Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[kinboshi]

Mixed news for some, I suppose, but earlier this week, Sky Poker confirmed a further extension of their sponsorship of Sky Poker...

You wear so many hats, it's easy to get a little confused.

[tikay]

Mixed news for some, I suppose, but earlier this week, Sky Poker confirmed a further extension of their sponsorship of Sky Poker, it's been extended for 3 months to end of September, after that, who knows?

All a bit awkward for me in many ways, as I sit both sides of the fence, & I'm on the Management Team next door now. Hat juggling ftw.

The arrangement has not worked out quite as expected, but that in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. blonde-attributed revenues, on the whole, are less than hoped, but there have been some notable sign-ups, & many blondes, though not exactly loving the software, shall we say, have made an effort to spend some time there. Big thanks to them.

However, blonde has been a shop window to the outside world for Sky Poker, & in particular, Tighty has been tireless in his promotional work, & it was this that swung the deal.

So, apologies for the spammage, & in truth, I've struggled to do my Diary much recently as so much of my life evolves around working next door, & I sense peeps don't want any more of that than necessary.

Anyway, thanks to all for your tolerance of the spam, & to those who have supported the sponsor, sincere thanks - it pays the wages.

Other potential sponsors are waiting in the wings, so if the Sky Poker thing eventually ends, hopefully Plan B is in place. But for now, you'll have to tolerate more of the same.

I think you might be wrong there Tony old chum, I think people DO want to hear about the ins and outs of working for a poker tv station/poker site, one of the appeals of this diary for me is the 'industry insider' element and I assume I am not alone. Likewise you have your band of loyal fans who like to hear you say 'triple range merge' and act daft with Orford on the show, whom I assume also want to hear about it on here.

As for the spamming, just be prolific, transparent, and unashamed about it. Most of the folks on this forum are savvy about these things and appreciate that without them, we might not have a forum. Plus these days we are so used to being advertised to from every angle its not difficult for us to filter out that which we dont want to hear.

As for the site itself, I've started playing quite regularly on there, I quite like the flagship events like the roller and the primo etc. I've always been a fan, but lately I have become a very big fan of the outfit alltogether (it helps that I've sampled the delights of the sky sports canteen a few times now) and although its not ideal for mass multi tabling, I really enjoy playing on it when, to be honest, I hated playing on it 2 years ago. I have seen a lot of familar screen names on there lately, so again I doubt I am alone.

So in short, keep the spam up and frollock around on both sides of the fence imo.

Absolutely excellent post!!! Very much this!! Before the SP sponsorship you didn't feel the need to not mention your work on here so there should be no need now!! This is YOUR diary..you can put what ever the feck you like on it..just like everyone else!! It would be a very sad day indeed if you felt the need to perma-auto-edit your own diary ffs!!!

P.S. Grats on the promotion Mr 'White-Collar'

Micro stakage for Vegas Snoozebox Binkage plsss

xx

Agree with all of this. Also do you have the power to get me on a date with Hells Bells??

No way Milligan, eat your heart out.

Gotta say, she is the most incredible character. Hard as nails, tough to work with, nothing gets past her, but she just has incredible magnetism. She owns about 10 "top end" cars, too, & lives rather well.

Works incred hard on Soccer AM, they start prepping on Thursday, & work 12 hours straight on Thursday & Friday, then do the Show on the Saturday.

I've been tasked to get some "faces", sports Celebs & suchlike, for a Sky Poker UK Cash Game, & I've been trying to get Helen, but she's proving a tough nut to crack, & does not play poker these days.

She promised me an answer a few weeks ago, & I was walking through the Car Park one day & spotted her as she approached in a gold DB9. She slowed down, the window wound down, & she leaned out, all smiley-wiley, & motioned me towards her, "got her" I'm thinking. She smiled, gave me the (single....) finger, & floored it, leaving me spitting dust & gravel. Marv.

Love her to bits.

[tikay]

I've started to get on terms with Charlotte Jackson, too, she wanders into my office (a very large, open-plan jobbie) several times a week, & we are on sort of chatting terms now, but I'm not optimistic of getting her on board.

Shame, but I don't think I've ever met a young lady who is more sexually sultry, & she absolutely dresses to kill in skimpy, loose fitting clothes.

Bit of a job to find an acceptable photo of her on google Images, too, don't want Girgles boiling over.

[tikay]

In fact, so far, in trying to get a table of Sports & Celeb "faces" for the Cash Game, I've been an epic fail so far. Sick, even.....

Bumped into Bob Willis on Thursday, proper legend, but seriously grumpy.

I was in make-up a few weeks back (no, not THAT make-up, that ain't ever gonna happen....) & so under a sort of gown, to protect my clothes from the powder & stuff, when in walks Matt Le Tissier, Jeff Stelling, Paul Merson, & Tony Cottee. And I'm like trying to catch their eye, & the Make-Up lady is saying "sit still, keep your eyes closed, keep quiet for a moment", & I missed the spot, bugger.

The previous week Alec Stewart was in the make-up chair next to me, & for whatever reason, I could not bring his name to mind. Bit dodgy opening with "what's your name, mate?"

