I tried getting a better job, but then I didn't have time for chess. That left me only the choice that if I travel and stay in a hotel, I've got to win enough money at the event to cover expenses. It turns out that this is easiest while gambling at skittles in the bar.
It's the same with everything. When hobbies cost money, good jobs are needed to support them. When the hobby becomes a job, it may sometimes cover its own expenses.
This topic is probably more focused on U.S. players, but anyone is free to add their two cents.
This weekend I will be attending the King’s Island Open in Mason, Ohio. This tournament usually draws around 300-400 players. As I prepare for the weekend I am wondering what the attendance will be with gas prices here in the mid-west right around $3.00 a gallon (please don’t flood me with how cheap that is compared to other parts of the world – it’s all relative). Luckily my drive is less than two hours, but I know there are players registered who will drive much farther. They will then have to pay for at LEAST one night in a hotel and, of course, eat. All of this, plus entry fees, adds up to a couple hundred dollars.
So, my questions are as follows:
Do issues like travel expenses (i.e. gas, airfare, etc), hotel and meals effect your tournament decisions?
Have economic pressures forced you to stay away from larger tournaments and play only one-day events or online?
What are your ideas for dealing with these issues?