OK round 2:
1) drop the self-excluded phrase (imo) sounds like problem gambling terminology. Paternity is perfectly noble.
2) If you are wanting to play cash, be expected to be asked to show tracking software results to support it. If you don't have this, drop the cash element from the stake request.
3) This isn't an uncommon reason for wanting a stake, no probs there. Plenty others have poor BRM or otherwise just need the structure that a stake gives that they are unable to keep in place for themselves.
4) Really? Do you know any poker players IRL? Local casino? Forum member with high visibility? No refs will usually be a problem.
5) Usually ambition is a bad thing here! "I want to play all the majors" is usually just someone that can't wait to play high enough to go broke (with someone else's money) Someone that jsut wants to make a couple of hundred each week with minimal risk to help with bills etc may lack ambition, but is a backer's dream.
6) This is where honesty really is the best policy. If you talk yourself into some ultra-high volume agreement with a large stake and then get nowhere near it,it will unsurprisingly not please the backer. If however you are realistic about playing low volume (and therefore only need a low stake) then I don't see a problem at all. Playing extra volume (more than you want to) in a mis-guided attempt to please a backer does not usually end well - for anyone involved.
THE ABI bit, bit difficult to make solid suggestions based on limited sample size, but there is a suggestion that just playing <$5R or <$20 F.O. would be a good way to get back into it - you can always shot-take a bit higher in good weeks. Imagine the following 2 requests:
a) "errr... dunno really... just want some money wiv to gamble innit. play cash, tournys, whatever I fancy."
b) "I'd like a $500 stake to play PLO(
mtts on Stars. Screen name is Pokercade. I have a full time job, so I don't rely on poker for income, but nor can I play high volume. I would commit to playing 40+ mtts per week with a limit of $5R or $20F.O."
Bit extreme, but I think you can see that route b) is more likely to get somewhere. At that point, the final negotiation would be the terms. 50/50 profit share (including fpps/stellars/other bonuses) after makeup would be standard. Depending how badly you want the stake and/or how badly the backer wants to back you, you may be able to negotiate in a certain area if you so desire.
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