So, you want to be a traveling tournament director. But do you, though? Do you really?
People ask me all the time what this TD life, my life, is like. And then every now and then, someone even asks, “How can I apply to do what you do?” Well, let’s break it down so you can decide for yourself if you really want this gig.
There’s no application
There’s no form that says, 'Do you want to live out of a suitcase 200 days a year? Sign here.'
What really happens is you put together a bunch of smaller jobs until it turns into one very large, very chaotic job.
For me, that looks like:
- PokerAtlas (full-time): I run live events, handle customer support, do training, and basically wave the flag to get people using Poker Atlas products and events.
- Desert Bluffs Casino (consultant/part-owner): I help train employees, set tournament schedules, and develop poker room procedures.
- Freelance gigs: Thunder Valley, Bay 101, the Wynn, bestbet, Texas Card Houses, you name it. Sometimes I build entire series, sometimes I’m just an extra set of hands on the floor.
How you actually get hired
You get in the industry by doing solid work, building relationships, and earning recommendations. But if you’re looking for a simple job where you just trade hours for dollars? This ain’t it. The truth may be harsh, but this life isn’t sustainable unless you genuinely love the game.
Passion is the fuel. When you’re part of a team, you don’t just run an event and take off. Properties need support year round. Multiply that by a handful of casinos, and suddenly you’ve got yourself a full-time-plus job. Without passion, the workload crushes you. With passion, it drives you.
Still Interested?
If you’re still nodding along, here’s your next move:
- Go to your local room and tell them to use PokerAtlas. Their events happen all across the United States.
- Play on the Hijack app. (only available in Texas)
- Visit rooms like Desert Bluffs, Thunder Valley, Bay 101, The Wynn Las Vegas, Best Bet, and Texas Card House.
If I need to hire someone, I look for people who are always around, always asking questions, and clearly love the game. That’s who I want on my team.
And if you try it and decide it’s not for you? No problem: I’ll happily take another for gig myself.
Want to test your rules knowledge? Got a tricky ruling you’d like my take on? Drop it in the comments—I’ll feature the best ones in future columns.
Justin Hammer is the Live Events Director for PokerAtlas, online Tournament Director for the Texas-based poker app Hijack, and a Tournament Director for Thunder Valley Casino Resort. He also brings his expertise as a consultant and minority owner of Desert Bluffs Casino in Kennewick, Washington. With years of experience across live, online, and casino operations, Justin has established himself as a trusted leader in the poker world.
For more info, visit PokerAtlas.com, HijackPoker.com, and bluffs.poker. Follow Justin on X.
