I know complacency is an issue, especially at larger companies with many employees, but do you guys notice the difference in attitude at TH R between the older and newer employees?

I see the newer brushes hustling around getting chips for dealers while the ones that have been there a while just stand around looking for handouts. I've seen many times an older brush walk slowly right past a dealer needing chips and just keep on walking. I notice the newer dealers smiling and trying to interact more while some older ones barely say two words unless they are trying to find out what time they get to leave.

I have always felt an employees attitude is a reflection of management from the top down. Maybe that's why so many dealers and brushes that have been there a while have ****ty attitudes. The management of the room seems under par and uncaring, but their hands may be tied from corporate offices that probably know nothing about running a poker room, making them feel disgruntled.

The problems and lame attitudes of the poker room management and staff probably starts higher up the chain.

I know this thread looks like it's always bashing the Hard Rock. There is a reason for that. I get a tremendous sense of apathy from the employees of the room. There is little desire to make things better.

However, I do think that there are quite a few (remember, the room employs a LOT) of people who do care. They do their job well, and seem to care about the players as if they were real people. In no particular order, here are some of the people that make my day better when I get to interact with them:

"F" in the cage. Nice guy.

Scottish floor. Has been the poker business a long time, and really seems to care about the room, and your experience there. He will throw a difficult player out right away.

Italian dealer. Best dealer in the house.

"Forrest Whitaker" brush/now dealer. Such a peaceful guy.

Dealer whose name is not a real name and loves hockey.

"B" Bald. Earring. Mid-forties. I like the other "B" too for what it's worth.

That's my short list. I know I'm missing a ton of great employees*.

The big guy "J" the brush seems to work hard and has a good attitude. The older lady brush with the candy "L" seems to work hard. Also the kid with the beard "R" and the black girl "Y" always seem pleasant.

+1.

I have code names to discuss these people with my friends. I call the scottish floor guy "english bulldog". He used to work on the casino cruise ships going out of johns pass. He's about the most neutral guy Ive ever met. Not a prick.

Italian dealer- I agree. I always tip this guy more. He's probably the one dealer there who deserves the ridiculous income they get.

Is Forest Whittiker a dealer now? Thats cool he is what you want in a poker room- relaxed, personable, and does his job.

Actually you're not missing a ton of great employees. Many of them do the bare minimum. You can tell they hate being there but are addicted to the money and could never dream to get paid more than a quarter of what they make there in any other job.

Confirmed yesterday that Lou is 2nd in charge and then it's spread amoungst the supers.....i was asking supervisor "B" and he said supervisor "M" is next on the list in charge but supervisor "M" said "B" is in charge and "you can post that on 2+2" if you want.....

HHR just recently started having a rep on this site, probably due to the fact the old room manager is now dealing at pbkc. The new one that came in realized he would need to do a little work and is modeling his room after the isle now.

Of course their promotions are better, they have a 100% increase in jp rake. Why on earth would you want a $2 jp rake just for better promotions? How about we just not play poker and just pay a $200 entry fee to the room that offers random prizes. The problem with most people's thinking in the casino industry is that they only see it as a dollar here or a dollar there, not realizing that casinos are based on a numbers game. You actually think the prizes and promotions you would get are going to offset the jp rake?

What's even worse is you are encouraging them to rape you more. Please, take my jackpot money, don't pay me back what I've put in, and while you're at it, please give me a seat to a tournament that you take 15% vig on. Cmon people.

Yea, Previously I never got anything back for all my jackpot $'s at HR but there was at least 3 or 4 months this year that they had great promos that paid me $600-$900 per month with no luck involved and that was great.

Obviously they had built up the jackpot funds to do that because they can't have those type promos every month for only $1 jackpot drop while adding to the BBJ and royals fund.

Hopefully it will be a big promo for December like I heard it might.

Nice playing with you last night Ron, I made back most of the cash you fleeced off of me after you left lol. Left the table with almost $500 by 11

Cool, should be busy today. Im headed up there shortly.

Ill probably be back tonight - hopefully some PLO will get going!

THR question -

On our last trip to Las Vegas my wife found out she likes video poker while sitting at the bar. In fact what she really likes is that she can drink for free at most casinos there if she is playing. What is the policy at THR? If you are playing video poker at the bar do you drink for free?

You never drink for free at the hard rock, sorry to disappoint...

Quick and short, no. You pay for drinks everywhere at THR. maybe not high limits, but everywhere else.

$100 min. table games and up, alcohol is free.
I am not sure about slots but I am guessing not free.

Hey Guys,
What hours are good games going on sunday. That will be my first day off in 10 months and I plan on taking all of your money...

3 A.M.

Man this whole 1/2 1/3 problem is rediculous. If hr had a proper 1/2 I doubt I'd ever play at any other room. It's so frustrating to have to play at the tracks to find a deep 1/2 game. Please hr staff / jack of rock address this issue, the players deserve better than this.

Im from MN, but I've come down to play at HR and Derby Lane many times when I would come down to Tampa for work. I'll be down there in a couple weeks to visit my parents in Lakeland, and I want to check out the new room. I haven't been to HR since the new room opened. Where is the best place to park so that I don't have to walk half a mile past the smoky slot machine gallery? Is there a dedicated parking area for direct access? I used to park in the ramp or in the big lot by the doors directly across from the old room, but I would still stink from smoke before I even made it to the room.

Also--if I'm understanding things correctly, the 1/2 game has a 200 max BI, correct? That's usually my BI when I play in Vegas or the rooms around me in MN. I'll probably play most of the day on Fri the 25th (maybe start with the 10:30 tournament, and then switch to 1/2 afterward). I'm no grinder--I just play for fun as often as I can, and I tend to keep my balance in the black after most sessions. Any thoughts or suggestions about the new room (vs the old HR or DL rooms) would be appreciated.

Thanks,
jj

1/2nl is 40-100, 1/3nl is 100-300.
It doesn't matter where you park, its a decent walk.
I prefer the south parking garage off of orient.

Thanks for the info. I must have been mis-reading the previous posts. Even though I'll only be there for a couple of days, I agree with the posters calling for a 200 BI for 1/2 (and eliminating the 1/3 game). I've played at several rooms in various states, and I've never seen this sort of structure. I guess I'll try either 1/2 or 1/3 when I get there, depending on what's running.

I have one other quick question: The 12:30 tournament on Friday is listed on their site as 3500 chips for $50, with an optional $10 add-on for another 3500 chips. Is that correct, or is it a misprint? Based on the other tournament structures, it seems like the add-on should only give you around 1000-1500 chips (not double your stack). I just want to understand the structure better before I decide whether it's worth playing. It looks like this is the same tourney that runs every Friday at 12:30.

Edited: I just noticed that the rounds are only 10 minutes. That makes this tournament much less attractive, even if you do start off with 7000 chips. I've never played a live tournament with rounds that short.

Thanks,
jj

So has anyone heard from Jack of Rock? Obviously JoR thought that 2P2 was going to be an easy way to promote the room rather than deal with and interface with customers, which is not always easy. I guess the silence says it all, they don't give a toot and they are not going to address any issues. Sad.

I could not agree more as I feel so much more at home when playing at the "Silks" or DerbyLane vs. THR. I always feel the THR only really tries to cater to the tourists vs. the local regular. At Silks and Derby it seems to be the other way around in my opinion.

Is PLO running?

Answer is no. Glad I drove up...