Money, money, money...

[jaybee_70]

Maybe you can give a general answer like. . .

"in a typical week I make about as much as _________ (a good barteneder, accountant, doctor etc.), and I get to set my own schedule."

That may give them something to compare and wrap their mind around so they can leave you alone. If pressed for specifics just say, "It varies."

Joe

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't have a problem telling people how much I have made. I don't think anyone has ever been offended.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't have any problem with telling other poker players how much I've made, even though it is less than most.

Something about telling other people unless its like my roomates or girlfriend or mom kinda bugs me though

[rdu $teve]

They're not offended, they're jealous.

Ask someone how much money they think is the best amount to make, to meet their needs. Someone making 30K will say 35-40K, someone making 60K will say ~70K, someone making 120K will say ~150K. Always followed by a statement such as "More than that and money starts to run your life, you become materialistic, etc, etc"

Of course they "deserve" to be making that little bit more that they answered, but if they give you the number that they would really like to make, it brings up the embarassing question of why they arent making it. Therefore, anyone making substaintially more must be a bad person.

[fearme]

i used to tell everyone who asked what i made, but when i started making more than almost everyone i know, i just say i do pretty well, then when ask for dollar amount, i respond not sure because i play on multiple accounts, casino, etc so hard to say exactly
oh yea i like ur last sentence i feel the same way, i don't want to say i make this $$ amount and all of a sudden make unexpected new friends or ppl look at me differently

[Alobar]

I guess since I've never had a "real" job, I just dont understand why people are so secrative about how much they make. It's like more personal than asking how many people you've slept with. I just dont get why. So I never have a problem telling people what I make. And its usually like the 3rd question out of their mouth when they find out I play poker.

[sfer]

Dude, you still won't play Michael Davis HU. You're his effing prag.

[Bellagibro]

OK OK tell me already, how much do you make? LMAO

[AAeyes]

I've gotten that question a lot from when I was a bartender to a poker player now to a bar owner. I always ask people what their salary is in response. Most people get the point...

[Lawrence Ng]

This is a very good post Aflaba,

Lately I have also been more revealing of my new profession. I get a lot of questions.

To those who are sincerely curious when they ask me, I am usually quite honest in my answers. If they ask how much I make, I never give an absolute value because none obviously exists. So I describe in layman's terms how variance works and what limits I play at usually to give them a rough estimate of my earnings.

To those who are trying to probe me in a more demeaning way or want to compare me as a measuring stick of somesort, then I will exagerate giving a number that is something like 3 bb/hr.

I love talking about poker provided the person is truly interested about the game enough, but talking money and only about money is a serious turn off.

For the most part, I find the people who brag about how much they win are the ones who are losing. The winners (and I know who they are) are quiet. They don't want people people to know they win, because then more players will think they are good.

Lawrence

[pzhon]

In person, I usually try to inject some humor, e.g., "I lost $5k this month, and $10k last month, but I'm ahead $20k for 2005."

There is no reason to tell random people the truth. They won't be happy if you are doing well, and they will laugh at you if you are doing badly.

Another approach is to give them some other information, such as the average amount a good player expects to make and the swings/length of cold streaks in a B&M $20-$40 game, even if you do nothing but play online NL.