Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Dino]

Lake wobegon days are available on Amazon in CD form.I am a great fan of Garrison Keillor and try to catch his radio show every week on radio 7.

[tikay]

It's all gone quiet from you and Tom on the WSOP front.

Have you two ditherers made a decision yet?

Afternoon Keith.

Tom can speak for himself, but he did not really have a decision to make.

As for me, you'll be pleased to know that I've reached a very advanced position of ditheryness. I was momentarily ditherynessless, but I've moved into ditherynesslessness now.

I HAVE decided, unless something serious intervenes, to go out to Vegas 10 or 14 days BEFORE the Sky Poker Team travel out. It'll be my first "holiday" since I re-commenced work 5 years ago, & the first EVER time, in 7 WSOP visits to Vegas, I've gone there to play poker. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am by the prospect, I'm like a 16 year old on his first date.

I plan to play the Caesars Deepstacks for 10 or 12 days straight, maybe a few Venetian ones, perhaps Binions, too. Sadly, the Deepie schedule has not been published yet, afaic, but as soon as they are, my flight & Hotel will be booked. I'm almost "counting the sleeps" already!

As to the Main Event, no, I've not decided yet, to be honest, I'm really grappling with it right now. It sort of depends on a whole bunch of things, including ridding myself of the notion that I'd "freeze", & coming to terms with my responsibilities to Sky Poker.

Thank you for asking, & I hope my indecision is not seen as apathy or rudeness to all those who offered to stake me, which I took as a huge compliment, given my limited abilities. If I do play it, I would like to think it would be a "Community-based" thing, where a lot of people shared in the success. If any. Winning a big bunch of money there is not the kick, it's just not, but I would love to play it just once.

Well done last night, at The Vic, by the way. Well, almost. I lolled hard at the hero call with Ace high into Quads. Good read, Sir.

How is Katherine, & young Jake?

Does Jake have a QPR shirt yet?

You enjoying Mr Warnock's tenure?

Tikay - I think we'll be in Vegas at the same time!  Definitely up for playing some poker at Caesars and The Venetian.  Fancy swapping 10%? :-)

Unless I'm constrained by other staking liabilities (highly unlikely!) then of course, yes.

You have seen me play, right?

[tikay]

Lake wobegon days are available on Amazon in CD form.I am a great fan of Garrison Keillor and try to catch his radio show every week on radio 7.

The original Radio Show from which it derived is still on? Wow!

It must be like a sort of American version of "The Archers".

PS - Radio 7? Eh? That a Typo?

[Dino]

BBC radio 7 ,it's on satellite and dab radio and a current series.

[AndrewT]

Lake wobegon days are available on Amazon in CD form.I am a great fan of Garrison Keillor and try to catch his radio show every week on radio 7.

The original Radio Show from which it derived is still on? Wow!

It must be like a sort of American version of "The Archers".

PS - Radio 7? Eh? That a Typo?

There was a film, sort-of version as well - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prairie-Home-Companion-DVD/dp/B001DTKY1M

[tikay]

If you don't read GreekSteins diary - & most do - you must read it today.

It's taken a most interesting turn, & includes the most (imo) thoughtful & long Post I've ever seen by Dubai.

A must read. Worry not, it is not full of Hand Histories, just good debate.

[MereNovice]

Tikay... just a general question as ive often wondered about 'telly people '... don't want specifics obv and u can tell me to gtfo if you want..not meaning to pry ..just curious thats all..

how do telly deals work? do you get paid per show or appearance or do you have a salaried contract ?... do you have an agent like real telly stars ? and do the other sky presenters have agents ?

Allow me to provide a vague answer, as one of the other Sky Presenters...

Each television deal is unique.  Some involve contracts, while others are simply an ad hoc agreement; some pay per series, others per programme.  The Sky Poker presenters and analysts are paid per show, on a non-exclusivity basis.  And yes, most of us have agents.

I believe Tikay's arrangement with Sky is slightly more complex, as he wears numerous "hats" for the business.  I don't know if you want to go into more detail, Tony?

Good reply, James, it covers a lot of the ground, & yes, (inevitably), I will go into a bit more detail shortly, after I've done some other hat work.

But you've touched on something that intrigues me greatly - agents. As you say, I don't have one, but most do, almost everyone does, I believe. Given your successful career in radio & TV, 'Stars, ESPN etc, yours has been worthwhile, but in most cases, do you think Agents are worth the fee (a % of each Show fee, I assume) that they take? Would you have secured all those gigs without an Agent?

I'd always assumed that you guys did it for the love of it and the opportunity to interact with enlightened, literate and constructive Sky Poker community members.

[tikay]

BBC radio 7 ,it's on satellite and dab radio and a current series.

DAB? Satellite?

I have a wireless, does it work on them? And a 'phone.

[tikay]

Lake wobegon days are available on Amazon in CD form.I am a great fan of Garrison Keillor and try to catch his radio show every week on radio 7.

