Question For All Pro's That Post On Here.......

jimmy-leggs

jimmy-leggs

A GREAT DAY
Silver Member
I was just curious as to what you guys or girls do while there is no tournys going on?Other than practice alot there must be alot of free time.How do you guys survive?Not knocking anyone in anyway,but with the state of pool I just could'nt imagine how someone lives without a steady income.
Do you have full time jobs?Do you hustle for money?Do you have sponsers?
First place in any given tourny might be $10,000 IF you win it.That sure would'nt last long.
I would assume most have a job of some kind pool related or not but please fill me in if you could.
Shane had a great year and made some decent money but what about the other 500 people?



And please lets not turn this into a smart ass thread,I very curious how does one live as a pro player.
 
Donate lots of blood, collect cans, stuff along those lines. Ok sorry, I had to say something sarcastic.

Honestly, I'm not sure what everyone else does, but I work full-time. It really hurts the pool game. I would imagine alot of the top players have good sponsors that pay them a yearly amount. Many get paid well for exhibitions and lessons too.

Sarah
 
Thanks Sarah for the honest answer.:) Other than the WPBA tourneys do you get out to very many other tournies or just stick around your home area and practice?
by the way ...good luck in Charlotte.
 
I would guess most have some sort of job, I would if they think about playing pool the entire time they work. Thats what I do.
 
How come?

Johnnyt said:
I'll bet there are a higher percentage of women pros that work full time than men pros. Johnnyt
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Just curious why you think so? There are really only 64 professional women players compared to anywhere from 2 to 300 professional men players world wide and possibly more. The numbers alone would lead one to think that more men would have a full time job. I know that the women lack tournaments but I'd say the top 5 to 10 women that play have great sponsorship and do great on exhibitions. Most obviously the likes of Jeanette Lee and Allison Fischer. I think Sarah used to survive as well without having to work but realized it was nice to have a bit more stability and do a little better than survive. I see your side as well though in tems of percentages but, at the same time, the men have alot more tournaments and is it really possible for them to keep a good fulll time job with their pool schedule? Maybe Sarah can elaborate on this, or any other professional players on here.
 
1on1pooltournys said:
Just curious why you think so? There are really only 64 professional women players compared to anywhere from 2 to 300 professional men players world wide and possibly more. The numbers alone would lead one to think that more men would have a full time job. I know that the women lack tournaments but I'd say the top 5 to 10 women that play have great sponsorship and do great on exhibitions. Most obviously the likes of Jeanette Lee and Allison Fischer. I think Sarah used to survive as well without having to work but realized it was nice to have a bit more stability and do a little better than survive. I see your side as well though in tems of percentages but, at the same time, the men have alot more tournaments and is it really possible for them to keep a good fulll time job with their pool schedule? Maybe Sarah can elaborate on this, or any other professional players on here.
Click to expand...

Ok, 64 pro women of which most have jobs and then 300 pro men of which I bet 64 don't have jobs and 32 of those never have had a job. 16 of those never will have a job and 8 of those would run from a job.
 
Right now the economy sucks. Gas is $3.80 a gallon in most places - it's been over 3 bucks for quite a while now. Last year I played in a lot of regional tour events and I scheduled my instruction and classes during the week to be able to do so. This year I haven't played in a single event.

It's not because of the economy.

It's not because I lost my desire to play.

Look at the cost to go to a weekend REGIONAL event -

Gas - $100
Food - $75
Entry - $60 - $150
Hotel - 1 Night $79 / 2 nights $160

There's no way to get around spending a couple of hundred dollars to go to an event these days. The prices I just gave are just an estimate - I'm sure in some areas its much much more.

I don't have a prayer in hell of cashing in most events these days. Some of these events play the Saturday rounds until 2-3 AM - because of my Parkinson's meds, I can't take a long day like that under any circumstances.

This year I have decided to teach full time on the weekends. Instead of spending all this money to go all over the Southeast, I have decided to stay here in Orlando and make money giving classes.

As far as what other players do, that is none of my business. I have always been employed or self employed every day of my life. When things got bad in the mid 1990's, I already owned my own room. At the same I was a police officer in El Paso and earning a degree in psychology at UT El Paso. It was a sacrifice, but I had 4 kids to take care of. They come before pool and everything else in my life.

At some point in every players life, the nerves go - or the eyes go - or the desire to practice goes. Life doesn't sit still just because you play pool.

Sarah, I remember you and I spoke a few years ago at a WPBA event. You had a lot of tough decisions to make at that point in time, and I remember telling you that you would never regret having something to fall back on.

