Semi Pro's.. Whats holding you back?

[WannaGoPro]

After reading this forum and several others over the past 10 months I beleive that there are a fair amount of people out there that are playing semi-pro poker.

I am defining semi-pro players as those that play an a regular basis every week (say about 15-20 hours per week) have proven themselves long term winning players and have an expected return (hourly rate) each month that they play.

These players have a full time job (which is not poker) and play poker on the side for a nice little side income every month.

So why do so many semi-pro's not attempt to go pro?

I can think of a couple of reasons but I was hoping others can share their reasons or their eventual plans on how they plan on going from semi-pro to pro.

reasons why people are not going Pro:

Job Security: Some people are nor comfortable leaving a job they have had for 5, 10 or 20 years to "take a chance"

Financially Unable: With a lot of people living paycheck to paycheck these days they are unable to save up enough livng expenses plus have an adequate bankroll to get thru any swings

Family/Children: Unwilling to put their family and children at risk if they make the attempt and fail, where as if they were single they would try and attempt it.

Social Aspects: Don't want people thinking negatively of them. "You do WHAT for a livng, WHAT A LOOSER"

Caving to peer Presure: Being told over and over again by Family and friends how foolsih and irresponisble they are if they attempt it can make people doubt themselves.

Emotional Stress: Not being able to emotionaly handle the stress of having to play and win. The pressure can be intense if you have to win to pay your bills.

I am sure that there are others that I have missed, so lets hear your reasons

[schwza]

health insurance is a big one. in massachusetts at least, regulations mean that you can't find reasonably cheap insurance.

[GuyOnTilt]

Playing poker fulltime gets to be a serious pain. The vast majority experience serious burnout within 6 months. Taxes suck, no insurance sucks, less social time sucks.

GoT

[MicroBob]

[ QUOTE ]
less social time sucks.

[/ QUOTE ]


I have WAY MORE social time than EVER before. Whenever the GF is off work she can call and ask "hey, are you free for dinner?" and I can respond "hey baby...I think I can squeeze it into my entirely flexible schedule."



[ QUOTE ]
health insurance is a big one. in massachusetts at least, regulations mean that you can't find reasonably cheap insurance.


[/ QUOTE ]


I know that some states are outrageous on this.
My health-ins costs is roughly balanced out by the money I am saving by not driving a 40-minute commute each way every day. Gas prices kind of suck these days in case you haven't noticed. However, I'm in good health and have never smoked in my life. If I had significant medical issues where I really relied on the insurance than this would be a different story.



I've had a couple different jobs primarily both of which I enjoyed to varying degrees.
One was pretty tough, time-consuming and low-paying but I was extremely passionate about it and may get back into it now that I am a bit more flexible thanks to my online-poker career and income.
The most recent 'real' job I had was that of blackjack dealer at a casino for 8 months or so through April, 2004.
For the most part, I enjoyed it...but sometimes the supervisors were pricks or the players were blowing smoke in your face or you had to make a long commute into work when you really weren't feeling well...etc etc (typical work-place whining).

As it stands now...I work whenever I feel like it. As long as I have the discipline to average around 35-40 hours a week I should be fine.
My Mom wants me to help her move from Wisconsin to Florida next month. That would have been impossible at some jobs...or in the very least I would have been giving up a ton of vacation days and hoping the timing didn't coincide with something important at whatever company I worked for.
With online poker I just take my job with me and "work" a little bit here and there if I feel like it.
I don't have to ask an a-hole supervisor to get off for a week or two and I don't have to deal with him bitching "we really need you this week....are you even committed to this company??" blah blah blah.

I know not all jobs or bosses are like that....but many are.


Another thought - somewhere in there someone mentioned something about lack of physical activity and someone else responded that was their own damn fault.
I agree.
I able to run more than I have previously (except now because I pulled my damn calf-muscle).
I am also playing in an adult-soccer league (these guys take their crap seriously) and am freaking loving it.
Since my two previous jobs required a lot of work on weekends I have NEVER been able to take part in something like that....and I am the type of person that really enjoys things like soccer-leagues or raquetball, etc etc.

i am eating better and am in better shape then I have been in years.
There is obviously some stress involved with doing this full-time since it's possible to go long stretches in the red. But I find online-poker for income to be significantly less stressful than many other employment situations.

To be honest, I barely stress over it at all.
If I have a really bad week I just step back a level or two. If worse came to worse I could always get a "real" job again (which I might do anyway if the right situation presented itself) so I'm really not worried about 'losing everything' because it can't happen if I don't let it happen.

[Cleveland Guy]

A big thing for me is commitment. I have been pulling in a good "extra income" from my "part time job" over the last few months - but he is the Key - it's "EXTRA"!

If I want to skip a few nights - I Can
If I want to "Take a chance" - I Can
If I want to blow my winnings on something else - I Can


Besides that - It's entertainment! I love to play, and play often, but it's still fun. I think when it becomes your "job" it looses some of the fun.

[Michael Davis]

Because when I play poker seriously for weeks on end, I don't take a shower, I don't leave the house except for the occasional fast food run to keep myself alive, and I talk to nobody. Now, those are undoubtedly my own personal issues, but that's what is holding me back.

-Michael

[lacky]

hmm..does why I did go pro work? My wife had a baby in January and we needed someone to watch her. The wife has a good job with benifits and I was making more at poker than I was at my job, so we decided I would stay home and watch the baby and play "full time". (with a baby that has ended up as about 30 hours a week) No regreats so far.

Steve

BTW I had a crappy job I didnt like, so if the sky falls no big deal, needed a different job anyway

[Greg J]

That is awesome man! Getting to hang out with your kid and play cards all day. Sweet!

[NoChance]

Bankroll

All my winnings have gone towards paying off debt. I felt that was more important. Now I can build bankroll.

[matt hooley]

and how were you playing in the past without a bankroll?
(if you don't mind me asking)