The original Radio Show from which it derived is still on? Wow!

It must be like a sort of American version of "The Archers".

PS - Radio 7? Eh? That a Typo?

There was a film, sort-of version as well - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prairie-Home-Companion-DVD/dp/B001DTKY1M

Can barely believe all this, where have all the Lake Wobegon Days fanboys been hiding all this time?

[tikay]

Tikay... just a general question as ive often wondered about 'telly people '... don't want specifics obv and u can tell me to gtfo if you want..not meaning to pry ..just curious thats all..

how do telly deals work? do you get paid per show or appearance or do you have a salaried contract ?... do you have an agent like real telly stars ? and do the other sky presenters have agents ?

Allow me to provide a vague answer, as one of the other Sky Presenters...

Each television deal is unique.  Some involve contracts, while others are simply an ad hoc agreement; some pay per series, others per programme.  The Sky Poker presenters and analysts are paid per show, on a non-exclusivity basis.  And yes, most of us have agents.

I believe Tikay's arrangement with Sky is slightly more complex, as he wears numerous "hats" for the business.  I don't know if you want to go into more detail, Tony?

Good reply, James, it covers a lot of the ground, & yes, (inevitably), I will go into a bit more detail shortly, after I've done some other hat work.

But you've touched on something that intrigues me greatly - agents. As you say, I don't have one, but most do, almost everyone does, I believe. Given your successful career in radio & TV, 'Stars, ESPN etc, yours has been worthwhile, but in most cases, do you think Agents are worth the fee (a % of each Show fee, I assume) that they take? Would you have secured all those gigs without an Agent?

I'd always assumed that you guys did it for the love of it and the opportunity to interact with enlightened, literate and constructive Sky Poker community members.

Pack it in Geeky, go do an RSQ.

Must resist your provocative tease. Remember, I have perma-lurkers.

[Dino]

Also available on your computer

[tikay]

Also available on your computer

Incred.

For the first time in my life, I listened to football commentary on my Lappie last night, very good.

In fact, I tuned to Radio 5 Live for the CL only to find they are not licensed to broadcast it on the internet, so instead, I found TalkSport Radio on my Lappie, & listened to Mr Collymore giving large. For me, he beats Alan Bloody Self-Opinionated Green hands down.

[JamesHartigan]

Tikay... just a general question as ive often wondered about 'telly people '... don't want specifics obv and u can tell me to gtfo if you want..not meaning to pry ..just curious thats all..

how do telly deals work? do you get paid per show or appearance or do you have a salaried contract ?... do you have an agent like real telly stars ? and do the other sky presenters have agents ?

Allow me to provide a vague answer, as one of the other Sky Presenters...

Each television deal is unique.  Some involve contracts, while others are simply an ad hoc agreement; some pay per series, others per programme.  The Sky Poker presenters and analysts are paid per show, on a non-exclusivity basis.  And yes, most of us have agents.

I believe Tikay's arrangement with Sky is slightly more complex, as he wears numerous "hats" for the business.  I don't know if you want to go into more detail, Tony?

Good reply, James, it covers a lot of the ground, & yes, (inevitably), I will go into a bit more detail shortly, after I've done some other hat work.

But you've touched on something that intrigues me greatly - agents. As you say, I don't have one, but most do, almost everyone does, I believe. Given your successful career in radio & TV, 'Stars, ESPN etc, yours has been worthwhile, but in most cases, do you think Agents are worth the fee (a % of each Show fee, I assume) that they take? Would you have secured all those gigs without an Agent?

Well, if an agent isn't earning his commission, get rid of him.  That's my rule

A common misconception is that agents find you work.  They don't really.  Nearly all my work in radio and television has been secured through my own endeavours - although Sky Poker is an interesting exception.  My agent got me "through the door," as he'd formed a relationship with the management while representing Kara Scott.

Ultimately, agents are there to negotiate.  And that's where they pay their way.  It's obviously nice to have a third-party arguing on your behalf, demanding the big bucks and playing the "bad guy," while you can be sweetness and light with the client.  I have just agreed a deal to host a 16-part series for an American broadcaster.  My agent more than exceeded my expectations when it came to the contract negotiations.

[DaveShoelace]

James, has anyone ever called you James Cardigan? Whenever I see you on the tellybox I see Hartigan, I think Cardigan.

I like Cardigans, and also that lady from the band of the same name, so its not a dig.

[tikay]

James, has anyone ever called you James Cardigan? Whenever I see you on the tellybox I see Hartigan, I think Cardigan.

I like Cardigans, and also that lady from the band of the same name, so its not a dig.

BEWARE, both of you.

This Thursday's Live Show on Channel 865 will be hosted by James Horatio Cardigan, "analysed" by myself, with special Guest......Lord Barry Carter of SheffieldShire.

Save the heat & insults for the Show.