flyingwind
Well-Known Member
It's so tempting. The job is so frustrating.
Quitting the day job
- Thread starter flyingwind
- Start date
aslan
Well-Known Member
It's a bad economy to quit a job not knowing if you can find a job if things don't go your way. Rather than quitting the day job, why not look for something more to your liking, and changing jobs instead? Advantage play is fine if you have a large bankroll and are proven to be highly skilled at it, if that's what you're saying. But it seems sound to me to find a job that allows you to ply your AP trade in your off time. At least that way you are not putting all your eggs in one basket. Good luck.flyingwind said:
PS--I never wanted to go to work in the first place. I tried not to, but in the end I did what I had to do. Now that I am retired, I never want to go back to work again. But I do run into people who would rather work. WTF? I guess it takes all kinds, and I suppose some people are lucky and find jobs they really love. I was not so fortunate. But if you're working, you have to "make" yourself like it (always be positive about it), otherwise, you'll drive yourself crazy.
Just curious, Aslan. How do you find retirement. Most people I know are bored stiff. Unless of course you have grand children to look after. Most try to pass their time going to the library, visiting their stock broker daily or going to the shopping mall.aslan said:
If do anything else it would cause you money. Like going on holidays, taking new courses and even doing charity work. I know in your case you are an active AP. But I go on casino cruises every other week and still it is not enough to fill the long hours in the day. So I have a small business which is run by others. It is losing a small bit of money but I am afraid to give it up as life would be of much lower quality. Of couse if you are a rich man then you can afford to do all sorts of thing. Still my rich friend travel around the parts of the world every month or every week but I don't envy him.
If you don't love your job, you really need to find a new one. You spend more than a third of your waking hours at your job and if you don't enjoy it and your co-workers, you are missing out on much of life.
Forget fantasies about quitting your job and being a full-time AP and figure out what it is you'll truly enjoy doing. It's been well over twenty years since I had a job I wasn't thrilled with, and that one was just temping while I waited for the permits I needed for another gig.
Forget fantasies about quitting your job and being a full-time AP and figure out what it is you'll truly enjoy doing. It's been well over twenty years since I had a job I wasn't thrilled with, and that one was just temping while I waited for the permits I needed for another gig.
aslan
Well-Known Member
When I was approaching retirement I became concerned about what I was going to do with my time. Before I began working, I was an avid pool player. I gave pool up for 28 years while I was working, because work and a passion for gambling at pool was not compatible, at least, not for me. As I approached retirement I began playing pool again. The passion was still there. For the past 7 years since I retired, I have played pool several times a week and made pretty good money at it for the first 4 or 5 years. I still play, but with less of a money motive; I like to play doubles at $20 to $50 a head per game, which is "friendly," although you can pick up a nice piece of change. Occasionally, I'll play someone head up for the same amounts. But now I even enjoy just playing for fun. I still play good enough to beat most of the young players (20 to 50 yo).Mr. T said:
Pool plus my AP play consumes a lot of time. Also, I am married and we go places together, such as a county fair coming up next week. We'll go down in the country to the fair, pick up a bunch of locally canned foods and preserves, a bushel of apples for $20, enjoy a picnic meal and shopping for crafts, and enjoy some country music.
Two weeks ago we visited family on Long Beach, LI, NY. Then last week the two of us went to AC where I played non-stop BJ, and she shopped non-stop (and spent very little, I might add). In November we're going to Vegas, where we have friends and family, and where you know what I'll be doing. It goes on and on.
At one time I had a little non-profit that served unsheltered homeless people. I did that for six years until the police rousted all the homeless I was working with from under the bridges where they were living. That work was very rewarding--anything where you're doing something for someone else is rewarding, and if you've ever done it, you know what I mean. I am now thinking of starting that activity up again. I guess in part it's the idea of having a purpose other than enjoying myself that appeals to me. Also, I am a typical Christian in that I have not really lived an ideal Christian life all these years, so as I get older I'm thinking time is running out for doing things I admire in others. If believing in something doesn't make you do anything different, I don't think the believing is worth much. Like everyone else, I am trying to work out the meaning of my life. I don't want to come to the end and look back and see that it was meaningless.
Funny you should ask me now, because I have been thinking of making this big change all week. I am completely sated with pool and BJ over the past several years. Time to do something worthwhile. I'll keep the pool and cards, too.
PS--This public statement may be just what I needed to get me up off my #ss. Now let's see if I follow through. :laugh:
kewljason
Well-Known Member
While this sounds good, it is hardly practical for most people, Shad. An awful lot of folks in this world are working a job they don't like and don't have the education or opportunity to pursue a field that they may be more to their liking. If everyone did have that opportunity, who would be doing the unpleasant jobs like collecting the garbage or working in the sewage treatment plants?shadroch said:
I am not by any means suggesting that the OP should quit his job to pursue a career in blackjack. While 99 out of 100 people that attempt to gain an advantage over the casinos eventually fail, for players that attempt to do so for a living it is probably more like 9999 out of 10,000, maybe more.
