Rob at the Ladbrokes Lounge WSOP 08
There are tons of interesting stories when you put lives of poker players under the interview microscope, but what about those folks who work behind the scenes in the poker industry? We put Robert Allan to the test, the “Online marketing Jiggery Poker-y” guy at Ladbrokes Poker who works tirelessly to make sure people like you know about the awesome promos and events going on.
Rob, who hails from York (now stationed in London) is 34 and brings to his job at Ladbrokes a wealth of experience in the modern marketing arena, coming from the business side of the music industry (“Wanted to get into the music industry to be famous! Was in a band – lets not talk about how that one went though – direct marketing in a record company with merchandise management, international marketing, A&R –“) to the promotional side of the poker industry.
His interests are, as one might guess, music and poker, though he styles himself “an interested amateur” when it comes to the game, which he learned from games with friends and reading books.
I say we put Rob to the test with our interview because we wanted to hear about the inside scoop of the Ladbrokes Poker Vegas Dream experience, to see if he could provide us with the interesting and the relevant – and he went far beyond to the fascinating and proved that you don’t have to be poker player to be overflowing with good stories.
So, without further ado, enjoy our interview with Robert Allan from Ladbrokes Poker:
TourneyBlog: Can you tell us a bit about what your role is with Ladbrokes – outside of “Dashing Clever Video Guy”, of course.
Robert Allan: I’ve got a fairly wide range of roles at Ladbrokes Poker. Ultimately it is to let people know that they can play Poker at Ladbrokes and promote why they would want to choose us over a competitor – through our promotions, events and our most excellent community of players that we already have – through ‘online’ means.
We use all types of communications channels, video being only one of them. I create podcasts, videos, banners, PR text links – I work very closely with the Affiliates team and SEO team to link in the content I provide for the needs of their business partners.
The content we produce is to promote the events and promotions and show how much of a great time people have with ladbrokespoker. Coming soon will be some regular blogs, vlogs, podcasts all there to help educate people about poker and inform in an entertaining way.
TB: I take it you do a lot of travel for Ladbrokes – a perk of the job, or a chore?
RA: Chore - Oh it’s a bloody nightmare – hanging out with the poker players – they are all so dull and uninteresting, they wouldn’t know an interesting story if it kicked them in the bajuoobies – the amount of boring footage I have to cut out of the videos just fills up the editing floor! OF course NOT!!!. The players are down to earth funny, giggle, stories coming out of their bajuoobies, they live life for the fun of it. I have not met a poker player at the Ladbrokes events and in the community yet that I wouldn’t want to have a drink with socially outside of poker. They help each other and talk to each other all the time, it’s like being part of an exclusive club, an exclusive club that everyone is allowed to be involved with. The editing floor is actually littered in reams and reams of outtakes, of funny stories I can’t retell online. Forget the watershed some would only be told on exclusive DVDs. Every trip is a joy – it’s hard work, with lots of interviews and just trying to get a poker player when off the table to stand still for 5 mins to do an interview is a task – but that’s cos they just want a laugh and to hang around with their mates old and new. A total Perk!
TB: You were not a player in the 2008 WSOP, you were on the job – did this mean more or less time for fun, not having to focus on playing poker?
RA: I didn’t have the stress of having to play. Some player have the pre-game nerves, some don’t seem phased at all – some players leave the game in a total mess most are just glad to have had the chance to play in the WSOP. All though treated the whole experience as ‘an experience’, not just a game of poker, even though for almost all it would have been the biggest game of poker they had or ever will be involved with. Personally my days were, up at 10am, filming, interviewing, editing with the team till midnight – editing and checking and uploading often till about 3:30am/4am – then running downstairs to try to get a couple of drinks socially with the guys to wind down and them starting again! For 12 days.
It’s a different type of pressure to what the guys playing poker had to go through – mine was a job that had to be done and I was going to do the best I could along with my excellent crew – I relied on the crew and they relied on me so there was pressure on each other but we were there to help each other out. The qualifiers through Ladbrokes for WSOP 08, well when they were playing had only themselves to rely on – but at the Ladbrokes lounge all the community were helping each other out – all asking questions and giving advice – our pros were there ready to help out and give advice too – so in a way our film crew and the player were 2 teams relying on each other and all helping each other out. Awww aint we grand?
