SPORTS CAREERS: Dann's Journal - Week #6

So you’re probably wondering why I’m a few days late in getting this week’s journal entry online. I could lie, or I could tell you that I spent the weekend in Las Vegas.

My trip to Sin City did provide me with an excellent topic for this week’s entry, however. I know that amongst the glitz, glamour and all-out glee of Las Vegas, it would be hard to imagine me finding anything that could be of use to you. Don’t underestimate me.

Like the sports industry, the gaming industry relies on selling a good time. Nothing against sports, but Las Vegas is doing a much better job than, let’s say, the Montreal Expos. However, both of these multi-billion-dollar industries employ thousands upon thousands of people. And landing a job in either of these fields heavily relies on one thing - networking.

Yeah, I know you’ve always heard that "it’s not what you know; it’s who you know". Yup, I’m pretty sick of that stupid saying too, but it’s true. An idiot with a Rolodex full of VIPs will land well before a genius who has no contacts does. It sucks, but it’s the truth. And it’s something you need to keep in mind when you’re getting started in your career.

Anyway, while losing my butt at the blackjack table, I became pretty familiar with our dealer Donna. We got chit-chatting about her job, which I actually think is pretty cool. Sure, anyone can be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company or President of the United States, but you have to have some real personality to take money from strangers and keep them coming back. Donna told me that she actually majored in public relations in college and came to Vegas looking for a job in that field. While waiting for the stuffed job market to show some pity, she fell into dealing cards and really enjoyed it. She is now good friends with the PR director of the hotel casino she works at, but she has no desire to leave her post.

After playing a few hands, I told Donna that if I were ever to leave the sports industry, I think that I would really enjoy working in travel and tourism, specifically for a large casino resort. When she realized that I was serious and that it wasn’t the Jack Daniels talking, she told me to give her my business card and she would pass it along to her friend in the PR department should she ever want to discuss an opportunity there.

I think I will be more than thrilled to spend my life in a Major League ballpark, but should MLB crumble because of its many problems, I know I have a connection elsewhere. The same holds true for the sports industry; important contacts can pop up in the most unexpected industries. Oddly enough, mine came from the lady taking my chips.

Dann Stupp is managing editor of SportsWorkers.com, a site devoted to the sports-employment industry.