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Full time job, but earning more playing cards

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  1. Cowy Cowy is offline

    Reston, VA
    United States

    Posts: 347
    Joined: Jul 06

    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 11:29am)

    I have a decent white collar full time job, graduated college etc, etc. However, I make signifcantly more playing cards(obv no health insurance in that). I am completely unmotivated at work. I've been staring at my monitor all day wishing I was at home sitting in my boxers multitabling. I don't really want to take the leap as neither amount(my salary, nor my poker winnings) are astronomical, but this sucks hard.

    Anyone else in the same boat?
  2. MadProfesor MadProfesor is offline

    Los Angeles, CA
    United States

    Posts: 10,394
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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 11:34am) in reply to Cowy

    Yup, I hear ya ...
  3. LiquidCoke7 LiquidCoke7 is offline

    Hilton Head Island, SC
    United States

    Posts: 172
    Joined: Sep 07

    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 11:46am) in reply to Cowy

    I hear ya man... A lot of people are in this same situation. My best advice would be to get a part-time job with benefits that will allow you to have a flexible schedule and play more poker!

    Liquid
  4. Imustcall Imustcall is offline

    Jacksonville, FL
    United States

    Posts: 1,224
    Joined: Aug 06

    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 11:49am) in reply to LiquidCoke7

    What yearly salary does your day job potentially have?
  5. ZepHendrix ZepHendrix is offline Triple Crown Elite

    Chicago, IL
    United States

    Posts: 165
    Joined: Sep 07

    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 11:53am) in reply to Cowy

    I know man, I am in the same boat. However, I will never quit my job for poker. The way I look at it is, when I take a bad beat, it really sucks and I get pissed. I think about how much more it would suck if that beat cost me my rent money, or food for two weeks. It would be so much worse and even though you might want to quit for the day and relax, you wouldn't be able to because you would need to get those hours in. I just look at my current situation as though I have a good full time job, and a part time job at night. The part time job is comission based, and pays really well when I do well. All I can say is think long and hard before you take the plunge.
     
  6. stevek173 stevek173 is offline

    Port Matilda, PA
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 12:22pm) in reply to Cowy

    I think one thing people don't consider (besides lack of Health Insurance, paid time off etc. etc) is the "waters" during normal working hours. Especially if you play cash they are MUCH more shark infested than at night, weekends, etc. If you are going to try to practice good opponent selection it becomes much tougher during the day.
  7. Cuthroat187 Cuthroat187 is offline

    Norwalk, CT
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 12:34pm) in reply to stevek173

    cosign
  8. Cowy Cowy is offline

    Reston, VA
    United States

    Posts: 347
    Joined: Jul 06

    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 12:59pm) in reply to stevek173

    Good points guys. I think what I really need is a part time job that affords me some flexibility, I just don't really know any part time jobs for...grown ass men. I feel a little old and overqualified to be delivering pizza or selling cars or what have you. Any suggestions on this?

    Also another concern is, I need to keep my resume looking good. I am a recent college grad and don't want to limit my future possibilites all b/c I took a year or two off to play cards, or a lousy part time job while supplementing this w/ poker. The place I'm at now, even though it sucks tremendously, is a well respected company/job and is related to my degree.
    Thread Starter
  9. darkknyt darkknyt is offline

    Fenton, MO
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 1:07pm) in reply to Cowy

    I don't quite make as much playing poker as I do at my job, but I feel the same way. Some days I really enjoy my job and others I sit and stare at the computer, couting down the minutes until I can get out to play poker. For me to quit my job, though, I would want about a years worth of expenses saved up in case variance knocks at my door. I know a lot of people say you need like 6 months, but I think the world of poker demands a little more cushion. If you find that you have a year's worth of expenses saved up and you're still making good money, I would say go for it. And as for the play being tougher during the day...I agree somewhat. You should also factor in that while we are at work the Euro donks are online. Also, just because you quit your day job to play poker doesn't mean that you have to play poker during the day. If you make better money at night, continue to play at night and allow yourself to get up at say 11 or 12 every day. Hopefully one day both of us can say that we quit our boring jobs and live life in the fast lane of poker. Good luck.
  10. jimmythehat19 jimmythehat19 is offline

    Pueblo, CO
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 1:11pm) in reply to Cowy

    Don't quit your job dude. The bottom line is that even the best of the best players have sicko downswings that can/will send you into an emotional and financial frenzy. You need to have at least a couple yrs experience of downswings and upswings with an overall solid winrate. And even then you need to have AT LEAST 6 months worth of bill-money set aside as well. I can't stress this enough: DO NOT QUIT YOUR JOB. Take my advice on this, I have a lot of personal experience with it.
     