I have found that if you work your ass off and concentrate on building your life - that pool will somehow find its place in there. It may not be what I really wanted or what I dreamed about when I was 16 years old, but where I fit in today and what I do with pool is much more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. Its well worth it, and the little girl in the picture below is counting on me to be more than just a pool player.

Kristy2008_2.jpg
 
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1on1pooltournys said:
Just curious why you think so? There are really only 64 professional women players compared to anywhere from 2 to 300 professional men players world wide and possibly more. The numbers alone would lead one to think that more men would have a full time job. I know that the women lack tournaments but I'd say the top 5 to 10 women that play have great sponsorship and do great on exhibitions. Most obviously the likes of Jeanette Lee and Allison Fischer. I think Sarah used to survive as well without having to work but realized it was nice to have a bit more stability and do a little better than survive. I see your side as well though in tems of percentages but, at the same time, the men have alot more tournaments and is it really possible for them to keep a good fulll time job with their pool schedule? Maybe Sarah can elaborate on this, or any other professional players on here.
Click to expand...

I said percentage wise. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
I said percentage wise. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

Because reading is hard! :D

So back on topic... I'm guessing that many of the pros (gender notwithstanding) who do work jobs, find work in the pool industry in some form or fashion.

I know one woman pro who works for one of the larger pool equipment distributors (or at least, did, last time I spoke with her, many months ago).

I know of at least two or three who work AT pool rooms.
 
sarahrousey said:
Donate lots of blood, collect cans, stuff along those lines. Ok sorry, I had to say something sarcastic.

Honestly, I'm not sure what everyone else does, but I work full-time. It really hurts the pool game. I would imagine alot of the top players have good sponsors that pay them a yearly amount. Many get paid well for exhibitions and lessons too.

Sarah
Click to expand...

It's a good idea to diversify...

Bum_Tracker.jpg
 
Blackjack, these may be the best words I have EVER read on this forum!
I don't know you, but it's quite obvious to me that you are an extraordinary person.:)
 
1on1pooltournys said:
Just curious why you think so? There are really only 64 professional women players compared to anywhere from 2 to 300 professional men players world wide and possibly more. The numbers alone would lead one to think that more men would have a full time job. I know that the women lack tournaments but I'd say the top 5 to 10 women that play have great sponsorship and do great on exhibitions. Most obviously the likes of Jeanette Lee and Allison Fischer. I think Sarah used to survive as well without having to work but realized it was nice to have a bit more stability and do a little better than survive. I see your side as well though in tems of percentages but, at the same time, the men have alot more tournaments and is it really possible for them to keep a good fulll time job with their pool schedule? Maybe Sarah can elaborate on this, or any other professional players on here.
Click to expand...


Working for me had nothing to do with a little extra money because having a job right now, I am more broke than I have ever been in my entire life! The reason behind the full-time job is the health insurance. It is something that I cannot ever do without since I am diabetic. Until I was 22 I was still covered under my parents and then after that I got a sponsor that paid my health insurance. That fell through after one year even though it was a two year deal. Believe me, if I could find a sponsor again to give me health insurance, I would play pool again. It sure beats the heartache of doing horrible in tournaments because I can't make time to practice or live in a place that is good for pool.

I know Melissa Herndon has always had a full-time job. She plays incredible. Imagine how great she would be if she could practice non-stop like some others get to.
 
Blackjack said:
Right now the economy sucks. Gas is $3.80 a gallon in most places - it's been over 3 bucks for quite a while now. Last year I played in a lot of regional tour events and I scheduled my instruction and classes during the week to be able to do so. This year I haven't played in a single event.

It's not because of the economy.

It's not because I lost my desire to play.

Look at the cost to go to a weekend REGIONAL event -

Gas - $100
Food - $75
Entry - $60 - $150
Hotel - 1 Night $79 / 2 nights $160

There's no way to get around spending a couple of hundred dollars to go to an event these days. The prices I just gave are just an estimate - I'm sure in some areas its much much more.

I don't have a prayer in hell of cashing in most events these days. Some of these events play the Saturday rounds until 2-3 AM - because of my Parkinson's meds, I can't take a long day like that under any circumstances.

This year I have decided to teach full time on the weekends. Instead of spending all this money to go all over the Southeast, I have decided to stay here in Orlando and make money giving classes.

As far as what other players do, that is none of my business. I have always been employed or self employed every day of my life. When things got bad in the mid 1990's, I already owned my own room. At the same I was a police officer in El Paso and earning a degree in psychology at UT El Paso. It was a sacrifice, but I had 4 kids to take care of. They come before pool and everything else in my life.

At some point in every players life, the nerves go - or the eyes go - or the desire to practice goes. Life doesn't sit still just because you play pool.

