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An Interview with JENNIFER
VARGIN,
freelance gaming writer and book
author |
The following is
an abbreviated interview from my book, FREELANCE POKER WRITING: How to Make
Money Writing for the Gaming Industry © Brian
Konradt
|
"Even though gaming is virtually nationwide, few
outside the industry really understand the complexity of a gaming entity. It's
not just about slot machines and craps tables and poker rooms. It's about
multi-million dollar businesses that have a great impact on the community
around them."
JENNIFER VARGIN is a twenty-two year veteran of the
gaming industry. She has worked in Las Vegas, Mississippi, Louisiana and
Oklahoma gaming establishments. She has published many articles and features
about the gaming industry and has worked in nearly every aspect of table games
management. Jennifer has been a newspaper reporter, an Internet editor and a
magazine editor over the past twelve years.
BRIAN: How did you
break into writing about poker and gaming? How did you get your first paying
assignment, and what was it?
JENNIFER VARGIN: My very first
paid article came from an opinion piece that I wrote and submitted to the
Las Vegas Review Journal. It was an article about the slot machines in
grocery stores (very common in Vegas). I was shopping one day and noticed a
young woman had parked her kids in a shopping cart behind her. She was busy
pursuing her Four of a Kind, while her "two of a kind" whined in the
cart behind her slot chair. Since children are not allowed by slot areas in any
casino, it irked me that not only was this woman neglecting her children while
gambling in a local market, but that store management was not enforcing the
rules about children in gaming areas. I was elated that the article was
published, and that they even paid me for it!
In years to come I wrote
several more articles for newspapers about various gaming issues. While working
as a freelancer for City Lights magazine in Shreveport, LA, I approached
them with the idea about an article that took a five year anniversary look at
the industry that had transformed the local economy.
They say, write
about what you know. Having been in the industry for nearly thirteen years, I
had developed a keen insight into the aspects of the gaming industry that most
people on the street never see. During my gaming career I witnessed Vegas shed
its Sin City image and become a family vacation destination — the opening
of Atlantic City casinos, the riverboats docking along the Mississippi Gulf, to
Shreveport, LA gaming, and currently, to the very different world of American
Indian gaming.
BRIAN: How do you usually find freelance work?
JENNIFER VARGIN: As for finding freelance work, I don't
wait for it — I create it. The gaming industry is mythical in a sense that
it touches many people, but not many people have in depth knowledge of the
industry. If you want to write about gaming, you must learn about it. If you
know there's a new casino coming to an area, you might approach the local
newspapers or magazines and volunteer to write an article on spec. Most of the
time local publications are more than grateful to get articles with a local
slant. Once you get your name out there, more than likely you'll be called upon
for other gaming news. Opportunities to write about the gaming industry, its
impact on a particular area, the entertainment factor it offers, what's new and
exciting, and different gaming properties, are endless. Then there’s
always interviewing management, examining the games themselves, etc. Don’t
wait for the call, create your market.
BRIAN: What type of
poker/gaming writing services do you offer clients? Which writing services have
been the most profitable for you?
JENNIFER VARGIN: I try to
be the first to know where a new casino property will be located and what type
of facility it will be, whether it offers a poker room, live games, etc. Then I
look into whom or what company will manage the property. I offer my clients
whatever information they may be seeking and often suggest material for them.
Even though gaming is virtually nationwide, few outside the industry really
understand the complexity of a gaming entity. It's not just about slot machines
and craps tables and poker rooms. It's about multi-million dollar businesses
that have a great impact on the community around them.
BRIAN:
Besides writing about the games of poker, what other poker-related topics can
writers write about that are popular?
JENNIFER VARGIN:
Poker readers love "rags to riches stories" and there are plenty of them out
there! Become familiar with the big tournaments, and the players who attend.
Check out both the Internet and live casino based tournaments for the big prize
money. When the winners are known, try to find a way to contact the tournament
winner and see if you can land an interview. Poker players also like to read
about celebrities who play often. Although these types of interviews are harder
to get, they're not impossible. Anyone writing about poker should know the big
names, so do your research and read about the legends as well as those up and
coming.
Every poker player I have known loves to hear "war stories."
By that I mean tales of bad beats, someone going on tilt, and the guy who makes
the amazing comeback. And, if you're not familiar with the game itself and its
common poker terms, learn them first or you won't understand what you are
reading.
You cannot effectively write about what you do not know.
Learn the games, visit the many, many Internet sites such as PartyPoker.net
where you can learn the rules and the terms of various poker games for free.
Then read the most popular poker publications, most of them you can pick up in
any good card room. You'll get a feel for what a publication prints and perhaps
ideas about what you could contribute.
BRIAN: In your opinion,
how high is the demand for writers to write about poker and topics related to
poker and gaming? Do you think this trend will continue?
JENNIFER VARGIN: The poker craze is just getting bigger all the
time. Since the televising of major tournaments on many sports cable channels,
interest in poker literally took off and shows no signs of slowing. The demand
for poker rooms has never been higher. In the past couple of years I've seen a
definite increase in poker tournaments on the college level, even college
sponsored tournaments. More and more we are seeing tournaments from
international locales. One particularly exciting aspect of poker today is
seeing more women making it to the big tables and gaining notoriety along with
some of the poker legends.
BRIAN: What obstacles might
freelance writers face in this industry? How tough is the competition?
JENNIFER VARGIN: The biggest obstacle is communications. You
cannot walk into a poker room and ask the poker room manager for information,
or for an interview. These will have to be set up through either their
marketing departments, or their public relations people. Not that casinos don't
love exposure, they do, just like any business, but you have to find out "who"
to get to "where." As for competition, there really aren't any limits here.
Well-written, well-researched material will most likely get a look if you've
followed proper channels. If you're considering a piece for one of the more
popular magazines like Card Player or Poker Player, it's the same
as approaching any other publishing house. A query letter introducing yourself,
what you'd like to write about, and appropriate contact information is the
first step. Same goes for any local publications. Contact the editor, pitch
your product, and hope for the best. It's a wide open market with room for the
old-timers and rookies alike, so if you do your homework, you have great odds
of succeeding.
BRIAN: Thank you!
Read more about
Jennifer Vargin at
http://www.freelancepokerwriting.com/contributors-jennifer-vargin.php
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SIDEBAR:
GOING ALL IN
Jennifer revealed an important clue about the gaming
industry: “Few outside the industry really understand the complexity of a
gaming entity. It's not just about slot machines and craps tables and poker
rooms. It's about multi-million dollar businesses that have a great impact on
the community around them.” Why is this important? As a poker writer, you
should know how poker and the business of poker influence many aspects of life,
business, and society at the local level. Jennifer’s point is important if
you are going to pitch articles to local and regional publications and need to
come up with powerful article ideas with a local slant.
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The following is
an abbreviated interview from my book, FREELANCE POKER WRITING: How to Make
Money Writing for the Gaming Industry © Brian
Konradt
|
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