Time for fun though? Ladbrokes put on so many great excursions and events for all the players and I got to film them, just seeing them enjoy themselves so much and being able to show others and catch it on video and of course we were there enjoying it too.
TB: Did you stick with the Ladbrokes crew the entire time, or did you manage to sneak off and explore the Strip?
RA: I didn’t have to sneak off – that’s the absolute beauty of the Ladbrokes package, Nigel, Lucy and the rest of the events team over here know fundamentally its about poker – but you can’t play poker all the time and you need to relax and take your mind off it sometimes. That’s why every night and most days they had activities for those not playing and partner to get involved with – phenomenal events included night time helicopter trips, private Ladbrokes only parties at the ‘Voodoo Lounge’ on top of the RIO with free drinks, and dancers. We were luck to have lightening coming down miles away in the distance lightening up the the strip, sky and the stars, whilst you are sharing the experience with the stars, Steve Davis, Skalie, Jeff Kimber, Abi Titmus, Skalie and your new friends.
Shooting range days, shopping trips, dusk till dawn night outs where after a full free night out all down the strip Ladbrokes takes you to the canyon and you see the sun coming up – that was an experience I will never forget in all my life! Whenever I see one of the guys that went on that trip in particular we just hug and call each other a ‘dusk till dawn’ brother! Shows, bars, karaoke nights, private poolside parties – and for those that went with Ladbrokes poker all this was FREE!!! Nigel and Lucy set up parties and events that literally are one in a lifetime events, you couldn’t set them up yourselves nights you will never forget. So to answer your question – nope I didn’t sneak off – Ladbrokes laid it all on!
TB: If a Ladbrokes Vegas Dream winner were to ask you for an insider tip on how to have fun in Vegas, what to do that would be truly memorable, what advice would you give?
RA: I’m not 100% on the itinerary yet for this dream package. I filmed a lot of players out there and asked the same question to some that had been before and those that this was their first time so I’ll recant what these chaps said.
Playing poker - know why you are there, it’s an experience, this advice was from Dave Bennet regular player – you might recognize him from the videos as the tall blonde chap who plays in a suit - The day before you play at the WSOP take some time out to go and have a look at the room where you will be playing take in the atmos – check it out so you will be less daunted. Chill out that night – have a good rest – treat yourself to maybe a massage and eat well.
After play – BUT when you are not playing anymore – then live the experience – live the dream baby – there is not one thing that you can pick out because there are so many things you can do and Ladbrokes brings as many as they possibly can to you in the time you are there. SO the one piece of advice would be READ the ITINARY that Ladbrokes provides so not to miss out. But you must explore for yourself too if you’ve never been to Vegas. Make friend – as people their alias names – this is a sure fire opener – you may know them very well from playing online – the first hour or so of any time you go to an event at Ladbroke you may think that everyone knows each other – that’s because most of them do and those that don’t will within the hour – get yourself about, ask their alias and you are away, that’s the beauty of the Ladbrokes community everyone helps each other, when you’ve been there for 2 hours, unless you soil yourself in the meantime, you are part of the team – get involved and meet them all.
TB: Is there a sense of comradery between the Ladbrokes support team and the Ladbrokes qualifiers while in Vegas?
RA: Totally – it’s our job to ensure you have the best time you possibly can. The team – god knows why they work in poker – but they should all be working for some corporate entertainment company setting up Beyonce gigs – or if nothing else be running a top class butlins cruise liner – joking. There is always someone at hand to solve any problems, we get involved with the fun – but we always remember why we are there – for the players and their partners. We make friends with all the players too like the players do with each other. We work hard and we like to make sure you all party hard – or at least as hard as you want to. I’ve made some great friend from all the trips I’ve been on, ones that I will be staying in contact with – people that have stayed at mine and - - well - - I was invited to theirs, but they probably think I’ll take my video camera round so I’ve never actually been yet.
TB:What is the mood like in the office when the Vegas Dream promo is discussed?
