So do porn stars.
Hardships of Professional Pool as a Career
- Thread starter JAM
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That sounds great, until you have to pay the rent. Or put food on the table for a family of four.
Let's face it, money makes the world go around. And there just isn't much money in professional pool. At least, not for the players.
I don't know what the answer is, but I wish good luck to all of the pool players who want to give it a shot.
dendweller
Well-known member
Watching the recent Turning Stone event, looks like about 90% or more of the seats are always empty. No different than a lot of streams I've watched where you can see the seating. I'm not sure there is a fix for that.
We are on the same page. I deleted a second line from the post you quoted:
Pay commensurate with societal value.
Wisdom is the key. If a young man wants to dedicate himself to any endeavor, he must be willing to thoroughly and honestly evaluate reality. The results are fairly uniform: pool can't pay its players enough. That's the reality. Like my Dad used to say, "Son, stop beating your head up against City Hall."
We all love pool or we wouldn't be here. At the same time, we can not deny reality. I admire folks who are willing to chase their dreams. Sadly, dreams won't feed them. And if pool can't feed them, how will it feed their wives and kids? How will it pay for a home or a car?
Pool is an intellectual and physical activity best played with friends. It has proved beyond doubt that it can't financially support its players. It can hardly support the behind-the-lines, day-to-day grunts who keep the wheels turning. Sadly, it looks like the only people who make money in the pool world are guys who successfully sell the dream to us poor dreamers.
We all love pool or we wouldn't be here. At the same time, we can not deny reality. I admire folks who are willing to chase their dreams. Sadly, dreams won't feed them. And if pool can't feed them, how will it feed their wives and kids? How will it pay for a home or a car?
Pool is an intellectual and physical activity best played with friends. It has proved beyond doubt that it can't financially support its players. It can hardly support the behind-the-lines, day-to-day grunts who keep the wheels turning. Sadly, it looks like the only people who make money in the pool world are guys who successfully sell the dream to us poor dreamers.
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With the additional streams provided by UpState Al. I imagine viewer attendance will drop further. Why spectate live when you can see what's happening on every table when it's convenient.
dendweller
Well-known member
Maybe more misunderstood than broke.
I agree with this post and was going to post something similar. Even though trapshooting is a very expensive sport the vast majority of top shooters have full time jobs. One of the best shooter Dave Shaeffer is a plumber. The best current shooter Pat Lamont is a full time engineer and cannot participate in all the events he would like to ... I know him personally and talked to him about this. A lot of the top shooters work in the industry as sales people or gunsmiths. People have to be realistic about their ability before deciding to become full-time pros.
That said, I would hate to see people like Niels Feijen, Darren Appleton, Ralf Souquet, Earl Strickland, Efren etc. cannot afford to make a living. We as pool players can help contribute to their YouTube channels and fundraisers whenever we can. At least that's what I have been doing. However, there has to be a limit and I only contribute to those who I consider made SIGNIFICANT advancement to the sport.
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Both golf and F1 drivers are well past the 0.1% level of the creame of the crop.
There are (what?) several hundred professions tour golfers, and millions upon millions of 'scratch' golfers. But it those millions upon millions (and their children and friends) who create the cash pool for them to reap.
As for F1 drivers, 1% of all drivers world wide (of the right age group:: 70 million) would give their left arm for a chance to drive let alone race. 70 million would want to be an F1 driver, and 20 get the chance.
It is like a sports player in high school:: the most important thing you can tell one of these athletes is: "less than 0.01% of high school football players make any money in professional football--and neither will you." Whereas everyone who graduates, takes a normal job, works hard at it, can live a decent life.
The World Darts Championship recently concluded at the Alexandra Palace in London. The champion, Michael Smith, took home $500,000 for his win. The place was packed, beer flowed, and the crowd was boisterous. I have a hard time believing pool can't reach that level.
dendweller
Well-known member
Do people actually make a living playing darts?
Yup seen that a number of times,and the few there are mostly old people.
dendweller
Well-known member
Hate to say but I've noticed the same. I've been there a couple times, I'd of been one of the old people
Thanks for the interesting thoughts. I probably have formed my opinion about how some view the pool players from reading the disparaging words written by some. I realize not everybody thinks this way.
Even with Matchroom and Predator's efforts to form a tour around the world, most people cannot afford to go to all of the events because of the cost. This includes elite players, Hall of Famers, and aspiring pros who just might be good enough to reach the winner's circle. But the can't afford to attend Matchroom and/or Predator tournaments in, say, Poland and then China and then Puerto Rico and then England and then Germany and then the United States within a 6-month span, therein because of expenses, therein lies the problem.
For American players, in particular, I think we have more regional competitions that are more affordable, but if the American player wants to gain ranking points but can't afford to attend events overseas on a regular basis, they can never get ahead. Some may quit competing professionally and get a job and/or go back to school, and that's probably the best direction for them if they want to live a comfortable lifestyle.
As a railbird, I can afford to attend tournaments around the world, if I wanted to, but when the tournament is over, I return home and can make ends meet. I have a job. I have a bank account. I have a home. I have a car. For the aspiring pool pro, unless they have, again, a stakehorse, sponsor, family, or rich spouse, it's a whole nother world and lifestyle between tournaments.
I've never been a fan of the ratings, and I kind of think people who value ratings are results pickers. There just might be some pool players out there who are not ranked at all yet can keep up with the best of 'em. Derby City Classic always has a few surprises in that department.
Well said. Most pros, even elite ones, whether in Europe or elsewhere, cannot afford to get ranking points by Matchroom because they cannot afford to attend the multi-day tournaments.
One well-known pro player in Europe wrote that he has been invited by Matchroom and others to attend their events, invitational events and others, and he can't afford to go and has to say no. It is not possible for him to get ranking points, even when he is invited. He cannot afford the hotel, airfare, food on the road, et cetera, yet he's in dead-punch stroke because he shoots every day and actually gives lessons to others.
I often wonder about older pros like Oliver Ortmann. As a pool fan, I'd love to see him at a tournament show up, but I'm not sure where he is, even if he's shooting anymore.
My hat goes out to the pro players who can make a living in pool outside of tournaments. Allen Hopkins and his Super Billiards Expo is one, and there's a few others too.
Pool is not like boxing of football where age matters. Look at Ronnie O'Sullivan at 47, not that 47 is old. He's still hitting 'em strong and winning.
I pray that Matchroom and Predator don't go by the wayside if they cannot turn a profit, as you stated what happened with IPT and Bonus Ball. I know Barry Hearn is a smart cookie when it comes to financial matters, and that recent Predator Billiard Pro Series event in Puerto Rico was a huge, huge success.
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dendweller
Well-known member
I was watching one of the tournament of champions at Mohegan back in the 90s on ESPN. Pretty sure it was the finals and Tony Ellin missed a pretty easy shot to run out for the win, maybe the ball skidded, don't know. That was the difference between the 50k and nothing. I remember thinking, glad I have a day job with a salary, that's too much stress.
Back many years ago when straight pool tournaments were all the rage and held in the U.S. many players could work and still attend.
Irving Crane sold Cadillacs for a long time and still competed at a high level.
Irving Crane sold Cadillacs for a long time and still competed at a high level.
Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset;
We never had the love that ev'ry child oughta get.
We ain't no delinquents,
We're misunderstood.
Deep down inside us there is good!