I have gone that route and was no doubt, ill prepared to do so and severely underfunded. I have not failed to this point for only one reason: I got lucky. Lucky to the point that I am able to exist so far. Each day, month and year is still a struggle with uncertainty and after 7 years there is still no guarantee that I won't yet fail, so I would never recommend anyone follow that path. Going parttime seems a much better alternative for most.
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Keep your day job for now. If and when it's time to play BJ for a living, you'll KNOW. If you have ANY doubts at all - which obviously you DO, because you're asking our advice - then that simply means that it's NOT the right time. If it gets to the point where your day job is getting in the way of making money OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, (MORE than a YEAR); then it may be time.
And whatever you do, DO NOT underestimate the importance of the line in the previous paragraph which has been bolded out for you!
And whatever you do, DO NOT underestimate the importance of the line in the previous paragraph which has been bolded out for you!
NightStalker
Well-Known Member
Unless you are making twice in BJ than your day job
You may consider quitting it.. Assuming that you have been winnning successfully atleast for 3000 hours..
You may consider quitting it.. Assuming that you have been winnning successfully atleast for 3000 hours..
Automatic Monkey
Banned
Hell, you think a job is frustrating? Wait until the dealer pulls six 21's in a row on you.flyingwind said:
plainplayer
Active Member
The last time that happened to me, my sequence was: lose, lose, BJ, lose, lose, BJ. And I had raised bets just in time for the BJs. It was lovely. :grin:Automatic Monkey said:
blackjack avenger
Well-Known Member
Reality?
1. Your sims should have you making more then twice your hourly wage including benefits.
2. Your actual results should have you making more then twice your hourly wage including benefits or financially you are better off working.
3. You must have the ability to make more then twice your weekly/monthly/yearly pay including benefits or financially you are better off working.
Are you ready to probably frequently travel?
Are you ready to live in different locations for periods of time?
Do you know how to calculate expenses into ror?
Do you know that if you resize your bank down on losses your ev is about half of what you think it is?
If you don't resize your bank down on losses then your bank needs to be very large, 1/4th to 1/8th kelly comes to mind.
If you play part time and can add to your bank you can be rather aggressive, once you quit your job and if you have no other source of income one has to become very conservaite with their bank. A semi pro could easily have a higher hourly ev then a pro.
Physically, does your appearance make you stand out or blend in? Are you emotionally tough enough to handle extended losses with large sums of money or when casino types are overly aggressive towards you?
How will you handle telling family, friends, potential mates what you do for a living?
Just some things to think about
:joker::whip:
1. Your sims should have you making more then twice your hourly wage including benefits.
2. Your actual results should have you making more then twice your hourly wage including benefits or financially you are better off working.
3. You must have the ability to make more then twice your weekly/monthly/yearly pay including benefits or financially you are better off working.
Are you ready to probably frequently travel?
Are you ready to live in different locations for periods of time?
Do you know how to calculate expenses into ror?
Do you know that if you resize your bank down on losses your ev is about half of what you think it is?
If you don't resize your bank down on losses then your bank needs to be very large, 1/4th to 1/8th kelly comes to mind.
If you play part time and can add to your bank you can be rather aggressive, once you quit your job and if you have no other source of income one has to become very conservaite with their bank. A semi pro could easily have a higher hourly ev then a pro.
Physically, does your appearance make you stand out or blend in? Are you emotionally tough enough to handle extended losses with large sums of money or when casino types are overly aggressive towards you?
How will you handle telling family, friends, potential mates what you do for a living?
Just some things to think about
:joker::whip:
pieinthesky
Well-Known Member
Another thing to think about . . .
is the steady deterioration of games over time, a trend I'd expect to continue with few exceptions. While good games still exist, there are fewer you can afford to be backed off of if you are depending on them to make your living.
is the steady deterioration of games over time, a trend I'd expect to continue with few exceptions. While good games still exist, there are fewer you can afford to be backed off of if you are depending on them to make your living.
You must be one heck of a pool player. I am not sure about you being an AP though. Still it is always good to have a passion in life. Enjoy.aslan said:When I was approaching retirement I became concerned about what I was going to do with my time. Before I began working, I was an avid pool player. I gave pool up for 28 years while I was working, because work and a passion for gambling at pool was not compatible, at least, not for me. As I approached retirement I began playing pool again. The passion was still there. For the past 7 years since I retired, I have played pool several times a week and made pretty good money at it for the first 4 or 5 years. I still play, but with less of a money motive; I like to play doubles at $20 to $50 a head per game, which is "friendly," although you can pick up a nice piece of change. Occasionally, I'll play someone head up for the same amounts. But now I even enjoy just playing for fun. I still play good enough to beat most of the young players (20 to 50 yo).
