Professional pool players in America are, indeed, self-employed according to the Tax Code.
Unlike industry members, 99 percent of American professional players don't have industry members supporting them with cash to keep them afloat or give them a boost. Those that do, I can count on one hand. Industry members support other industry members in the American pool world.
Having been in this pool world for over 40 years, longer than some members of this forum have been alive on this Earth, I have a good view of all facets in the pool world.
In the '80s and before, a professional player, whether he was an "emotionless robot" or a "loud-mouth drunk," could eke out a living as a self-employed pool player. The payouts in pool tournaments today are the same as then, but in the '80s, one could, say, get a hotel room for 40 bucks. Today, it's more difficult due to how much more expensive things are today.
If a so-called "professional pool player" wants to get a traditional 9-5 job and continue their pool-playing activities, they can do this and become what I call "weekend warriors," those who play on the weekends but don't quit their day jobs. It is not possible, as stated numerous times, to play pool full-time and compete internationally without devoting more time to hitting balls than holding down a job.
To those who say a pool player can get a job in a pool room, give lessons, exhibitions, et cetera, in case you haven't noticed, most pool rooms are shutting down, closing shop, due to lack of interest. The younger generation today socialize via their tablets, smartphones, and computers. The pool room used to be a social venue for its regulars, and pool became the common denominator. Not so anymore. Pool rooms today need alcohol and other attractions besides pool to keep afloat. Most pool rooms in America today cannot afford to pay a so-called "professional pool player" to be house pro. More than dozen pool rooms have closed in my area in the past 10 years.
On this forum, the majority of members are social shooters, league players, and amateurs. There is not a lot of activity from the pro-caliber pool player on AzBilliards. Therefore, the majority of opinions lean in one direction.
As an aside, one of the biggest problems in the American pool world is the ego bashings. Industry supports industry, and the majority of those industry members don't give two sh*ts about professional pool surviving. They may pretend to cry broke, but their expenses are getting paid. There is a lot of big fragile egos in the American pool world, however. Industry helps industry, e.g., Billiard Congress of America, and nobody cares about professional pool anymore. This is a fact that you all should be cognizant of. In this regard, this forum should be happy. Professional pool in America is now dead, a stinking fish in the water for all to turn their noses up at. Damned is the professional pool player, for they are branded in the eyes of the American pool culture.
I recently had a fun colloquy with a lady I shot pool with in the '80s. We played on a league. Her team was a pool room, and my team was a local tavern. Our league was 8-ball. The winning match came down to her versus me. The score was tied, and I was breaking. Whoever won this game, their team wins. This girl was a better shooter than me, and I knew it. I cannot remember a time that I had been as nervous playing pool. My heart felt like it was beating through my chest, and my face was beet-red and hot.
My team was supporting me, standing by. Though this girl could play better on the 9-footers than me, I was a great 8-ball player, having played it my whole life, and I knew the 8-ball break, sliding the 8 in the side. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it's the best high in the world. You see, on our league, an 8-on-the-break is a win. :wink:
I looked over at my team captain, Sonny, and said, "Sonny, 8-ball in the side pocket." I cracked the rack with all my might, using the inside english needed to push that 8-ball, and the 8-ball rolled into the side pocket like it had eyes. My entire team erupted in cheers and came over to me, giving me high-fives and pats on the back. I was a pool hero and on top of the world. What a feeling! This is my happiest memory in pool, playing on the leagues.
Back to professional pool, since I entered this realm in the autumn of my life, it has been filled with mixed feelings. My other half, FWIW, isn't a tournament soldier, though he was relegated to be one after the advent of the Internet. His glory days in pool, like mine on that league, are behind us. We will, however, continue to enjoy pool in America for what it has to offer, and neither of us will belittle, demean, stereotype, or ridicule professional pool with all its warts and flaws. :sorry:
In conclusion, thank the good Lord that I didn't quit my day job. You can't live off of love, and you can't live comfortably in 2014 being a professional pool player. Like Allen Hopkins, Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, Jeanette Lee, Ewa Mataya Lawrence, Tom Kennedy, Shannon Daulton, Tony Crosby, et cetera, me and mine will earn a buck or two on pool, but it sure as heck won't be competing in pool tournaments, sad to say, because playing pool truly is the wind beneath Keith McCready's wings. Again, you just can't live off of love, and to be a professional pool player in 2014, you can't hold down a full-time traditional job.
