some cheap one-pocket. I hopped in my car and sped across town to get there to cram in as much pool time as I could.

Here at work I'm refreshing this board every few minutes; I'm checking AZBilliards news, reading past Billiards Digest feature articles online (even re-reading many). I'm thinking of ways to improve my stroke, mental game, etc. I'm e-mailing back and forth with friends going over WEI diagrams of past games and what are the best plays/patterns.

It's annoying isn't it? Almost every conscious moment is filled with the click of phenolic resin and patterns.

In fact, I'm planning on moving to NYC in a few months and one of the biggest draws is the pool community there. 3,000 miles, no job and an uncertain future -- all for pool? You betcha!
 
I wish I could play pool for a living too. In fact, I have had a pretty good year, thus far. I have made $3k to 10/31. Hell, that's almost enough to pay all my bills...for a month!!
 
Steve,
I admire your courage. I don't think I could do the same - though I'd like to.

Black-balled,
Does your $3k winnings include gambling and tourneys or just one or the other?

Here is my vow: The day I run 150 I'll quit my job! Actually, the week I run 150 three times I'll quit my job. That's more like it.
 
Me also..

NaClBandit said:
So most if not all of us have a similar interest/hobby/obsession - pool.

Everyday when I leave work I find myself whistling a make-believe song and walking with a hop in my step. Why? Because I'm leaving work!

All I want to do is play pool all day. When I'm at work, I use any free time to post on this forum or research pro events/players or surf pool sites. Personally I'm torn between maintaining my standard of living and doing what I really want to do.

Is anyone else in the same boat? Maybe we can all form a commune and live off of eachother and the land. You know, like that one group in Waco...the Branch something-or-others (jk).

I wish I could just pack up and follow around the pro tour. JAM, I'm jealous of your travels and experiences. Maybe I should ask out Sarah Rousey. But for now I'm banished to the toils of a day job, only to live out my dual life in the night hours (Anyone read The Green Felt Jungle?). Hopefully the IPT will fluorish so that once I'm ready I can pay da bills as a pro.

Hopefully some of you feel the same way. I just felt the need to vent some of my workerbee angst.

Sincerely,
Brother Bandit
Click to expand...

I feel the same way I work 40+ a week Designing and find as much time to play, even work at the pool room on the weekends to get more play time in. You know the sickest thing of all? My wife understands what pool means to me and told me i could quit my job to play pool, all i would have to do would be to supliment my income!!! And I have not done it yet!!

Biz
 
Courage and stupidity are often confused. I'm still figuring out which seems to describe my decision best. There are certainly reasons other than pool for the move, but pool is certainly a big draw.

If possible, I also try and sneak to the poolhall for an hour to play on my lunch break. Hopefully there's an end to the madness.


NaClBandit said:
Steve,
I admire your courage. I don't think I could do the same - though I'd like to.
Click to expand...
 
NaClBandit said:
So most if not all of us have a similar interest/hobby/obsession - pool.

Everyday when I leave work I find myself whistling a make-believe song and walking with a hop in my step. Why? Because I'm leaving work!

All I want to do is play pool all day. When I'm at work, I use any free time to post on this forum or research pro events/players or surf pool sites. Personally I'm torn between maintaining my standard of living and doing what I really want to do.

(jk).

Sincerely,
Brother Bandit
Click to expand...

Bandit, there are more than several players, which would like to be a professional player. But, there is only money enough for a few. And the business of looking for a score is drying up or already dried up. It's a bad business anyway.

Let's look at professional sports. All of the major sports, which have professionals earning a good living, charge a nice price for tickets to see "the show". Other entreprenuers charge high prices for clothing, caps, boots, shoes & anything with a pro sports LOGO on it. TV also pays big time to nationally televise an event.

Last time I suggested to the Room Owner, about charging to see "the Show", he laughed & said, "who let you oughta the nut house?. Pool players won't pay to watch other Pool Players, they don't even like paying to play pool. They don't buy any pool related retail merchandise or take lessons from a House Pro, they even buy their gear on Ebay".

So I have to say to you young men & ladies, that want to be Professional Pool Players, you have to get your friends to quit buying anything related to the NFL, NBA, NHL, Pro Baseball & NASCAR. Get your friends together & petition your local newspaper to take pictures of local winners & do writeups about your local Pool Scene, then you folks will have your own Sports Page. Then go BIG TIME & tell APA, BCA, VNEA, ACS to ask everyone of it's members to petition Sports Illustrated to have a monthly section on YOUR sport, or you will not read their magazine. That number is a big number, Sports Illustrated will comply.

Then petition Budweiser, Miller Brewing, the other Beer Compoanies, Frito Lay, all of the candy companies, Coca-Cola & Pepsi & tell them the same thing. By the way, the aforementioned companies are making a nice sum of money & paying somebody else to play something else or drive something. If you want a Pro Tour, it is yours for the asking (really telling), but you have to ask (tell) in huge numbers. Then you will be heard.

You can have your Professional Pool Playing Tour, but you have to work for it & you will have to help pay for it.
 
Last edited:
Bravo!!

ceebee said:
Bandi, there are more than several players, which would like to be a professional player. But, there is only money enough for a few. And the business of looking for a score is drying up or already dried up. It's a bad business anyway.

Let's look at professional sports. All of the major sports, which have professionals earning a good living, charge a nice price for tickets to "the show". They also charge high prices for clothing, caps, boots, shoes & anything with a pro sports LOGO on it. TV also pays big time to nationally televise an event.

