Thinking about going Pro

K

keithmonti

New member
keithmonti said:
Hi Guys,
I'm new here don't really post much on forums. Here's my question (s)?

How much can your average pro billiard player expect to make ? Let me explain ... It's either that or Poker for me. I prefer playing Billiards but poker apparently pays more.

I also read this article from Toni Judet, it disillusioned me a bit he chose poker of Billiards http://www.pokerlistings.com/toni-judet-in-poker-and-billiards-you-have-to-wait-for-your-moment-60334

Do you agree with what he said ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Mama said don't let your babies grow up to be pool players -- unless you live in the Philippines. ;)
 
Miss JAM, is right. Why in the world would you want to do either? The pay is low, and the benefits are nonexistent. Take a look around you and see how all the sixty-five year old pool and card players are doing. You'll be there sooner than you think.
Good luck, and welcome to the forum.
 
I'm not a negative person, and go get your dreams, BUT.....I need to be honest here.

IT wasnt too many years ago I had ideas like yours. Hit the road, or tourney trail, live the life in the story books....Thank the universe I invested my time in my plumbing trade.

There may have been a time around WWII that you could be an average player, travel and live, but those days are way gone thanks to the internet era, and not being able to be an unknown or your speed not known.

You MUST be the very best these days, and I don't mean good, I mean Pro speed to walk into pool rooms and win. If you want to scrape around bars for a living? not me, $$$ is tight these days ....people don't step up like 15 years ago. Try to get a game for $20.....like pulling teeth.

Poker?, well, I can't speak to that. I used to deal cards in a "private" game, and the same guys won all the time, and the same guys donate consistently.

I say this....you can be an "ok" electrician, or carpenter, or plumber and make a damn good living.....then go out on the weekend for road trips. It is just as fun, just ask me! :)

BTW....I"m the best plumber in the room! :)


Good luck, G.
 
Hehehehe,
Love the Philippines advice. Thanks voice of reason for the links too

@trampsteamer I just want to do something I enjoy doing as a job, need to break from the rat race.

You made it sound like i'll be breaking into a worse on with billiards.

Thanks for the welcome too!!1
 
Gerry said:
BTW....I"m the best plumber in the room! :)
Click to expand...

Oh yeah .... well take some of this ..... Hot's on the left, Cold's on the right and shit flows downhill ... 1/4" to the foot.

and I can hang my butt crack out with the best of em. :thumbup:



BTW I'm not a plumber, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once. :thumbup:
 
I'm with Gerry. I'm a professional IT and business consultant and I earn more than most of the AZB money list and can play whenever I want to wherever I want to and just love the game whether I win lose or draw and also pretty much without having to worry about winning in order to eat the next week.

On the AZB money list.. only the top 20 or so have earned more prize money than the national average wage and only another ten or so are about the US national poverty line

(assuming I am reading it right?)

So, the questions you have to ask yourself are:

1. Are you a top 32 ish pool player?
2. Do you love the game enough to live on a pittance?
 
keithmonti said:
Hehehehe,
Love the Philippines advice. Thanks voice of reason for the links too

@trampsteamer I just want to do something I enjoy doing as a job, need to break from the rat race.

You made it sound like i'll be breaking into a worse on with billiards.
Thanks for the welcome too!!1
Click to expand...

Doubtless, your intentions are good, but taking the road less traveled is not as exciting, and romantic, as you may think it is. The rat race exists for a reason. It's because the rat's know where the food is now, and where it's going to be later.
Go to school, or learn a trade, so that if, or when, the shit hits the fan you have something to fall back on. Again, good luck.
 
It depends on where you live (or are willing to travel). You can make it as a pool player in certain parts of Asia and Europe. Pro pool in the US is pretty much dead. If you absolutely love pool and live in the US its probably best to find or work towards an occupation that deals with pool, but has income outside of tournament and gambling winnings such as pool hall owner/manager, instructor, table mechanic, merchandise retailer, league operator, etc.
 
Seriously, how good do you think you play and why do you think so? We've seen people here before who boasted about how good they were told they played by their friends. It became obvious from their posts that they really didn't play very well. No offense, ya just gotta play real, real strong to make it out there as just a player. A lot of the very best have some other kind of income to help. The road is still a very tough nut to crack;)
 
forget about whether you're a top 32....

There are only two questions to ask yourself, and you have to answer one as yes before considering going pro.

1) are you independently wealthy?

2) do you have a trust fund from a rich family?

If you can't answer yes to one of the above questions then forget about it and invest in a trade or career with a future...

Jaden
 
I say stick with pool and play poker on the side. Make every pool road trip end up at a casino. What could go wrong?

Best of luck,
D
 
In poker would you consider yourself a level 1, level 2, level 3, or level 4 thinker? If you need to ask me what that is poker is not for you.
 
Unsolicited advice - go to college or learn a trade, get a steady source of income (full time job) - play pool on the side.

Out of the two activities, there is significantly more money in poker, but a full time, stable source of income trumps both in my opinion.
 
I would add, look at people's equipment (cues, cases and such). Most C and B players have far nicer (pricey) equipment. Why you might ask, becuase they can afford it:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:. Just saying...
 
Masayoshi said:
It depends on where you live (or are willing to travel). You can make it as a pool player in certain parts of Asia and Europe. Pro pool in the US is pretty much dead. If you absolutely love pool and live in the US its probably best to find or work towards an occupation that deals with pool, but has income outside of tournament and gambling winnings such as pool hall owner/manager, instructor, table mechanic, merchandise retailer, league operator, etc.
Click to expand...

+1

Trying to make it only on tournament or gambling winnings is extremely tough. Even the best players, have some sponsors, give instruction, exhibitions, etc. to subsidize their income. The key is to treat it like a business and have multiple streams of income. Work for a room that will give you the necessary time off to play tournaments and also gives access to table time.

You will have to treat it like a business. Keep accurate records and just like in poker look for any $$$ leaks that will drain your bankroll.

Most are giving you great advice about finding a trade or profession. If you have a family or desire a family, then this route is the best way to go. Because, once you have a family that is your number one priority.

To me though, my time is my most precious commodity. It doesn't matter how much money you have, time is pretty much the same for everyone. Working in a mundane career saps energy and time. You get up, go to work, play on the weekend, rinse and repeat. Time flies. Work for yourself doing something you love and have some control over time, it slows down. But, be forewarned, working at something you love to do can turn you against that very thing that you once loved to do.

Here is my free advice, which is worth about what you pay for it :thumbup: Take a year and play pool, tournaments, gamble. Find streams of income such as working in a room part time, become an instructor, etc. Even play poker part time as another poster suggested (stay away from other forms of gambling). You might not have as much time to devote to the game but it will be more than working full time. Get your feet wet, after a year you will be able to answer you own question. If it works out then great, If not, you can always resume the rat race later.

Darryl
 
keithmonti said:
Hi Guys,
I'm new here don't really post much on forums. Here's my question (s)?

How much can your average pro billiard player expect to make ? Let me explain ... It's either that or Poker for me. I prefer playing Billiards but poker apparently pays more.

I also read this article from Toni Judet, it disillusioned me a bit he chose poker of Billiards http://www.pokerlistings.com/toni-judet-in-poker-and-billiards-you-have-to-wait-for-your-moment-60334

Do you agree with what he said ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you're talented enough to just choose one and be a pro then you don't need any advice...
 
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