What Do You Have Going On In The Backround During A Home Game?

[jtnt1096]

During a home game, do most of you have the game on TV in the background or maybe a previously recorded poker show. Maybe music instead of TV, or do you just keep the room focused on the play at hand and don't have a TV or music on.

What does everyone do?

[TenPercenter]

I have Tournament Director running on the Media Center PC, which is hooked up to the plasma on the wall. This allows me to get a playlist of music going on the same Media Center, so I can control both the music and the game with the same wireless keyboard.

Ten

[mrmookid]

I run Poker Clock on Windows XP. The display is then sent over to a small 13" TV on the other side of the room so that the blinds/level can be seen from any table. Usually I have WinAmp playing music (minimized) from an extensive collection. It's not easy though. Try finding music that all 16 people like. It's next to impossible.

I don't want the TV on because it tends to distract players and we have plenty of players who are distracted without the TV. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[ricochet420]

Yup TD on the laptop next to the table. 5 cd's in the changer or the ASU game as it usually been on the same time.

[Gbob]

Never the television for us. Too distracting. Usally just some music, ranging from country to jazz to hip hop. Keep it mixed up. Oddly enough, I seem to play best to old school rap. Something about the sugar hill gang or sir mix-a-lot keeps me off tilt...and I don't even listen to that style of music normally.

Music definatly beats television though.

[Johnny5]

You're insulting the term 'old school rap' by putting it in the same sentence as 'sir mix-a-lot'.

Damn.

J5

[Suited Deuce]

Low limit cash game/dealer's choice: ESPN on tv with the volume off.

Tournament: TDirector on the laptop, music low volume.

[bconway6]

Rounders

[MeridianFC]

Music.

My currently poker playlist is: Whiskeytown, Teenage Fanclub, Jesse Malin, Salif Keita, Them, the Jam, Hot Club of Cowtown, Big Youth, Gram Parsons, Willie Nelson, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rolling Stones, Wilco, Compay Segundo, Blur, Tom Waits, Michael Marra, Peter Tosh, Jorge Negrate, Buzzcocks, Bonnie Raitt, White Stripes, Joe Strummer & the Mescaleroes, Pavement, Kiss, the Specials, Sam & Dave, Ocean Colour Scene, Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, Jimi Hendrix, MC5, the Ramones, Kitty Wells, Mitch Ryder, Guy Clark, Sam Cooke, Ricky Nelson, Hank Williams Sr, Chuck Brooks, Foster/Radney & Roger, Merle Haggard, the Verlaines, Nat King Cole, Lightin' Hopkins, Led Zepplin, Doc Watson, the JBs, La Funk Mob, Booker T & the MGs, Delroy Wilson, Alex de Grassi, the Walkabouts, X, Les Paul Trio, Curtis Mayfield, Dixie Dregs, the Clash, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Friends of Dean Martinez, Thin Lizzy, Jay Ferrer, Wynonie Harris, James Brown, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, Red Sovine & Webb Pierce, John Prine, Peter Tosh etc.

[maryfield48]

[ QUOTE ]
Music.

My currently poker playlist is: Whiskeytown, Teenage Fanclub, Jesse Malin, Salif Keita, Them, the Jam, Hot Club of Cowtown, Big Youth, Gram Parsons, Willie Nelson, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rolling Stones, Wilco, Compay Segundo, Blur, Tom Waits, Michael Marra, Peter Tosh, Jorge Negrate, Buzzcocks, Bonnie Raitt, White Stripes, Joe Strummer & the Mescaleroes, Pavement, Kiss, the Specials, Sam & Dave, Ocean Colour Scene, Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, Jimi Hendrix, MC5, the Ramones, Kitty Wells, Mitch Ryder, Guy Clark, Sam Cooke, Ricky Nelson, Hank Williams Sr, Chuck Brooks, Foster/Radney & Roger, Merle Haggard, the Verlaines, Nat King Cole, Lightin' Hopkins, Led Zepplin, Doc Watson, the JBs, La Funk Mob, Booker T & the MGs, Delroy Wilson, Alex de Grassi, the Walkabouts, X, Les Paul Trio, Curtis Mayfield, Dixie Dregs, the Clash, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Friends of Dean Martinez, Thin Lizzy, Jay Ferrer, Wynonie Harris, James Brown, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, Red Sovine & Webb Pierce, John Prine, Peter Tosh etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

You said Tosh twice.

I like Tosh.

Apologies to Mel Brooks.

[illunious]

[ QUOTE ]
Music.

My currently poker playlist is: Whiskeytown, Teenage Fanclub, Jesse Malin, Salif Keita, Them, the Jam, Hot Club of Cowtown, Big Youth, Gram Parsons, Willie Nelson, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rolling Stones, Wilco, Compay Segundo, Blur, Tom Waits, Michael Marra, Peter Tosh, Jorge Negrate, Buzzcocks, Bonnie Raitt, White Stripes, Joe Strummer & the Mescaleroes, Pavement, Kiss, the Specials, Sam & Dave, Ocean Colour Scene, Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, Jimi Hendrix, MC5, the Ramones, Kitty Wells, Mitch Ryder, Guy Clark, Sam Cooke, Ricky Nelson, Hank Williams Sr, Chuck Brooks, Foster/Radney & Roger, Merle Haggard, the Verlaines, Nat King Cole, Lightin' Hopkins, Led Zepplin, Doc Watson, the JBs, La Funk Mob, Booker T & the MGs, Delroy Wilson, Alex de Grassi, the Walkabouts, X, Les Paul Trio, Curtis Mayfield, Dixie Dregs, the Clash, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Friends of Dean Martinez, Thin Lizzy, Jay Ferrer, Wynonie Harris, James Brown, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, Red Sovine & Webb Pierce, John Prine, Peter Tosh etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

The only ones from yours on my list would be White Stripes, Wilco and Blur. Led Zep and Clash maybe.

Which from your list would you recommend to me based on my preferences?

[mreinecker]

During games at my house I usually always have the radio or a cd playing with low volume in the background. It just keeps me calm, and it keeps me from thinking about the game too much. There's usually always people talking, arguing, giving adivce...etc in the background too. People talking is very distracting in my opinion, though. Especially when it's about the game, and it's a pointless argument or something. When hands are over, they're over. No need to say what you would've had, or what you should've done.

[Hedge Henderson]

I think I'd feel at home at your game, Meridian. I do a mix of 130-150 different songs every week for mine, and there's a lot of overlap between your selections and mine. I've always got at least 7 decades worth of music in the mix, and 8 or 9 decades most nights.

[TenPercenter]

Ok this thread has lead to an idea. We need a seperate thread for building a great "Poker Playlist."

Here's the link: Poker/Gambling related songs (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1536609)

Ten

[focus on poker]

NO TV. I hate it when it is someone's turn and they just sit there and watch TV! If you have digital cable with the music channels or XM radio (b/c no commercials), they would be your best bet! Stay focused...

[sonarc]

I really like the idea of a gambling themed playlist. I'll have to create one of those. For now, a 40gig iPod that shuffles through the entire library gives plenty of variety (although occasionally jarring match-ups) with no commercials.

[Slow Play Ray]

Tunes and whatever game is on, muted.

[Tuds75]

I have the TV muted with music playing, just make sure to position yourself so you can't be distraced by the TV.

Also when one of my buddies is having a good night and winning all the chips, we throw in some porn and like clockwork, he is memorized by the "action" on the TV and we win all our money back.