RA: It’s a bit tense in the beginning. Lucy and Nigel know Vegas now like the back of their hands – they know what the players enjoy –but the hardest task they have is to make it better than the last trip, which had to be better than the last trip. Everyone who has been to one before 2008 Said this was the best one they had been to and all those that had been in 2007 said there was no way it could be topped but 2008 topped it! So the atmos is a bit tense because we really don’t know how they can possible make it any better. Behind the closed doors though there is also a – who will be able to go this year – I’ve got to think of a reason to be able to go. Some play it cool and don’t make a fuss but in reality all of us would like to go – so there is a little of that – eyes looking side to side wondering how ‘this person’ might pitch being able to go and if it’s a great idea that you could have done too it’s like someone throwing a big glass of ice water over your face waking you up cos you realize how great the idea is but kick yourself for not thinking of it first. The worst one is when you have an idea then someone pips you to the punch and says it first – ooooh that hurts.
Mainly though the mood is one of nervous anticipation of excitement, we know why we are here and we know it’s for the players and we know how much they love the Vegas experience and the Dream Package – Sad though it may sound in this day and age – to be able to give that to someone – even though they qualified and worked for it – is very rewarding in itself. Is that Cheesy? Like I said I’m recently single so lost my cheesy gauge.
TB: Do you travel over with the players, typically, or do they make their own way over and meet up with you in Vegas?
RA: Some we travel with – some make their own way – mostly tough you are checking into the same hotel and getting there at the same time so even if we don’t organize seeing people we will see them in the airport anyway – that’s when it start – the hugs, the handshakes – the slightly nervous ‘I’m not too sure what his name is – even though I’ve interviewed him a couple of times’ embarrassment feeling. But it’s all fine – no-one holds any grudges from bad beats – or at least not that I’ve heard of and it’s just a big reunion and the whole thing is going to start – that’s when you get the feeling that it’s going to be a good time. Even if Lucy and Nigel screwed up – which they never do, the people there would make anything a good time. That’s the Ladbrokes community.
TB:Any travel advice – things to pack, things to do on the trip?
RA: Depends how long you are there – I’m from the north and from the Jimmy Savill school of traveling – take 50% less clothing than you need if you don’t mind washing them in the shower, when you shower. WHY? Shopping is GREAT out there. Even though the exchange rate has changed the bargains are brilliant. You can buy what you need and buy what you don’t need and give them as presents when you get home. The WSOP is in the middle of summer out there and it’s hot – the hottest place I have ever been to – but then you go inside and you are walking into a fridge from the air conditioners – so even though this sounds daft – take a cardigan or sweater. Still take all your summer clothes if you are a poolside type. In Vegas pretty much anything goes – so if you have a flamboyant side and the stuff types in the UK put you off wearing Hawaiian shirts – then boo to then – you can wear that out here. Because of my work life to party life balance I would not have survived without my re-hydration sachets and my – ahemmmm – toilet tablets, you know the ones that stop you going. It’s a party lifestyle and I’m not advocating you do too much or go beyond your limitations – but know what you need to be able to keep up, and these are the things that I need.
Trips – Canyon / shooting / helicopter / the Beatles Love.
TB: Our readers would love to learn more about the Ladbrokes qualifier experience for the World Series of Poker – what it is really like, being there at the WSOP. On one of your videos from the Ladbrokes Lounge last year you are shaking hands with Devilfish like you were old chums – tell us about hanging out with big shot poker pros.
RA: Ahhh well – it’s just part of the game. I don’t know about this year, 2009, but the Ladbrokes lounge was for Ladbrokes player – but we’ve got a lot of friends too. Our lounge was next to the room where the WSOP was playing – so a lot of people tried to get in and only the players and a few of our exclusive mates were allowed in, Norman Pace, Devilfish, Abi Titmus, Liv Boeree, Steve Davis, our poker pros including Roy Brindley, Skalie, Jeff Kimber, Nebucad and the Scandie chaps – ahh the list goes on. Now showing off a little bit I have been in the music industry (oh lardidar). Unlike most, or lets say some or the music industry types no-one has an ego – after the initial ‘Oh My God – I’m in the same room as…..’ ‘what shall I say, can I talk to him???’ - - after you get over that and just go over and say hi – you are genuinely but straight at ease at how, well, genuine they are. In some instances it’s a shame cos you want to go back to your mates and say - - ‘yer well I met…. And you know what he was sucha total….BEEP’ - you can’t. They are there for the experience too and they want to come on the trips with Ladbrokes poker.
