From a generic Degree to a leading Poker Practitioner

[JGill_DTD]

Hi all,

Thought this would be an intriguing way to keep my post rate high and continue to feel like a valued with in the Blonde Poker community, and I feel the next couple of years could potentially be the most important in my career/life, so will hopefully make for interesting reading.

Background to the Blog

In short, this is 100% the industry that I wish to be working within in the foreseeable future. I am currently in my 3rd and final year of studying a Marketing degree at Newcastle University, aged 22 due to a gap year and a placement. As much as I dream of someday becoming a professional poker player, I think I'm too much of a nit to see this as a realistic job for myself, due to variance quite possibly having the strength to crush my inner self, hence why I would love to continue working within the poker Industry.

In years 1 & 2 at university, my work rate was very poor. I always found a way to do just about enough to get by, the course never really interested me and this lead to having to resit a fair few exams, leading to this final year becoming a very tough one.

The placement I had completely changed me as a person. I felt like I was finally passionate about Marketing because it was linked to something that I loved, Poker. Having played since the age of 17 I had always loved the game, with it more or less funding my gap year back when online poker seemed to be a lot easier to be a consistent winner at. I had always idolised Dusk Till Dawn, from the moment I had heard of it. Many describing it as the mecca of poker within the UK, I was always intrigued to play there. I very occasionally made the 1.5 hour trip, and although I got no results the place somehow made me feel like a poker professional having only played in a pub or online previously.

Getting the placement at Dusk Till Dawn was entirely by chance, I previously had a placement lined up in a haulage company that I had very little interest in, however this fell through late on. With just a week to organise a placement unless I wanted to be back to uni, I contacted Dusk Till Dawn, knowing if there was anywhere I could possibly work, it would be there. I approached DTD asking if they could possibly consider hiring me as a placement student, I showed them blogs I had written in the past on poker and real desire to work there through saying I was more than willing to work for just expenses, as this was something I really wanted to do. Having had an interview with Nick Whiten I was very fortunate in the fact they were willing to take a chance on me, and I hope all at DTD now look on it in hindsight as a good move.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at DTD, blogging, sending out press releases etc. and regard this as the best decision I have ever made. It's definitely the area I want to be working in, in the future giving me a clear scope on where and what I would like to approach regarding work.

The story as of now

At the moment, in regards to poker I'm trying to play as often as I can. Saying that it seems to be once a week max due to uni work restricting me, as this obviously takes priority.

Having gotten good links at Dusk Till Dawn, I've managed to secure live backing for certain tournaments. I feel very blessed in regards to past results, variance has recently (past year and a half, in before bok) took a liking to me. I've seemed to have made my bigger wins exactly when I've needed money, at times of need the poker gods have come through for me. I honestly feel like I run incredible just when I need to.


Apologies I've babbled so much, could have split it into 3 posts or so but thought I would get the basics down! Hopefully this gets the interest of the odd person!

[BorntoBubble]

In! Good look Jonathan!

[aaron1867]

I'm looking forward to reading this diary looks like a refreshing diary!

Very best of luck and I shall be subscribing!

Although curious why you want to work in poker industry after studying marketing? It would be a very much waste of a degree and nothing really much out there in poker world career wise.

[JGill_DTD]

I feel like there is a gap within the Live UK Poker Industry in regards to Marketing. Not sure where that gap is, but there are plenty of brands who I feel execute their marketing strategies poorly.

I enjoyed everything about my year at Dusk Till Dawn, and I honestly believed if I went into a different Industry it would forever be on my mind. I'm yet to come across anything in regards to a career that could possibly interest me as much as the poker industry does.

So many people out there in the world have a degree, with marketing degrees becoming increasingly common. I'm sure in the future a marketing degree will almost become a necessity for anyone hoping to get a marketing position at casinos

[Eso Kral]

In on page 1

Oh and glad the poker gods didn't look too kindly on you back in June 2012 

[JGill_DTD]

In on page 1

Oh and glad the poker gods didn't look too kindly on you back in June 2012 

I think they could have done, you never know

[shipitonetime]

Gl with your degree and crushing poker part time. Will be following!

[smashedagain]

Good luck mate. Marketing was my chosen subject for all the good it did me.

