Big Tournaments and Vacation Time

Jude Rosenstock

Jude Rosenstock

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This has always been a curious issue for me because I typically don't get more than 3 weeks vacation per year.
 
I've often wondered the same thing - This excludes cuemakers, and people that work directly in the billiards industry, but I've heard of some people go to SBE, US OPEN, DCC, BCA Trade Expo, Q-lympics, etc - I often wonder

a) How can one afford that (hotel/travel)?
b) How does one get a job where you can take that much time off?
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
This has always been a curious issue for me because I typically don't get more than 3 weeks vacation per year.
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I only get 2 so I am a little worse for wear. I'd be divorced if I used it for tournaments instead of family vacations, so I guess I'm relegated to being a weekend warrior for the most part.
 
This year so far I've used or have booked off 8 days for big tournaments. this is roughly a 3rd of my annual holidays.

I'm already divorced so.......
 
Blackjack said:
I've often wondered the same thing - This excludes cuemakers, and people that work directly in the billiards industry, but I've heard of some people go to SBE, US OPEN, DCC, BCA Trade Expo, Q-lympics, etc - I often wonder

a) How can one afford that (hotel/travel)?
b) How does one get a job where you can take that much time off?
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Yeah, who can do that? I mean, I understand the professional players in NYC who go but the working joes like myself and a few others - I can't see us going to more than two or three a year.

Part of the reason I ask all this has to do with my decisions regarding my trip to Vegas this year. It's so hard to let go of so much vacation time for an event I've already been to twice so I'm only going for 5 days. There's just so many other things I want to do with my free time and some of those things aren't pool-related.
 
I'm going to play in the Singles open for the first time this year and have never traveled to any other big tournaments for this reason.

I'm Self-employed so I can't just up and leave 4-5 times per year and leave my business to someone. I'm also married so the Vegas tournament is the only one that makes sense for me to go to, since we go to Vegas every year.
 
jojopiff said:
I'm going to play in the Singles open for the first time this year and have never traveled to any other big tournaments for this reason.

I'm Self-employed so I can't just up and leave 4-5 times per year and leave my business to someone. I'm also married so the Vegas tournament is the only one that makes sense for me to go to, since we go to Vegas every year.
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I think you meant, "...I'm also married so the Vegas tournament is the only one that makes sense for me to go to, since what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas".:eek:
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Yeah, who can do that? I mean, I understand the professional players in NYC who go but the working joes like myself and a few others - I can't see us going to more than two or three a year.

Part of the reason I ask all this has to do with my decisions regarding my trip to Vegas this year. It's so hard to let go of so much vacation time for an event I've already been to twice so I'm only going for 5 days. There's just so many other things I want to do with my free time and some of those things aren't pool-related.
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The question is, do you consider pool-related trips a "vacation"? I think you will find that the die-hard people that do all these trips do feel that way... and therefore can justify it.
 
lodini said:
The question is, do you consider pool-related trips a "vacation"? I think you will find that the die-hard people that do all these trips do feel that way... and therefore can justify it.
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I really don't know. What's a diehard? I mean, if you get 2 weeks vacation and devote the entire time to pool, are you a less a diehard than the guy who gets 6 weeks vacation and only uses 3 for pool? If I got 6 weeks vacation, I could go to every event and still spend about 200 hours on an island.
 
I only get 3 weeks.

I'm using 1 for vegas... and have probably used 3 days already just practicing for local shootouts and stuff.

Other than that, pretty much all my vacation goes involves me going to, or coming from a pool related event. I may just take monday, or thursday(only work 4 days a week) off so I get an extra long weekend for travel/recoup time.

I just wish I was good enough to compete in the big tourneys, I'd find a way to get there if I knew I stood any type of chance. <-That's DieHard.

I know that when money gets tight, I lose weight.... I'd rather eat once a day and be able to play pool than go without my obsessive pastime.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
This has always been a curious issue for me because I typically don't get more than 3 weeks vacation per year.
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I have 4 weeks on the books. But, the billable hour is a double edged sword. No one complains if you have your quota and take 4 weeks (or more) in a row. But if you miss your quota, even taking 2 weeks looks odd. And if you are busy, good luck trying to push work off to someone else just to get 1 of your 4.