The very next day, I missed Michael Vaughan in similar fashion.

I'm so shite.

My Boss rings every week, "how you getting on with thast list of celebs?".

"Oh, fine, coming along nicely", I say.

Guess there's always Cos if all else fails......

[RED-DOG]

I might be available. I'll get my people to talk to your people.....

[DaveShoelace]

Whats the criteria? Do they have to play poker previously? Is it a studio game or an online one (where you can pretend)?

Surely your chums at Matchroom can help you out here?

I would have thought this was the easiest job in the world tbh, get Phil Tuffnell in, he'll do anything to be on TV. Get Norman Pace, Abi Titmuss, that Leilani bird, the chuckle brothers play poker.

Cheryl Baker seems to need the money at the moment too, oh and get one of the early evictions from the Apprentice.

There you go, thats your show.

[RED-DOG]

I might be available. I'll get my people to talk to your people.....

Strike that, It's stew & dumplings night.

[tikay]

Yesterday was Vegas prepping day, must have blown £500 or more on bits & bobs, sigh, then did another £110 at Luton in the Friday night jobbie, but it was hugely enjoyable, & I loved every moment.

I love Live Poker with a passion, the psychology & the mix of players, good & bad, scoundrels, heroes, good & bad losers & winners, the characters all come out at the Poker Table. Willie Tann busted me, marv.

Chatted for a goodly while with Claw (looking good), Holdy (ditto), Vinni (stuffing a double brekkie down his face, not looking good as good as the girls but excited as a kid about Vegas), & Scotty77, who I actually fancy for a deep run in the WSOP Main Event.

In the £110 last night, mardy geezer gets 5 betted, & eventually calls with J-J, he has run into A-A, the geezer with Aces might as well played his hand face up, it was so obvious what he had. Flop 5-5-J, ship.

Aces man sighs, & is a bit exasparated.

Jacks geezer says "I did not put you on Aces (there's a thing...) but I was pretty sure you had a pair bigger than Jacks"........

Level 5 stuff.

Saw Glenn Henderson too, he's put a bit of weight back on, long may it last, it is lovely to see him out & about again. We take good health so much for granted.

[tikay]

Whats the criteria? Do they have to play poker previously? Is it a studio game or an online one (where you can pretend)?

Surely your chums at Matchroom can help you out here?

I would have thought this was the easiest job in the world tbh, get Phil Tuffnell in, he'll do anything to be on TV. Get Norman Pace, Abi Titmuss, that Leilani bird, the chuckle brothers play poker.

Cheryl Baker seems to need the money at the moment too, oh and get one of the early evictions from the Apprentice.

There you go, thats your show.

Tuffers would be awesome!

Yeah, it SHOULD be easy, but for some reason, I'm making a bit of a pigs ear of it. Might have to employ you as Consultant. If things get really bad.

By the bye, tyvm for the very kind words about Sky Poker on this Thread the other day.

Which reminds me, I have a little exclusive for you. Expect an e-Mail.

[tikay]

Whats the criteria? Do they have to play poker previously? Is it a studio game or an online one (where you can pretend)?

Surely your chums at Matchroom can help you out here?

I would have thought this was the easiest job in the world tbh, get Phil Tuffnell in, he'll do anything to be on TV. Get Norman Pace, Abi Titmuss, that Leilani bird, the chuckle brothers play poker.

Cheryl Baker seems to need the money at the moment too, oh and get one of the early evictions from the Apprentice.

There you go, thats your show.

Studio-based cash Game, no hole card cameras, but some funky software that reads an embedded bar-code in the cards. The first series of "UK Cash Game" starts on 865 this Friday I think. Oh, wait, I promised not too much spam.....

In fact, helping take that from cradle to, very probably, grave, has been fascinating, daunting, & frigging scary. I just know I'm gonna get mullered for the commentary, it was always thus.

Anyway, it's quite interesting how these things come together, & it's on my ever lengthening To-Diary-List.

I'll be out of the UK when it starts airing, thank God.

[ripple11]

There's a thread on THM for "celebs that play poker"

Work your way through that.

http://www.thehendonmob.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32325&highlight=famous

[tikay]

I gotta get my arse up to Birmingham now, but before I do, Vegas staking.......this is my first holiday in 5 years, & I'm busting to do as I want for a while. Like play Live Poker non-stop, until I get it out of my system.

This is all very awkward.

I prefer to play on my own money, I'm kind of scared of the responsibility of other peoples cash. However, lots of mates - well, two...... want a fun sweat, & I think that'd be rather fun to do, so I'm going to try & put something together.

I've been buying odd little packages of $$$$'s for 6 or 9 months now, & I found $3,000 in my man-bag left over from last year, so I'm taking about $10,000, plus some "emergency" sterling. (I have purchased quite a few little stakes in a bunch of players, not all paid for yet, seperate Diary Entry).

What do I plan to spend on my own Tourneys? I very much doubt I'll spend $10k, likely half that, but I just don't know yet. I will not, 99% sure, be playing the WSOP Main, though, work has to come first.

Jeez, talk about a dither.

