rowing whore

[Mike Sullivan]

Oarsman's question about a 'personal coach' reminded me of another
story. A couple years back at the Clear Lake boatyard a older gent
(a couple years older than me).
comes by and wants to row. He'd done a little sculling in Sacramento
and I helped him with a few things he didn't know how to do.

I explained membership and getting 'certified' to scull anytime he wanted
but he wanted to know if he could hire me to row with him.

'I'll pay you well.'

I told him if he joined the club, he could contribute all kinds of money
to the club to make it viable, and he could track me down on my days
there and I'd be happy to help him with his sculling technique.

No, he found at Sacramento when he rowed with an experienced rower
in a double the boat would go really well, We'd just schedule time each
week for a rowing session and he'd pay me to row with him, his
little rowing bitch, I guess.

"Um, Sully, the boat doesn't feel so good today, could
you maybe row better?"

There's a certain logic to it, I guess, he's simply paying for my time
and expertise, but the idea was abhorrent to me. I never saw
him since. In thinking back on it, I probably should have done
it but simply asked an impossibly high price, as I've always claimed
that my sculling coaching is so outstanding, so priceless that nobody
could afford me so I don't charge anybody.

What do you think, would you do it?
Mike

[Walter Martindale]

Post by Mike Sullivan
Oarsman's question about a 'personal coach' reminded me of another
story. A couple years back at the Clear Lake boatyard a older gent
(a couple years older than me).
comes by and wants to row. He'd done a little sculling in Sacramento
and I helped him with a few things he didn't know how to do.
I explained membership and getting 'certified' to scull anytime he wanted
but he wanted to know if he could hire me to row with him.
'I'll pay you well.'
I told him if he joined the club, he could contribute all kinds of money
to the club to make it viable, and he could track me down on my days
there and I'd be happy to help him with his sculling technique.
No, he found at Sacramento when he rowed with an experienced rower
in a double the boat would go really well, We'd just schedule time each
week for a rowing session and he'd pay me to row with him, his
little rowing bitch, I guess.
"Um, Sully, the boat doesn't feel so good today, could
you maybe row better?"
There's a certain logic to it, I guess, he's simply paying for my time
and expertise, but the idea was abhorrent to me. I never saw
him since. In thinking back on it, I probably should have done
it but simply asked an impossibly high price, as I've always claimed
that my sculling coaching is so outstanding, so priceless that nobody
could afford me so I don't charge anybody.
What do you think, would you do it?
Mike

Hmmm,
Perhaps, and then donate the money to the club... (not really an issue
with my back, though)
W

[Mike Sullivan]

snip

Post by Walter Martindale

Post by Mike Sullivan
What do you think, would you do it?
Mike

Hmmm,
Perhaps, and then donate the money to the club... (not really an issue

certainly sensible, Walter, that thought did
occur to me. I couldn't handle the idea of it
then, though I'm not able to articulate clearly
why. Fund raising time is time well spent, and
lots of fund raisers have decent golf games put
together so they can pimp their marks in a more
social setting. I don't see how that should be
different from rowing with the guy, but the idea
of it made me shudder. It wasn't intended to be
a one or two time thing, with an instructional bend
to it but an ongoing scheduled session.

I got a big effing ego, for sure, but I don't think
that's it.

[Walter Martindale]

Post by Mike Sullivan
It wasn't intended to be
a one or two time thing, with an instructional bend
to it but an ongoing scheduled session.

And there's the rub... I think I would probably NOT want to be the guy's
rowing manservant more than on a fixed, limited number of occasions.
But then there's the joke:
Man to gorgeous woman - "would you sleep with me for a million dollars?"
Reply: "For a million bucks? Sure!"
Man: "would you sleep with me for $20?"
Reply: "What do you think I am, a whore?"
Man: "We've established that, we're haggling over price."

Perhaps for a few beers... If he then wanted to donate to the rowing
club, he could, otherwise "sorry".. You also don't want to run afoul of
amateurism rules - do you become a professional rower if you accept payment?
Walter

[Mike Sullivan]

Post by Walter Martindale

Post by Mike Sullivan
It wasn't intended to be
a one or two time thing, with an instructional bend
to it but an ongoing scheduled session.

And there's the rub... I think I would probably NOT want to be the guy's
rowing manservant more than on a fixed, limited number of occasions.
Man to gorgeous woman - "would you sleep with me for a million dollars?"
Reply: "For a million bucks? Sure!"
Man: "would you sleep with me for $20?"
Reply: "What do you think I am, a whore?"
Man: "We've established that, we're haggling over price."

I thought of this very same joke.

Post by Walter Martindale
Perhaps for a few beers... If he then wanted to donate to the rowing
club, he could, otherwise "sorry".. You also don't want to run afoul of
amateurism rules - do you become a professional rower if you accept payment?

That would look great on a business card, wouldn't it?

Instead, call it:
Rower of Fortune

[bill]

I once ferried a yachtsman out to his J-24 using my coaching launch
(sailing coach not rowing). I was heading out to set buoys or
something and the club was really busy, the harbormaster unavailable or
something so I said, "sure." He offered me a $20 bill when we got to
the yacht, and I refused it, saying, "no, thanks, I don't need it" or
something.....Instead of graciously accepting it at that, the guy got a
bit huffy and said, "you won't get anywhere that way" or something to
that effect.


So here I am, getting nowhere.....

Regards,

Bill Platt

[oarsman]

Our club, Community Rowing Inc., has a line item for private coaching.
There is a set fee per hour, and the money is paid directly to the
club, which is a non-profit, then the club pays the coach. Most of our
coaches are either full time coaches, or college students, or some
alternative low paid position and they welcome the extra money. I
don't have the time to do regular coaching, but I do fill in for other
coaches, and do some private lessons. I do it without pay but the club
is generous with me for other fees that need to be paid.

Every once in a while someone approaches me to coach them on the proper
course for the Head of the Charles. It seems that most of the material
is suited for a coxain rather than a sculler. The river is different
facing forwards vs. backwards. It makes is easier when I can just say
"contact CRI" they will set it up.