Music and the WSOP

[Sark79]

I have just watched a show on the pokerchannel ' Do it Like Tony G'

In it a few guests who have played against Tony G recomend using an I-Pod to block him out.

Does anyone know the rules concerning listening to music at poker events. In the book 'play poker like the pro's' by Phil Hellmuth. He explains that listening to music was banned from the WSOP. 

Why is this?    What harm can it do?    If a player has paid $10,000 to play in the event, why can't he/she listen to music or do whatever they want to improve their chances of winning.

I know how much I hate playing against a player, who is constantly using the chat box and being rude to the others at the table. In the past, I let them get under my skin. Now I hardly even look at the chat box. I only really use it if I want to say "nice hand" or " its been a pleasure playing with everyone" after being knocked out.

What are peoples experiences of playing against a Tony G, Phil Hellmuth or Mike the Mouth style of player both online and Live ?   Are you one yourself ?   

[Jim-D]

Does anyone know the rules concerning listening to music at poker events. In the book 'play poker like the pro's' by Phil Hellmuth. He explains that listening to music was banned from the WSOP. 

i know its banned from final table, perhaps thats wat he means?

[GlasgowBandit]

Ohh I love table chat and there are few on here who indulge in it as well!!

Newmanseye is particuarly good at it and when your not listening he just laughs at the music you listen to!

[TightEnd]

it isn't banned from the first 435 days of the WSOP main event

[Sark79]

I don't think it should be banned from the final day.

I have never played any Live poker, so perhaps I am not the most qualified to decide if this is a good or bad rule.

But there must be alot of Internet Qualifiers, who have never played in a Casino before.

Isn't taking away one of their comforts ( I always listen to my I-Pod while playing ) a dis-advantage for them.

Is this rule to aid the television producers rather than the players?

In my opinion, who cares if the TV audience want to hear banter between the players. I am sure all the players view this as their office. In a regular job, if there was a bloke constantly harassing you when you were trying to concentrate. You would tell them to take a hike or clock them one.

[thediceman]

I can see it now, a televised final with 6 players just sitting there nodding their heads to the beat of thier ipod tunes. I suspect the no music rule for the final is because table chat makes better viewing for the tv audience.

[Sark79]

I can see it now, a televised final with 6 players just sitting there nodding their heads to the beat of thier ipod tunes. I suspect the no music rule for the final is because table chat makes better viewing for the tv audience.

lol.   Whats wrong with that?   Personally I couldn't really care what one player says to another to wind them up on TV.  I like watching the action.

If I want the commentators to explain something for me and I like who is explaining it ( only really two - Barny Boatman and Gary Jones ).  I will stop and turn up the sound. Other than that, what do the players actually tell the audience. Absolutely nothing, they certainly don't stop and say " you know Gus, I liked the way you raised there before the flop, very nice.  Can you explain to the viewers why you did that".  " Oh certainly Howard, this is why I did it ........".   

Alot of the time If I watch poker on TV, I am listening to music or I am on the tredmill anyway.

[thetank]

If I make it to the WSOP final table, I'll be hearing tunes though I won't be needing no i-pod.

They'll go something like this

da-da-da-da-DA
da-da-da-da-DA
dabby-dabby-dabby-dabby-da.

[Gilbern74]

Well you know that you can get transmitters for iPods. I'd guess that the organisers are wary of people getting reports sent through their headphones...? More so for televised stages of a tournament for obvious reasons.

[Royal Flush]

Well you know that you can get transmitters for iPods. I'd guess that the organisers are wary of people getting reports sent through their headphones...? More so for televised stages of a tournament for obvious reasons.

exactly, only a matter of time before one of these TV finals is used as a way to cheat

[Sark79]

Well you know that you can get transmitters for iPods. I'd guess that the organisers are wary of people getting reports sent through their headphones...? More so for televised stages of a tournament for obvious reasons.

Your absolutely correct. I didn't think of this. 

[I KNOW IT]

Its not just for the final, at last years WSOP there was an announcement to remove all ipods, etc when they had made the $$$.
In every event

[henrik777]

Its not just for the final, at last years WSOP there was an announcement to remove all ipods, etc when they had made the $$$.
In every event

I suppose if your volume was low you might have heard the warning.

  >:?

Sandy

[I KNOW IT]

Its not just for the final, at last years WSOP there was an announcement to remove all ipods, etc when they had made the $$$.
In every event

I suppose if your volume was low you might have heard the warning.

  >:?

Sandy

The threat of disqualification improves peoples hearing regardless of volume