WSOP can be daunting for some especially the new players – and remember I’ve never played in WSOP and this was only my first trip, but because of the filming I got to talk to everyone and hear their take on it and it’s different for everyone – but a common running thread was just not to look daunted, remember everyone there wants to look confident and cool and they themselves may be needing some of my tablets inside. Treat it like another game and don’t get excited if you are coming close to the bubble – but who am I to even mention this – I’m just passing the information on.
TB:What about the celebrity experience? Your crew brought a celeb along with you, the lovely Abi Titmuss – who else did you run into?
RA: Abi was great – I have to say we all have pre-conceptions about people we meet that we know from TV or from what other people have told us and Abi was the most professional and friendly Celeb ever – always working, always wanting to talk to the player and meet everyone there. Abi played a charity game with Ben Affleck and a load of American personalities – which we dint get to meet specifically but we saw them. We didn’t need to meet them anyhow because we had our own superior UK personalities as I’ve mentioned before – we also have mad Marty Wilson with us and Jessie May taking us out on trips – Skalie performing rock ballads.
Steve Davis was sat behind me on the flight going over – he was a childhood idol of mine – I remember putting a 10p bet on him on his first ever game on TV and took the gamble too for him to win the whole tournament – he did – since then he has been someone I’ve watched throughout his career. I’ve played football with Robie Williams – escorted the Spice girls to parties, hung out with a few pop artists, done several interviews with Gary Numan – but this was the first time in years I was genuinely star struck and it’s great when that happens. In Vegas I plucked up the courage to talk to him before I interviewed him and I told him how much of a fan I was – which is a big no no when you are working there with them in the entertainment world – but he was great, listened to my story, even though it’s not that interesting, and we talked for about 30mins – just a genuinely great bloke. Steve Davis was one of those people that we have on our list, whether its written down on paper or not, that you want to meet even if just to say hi at one point in my life – and the 2008 Vegas trip allowed me to tick him off the list – problem is now that I’ve met him in Vegas 2008 – I do want to meet him again – does that make me a stalker? I should maybe get a handle on that.
I do have to say though meeting Chris Ferguson at the toilet in the Rio hotel was a bit of an experience though – thing is I couldn’t shake his hand, all I could do was say hi.
TB: What are you looking forward to the most about the 2009 trip to Sin City?
RA: Meeting everyone again – without a doubt. The players, the staff, the camaraderie, listening to the old stories, being there when new stories are created – the whole thing is an experience. Las Vegas enhances the experiences you have with the people around you in different circumstances and different ways, but it’s the people you are with that make it worthwhile. And yes the whole of the Vegas experience – the town, the nightlife it’s just everything you think it’s going to be and more – fantastic.
TB:Okay, last question – what would you say are the best places to go in Vegas for A) a great show, B) an exotic meal and C) a touch of home?
RA: A) – I saw Love – the Beatles musical – fantastic!! I also went to watch the Imperial palace show where they have imitators to the past start – this was exceptional fun – cheesy but fun.
B) – an exotic meal – hmm not too sure what you are asking there but if you mean a damn good meal – then I have to be honest – I didn’t do much of that – I save my pennies for things other than food – But I hear the food at the Wynn is second to none.
c) – a touch of home – ahh you don’t need that these days – with Skype and mobiles – but I did go to the Jousting night. It was all medieval and being from York and going to Glastonbury every year. The event was set in the ‘mythical’ place of Avalon – which isn’t mythical, its Glastonbury – we ate with our hands and worshiped false gods - - so it was like been at glasto again in a way.
TB: Rob, thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions for Vegas-Dream.com. Best of luck in your travels, and we hope to see you – in person and on camera – at the 2009 Vegas Dream welcome part at the WSOP!
RA: Nice one – hope to see some of your readers there and I’ll hopefully be filming their Vegas Dream experience, a free holiday film for them on the internet for all their mates and family to be envious of them. Good Luck everyone!
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