Big Tournaments and Vacation Time

[Travis Bickle]

That's serious dedication, stuckart! Definitely making the most of your chances.
If only my job included travel, too.

My 4 1/2 year old twins like to poke at the balls, sometimes using the bridge, but aren't too willing to take instruction yet. Daughter has almost got the basic rail bridge down, though. Don't know when I can contemplate taking them to a tourney ... at this point they'll sit for 5 minutes and then start sprinting and screaming around the room.

 

[juggler314]

I get only vacation time. No sick days and no PTO. They removed all of that. if you go for any regular check-up then you're using up your vacation time.

So I just take off whenever I want and if I get fired then I'll easily get another job.

Crazy, I get 20 days vacation, 9 days personal, accrue comp time for weekend work (which comes up here and there since I'm in IT). We have 9 holidays and we do summer hours (1/2 day every friday for june/july/august). Yet I don't go to many pool events...

 

[Dana Bufalo]

Turning Stone Classic XI - August 14-17, 2008

Yeah, six weeks vacation time would be amazing! I mean, I have to wonder if certain events are affected by typical vacation amounts. Would the US Open have a higher turn-out if it were in the summer instead of fall? I know I think about the weather when it comes to DCC and Turning Stone. It's never fun taking time off during the winter AND not going some place where it's 80 degrees or better.

Jude - I would think Turning Stone would be a good fit for someone like yourself because you could drive up to Verona from Brooklyn on Wednesday night (or early Thursday morning).., and spend the next four days enjoying the event while only using up two vacation days from work.., I make the trip to Turning Stone twice a year from Massachusetts and it works out great for me.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Jude - I would think Turning Stone would be a good fit for someone like yourself because you could drive up to Verona from Brooklyn on Wednesday night (or early Thursday morning).., and spend the next four days enjoying the event while only using up two vacation days from work.., I make the trip to Turning Stone twice a year from Massachusetts and it works out great for me.

Don't get me wrong, I do eventually plan on playing in the Turning Stone event but I have to be honest, Upstate New York is not high on my list of places where I want to spend vacation time. I know, I know, you go for the pool but it's nice when you can go for something else, too.

 

[lodini]

Don't get me wrong, I do eventually plan on playing in the Turning Stone event but I have to be honest, Upstate New York is not high on my list of places where I want to spend vacation time. I know, I know, you go for the pool but it's nice when you can go for something else, too.

So, are you saying that if these big time tournaments were someplace like, I don't know... MIAMI... then you would be more willing to take your vacation time to play in them?

Sounds good to me! Let's make the change.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

So, are you saying that if these big time tournaments were someplace like, I don't know... MIAMI... then you would be more willing to take your vacation time to play in them?

Sounds good to me! Let's make the change.

Wow, I can't even joke about that. YES, I WOULD WITHOUT A DOUBT!

 

[Phidget]

I get 21 day each year. I have a wife and child so most of my vacation is predecated around that.
I do however go to the US Open for Thursday- Saturday action, I attend and play regional events in the area every few months, and when i travel overseas for work I TRY to get some pool in (although hard to do).

That being said, an understanding wife is a necessity. Matter of fact, my birthday is here and instead of some crap I wont use, I asked her to fund some private lessons, which she is doing.

Next year I get another week of vacation and want to try out the DCC or a Vegas trip, although DCC is within driving distance (barely).

All in all, I suggest to anyone short on time to do like I do. Take only 1-2 days off and catch the last half of a long tourney. By then some players are out and you get to see or play in more action at the local pool hall.

 

[lodini]

Wow, I can't even joke about that. YES, I WOULD WITHOUT A DOUBT!

Jude can't joke about it?? Wow, I may have hit the nail on the head!

Any ideas why some of these big events seem to be in small out of the way towns? For example, I know 50% of the reason everyone jumps at Vegas is because it's VEGAS!

 

[Cornerman]

This has always been a curious issue for me because I typically don't get more than 3 weeks vacation per year. Certain events like DCC I will almost always shy away from simply because it's in January and I don't want to use up any vacation time so early in the year. I was wondering how people use their vacation. Do you reserve the bulk of your time for a particular event? If so, which one? If you are self-employed or don't get vacation time at all, do you see this a liberating or even more a burden to attend events? OR, do you reserve your vacation for something relaxing (like a trip to Hawaii or something) and use the remaining days for a tournament?

For me, it's a juggling act.

I generally take a vacation week with my family every year. And I take a Friday off a couple of times to make a four day weekend (i.e., Memorial Day).

The rest of my vacation days are booked for the BCA Nationals and Derby City.

I am fortunate with a couple of things with my job where I do travel, but not as much as a sales person. Therefore, I'm a bit flexible in travel, and I get days here and there as compensation for the days away from home, especially the weekend travel I take. I also use as much frequent flyer miles etc. to book personal travel, so that certainly eases the financial burden.

So, that's how I do it. The reality is that, again, my vacation time is dominated by pool, and pool vacation is never with my family.

Fred

 

[Da Poet]

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I'll get 18 days vacation this year and 24 next year. 2 personal days, 12 sick days, 5-6 holidays. It's crazy.

It's like working in France.

 

[jojopiff]

Any ideas why some of these big events seem to be in small out of the way towns? For example, I know 50% of the reason everyone jumps at Vegas is because it's VEGAS![/QUOTE]

Exactly, I would still go to a tournament of it's calibur but the wife would hate spending 4-5 days in a podunk town, whereas she'll love being in Vegas.

Preston

 

[Travis Bickle]

Jude, what could you want that they don't have upstate? The women are legendary! Surely you've heard "The Girl from Oswego" somewhere ...

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Jude, what could you want that they don't have upstate? The women are legendary! Surely you've heard "The Girl from Oswego" somewhere ...