[JGill_DTD]

ty for the best wishes. Thought I ought to start off with a bio of myself, as stolen from the Blonde Poker profile section:

What is your BlondePoker username?          
jgill_DTD

Which area do you live in?
Telford. At Uni in Newcastle, parents have a place (boat rather) down in torquay

What is your marital status?
Single

Do you have any children and/or pets?                      
neither. Used to have a cat called suzie. I'm more of a cat person

When did you start playing poker?
age 17 (5 years ago)

Where can you be found playing live?
NCL Aspers/NCL Genting/Walsall G/DTD

What is your favourite online site?
Tilt maybe? Tilt or Stars

What is your handle there?
Gil3000

What is the harshest beat you have inflicted on an opponent?
No-one remembers the good beats. must have one outered a couple of people along the way I'm sure

Who are your poker heroes?
Cody & Fish (Rasta obv). Oh and maybe Andy Bradhsaw. Always brings a smile to my face

Who is your best friend in poker?
Sigh. I wouldn't even know, maybe Mike Aston Smith?

What are your greatest accomplishments in poker?
Chopping the £150 DS with Rich Blacklock

What is your most embarrassing moment in poker?
Turning over AA pre thinking opponent was all in when he had chunks behind him. Jamming the flop, he folds KK face up

Which Blondepoker thread did you enjoy the most?
Goulder's or John Black diaries are always feel good pieces I find. Live tournament updates are always gold obv

The thing I love most about BlondePoker is?
The Community/friendly vibes

My biggest pet hate in poker is?
People who use outdated poker terminology (e.g. I back-raised him)

What are your main interests outside poker?
Wakeboarding, Snow skiing

Tell us something about yourself none of us would know
As a child I used to get hyped for the world cup by drawing the groups, then rolling the dice to see the scores. I would then re-enact every single game as it happened in my back garden by punting the ball against the wall as if it was a cross, then slotting the bal into the empty net

What is your favourite pie filling?
rhubarb

Who is your favourite singer?
Alex Turner

What is your favourite song?
so difficult to choose. For now I'd go for Primal Scream - Country Girl

Who is your ideal man or woman?
I wouldn't even know to be honest. Anyone who I find attractive I typically think "bet she's a total bitch though" as if I've gained a moral victory

What is your favourite holiday destination?
Anywhere with snow in the Winter

If I could change one thing about myself I would?
Take peoples opinions with a pinch of salt a bit more often. I tend to be pretty naive

[JGill_DTD]

Thought I ought to draw up Poker Aims/objectives for the year, as it seems to be the done thing:

[ ] 2x Herbiemob flags

[ ] grind online more/when I get a roll stop reducing myself to the micros by being such a nit, withdrawing all the time

[ ] Find a Long Term job within the Industry

Thought 2 flags was a little generous towards myself, could maybe step it up to 3 but would like to think I've achieved something by the end of the year. I have no idea how much poker I will be playing this year due to Uni as well as my general location. I'm not sure entirely how much this blog will be about me playing poker, but will surely be about the industry for the most part.

Tournies I've got lined up:

• Newcastle GPS ME
[?] Student Poker Tour

I'm really excited about the Newcastle GPS leg, 5 days after I have to submit a chunk of work in to uni, as well as being 5 days after my girlfriend gets to England for the first time in her life. Feel like morale will be at an incredibly high point, can only lead to positive things.

Also considering playing the Student Poker Tour high roller event, at £100. Means I can legitimately say I've played a high roller tournament, even though its a fairly low buyin.

[Eso Kral]

IN BEFORE

Hopefully you surpass the "greatest achievement in poker" mention 

[paulhouk03]

U have any degen stories.?..

[VBlue]

In and good luck pursuing your career dreams.  I am talking to someone right now about pursuing a line of work in the poker industry myself - just for advice initially, but it's all about contacts.

PS - I used to do something similar with the football.  I had a steep ramp going up to a carpark round the back of a guest house my parents used to own.  I used to kick the ball up the ramp and then try and slot into the goal (a small gate) when it came back down.

[JGill_DTD]

U have any degen stories.?..

I don't think I do to be honest, I'm such a life nit.

Once I binked about £3k online. I booked flights leaving to a music festival in Spain the day after, and within 1 and a half weeks I was back to where I started.

This is fairly standard though no? Don't think I win enough ££ that can be passed off as disposable income to be a degen

[JGill_DTD]

In and good luck pursuing your career dreams.  I am talking to someone right now about pursuing a line of work in the poker industry myself - just for advice initially, but it's all about contacts.

PS - I used to do something similar with the football.  I had a steep ramp going up to a carpark round the back of a guest house my parents used to own.  I used to kick the ball up the ramp and then try and slot into the goal (a small gate) when it came back down.

haha thanks for the full read. This was certainly one of the highlights of my summer for about 6 years on the trot. I just had two big stones lying against the wall to signal where the goal was.

Yeah, definitely all about the contacts. I recently had a lecture regarding socialising affectively at industry events and such, really opened my eyes. Wish it was given to me halfway through my placement though. I feel like starting at the best cardroom in the UK can't harm my chances of being put in touch with some of the bigger names out there within the poker industry.