The original plan was exclusively the Noon daily Caesars Deepies, but I was quite surprised what low buy-ins they are, mostly sort of $150 & $230, & I sort of went off the idea. Then, days ago, I heard they were getting 800+ runners every day - wow! That'd be perfect, & say 14 x $200 is very affordable.

They also have 4pm "Mixed Game" Tourneys, & some nice Omaha & 8 or better took the eye. So I guess if I bust the Noon early doors, I can switch to the 4pm jobbie. Or the 6pm nightly Rio Deepie, at $200.....

But a bunch of mates are cajoling me to play a couple of the bigger ones at The Venetian, $1,500 & $2,500, which I also rather fancy, & I have a few stakes in some guys in those.

Then there's one event at Binions, their $1,000 thing, 30th June I think, which I want to play.

So, summing up, I've got no idea what I'll play, & don't want to be bound to a prior agreed schedule, but I know I'll be playing daily, non-stop, from June 20th until July 3rd.

What a ditherer I am.

Anyway, the various schedules are here.....(my "playing window" is June 20th until July 3rd, after that, work starts).

The Noon Caesars.....

http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/casino-misc/poker-mega-stack-summer-2011-noon-detail.html

The 4pm Caesars...

http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/casino-misc/poker-mega-stack-summer-2011-4pm-detail.html

The Venetian Deepies....

http://www.venetian.com/uploadedFiles/The_Venetian/Content_Blocks/Gaming/Deepstack_Extravaganza/DeepStackIII11Fact%20Sheet.pdf

Binions......

http://www.binions.com/gaming/poker_classic.php

And in particular at Binions, this.....

http://www.binions.com/gaming/poker_classic.php

So much choice, no wonder I'm dithering. By the bye, suggestions & comments as to those Tourneys, or others, are welcome, please.

I'll be doing Daily Blogs, written & "photo-blogs" (blurry ftw) & Tweets from the Table once per Level minimum, assuming I can master the technology. And no spammy stuff. Well maybe just a tinsy bit.

So it's really just for a few mates who can't get to Vegas, & want a little fun sweat, & enjoy hearing about my hero passes. Rich they won't be getting, thats for sure.....

How will it work?

Hold on, while I make it up......

[nirvana]

Reading this and Vinni's mentions, together with looking at interviews with Alex on the pokerfarm site and the green eyed monster can't be kept at bay.

Good luck out there and hope you have a marv time

[tikay]

The only way I can think of is this.

We assume a MAXIMUM spend of $10,000 (it will probs be much less), & a theoretical max of 50% is on offer. Yes, very theoretical, but you never know, someone might nick Flushy's Password one night & post "Rest".....

If $500 is taken up, I'll be pleasantly surprised, in truth, & that's fine, as I can manage the rest OK.

So, in theory, if I have got this right, if someone purchased $100 worth, they own 1% of my total action.

The key thing being, all stakes & payouts are to be "proportioned" based on the final, total spend.

So if they buy $100, & I only spend, to be daft, $1,000, they have 10%. And so on.

Does that make sense, sort of?

I will Tweet what I'm going to play EVERY day, before I play it, & then Update Tweets as I go along.

MereNovice has agreed to do a Spreadsheet for me, as to the state of play, & he's also kindly agreed to be the Rules Arbiter. He WILL have a small stake, so technically he's not impartial, but I trust him implicitly. So any investors will have to, too. The key to all this is just "fun sweat", it's not to be taken seriously.

I will pay all the Reg Fees, of course (IF they are shown ON TOP of the Entry Cost, but not if deducted from the Prize Pool, which many are), & of course it's at 1:1.

I hope to hit the ground running on Monday, off the 'plane, chuck suitcase in the room, & off we go, so the "fund" will need to close no later than 10pm Monday, UK time, which is 2pm Vegas, I think.

PS - One WSOP Event is possible - the $2,500 Omaha Hi-Lo, but very doubtful.

That make any sense? Tear it to bits, if not.

Either way, if anyone wants a wee bit, Post on the Thread, please. And please remember, it's just a bit of fun, I don't want any hassle, or to upset anyone.

Payment must be before the action starts, (10pm Monday UK time) & can be by any sensible means - Bank Tx, cash in hand, cash via a trusted intermediary, or any other sensible means. As it is just for mates, common sense applies to this, but you get my drift.

PS - A big bummer with this is that I always intended to do it next door, for a Community Sweat, I have some lovely pals there, but, incredibly, a belt & braces legal approach to the Gambling Act 2005 (thou shall not promote overseas gaming) & zealous Legal Team have meant I have not been permitted to, which I'm very sad about, as I really wanted to do it. They can, of course, take a stake via blonde, though I'm neither encouraging or discouraging them so to do. Why is my life so frigging complicated?

[tikay]

Reading this and Vinni's mentions, together with looking at interviews with Alex on the pokerfarm site and the green eyed monster can't be kept at bay.

Good luck out there and hope you have a marv time

TYVM, Glenn, & it's a shame you can't join us.

Great to see you last night, & please come as often as possible, you are much missed there. More than Chompy, for sure.