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BGonline.org Forums
Money in BG
Posted By: phil simborg In Response To: Money in BG (RobertFontaine)
Date: Thursday, 23 July 2015, at 1:57 a.m.
Obviously, comments about sexual orientation, religion, and race always run the risk of offending someone, even if they were not intended to be offensive. And also, many jokes, even if meant to be completely harmless and tongue in cheek, are likely to offend someone. (Take it from someone who loves to joke and has offended many over the years and learned the hard way.) But particularly when you joke or make references in writing, as opposed to face to face when you know exactly who your audience is, and thay can hear your tone of voice and get a feel for the intent of your remark, you take an even greater risk of offending someone. Again, I have learned this the hard way. So while I consider to be a most liberal person with few prejudices (anyone who says they don't have any is a liar), I might make a joke that involves an ethnic group, or a gay, or a blonde, or a particular type of person that could easily offend someone. (Being Jewish, some of my favorite Jokes are Jewish jokes but I have to be very careful who I tell them to and which ones I tell so as not to offend people.)
I used to say, "F them if they can't take a joke." And I still have a strong prejudice against people who take everything, especially themselves, too seriously. But at the same time when you make such a comment or a joke, you simply must be prepared to accept the consequences. It doesn't mean you are a bad person or a prejudiced person...it just means that sometimes you say things that might offend others and you either don't care or simply didn't realize what you say might offend. In this day and age, unfortunately (for the sake of humor) we all have to be more careful. The truth is, many people have been really hurt and stereotyped by what many think are innocent jokes.
Now, to your point about making money. Yes, a few very top players can make money playing tournament backgammon...very few, and when you take into account the expenses, they certainly aren't getting rich. There are only a few tournaments with enough money added and big enough prizes to really help someone live on backgammon, and the odds of even the very best winning one of those are not good.
So that leaves writing and teaching, and certainly Magriel and Robertie and maybe one or two others have made reasonable incomes writing and teaching, but I can't think of many others.
I augment my retirement income teaching and I actually do make a decent living doing it, but I work hard, teaching around 4-5 hours a day 6 days a week and some evenings, and a few wealthy clients have made it even more rewarding, but I am certainly one of the few in the game that can say they make a decent income teaching on a regular basis. It took me 15 years to build up the clientelle and lesson plans and reputation to be known as a top teacher, and it took a lot of lecturing, writing, and promotion to get here. The hours I spent studying and learning how to organize my teaching material, and how to teach, are massive. But most of my students still come from referrals from previous, satisfied customers.
So that leaves money play. And, contrary to your premise, there are a few people out there who have made and continue to make a lot of money playing for money. It is not for public consumption and few know who and where they play. The real money is not made in the famous public games like the ones that used to be played at tournaments in the Harvey Huey days, or at the Playboy club...they are made in private houses, private chouettes, country clubs, and private heads up game. But they are there and there are people making "a living" and more in these private games. It is not an easy life or easy venue to break into, and you not only have to be a damn good player, you have to be charming and know how to get these wealthier people to play you and to keep coming back.
I have augmented my income in some private games and chouettes over the years and even more so in recent years, and I have also have the privilege of coaching some people who play regularly for big money and have done quite well...in fact, I would trade backgammon incomes with many of my current and former students in a second. I think the world would be shocked to know just how much money is being played for and trading hands in backgammon on a daily basis.
So your premise that the world of backgammon hustling has dried up is not entirely true, and I know this from personal, hands-on experience. The fact that I cannot name names and places, and will not name names and places, and neither will most others involved in this world, is the reason that the general backgammon community thinks that money plays has dried up. It absolutely has not....but because of the laws and attitudes this kind of gambling is simply below the radar.
Bottom line, a lot more people than you realize are making a living, or making a lot of money in addition to whatever else they do, by playing backgammon for big stakes.
Lastly, one must define "make a living." As Jake pointed out, as one of the best players he didn't make enough to live very well from his backgammon and had to rely on Blackjack to survive in a reasonable manner. That is true of anyone who might try to hustle in their local club or chouettes in their town, even big towns like New York, Chicago and LA. (When Jake played in my chouette, for years he was usually by far the best player in the game, but he said he only won an average of about 2 points per hour...so he was making $40 an hour when he play for $20, and often our game was for $10's, and when the game started getting smaller, people wouldn't play heads up or in small games with Jake....we weren't stupid. Once in a while I had a small chou for $50 a point, and yes, I was the one that wouldn't play for those stakes with Jake and didn't let him in the game...much as I love Jake, I wouldn't play him for $50 a point in backgammon any more than he would play me Racquetball for $50 a point, which I offered to do.)
The "real" money is not in the chouette at your local club or tournament, again, they are in private games and chouettes. And they are taking place right now, all over the world.
It would be fun if I wrote a book about what I know some day...the stories would amaze many, but that would be violating the trust and confidentiality people have place in me so I will never write that book.
So why am I posting this here? Because I do not want to discourage people who want to pursue a life in backgammon, even if part of that life includes gambling for bigger stakes. That possibility is there if you work hard on your game, get good, are a smart gambler, pick your spots well, and are honest and dependable and people like you and are willing to lose money to you and invite you back. Oh, and by the way, a few of these people don't fit that profile...a couple I know who have been successful aren't so nice or honest, so watch your back.
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