Looking over a pile of applications I started thinking about how many horses I may have passed over who had some potential. But I ignored their apps. Why? I'll show you.
I'm Matt238 and I run a stable with ZBTHorton. We currently have roughly a dozen horses but have staked probably close to 100 players over the last year and a half, as many as 25 at once pre-BF. These players didn't just fall into our laps. They all found us one way or another. The majority through this very MP forum. They all wrote to us, giving us an application in some form or another, giving us information about themselves and their poker game, and we accepted them. But I don't want to talk about them- I want to talk about the rest.
This post is intended to help those who can't seem to get a response from that backer they've been chasing down. For those that know they have what it takes but are baffled by the lack of response. So much of this is/should be obvious but every single day we get applications that show me it isn't obvious at all. So, I genuinely want to help those who are good enough to be staked, but present themselves so poorly, that they are ignored. I hope other backers will chime in with thoughts of their own.
The application process
You have your MP approval and Sharkscope stats in hand. What's next? You find lots of posts by backers and backing groups seeking players just like you. You know you can be the best horse in their stable. You want to apply to them ALL.
DO follow the format the backer has requested. If it's PM, send them a polite PM. If they've asked for an e-mail, send them an e-mail with the information they've requested. For ZBT and myself, we like our applications to be in email form with a specific format or very similar. We're looking for certain information first. Typically, who you are. We want to see those numbers. Show us the screen names and the stats that go with them.
Do NOT email us a wall of text a page long and requires me to dig and dig to find the pertinent information I'm looking for. We've requested you send information in a certain format for a reason. It makes our lives easier! If you aren't following a simple request before we even get started then we're not getting off on the right foot.
DO mention coaches, former backers, and other references. This is all good information for us to have and something we request.
Do NOT tell us who your brother is and how sick he is at poker. Don't tell us about your roommate's deep run in the warm-up and how you were there sweating him. Don't tell us about chatting with Joe Cada in the hallway of a live event. None of this helps us learn about you as a poker player.
Do NOT curse over and over in your application. Maybe I'm a nit. Okay, I'm definitely a nit. I know this is poker and a lot of stakes and relationships that are formed are very casual and relaxed. Once you're accepted and welcomed into our group chat, by all means, tell the dirtiest jokes you can think of.....but at first, at least pretend this is a job application.
On a similar note,
do NOT send applications from your personal email address if your email is thatni**a6969@hotmail.com. How about
YoUrMoMiSaHoE@yahoo.com? First of all, get a gmail account. Second of all, you're getting deleted instantly. Both this and the last do's and don'ts show me maturity and professionalism. If I'm going to be trusting you and sending you my money, I need to see at least a little bit of both.
Do still apply if English isn't your first language and you struggle with the application process. There's no need to apologize- just try your best.
Do NOT apply if English is your first language but you're still making numerous spelling errors and overall sounding like a fool. You're not helping your cause. If you don't care about your application then you won't care about respecting our stake or my money....at least, that's what your application tells me.
If your application looks lazy then I'll expect nothing less of your work ethic.
Do apply even if the money you've earned doesn't seem substantial. Everyone starts somewhere and their just might be room for you at someone's stable. Experience is far more imporant than results. We've coached many guys up from very small stakes. The worst a backer can do is say no.
Do NOT apply if you have almost no games played. Experience is far more important than results. Nothing will get an application deleted faster than a Sharkscope search that yields 157 total games played.
Do NOT send repeated emails asking why we haven't responded yet. This one was difficult for me at the beginning. I wanted to respond to everyone whether they were being accepted or not. So I started to do just that. I began spending too much time responding to emails begging for stakes that weren't going to happen. Now, keep in mind, no doesn't mean no forever. If someone has studied and improved their game and results and re-sends an application, I'm happy to take a second look. But sending the same application 5 times in one week (yes, this happens) is not going to improve your chances. There's other fish in the sea. You might be a better fit with someone else.
Someone wants to sign you to a deal
Yaaaaaaaaaay
Do NOT just sign with any group because someone has "finally accepted" you. There are plenty of backers/backing groups out there and not all backers are created equal. I'm obviously biased towards some groups over others so I won't name specific names here. But some will ask you to sign contracts you can't fulfill. I believe most backers on here have good intentions. But, some may be shady- ask you to cheat, chip dump, allow other players access to your account, etc etc. If something doesn't feel right, move on!
Your best bet is to find a well known backer with experience. A larger backing group that has been around for awhile is a much better bet than a player backing a couple players for $2 180's. I realize this isn't always an option but there's no need to settle for someone who lacks even basic understanding of backing deals. Trust your gut. If you have questions, use the proper forum threads and ASK.
Do stay active in whatever types of non-playing activities your backers provide....coaching, group chats, general bs. Form a relationship with them. This is one way trust is established.
Do fufill obligations and keep in contact with your backers.
Do work your butt off and show your backer(s) what you're capable of.
Do talk about what your goals are and what you hope to accomplish by being staked.
Do NOT tell us you will play 3,000 sngs a month and then play 150 games your first week.
Do NOT ignore your backer if a bad situation comes up. People screw up. Weird situations occur. COMMUNICATE
I'm very likely just rambling at this point. But, I hope some of you find some value in all of this and can find a backer/backing group that matches up with both of your needs. Others feel free to contribute what you look for in a horse beyond a sick ROI.
Cliffs- a lot of you are good at poker but suck at writing emails. Go read the thread.
