I can’t help it. I can’t help it if people read and take everything out of context and apply it to themselves and where they are. I can’t help it if people profess to be all knowing and understanding andreally know nothing and do not care to explore the over view. What I can do is keep doing what I do, and I will. In the meantime here’s one of the latest comments, approved – and at the bottom of the post it was meant for-but pasted here because it’s just too precious to have this little pearl lost at the bottom of a post.
Comment 1:
Dearest Linda,
I can’t even begin to express my deepest regrets for your sad story at the tables that night. I came across your site when I googled for “poker dealers wanted.” I’m new in Vegas from Northern Cali, and found that every unemployed dealer in America is dealing the WSOP here in town, so getting a poker job in the next few months will be nearly impossible without having some juice.
But back to your article. In Cali, I have heard that the higher the limits, the smaller the tips are. In my experience tho, it has been to my best interest to deal the bigger games compared to the 100-200 buy in games. The biggest games I have actually dealt are a 10,000 buy in NL HE. The tokes were nice when they came, but I also was dealing to regulars in that card room who I’ve dealt to for a couple years. They know me by name, and respect my game flow and attention. They know that I’m always thankfull, and absolutely fair when it comes to the house rules.
Now don’t get me wrong, because I mean no disrespect to you here Linda, But you are WRONG. Being a dealer in such a game as your article describes, you should have used better judgment. You have publicly called out 2 players by name in a public cry for sympathy over a bad 30 minute down. Where I was trained and employed, I had to sign a confidentiallity form, where I wasn’t allowed to discuss what happened at the tables or with whom it happened to. Employees were not to discuss tips or lack of. It is bad form to complain about not getting toked for any reason what so ever. Even worse, you used the names of those involved. Public humiliation does not improve your chances of getting a toke, it will actually cost you money in the long run. It might even cost you your job.( well it should) Now please forgive my uninvited criticism, but you should be punished. I suggest dealing a 4 handed HL $1-$5 7 Stud for 4 hours without break on your day off should teach you some manners lol.
As for the players who don’t tip the dealers for whatever reasons they have:
Please keep your oppinions about not tipping to yourself. It is your choice and right. I will never complain about you. You have always been in my games, and your presence allows me the opportunity to do a great job and actually have a game to deal. I have made thousands of dollars over the years because of the players that never tip dealers just because there was actually a game to deal. You are hereby publicly thanked for playing at my tables. I do hope your oppinions on tipping change in the future. Dealers are providing a professional service and take a considderable amount of crap and abuse. Without a toke from the players, this job would not be worth the trouble and abuse we take.
This is my reply:
Your comment is approved. You obviously have never read any of my other posts, do not know what I am about, what I do, how I view the poker playing public, and people, and life, and my posts are about my life, and my view of what happens during my time on earth, and NO I was not crying, and NO it was not about tipping, and NO it is not about calling out anyone. Perhaps one post taken out of context destroys the whole overview of Tangobut YOU ARE WRONG in your assumptions. Go figure! Please save your holier than though attitude and sarcasmfor someone that needs it and is in the market for it – I am not. If you can’t figure out the whole gist of Tango, then you have a real problem relating to anything you read and how you comprehend it. There are tutors that can help you with that.
Comment 2:
Linda…Can you explain why you are so full of yourself? Your a freaking card dealer. I know dozens of them and most of em learned in a short amount of time. Can you explain how dealing cards is helping the world? LOL
This is my reply:
BOO-WAH-HAHAHAHAHAHA!
This is from one of my readers that I’ve never met in any other medium than the internet. He enjoys the over view of Tango. Thanks TenMile.
Linda, thx for taking time to reply to my post. I never expected you to give it a second look or even to have a thought about a reply. I have browsed through your archives and discovered that you are not the person that really got me heated. I am somewhat frustrated about some things relating to tokes and dealers, and unfairly vented them on your blog. I deal also, and am sick and tired of my fellow dealers coming to me personally and complaining that they just pushed a $2500 pot and only got a $15 toke. I would always tell them that they are lucky that they are not bagging groceries, and if they are not happy with $15 for 3 minutes of dealing, then bagging groceries is always an option. I like your site and willingness to allow even the unpleasant reply now and then to be posted. You seem to have a great head, and a talent for artistic and entertaining blogs. Thx again for the "holier than thou attitude" comment too lol. We are what we are, not what others think we are. I don’t agree with you tho. I am not holy, just confident and take a great pride in what I do, and do well. I’m sure you have heard your share of "bad beats" from dealers that got stiffed also, so what would you say to them?
"You are wrong……" "You should do this….." You shouldn’t do that…."
Language betrays the bigots/egotists/arrogant/& the ignorant whether they are dealers or players.
Whatever happened to self-government and self-responsibility?
That’s what attracted me to poker. It is a lot like life, you play the game the way you want to, it is your resources you are risking… you win, you lose, you learn, and improve.
Sometimes it seems unfair, sometimes you feel like you are in control. Periodically, it is important to take inventory of your actions and their results.
Sometimes one of the "u-shoulders" joins my table and I grin at their "psuedo-all knowing-pronouncements" of how I should have played my hand.
Sometimes, inspite of their best efforts I actually learn someting from them…. most of the time I am struck by the irony of "how poorly they play and how generous their advice"…I grin and think…. live a little longer, play a little more, and you will look back at what you thought you knew and will be aware of how ignorant you were……
I know I do……
Hey Linda,
Just a quick note of support. I’ve read TT for quite a long time now, and have enjoyed your stories of dealing, your insights into life in Las Vegas, your pictures of the Bellagio conservatory, and your hiking exploits….just to name a small sample of the things you write about.
You will never be able to reason with the unreasonable….just do your thing, don’t respond to the haters and they’ll move along to troll in less responsive pastures.
Cheers!
I say let that want to be dealer spend a week dealing tables 1-10 and then she what she has to say. I’m sure she will get Sammy at his best, the “big game” excellence and less than 1/2 the $ she would make in the middle of the room. That should change her tune.
As far as calling out players goes. If they are playing in a public card room in full view of Joe Blow and everyone else then their right to privacy is null and void.
Keep up the good work.
Why are people so affended that you mentioned "names"? As you stated you do not have to sign a confidentiality form as part of your job. You work in a public place, with the public, under the public’s eye. I could have been at that table and wrote the same thing you did, but from my point of view. I have played with a couple of famous "pros" and could just as easily write about them on the internet. I could also talk about them to my friends, family and strangers if I choose. People can talk about me if they want. You should not expect privacy restrictions in a public place such as a card room. If the player had no problem with tipping why did he ignore his companions questions about it? Many men will ignore you when you ask them questions that make them feel uncomfortable. Why didn’t he answer her question if it was no big deal?