  11. rhcp31 rhcp31 is offline

    Sydney
    Australia

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 1:29pm) in reply to Cowy

    No need to put anythig on your resume about your p/t job. As far as any prospective employers down the track are concerned - you got the travel bug and backpacked through ummm...europe :)
  12. MattUNCC MattUNCC is offline

    Charlotte, NC
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 2:26pm) in reply to Cowy

    Don't quit your day job. Trust me, sitting at home all day gets old really fast, and you get lazy, stagnant, and out of shape. Besides, if you're like me, playing for a living as opposed to playing with expendable income may change the way you play and view the game, even though you may think it won't. Keep your job, that way when you get flustered with a bad week or month, you know you'll have a fixed amount of income :o)
  13. gr8angler gr8angler is offline

    Vero Beach, FL
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 2:34pm) in reply to jimmythehat19

    I had 2 months were I was between jobs here recently and played all day every day(live and online). I made more in those 2 months than I would have at work playing only sngs and satellites. BUT at the end of those 2 months I was so sick of poker I hardly played at all when I got back to work. I am just now getting back into it. It gets very old very quickly when its your job. It just starts to get boring and your game will suffer. Now this was my case maybe not yours. I think work helps you stay grounded and relieves you of thinking poker all the time.
  14. H@BB@KUK H@BB@KUK is offline

    Columbia, MO
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 2:38pm) in reply to Cowy

    i love these posts...everyones in the same boat...yawn...unless you are making 50k+ a year and its been on a consistent basis...not 6 months haha...stick to your job...i just dont get how EVERYONE is in the same boat...
  15. Cowy Cowy is offline

    Reston, VA
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 2:40pm) in reply to H@BB@KUK

    My post wasn't really intended to be "thinking about going pro" post, I hope it wasn't intrepreted as such. It was moreso coming from the approach that, my job sucks. I make more than my supervisors do playing cards, yet I'm talked down and have to put up with BS.

    I was also looking for any other suggestions, as in good part time jobs that provide the best of both worlds, etc.
    Thread Starter
  16. gametyme07 gametyme07 is offline

    Columbus, OH
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 3:41pm) in reply to Cowy

    I would really look hard at the pizza delivery option. I own my own shop and my drivers average 20 dollars an hour,and obv they dont claim to much as far as tips go so they dont get taxed hard.If you find the right company that offers benefits and has a good delivery area this is a great option for a poker player.
  17. Aaron_Hacker Aaron_Hacker is offline

    Avon, IN
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 3:59pm) in reply to Cowy

    start your own business and play poker ftw
     
  18. Popperhead Popperhead is offline

    Toronto
    Canada

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 4:53pm) in reply to Cowy

    what about asking your superiors to kick u back a few more hours a week so u can play a bit more?

    2 hrs a day would be tonnes and you $$ u make from poker would help that immensely (i know most employers this isnt an option but u may be in one of the flexible ones)

    i have seen alot of stories on this and have heard good and bad just hope whatever path u choose will give you happiness
  19. iuschmeltz iuschmeltz is offline

    Fort Wayne, IN
    United States

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    Jan 4th, 2008 (1/4/2008 5:07pm) in reply to Cowy

    EXACT same spot as you (except my job doesn't provide reasonably priced health insurance) and recently made a similar post on here. And I put in my notice Jan 2nd.

    When I'm at work all I could think about was how much I could be making playing poker and it started effecting my job. Now I'm not telling you to quit you're job. Only you know if now is the time for you. But I've done well enough in poker that I have several months of bills paid off and I can take my shot. If I fall on my face, I have a couple months bills paid to find the next job.

    Now with my situation, I really started to not like my job. Poker probably played a large role in that but regardless of poker I think a job change was necessary. I haven't read this whole thread to see more if you fully enjoy you're job but that may be a consideration.

    I don't know your situation, but the main factor for me was right now, I have no kids and no "officail" wife (though it may be closer in my future than I once thought). I don't feel I'll get the chance to make this decision once those factors arrive.

    Again, only you really know whats right for you and I wish you good luck with your decision.
  20. andy914 andy914 is offline

    San Francisco, CA
    United States

    Posts: 102
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    Jan 5th, 2008 (1/5/2008 5:58am) in reply to Cowy

    i make it work bartending...great job which gives me the social outlet that sitting in front of my laptop for 10 hours a day doesn't provide. i bartend 3 days a week and play mtts 3 days a week. its relatively mindless and good $$$ for the time you put in. it also keeps me fresh having a few days off from playing, time when i can reflect on my game or get on forums for game analysis.
     
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