Last time I suggested to the Room Owner, about charging to see "the Show", he laughed & said, "who let you oughta the nut house?. Pool players won't pay to watch other Pool Players, they don't even like paying to play pool. They don't buy any pool related retail merchandise or take lessons from a House Pro, they even buy their gear on Ebay".

So I have to say to you young men & ladies, that want to be Professional Pool Players, you have to get your friends to quit buying anything related to the NFL, NBA, NHL, Pro Baseball & NASCAR. Get your friends together & petition your local newspaper to take pictures of local winners & do writeups about your local Pool Scene, then you folks will have your own Sports Page. Then go BIG TIME & tell APA, BCA, VNEA, ACS to ask everyone of it's members to petition Sports Illustrated to have a monthly section on YOUR sport, or you will not read their magazine. That number is is a big number, Sports Illustrated will comply.

Then petition Budweiser, Miller Brewing, the other Beer Compoanies, Frito Lay, all of the candy companies, Coca-Cola & Pepsi & tell them the same thing. By the way, the aforementioned companies are making a nice sum of money & paying somebody else to play something else or drive something. If you want a Pro Tour, it is yours for the asking (really telling), but you have to ask (tell) in huge numbers. Then you will be heard.

You can have your Professional Pool Playing Tour, but you have to work for it & you will have to help pay for it.
Click to expand...


TAP, TAP, TAP
 
ceebee said:
You can have your Professional Pool Playing Tour, but you have to work for it & you will have to help pay for it.
Click to expand...

I'm on it...writing my congressman right now! Does anybody know the President of Pepsi's cell phone number?

I'm kidding CB. I suppose I am hoping that Trudeau will be a savior of sorts and bring pool to the forefront (although I'm not fencing my future on it just yet). Perhaps this is why I can't let go of my job so easily, because I know that making a living playing pool is very difficult in this day and age, almost regardless of your abilities.

Although I do feel that I am supporting pool's expansion by attending pro events, helping friends to appreciate the game, helping other players get better and even watching pool on TV (ratings = dollars). I don't think I have the contacts or the know-how to spearhead this marketing campaign of which you speak, but I certainly will support it however I can.
 
Black-Balled said:
I wish I could play pool for a living too. In fact, I have had a pretty good year, thus far. I have made $3k to 10/31. Hell, that's almost enough to pay all my bills...for a month!!
Click to expand...


Did you deduct your expenses to get your true bottom line? :p ;)


Eric
 
I'm thinking if the IPT works out, there's gonna be alot of pro players with alot of money in thier pockets at these events. My theory is the trickle down one. They have tons o bucks to play/gamble with, and win or lose it trickles down the food chain to the road players and such. I feel there will be alot of "road agents" and other pros who did'nt make the IPT following the tour to spark up a little ACTION!~:)......I'm all for that!........Gerry
 
Bandit ...

NaClBandit said:
So most if not all of us have a similar interest/hobby/obsession - pool.

Everyday when I leave work I find myself whistling a make-believe song and walking with a hop in my step. Why? Because I'm leaving work!

All I want to do is play pool all day. When I'm at work, I use any free time to post on this forum or research pro events/players or surf pool sites. Personally I'm torn between maintaining my standard of living and doing what I really want to do.

Is anyone else in the same boat? Maybe we can all form a commune and live off of eachother and the land. You know, like that one group in Waco...the Branch something-or-others (jk).

I wish I could just pack up and follow around the pro tour. JAM, I'm jealous of your travels and experiences. Maybe I should ask out Sarah Rousey. But for now I'm banished to the toils of a day job, only to live out my dual life in the night hours (Anyone read The Green Felt Jungle?). Hopefully the IPT will fluorish so that once I'm ready I can pay da bills as a pro.

Hopefully some of you feel the same way. I just felt the need to vent some of my workerbee angst.

Sincerely,
Brother Bandit
Click to expand...

Yes, I know how you feel, and I felt the same way in my early 20's, but decided my best course was to get a college education after the Navy.
So I worked in a Pool room down in Houston, and went to college, first
San Jacinto, then U. of Houston. I gave lessons to kids, hustled some,
and just enjoyed it as my main hobby. Yes, I have read the Green Felt
Jungle, primarily because I have known Jr. Brown over 30 years, first as
an advidsary then later on as a friend. When I first landed up here in Wichita,
I was matched up with Jr. for $1,000 sets down at the famous Burke's Steak
house (booths all around the table), and played to a full house with many
sidebets going on. Jr. was 19 then, and the best in Wichita, and probably
his best shooting days. I ended up 1 set down because my backer pulled up.
Jr. was the main topic of Chapter 19, and referenced in other chapters, he
moved to New Orleans for 7 years, but ended up coming back to Wichita, his
hometown. He went mostly by his real first name down in New Orleans, since
he did have some sort of reputation, which is Cliff.
I can sypathize with your desire to play on the pro circuit, and today, with
the IPT, the chances of that are far greater than back in my old days.
But, having to work and support yourself comes into play, plus if you have
a family. Sometimes if you have those concerns, and money can be a real
issue, it is best to stay in the 'semi-pro' range rather than turning pro. But
who wouldn't want to give it a shot now with the IPT qualifiers and such
coming about. If you love the sport as I do, just enjoy all aspects of it,
work to help it get better, and help new players learn.
 
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