This whole trading time for money thing is a PITA. But, I suppose it beats some of the alternatives. ;)

-td
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I really don't know. What's a diehard? I mean, if you get 2 weeks vacation and devote the entire time to pool, are you a less a diehard than the guy who gets 6 weeks vacation and only uses 3 for pool? If I got 6 weeks vacation, I could go to every event and still spend about 200 hours on an island.
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I hear what you're saying Jude.

Note: Vacation defined:
"a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday"

I too struggle with spending SOOO much of my precious "vacation" time going to a pool tourney that is going to stress me out and leave me more exhausted than before I left for "vacation." I love pool to death, but work is so stressful and I would like to use vacation time to relax on a island away from work AND pool. However, I don't want to miss out on the few opportunities a year to compete given I do love playing the sport.

Course, I am still going to Vegas b/c I'm addicted and have been looking forward to it since I got off the plane from Vegas last year!! I have accepted that I will not get much sleep or rest and relaxation in my life, b/c I have allowed pool to take a hold of enough of my lifestyle to delete much time for other livelihoods like islands and beaches.

Many of my European partners are completely unavailable the month of August as the companies basically shut down for vacation time.

I need to move to Europe.
 
GG11 said:
I hear what you're saying Jude.

Note: Vacation defined:
"a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday"

I too struggle with spending SOOO much of my precious "vacation" time going to a pool tourney that is going to stress me out and leave me more exhausted than before I left for "vacation." I love pool to death, but work is so stressful and I would like to use vacation time to relax on a island away from work AND pool. However, I don't want to miss out on the few opportunities a year to compete given I do love playing the sport.

Course, I am still going to Vegas b/c I'm addicted and have been looking forward to it since I got off the plane from Vegas last year!! I have accepted that I will not get much sleep or rest and relaxation in my life, b/c I have allowed pool to take a hold of enough of my lifestyle to delete much time for other livelihoods like islands and beaches.

Many of my European partners are completely unavailable the month of August as the companies basically shut down for vacation time.

I need to move to Europe.
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If you move to Europe, I am coming with you!

And to answer your question, Jude... I consider a die-hard person to be the one who would rather go to a pool event than go on "vacation".
 
lodini said:
If you move to Europe, I am coming with you!

And to answer your question, Jude... I consider a die-hard person to be the one who would rather go to a pool event than go on "vacation".
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What are you trying to say? A diehard is someone who would rather go to a pool tournament than say a place like um, Florida? GG, if I didn't know any better, I would guess someone is calling you out!
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
What are you trying to say? A diehard is someone who would rather go to a pool tournament than say a place like um, Florida? GG, if I didn't know any better, I would guess someone is calling you out!
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Ok, you little Troublemaker! GG has been to Florida WAY more times this year than she has traveled to a pool tournament. AND, if you must know, she asked me multiple times to join her in Vegas... but alas, it is me who can't afford the vacation time! Let's just say I wish I had the time/money to be diehard. :p :p :p
 
lodini said:
Ok, you little Troublemaker! GG has been to Florida WAY more times this year than she has traveled to a pool tournament. AND, if you must know, she asked me multiple times to join her in Vegas... but alas, it is me who can't afford the vacation time! Let's just say I wish I had the time/money to be diehard. :p :p :p
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I see you spelled "Troublemaker" with a capital T that rhymes with P that stands for pool.
 
lodini said:
Ok, you little Troublemaker! GG has been to Florida WAY more times this year than she has traveled to a pool tournament. AND, if you must know, she asked me multiple times to join her in Vegas... but alas, it is me who can't afford the vacation time! Let's just say I wish I had the time/money to be diehard. :p :p :p
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YEAH!!!! You tell'em!!

Typical Jude, tryin to start a ruckus!!!

Be careful my Beatles-song named friend .... I might divulge some deeply kept secrets ....... MWAH-AH-AH!!
 
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