Is being a "Touring Pro Player" a decent kind of living?
- Thread starter Espartaco_7
- Start date
Given the trade offs for time, effort, and payback it is probably a very
poor "choice." There are many other ways to create a satisfying life.
I would bet that if someone seriously interviewed the current crop of touring pros that many of them have accepted their life style more so than having chosen it. Surely some of the top players have a chosen life style, but many others just went with the flow and the initially "easy" money.
If the tenacity and effort required is invested in any of several other fields the compensation and satisfaction is much higher. There are hundreds of thousands of highly paid sales people who earn more than a pro player. The competition for the effort required is very disproportionate.
While it is not often talked about I think that many "professional" pool players have less than a high school education. This limits one's choices in life.
poor "choice." There are many other ways to create a satisfying life.
I would bet that if someone seriously interviewed the current crop of touring pros that many of them have accepted their life style more so than having chosen it. Surely some of the top players have a chosen life style, but many others just went with the flow and the initially "easy" money.
If the tenacity and effort required is invested in any of several other fields the compensation and satisfaction is much higher. There are hundreds of thousands of highly paid sales people who earn more than a pro player. The competition for the effort required is very disproportionate.
While it is not often talked about I think that many "professional" pool players have less than a high school education. This limits one's choices in life.
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and what is a 'decent living'?
Depends on who you are. Can be a salary and expenses, or just equipment...or anything between.
Your question is akin to 'deos anybody know how much a good job pays?'.
For the natural talent, skill, and effort required I would guess that most anything over $150,000 would be in the ball park. That kind of gross, less expenses would be minimal.
I would think a touring pro is someone who enters in more than 6 - 7 tournaments a year where there is added money and a high level of competitiveness.
" you show me a Champion poolplayer, I will show you a wasted life!".....Steve Mizerak
150k? That is a very good paying job, in the real world (where employees actually generate value for others with their efforts). that is $70+/ hr for a full-time employee. A collige gradumate with a sought after bachelor's degree starts the working world at half that.
I would be high
ly surprised if there are more than a couple pros who make 150k, prior to expenses...and taxes:ignore:
In fact, the 2012 pro payout list has 0 folks at or above 150k for 2012...and yes, i know the list is not all-inclusive re: income.
I was considering the idea that these are "professional" people who put a great deal of effort into their chosen life style. They take their work home, so to speak. Professionals have a great deal of dedication and do not usually work on the clock. A Touring Pro would fall into this category of self directed, highly motivated individual with a great deal of dedication.
People with this attitude and life style usually have above average incomes. I can think of several "professional" or professional type occupations where 150k would be minimal or below average incomes.
I think if one were considering becoming a Touring Pro the costs and benefits should be compared to people who put forth similar efforts. When viewed in this light becoming a Touring Pro would be very low on the list.
A few comparable occupations that might require similar dedication, skill, and motivation include:
Successful real estate agent,
High end sales rep,
Pharmaceutical medical sales,
Director of MIS,
Licensed professions.
Building contractors,
Successful business owners,
All of these require dedication and tenacity and in some instances natural talent. Good sales people have a natural talent that is often under appreciated.
BTW the top "Touring Pros" in any of these professions have much higher incomes and benefits. The top CEOs of small companies (less than 1,000 employees) often have very high income/ benefit plans.
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I think we are saying the same thing then?
It is not realistic to think a pool player warrants the same pay as:
Successful real estate agent,
High end sales rep,
Pharmaceutical medical sales,
Director of MIS,
Licensed professions.
Building contractors,
Successful business owners
I think we are saying the same thing then?
It is not realistic to think a pool player warrants the same pay as:
Successful real estate agent,
High end sales rep,
Pharmaceutical medical sales,
Director of MIS,
Licensed professions.
Building contractors,
Successful business owners
Yes, and for this reason seeking to become a Touring Pro is not worth the effort that could be more profitably placed in some other area.
....and what you and Walter are NOT mentioning is that these other listed professioals are going to get a decent paycheck even if they do a mediocre job, whereas mediocrity in the pool world equals very little-to-no payout, not enough to cover expenses.
Very good points though, guys!!!
Maniac
Today......no. Even when pool was in it's heyday some of the top Pro's had full time jobs. Mosconi and Caras were lucky and were paid to work for Brunswick. Others like; Balsis, Crane, Mizerak, and Babe Cranefield all worked regular jobs in addition to touring professionally.
I meant a guy like SVB, Deuel, Appleton, Mika, etc. I know these guys have sponsorships, I just wonder the specifics of the contracts for upper echelon guys like this
I believe Earl's deal w/ cuetech was 10 yr/ 200k + 1/1 tourney$-winnings match.
What is a decent living?
I spent six years straight on the road. Up and down, rich and busted. Sleeping in my car or at the Hilton. Eating baloney in a flea bag motel wondering how the hell am I going to get out of this one. Eating steak with Danny Medina.
Memories I would never give up and nightmares I would never relive. Its not the money that drives a road player, its the lifestyle of living on the edge not knowing whats around the corner. Money in the pool world is circular it moves around continually.
Most people cannot handle the mindset it takes to travel and play. The only guarantee is that you probably won't make it and will sleep in your van occasionally. Yet many would not trade it for anything else.
If you are a person who needs security and stability forget about it.
I spent six years straight on the road. Up and down, rich and busted. Sleeping in my car or at the Hilton. Eating baloney in a flea bag motel wondering how the hell am I going to get out of this one. Eating steak with Danny Medina.
Memories I would never give up and nightmares I would never relive. Its not the money that drives a road player, its the lifestyle of living on the edge not knowing whats around the corner. Money in the pool world is circular it moves around continually.
Most people cannot handle the mindset it takes to travel and play. The only guarantee is that you probably won't make it and will sleep in your van occasionally. Yet many would not trade it for anything else.
If you are a person who needs security and stability forget about it.
I doubt the same money is out there like it "used to be". Times were good back in the 60's-80's. People actually had jobs back then and money "flowed" a little easier
!!!Maniac
It seems to me the answer to this question is mostly in your perspective. It appears there are a hand full or less Professionals making what I would consider a decent living. However, there is more to making a decent living than the financial metric. Are you happy? Are you enjoying life? Are you at peace with yourself? There are no shortage of wealthy people that are dissatisfied if not completely miserable. And who made the rule that success has to be measured by the traditional idea of a spouse, two cars, a couple of children, a 3 bedroom house in a nice subdivision and a steady 9 to 5 job?
I was discussing something similar to this with one of the guys this week at league. He made a great point by stating how great it would be to be one of the best in the world at what you do. How can you put a dollar figure on that?
I was discussing something similar to this with one of the guys this week at league. He made a great point by stating how great it would be to be one of the best in the world at what you do. How can you put a dollar figure on that?
In the US we have no governing body, no apperance fee's for these players.. Wonder why european's are better at OUR game.. This race to the bottom, winner take all mindset is to blame. JMO