How to Take Advantage of a TV Final Table Seat

For those of you that do not know, the last nine players involved in the main event of the World Series are given many opportunities. The tournament pauses until around the middle of November, in order for the profile of the final table to be increased. The WSOP also needs the players to get a profile built up as they want the final table to capture the public and for them to cheer on their favourite poker players. There are numerous opportunities for players fortunate enough to be a part of this poker frenzy. Interviews, fly on the wall documentaries, endorsements are all part of the players instant rise to fame. The public needs to get to know you quickly, but the consequences of becoming a poker celebrity can mean ongoing income long after the event itself has finished.

Let us assume for a moment you are lucky enough to make it to the final table. Here is what I would recommend you do with these 15 minutes of fame.

Interviews

There is an intense need to be heard. Tell your story about poker and ensure payment is taken where possible. You are a potential winner of the World Series, so the media will be keen to listen to your thoughts. Always come across courageous, even if you plan to be passive and ladder up do not say it! As far as any poker media or general media is concerned you are a brilliant guy who is living the dream and playing to win! It is important to do as many interviews with magazines and websites as possible. People must know you in the Industry and your name must come to mean something, this will open up many doors for you.

Endorsements

It has been said that poker rooms are willing to pay megabucks for showing their logo on the final table so I would ensure that if I wore a logo for a big poker room they would be shelling out for the privilege. I would be looking for an excellent deal for the final table of the main event. Not only a large cash payment but staggered payments for lasting further into the event, not to mention trying to get a wage type deal from the poker room as a featured player whilst I was very well-known. I would also take my time before signing a deal as when the date of the November tournament nears any unsigned players become hot property and you can demand more money. Many of the final table players will sign up instantly with a poker room. Unless they are offering plenty of money making opportunities in the meantime I would hesitate and shop around, fully expecting the chase for my signature to heat up as the poker tournament approached.

TV Work

My own priority would be doing a fly-on-the-wall documentary on my life between winning the final table seat and actually going out and playing the event. It will be a hectic time of your life, with plenty of opportunities and time for reflection. Get it on camera and earn from showing your private life. Your life has suddenly become very public, so if you can take advantage of the intense interest in you then it is to your advantage. If the public comes to care about you, that will carry on after the event.

I have read elsewhere that between the last hand of the proper WSOP main event and the beginning of the final table players can earn anywhere up to $500,000 extra to their prize money. I am a firm believer in taking advantage of opportunities. I guarantee the reader that I would double that projection by putting effort into building a brand of myself and capitalising on the interest as it may die down after the event as other events cause new winners to appear. Earning a massive amount of money is something that should be jumped in eagerly.

All that I need to do now is win my seat at the final table of the main event and all of these ideas will be put into fruition, simple.

By Malcolm Clarke