Sarah, I remember you and I spoke a few years ago at a WPBA event. You had a lot of tough decisions to make at that point in time, and I remember telling you that you would never regret having something to fall back on.

I have found that if you work your ass off and concentrate on building your life - that pool will somehow find its place in there. It may not be what I really wanted or what I dreamed about when I was 16 years old, but where I fit in today and what I do with pool is much more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. Its well worth it, and the little girl in the picture below is counting on me to be more than just a pool player.

Kristy2008_2.jpg
Click to expand...

These numbers are pretty realistic and that is watching things pretty darn close. God forbid you want to take your wife/girlfriend, or have a beer or two. Then it really adds up.
Gas is high enough and probably s low right now as it ever will be again. The motels seem to keep going up and up and not much we can do about that.

This is our 6th year of running the regional here in Texas and excuse me but Texas is a big assed state and so many have been so loyal to the tour and I often wonder just how long many can or will continue. Finding sponsorship is like puplling teeth from chickens and while everything is going uup the prize money statys about the same.

Then there is the episode where the D*** H*** snitched us off for having calcuttas and that didn't help things any.

Pool is a tougher racket than ever. Gambling/action is at an all time low. Those who have money are squeezing it to death and others are just check to check.

If Smorg would get off his butt and play more, we would all have money.
 
work work work If there is any...It's harder to find work after ten years of not working. I found it very hard to get a real job after I stopped playing. I mean when it says past experience what can you put...I stayed up 20 hours a day gambling for ten years. Doesnt do much for most places.

I stopped two years ago and a good friend of mine put me to work. He shoudn't of kept me on at first he would park in my driveway and hunk his horn for 20 min everyday and I cant thank him enough. It was hard to switch into working gear. Now I work for myself and am starting a business. It is way harder than pool, way more rewarding for my soul. I feel like I am producing something valueable for the world. Instead of preying on players who work and have money. Now I don't even need to make money playing.

I know it is hard, it is very hard to get good at pool. It is harder to keep a real job and produce something for the world. It is worth it. That saying about money won is twice as good as money earned is BS at least for me. I actually care about the money I have now. I know it took blood, sweat and tears to get it.

I put wood flooring in and if any of you have done that before you know don't ya. I love it it is harder than any other thing I have ever done it breaks you like a mule and I love. I am stronger and healthier than I have ever been. I know pool will always be there. If anyone out there is living off others that work, try it out. You won't be disapointed. Having a job has done wonders for me.
 
JamisonNeu said:
work work work If there is any...It's harder to find work after ten years of not working. I found it very hard to get a real job after I stopped playing. I mean when it says past experience what can you put...I stayed up 20 hours a day gambling for ten years. Doesnt do much for most places.

I stopped two years ago and a good friend of mine put me to work. He shoudn't of kept me on at first he would park in my driveway and hunk his horn for 20 min everyday and I cant thank him enough. It was hard to switch into working gear. Now I work for myself and am starting a business. It is way harder than pool, way more rewarding for my soul. I feel like I am producing something valueable for the world. Instead of preying on players who work and have money. Now I don't even need to make money playing.

I know it is hard, it is very hard to get good at pool. It is harder to keep a real job and produce something for the world. It is worth it. That saying about money won is twice as good as money earned is BS at least for me. I actually care about the money I have now. I know it took blood, sweat and tears to get it.

I put wood flooring in and if any of you have done that before you know don't ya. I love it it is harder than any other thing I have ever done it breaks you like a mule and I love. I am stronger and healthier than I have ever been. I know pool will always be there. If anyone out there is living off others that work, try it out. You won't be disapointed. Having a job has done wonders for me.
Click to expand...


very good post, rep to you sir.
 
Having a full-time job is definitely murder on the pool game. Hell, I suspect a part-time job would have an effect. I definitely admire the people who work full-time and can still compete at the professional level. I know how difficult it can be to try to get up and play well when you can rarely find the time to even think about pool, much less actually practice.
 
Working isn't that hard, it's having a family that is hard on someone's pool game for the most part. A job is a job and you can basically leave it when you leave the office or whatever, family isn't that easy.

Being there and supporting them isn't the easiest when traveling and spending so much time away from home. Tony Crosby is my hero in my eyes having pulled it off, he has a beautiful family, great game and is a true gentleman to boot.

As for me, well I never considered myself a professional even though I played a few big tournaments, I have always worked 40+ hours per week at a desk job. For most of my "professional" career I worked at Predator which was fantastic since I was at some touranments for work anyways. Having a job in the industry definitely makes it easier but not easy by any means.
 
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