Pool plus my AP play consumes a lot of time. Also, I am married and we go places together, such as a county fair coming up next week. We'll go down in the country to the fair, pick up a bunch of locally canned foods and preserves, a bushel of apples for $20, enjoy a picnic meal and shopping for crafts, and enjoy some country music.
Two weeks ago we visited family on Long Beach, LI, NY. Then last week the two of us went to AC where I played non-stop BJ, and she shopped non-stop (and spent very little, I might add). In November we're going to Vegas, where we have friends and family, and where you know what I'll be doing. It goes on and on.
At one time I had a little non-profit that served unsheltered homeless people. I did that for six years until the police rousted all the homeless I was working with from under the bridges where they were living. That work was very rewarding--anything where you're doing something for someone else is rewarding, and if you've ever done it, you know what I mean. I am now thinking of starting that activity up again. I guess in part it's the idea of having a purpose other than enjoying myself that appeals to me. Also, I am a typical Christian in that I have not really lived an ideal Christian life all these years, so as I get older I'm thinking time is running out for doing things I admire in others. If believing in something doesn't make you do anything different, I don't think the believing is worth much. Like everyone else, I am trying to work out the meaning of my life. I don't want to come to the end and look back and see that it was meaningless.
Funny you should ask me now, because I have been thinking of making this big change all week. I am completely sated with pool and BJ over the past several years. Time to do something worthwhile. I'll keep the pool and cards, too.
PS--This public statement may be just what I needed to get me up off my #ss. Now let's see if I follow through. :laugh:
aslan
Well-Known Member
...And you have 20s on most hands, and an unfortunate 4-hand split of nines against a dealer 6 including a double down on two of them.Automatic Monkey said:
:laugh: These are the times that try men's souls! And, of course, you're betting out of your league trying to catch up from some previous losses. :whip: Well, anyway, you did catch a 21 on one of your double downs for a push, if that's any consolation.:whip:My thoughts on AP
I think the biggest problem with AP play is that your actual income OR loss for periods of time can't be determined (or even approximated) in advance, due to the variances. That's, of course, why you need to be properly bankrolled. Even with that you must have good management skills and operate like any other successful business because that's exactly what it is (a business venture).
If and when I do full time AP, I'm convinced that I don't have the make-up for let's say 40 hours per week of BJ. I do have the make-up to play video poker for long periods of time. For that reason I would probably play a lot of +EV video poker. Would probably be playing at a lower EV than at BJ but I love the game and in my case I'd expect to NEED that variation to keep my sanity.
BillyC1
I think the biggest problem with AP play is that your actual income OR loss for periods of time can't be determined (or even approximated) in advance, due to the variances. That's, of course, why you need to be properly bankrolled. Even with that you must have good management skills and operate like any other successful business because that's exactly what it is (a business venture).
If and when I do full time AP, I'm convinced that I don't have the make-up for let's say 40 hours per week of BJ. I do have the make-up to play video poker for long periods of time. For that reason I would probably play a lot of +EV video poker. Would probably be playing at a lower EV than at BJ but I love the game and in my case I'd expect to NEED that variation to keep my sanity.
BillyC1
kewljason said:While this sounds good, it is hardly practical for most people, Shad. An awful lot of folks in this world are working a job they don't like and don't have the education or opportunity to pursue a field that they may be more to their liking. If everyone did have that opportunity, who would be doing the unpleasant jobs like collecting the garbage or working in the sewage treatment plants?
I am not by any means suggesting that the OP should quit his job to pursue a career in blackjack. While 99 out of 100 people that attempt to gain an advantage over the casinos eventually fail, for players that attempt to do so for a living it is probably more like 9999 out of 10,000, maybe more.
Thats nonsense. People work shitty jobs because they get themselves trapped into them. Even the most uneducated can find a job doing something they enjoy.
I recently changed jobs. I'm working 12 hours shifts 3 or 4 days a week with a 3 day weekend every other week.
I live about 400 miles from Tunica, Mississippi and I try to go there twice a month. I'd like to be able to quit my job if I get good enough and get a big enough bankroll. If I were to ever win a $10k + first prize at a tournament it would be tempting.
I live about 400 miles from Tunica, Mississippi and I try to go there twice a month. I'd like to be able to quit my job if I get good enough and get a big enough bankroll. If I were to ever win a $10k + first prize at a tournament it would be tempting.
Think about it
Sadly, I know several people that are ENJOYING the 99 weeks of unemployment income already extended to them and lusting for more extensions to that program while working "scab" cash jobs all the while.
Isn't that nice?????
BillyC1
Nothing could be further from the truth at present. Try to tell that to someone living in Vegas with 14.4% unemployment now!shadroch said:
Sadly, I know several people that are ENJOYING the 99 weeks of unemployment income already extended to them and lusting for more extensions to that program while working "scab" cash jobs all the while.
Isn't that nice?????
BillyC1