The problem with spending your life looking for interesting projects is that its never ending, its addictive, no matter how painful each one is...............Nick has been moaning like hell over the last 24 months since we took on the apartment project in Nottingham and the roof blew off (we finally finished all 9 apartments last week and 7 people have moved in). Over the last 6 months he's been stressing about the DTD re-fit which starts in 2 weeks.........but we still spent the 4 hours on the return flight from Tenerife thinking up new property projects after DTD is complete.............its MAD. Why not just kick back and relax?
We now have some firm dates on the online card room and live club (don't laugh), dtdpoker online has an official launch date of 30th November, and the Dusk Till Dawn Club's opening date is 1st week in April. Basically, we are going to about 6 months later than I had originally planned when the project first began. However, its very important we hit these dates as every month that goes by costs £50,000 in wages and overheads! These delays have been very frustrating for all of us but I can't remember ever hitting a project completetion date on schedule, so why change the habit of a lifetime?
I guess my UK poker career is 95% over now, I can't play in Gala's, Grosvenors or even DTD.............how do I feel about that? Well part of me really is disappointed that the big companies and authorities always follow form and tread all over the "little man". I've had this all my life in various forms and am sick of it, there is a whole "old boys network" in the UK business community and one rule for certian people and a crap one for the rest of us.............but there is big part of me that is glad: being banned from UK casinos, it should mean I have more time to spend with my family and friends, instead of sitting in casinos watching my life go by.
Since 18 years old I've spent so much time in casinos gambling on blackjack and poker, so many sleepless nights, so many hours with my backside imprinted on an uncomfortable chair, chain smoking, eating unhealthy food, maybe its a blessing in disguise?
My new manager starts in my pub next week. Its a guy called Dave Alsop, I've known him for 20 years (yes - another mate I'm employing). I'm really pleased he has decided to join, I know he will do a great job and better still, I know he will really enjoy it. I remember when I was 14 years old, I played for Dave's table tennis team, and after the match the team wanted to get last orders but i was underage to get in the pub, so they left me in the car in car park (charming). I sneaked out and went into the pub and hid in the corner munching a packet of salt and vinegar crisps........this was the first time I had ever been in a public house.............who would have thought 20 years later that Dave would become the manager of THAT very pub, The Broxtowe Inn, and I would have BOUGHT it, how sick life is, the odds of that happening are even worse than runner runner gutshot!
We're all off to the CPC in St Kitts on November 24th. I have to go for the Cryptologic licencee meeting, but I've invited the whole DTD Crew to join me so we can do some "team bonding" blah blah (Yogi and Nightly aswell!). I missed St Kitts last year so am looking forward to the break and playing some poker. When I went to St Martiin 2 years ago there were some great cash games and the atmopshere was brilliant, I remember picking up a Cryptologic brochure and playing on the Betfair and William Hill branded tables........I never imagined 2 years later that there would be any DTD branded tables there........again, another example of how weird stuff happens.
When I was at The Broadway, I kept hearing rumours of various players that DTD are putting into events etc. I got a few emails from Barcelona when people noticed certain individuals wearing DTD gear. There is no DTD sponsorship deals going, we have not even launched our site yet! A few players are not happy that I have chosen not to ask them to represent DTD but the DTD Executives and the DTD Crew are working with me on DTD, not freerolling into tournaments.
DTD will not be sponsoring any players who cannot cover their costs outside of tournament prize winning, its just not part of our strategy. Everyone has a job to do, and its just more tax effective and better for PR, to remunerate people with "tournament buy-ins" rather that wages. I know there are some very good players looking for sponsorship deals but I don't believe that this form of marketing works effectively. We have some high profile names involved in DTD, and of course, when they play live comps, they will be wearing the DTD merchandise, but everyone is helping me with DTD behing the scenes and has responsibilites beyond playing poker.
I looked at the photos from the Blondebash, it looked like everyone had a great time. I wish I could have come along. nevermind, maybe we will have a Blondebash at Dusk Till Dawn one day, I'm sure the Gaming Board will allow me to play a £30 freezout (or maybe not!).
